Panasonic DVX / DVC Battery topics

Christopher Go · October 10th, 2003, 04:59 AM

That's a good suggestion - I may give them a try since I've heard good things about them elsewhere as well.

Otherwise, there's also Zotz Digital, a solid company to work with, and a sponser of this site too. Check them out to see if they have it in stock, ask for Tom or Brian.

Rob Easler · October 10th, 2003, 06:45 AM

Scott, I bought a pair of Sabah Oceanic Batteries that were to emulate the BP945 for the GL2 and they do not last half as long as the Cannon name brand, even though the Sabah's were listed as having more juice. Of course I have not tried every brand but for this reason I am leary about the knock off batteries.

Scott Plowman · October 10th, 2003, 08:36 AM

I can appreciate your concern. I too had the same concerns what I found was that the batteries worked at least three hours +

I did recieve a cgr d16 i think with the camera.. So I havent had a comparable sized battery to compare it too.. What I do know is I can use my camera quite a long time with those batteries.. I cannot attest to their longeviety for charge and recharge.. I have only used them for a couple of months.

The main issue I think is the price.. 34.95 they outpower the smaller panasonic batteries that seem readily available. For the price I dont think you can go wrong. If they were comparably priced to the real deal then i would consider the panasonic ones naturaly..

John Dorfax · November 10th, 2003, 02:03 PM

Hello there. With my recently purchased DVX100 I recieved 2 CGR-D28 Batterys made by DIGITAL CONCEPTS. It worries me that they aren't Panasonic.

I was also sent a DigiCom Charger.

So I was wondering if any other users own this brand CGR-D28s or charger. If so, do they serve you well?

John Britt · November 10th, 2003, 05:57 PM

The DVX100 should have come with one Panasonic battery (the CGR D16 -- the low-end one) and a Panasonic charger. If you bought a suppossedly "brand-new" cam and it only came with off-brand charger and battery, then you got scr*wed.

That said, if it simply came with an extra charger and two extra batteries, then great. Off-brand isn't necessarily bad, but your camera should have at least come with the typical Panasonic accessories.

See the DVX100 brochure for included accessories:
ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/Panasonic/Drivers/PBTS/brochures/B_AG-DVX100.pdf

John Dorfax · November 10th, 2003, 06:18 PM

My camera came with the battery and all the other accessories. I just ordered 2 CGR-D28 Batteries in addition to it. For some reason I had assumed they would be Panasonic. But they weren't.

I suppose I'll use 'em anyhow...

John Britt · November 10th, 2003, 07:01 PM

Ahh...Phew, that's a much better scenario than what I was assuming!

It seems that most people recommend buying "off-brand" batteries -- you can get very good quality for a much cheaper price in many cases.

I haven't used Digital Concepts before, but when I bought my DVC80 I bought the Power2000 brand batteries instead of the Panasonic brand and I've been more than happy with the performance.

If you paid Panasonic prices for these batteries, or if the company led you to believe that they'd be Panny batteries, then I'd worry (and be p*ssed). Otherwise, give the batteries a workout and see how long they last. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Yang Wen · November 10th, 2003, 11:29 PM

I recommend the Panasonic 5400mah battery very much. I was able to pick one up off of ebay $80 before they were released for sale here in the U.S. now at $150. Hopefully they will pop up on the auction scene again. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

Mikel Low · November 24th, 2003, 03:05 PM

All -

I know there has been much discussion on the board in regards to buying batteries with extended life for this astonishing camera and thought I'd add my 2 cents. I've perused much of the battery information found in this forum but it did not solve an urgent dilema. I've been looking for a 3-hour battery since my purchase but quite honestly did not want to attempt an online purchase after considering some of the online vendor(s) reputations. That is not to say that ALL online vendor(s) are created equal but I've read more con-type reviews than pro and it was enough to make me wary. I've considered EBay as well but really didn't want to go through the hassle of the process. I could have used the specialty shop where I purchased my camera but they told me it would be 5-7 business days and this was direct from Panasonic. I know - impatient, right?

So - just on a whim, I decided to go to the local Radio Shack and what do you know. They carry a 3-hour(CL210/211) and 4.5-hour battery(CL310) that is 100% compatible as a replacement for the AG-DVX100's CGR-28A/1B. It's a company called Again&Again (made in Japan) and distributed by North American Battery Company in San Diego, Ca. The battery is a CL210/211 Li-Ion/7.2V/1700mAh/3-Hour Running Time and sells for $75 usd.

http://www.nabcorp.com/search/images/cl210.jpg

I was going to purchase the 4.5-Hour version but they were sold out for the moment. I realize that many AG owners (as well as others) would rather get a better deal online but at least at Radio Shack, you won't have to contend with the constant attempts at the hard upsell, lost merchandise, refusals to provide tracking numbers, bait & switch routines, that classic, "It's no longer in stock" when you decline the upsell and the accompanying rudeness when you call to confirm an order.

On a lighter note, a good battery cross reference site for many different camcorder batteries can be found at the following:

www.nabcorp.com

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Cheers!

Barry Green · November 24th, 2003, 10:02 PM

There are much better deals available. What you need to pay attention to is not the "so-and-so hours" rating, but the milli-amphour rating. You got 1700mah batteries. They sell 3100mah batteries (about twice the capacity) over at DVXUSER.COM. B&H sells Power2000 batteries which are 3600mah for about $70. The biggest battery is the 5400mah Panasonic CGR-D54s, which run about $180.

Frank Granovski · November 24th, 2003, 11:20 PM

I agree with Barry. And if you want DVX batteries made by Pana, you can get them in Japan or Down-Under for a lot cheaper, especially with the hip-pack.

Mikel Low · November 25th, 2003, 12:02 AM

Thanks for the additional info gents. I will definitely look into getting more bang for my buck in the near future. I needed a quick fix for today as I am totally aware of the mAh rating. This is the very reason I enjoy this board so much because the pro's (like you guys) are always ready to drop the wisdom. Thanks again for the response.

Johnny Cheung · December 16th, 2003, 01:17 AM

so may i know if CGRD53A is compatible with DVC80? This one below at b&h i mean:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=214243&is=REG

thanks a lot.

Barry Green · December 16th, 2003, 01:52 AM

The D53 would definitely be compatible with the DVC80. However, it's a belt-pack-mount battery system which may or may not be convenient for you.

The CGR-D54 is also known as the VW-VBD55. It's the longest-lasting, most convenient battery available for the DVX. I got one from ebay seller "shimwass" and it's by far my favorite battery, it lasts about six hours with no sweat. I also have a couple of the Power2000 3600mah batteries, they seem to last around three, maybe three and a half hours.

Johnny Cheung · December 16th, 2003, 03:50 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Barry Green : The D53 would definitely be compatible with the DVC80. However, it's a belt-pack-mount battery system which may or may not be convenient for you.

The CGR-D54 is also known as the VW-VBD55. It's the longest-lasting, most convenient battery available for the DVX. I got one from ebay seller "shimwass" and it's by far my favorite battery, it lasts about six hours with no sweat. I also have a couple of the Power2000 3600mah batteries, they seem to last around three, maybe three and a half hours. -->>>

Oh I see. I found CGR-D54 on b&h, the price is $169.00, do you think it is good price?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=282863&is=REG

and do you think its better to stick with one brand (panasonic) or it doesnt hurt if you switch between different brand of batteries?

thnx again.

November 10th, 2003, 02:03 PM	#109
John Dorfax New Boot Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 5	CGR-D28 Battery - Not Panasonic Hello there. With my recently purchased DVX100 I recieved 2 CGR-D28 Batterys made by DIGITAL CONCEPTS. It worries me that they aren't Panasonic. I was also sent a DigiCom Charger. So I was wondering if any other users own this brand CGR-D28s or charger. If so, do they serve you well?

November 24th, 2003, 03:05 PM	#114
Mikel Low Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Francisco, Ca Posts: 39	AG-DVX100(P) Batteries All - I know there has been much discussion on the board in regards to buying batteries with extended life for this astonishing camera and thought I'd add my 2 cents. I've perused much of the battery information found in this forum but it did not solve an urgent dilema. I've been looking for a 3-hour battery since my purchase but quite honestly did not want to attempt an online purchase after considering some of the online vendor(s) reputations. That is not to say that ALL online vendor(s) are created equal but I've read more con-type reviews than pro and it was enough to make me wary. I've considered EBay as well but really didn't want to go through the hassle of the process. I could have used the specialty shop where I purchased my camera but they told me it would be 5-7 business days and this was direct from Panasonic. I know - impatient, right? So - just on a whim, I decided to go to the local Radio Shack and what do you know. They carry a 3-hour(CL210/211) and 4.5-hour battery(CL310) that is 100% compatible as a replacement for the AG-DVX100's CGR-28A/1B. It's a company called Again&Again (made in Japan) and distributed by North American Battery Company in San Diego, Ca. The battery is a CL210/211 Li-Ion/7.2V/1700mAh/3-Hour Running Time and sells for $75 usd. http://www.nabcorp.com/search/images/cl210.jpg I was going to purchase the 4.5-Hour version but they were sold out for the moment. I realize that many AG owners (as well as others) would rather get a better deal online but at least at Radio Shack, you won't have to contend with the constant attempts at the hard upsell, lost merchandise, refusals to provide tracking numbers, bait & switch routines, that classic, "It's no longer in stock" when you decline the upsell and the accompanying rudeness when you call to confirm an order. On a lighter note, a good battery cross reference site for many different camcorder batteries can be found at the following: www.nabcorp.com Happy Thanksgiving to all. Cheers! __________________ Cheers! K. Mikel Low

November 25th, 2003, 12:02 AM	#117
Mikel Low Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Francisco, Ca Posts: 39	Thanks for the additional info gents. I will definitely look into getting more bang for my buck in the near future. I needed a quick fix for today as I am totally aware of the mAh rating. This is the very reason I enjoy this board so much because the pro's (like you guys) are always ready to drop the wisdom. Thanks again for the response. __________________ Cheers! K. Mikel Low

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October 10th, 2003, 04:59 AM	#106
Christopher Go Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 429	That's a good suggestion - I may give them a try since I've heard good things about them elsewhere as well. Otherwise, there's also Zotz Digital, a solid company to work with, and a sponser of this site too. Check them out to see if they have it in stock, ask for Tom or Brian.

October 10th, 2003, 06:45 AM	#107
Rob Easler Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 219	Scott, I bought a pair of Sabah Oceanic Batteries that were to emulate the BP945 for the GL2 and they do not last half as long as the Cannon name brand, even though the Sabah's were listed as having more juice. Of course I have not tried every brand but for this reason I am leary about the knock off batteries.

October 10th, 2003, 08:36 AM	#108
Scott Plowman Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kansas City, Kansas, USA Posts: 85	I can appreciate your concern. I too had the same concerns what I found was that the batteries worked at least three hours + I did recieve a cgr d16 i think with the camera.. So I havent had a comparable sized battery to compare it too.. What I do know is I can use my camera quite a long time with those batteries.. I cannot attest to their longeviety for charge and recharge.. I have only used them for a couple of months. The main issue I think is the price.. 34.95 they outpower the smaller panasonic batteries that seem readily available. For the price I dont think you can go wrong. If they were comparably priced to the real deal then i would consider the panasonic ones naturaly..

November 10th, 2003, 05:57 PM	#110
John Britt Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 621	The DVX100 should have come with one Panasonic battery (the CGR D16 -- the low-end one) and a Panasonic charger. If you bought a suppossedly "brand-new" cam and it only came with off-brand charger and battery, then you got scr*wed. That said, if it simply came with an extra charger and two extra batteries, then great. Off-brand isn't necessarily bad, but your camera should have at least come with the typical Panasonic accessories. See the DVX100 brochure for included accessories: ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/Panasonic/Drivers/PBTS/brochures/B_AG-DVX100.pdf

November 10th, 2003, 06:18 PM	#111
John Dorfax New Boot Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 5	My camera came with the battery and all the other accessories. I just ordered 2 CGR-D28 Batteries in addition to it. For some reason I had assumed they would be Panasonic. But they weren't. I suppose I'll use 'em anyhow...

November 10th, 2003, 07:01 PM	#112
John Britt Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 621	Ahh...Phew, that's a much better scenario than what I was assuming! It seems that most people recommend buying "off-brand" batteries -- you can get very good quality for a much cheaper price in many cases. I haven't used Digital Concepts before, but when I bought my DVC80 I bought the Power2000 brand batteries instead of the Panasonic brand and I've been more than happy with the performance. If you paid Panasonic prices for these batteries, or if the company led you to believe that they'd be Panny batteries, then I'd worry (and be p*ssed). Otherwise, give the batteries a workout and see how long they last. You might be pleasantly surprised.

November 10th, 2003, 11:29 PM	#113
Yang Wen Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 991	I recommend the Panasonic 5400mah battery very much. I was able to pick one up off of ebay $80 before they were released for sale here in the U.S. now at $150. Hopefully they will pop up on the auction scene again. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

November 24th, 2003, 10:02 PM	#115
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	There are much better deals available. What you need to pay attention to is not the "so-and-so hours" rating, but the milli-amphour rating. You got 1700mah batteries. They sell 3100mah batteries (about twice the capacity) over at DVXUSER.COM. B&H sells Power2000 batteries which are 3600mah for about $70. The biggest battery is the 5400mah Panasonic CGR-D54s, which run about $180.

November 24th, 2003, 11:20 PM	#116
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	I agree with Barry. And if you want DVX batteries made by Pana, you can get them in Japan or Down-Under for a lot cheaper, especially with the hip-pack.

December 16th, 2003, 01:17 AM	#118
Johnny Cheung Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: San Francisco CA Posts: 38	so may i know if CGRD53A is compatible with DVC80? This one below at b&h i mean: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=214243&is=REG thanks a lot.

December 16th, 2003, 01:52 AM	#119
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	The D53 would definitely be compatible with the DVC80. However, it's a belt-pack-mount battery system which may or may not be convenient for you. The CGR-D54 is also known as the VW-VBD55. It's the longest-lasting, most convenient battery available for the DVX. I got one from ebay seller "shimwass" and it's by far my favorite battery, it lasts about six hours with no sweat. I also have a couple of the Power2000 3600mah batteries, they seem to last around three, maybe three and a half hours.

December 16th, 2003, 03:50 AM	#120
Johnny Cheung Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: San Francisco CA Posts: 38	<<<-- Originally posted by Barry Green : The D53 would definitely be compatible with the DVC80. However, it's a belt-pack-mount battery system which may or may not be convenient for you. The CGR-D54 is also known as the VW-VBD55. It's the longest-lasting, most convenient battery available for the DVX. I got one from ebay seller "shimwass" and it's by far my favorite battery, it lasts about six hours with no sweat. I also have a couple of the Power2000 3600mah batteries, they seem to last around three, maybe three and a half hours. -->>> Oh I see. I found CGR-D54 on b&h, the price is $169.00, do you think it is good price? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=282863&is=REG and do you think its better to stick with one brand (panasonic) or it doesnt hurt if you switch between different brand of batteries? thnx again.