GL2 & XM2 Battery / Batteries

Graham Bernard · April 19th, 2006, 05:51 AM

The first BIG battery I bought was a GENUINE Canon, packaged as such CANON BP945 - it said "Hahnel" on the plastic casing. Subsequently I purchased same spec battery from a supplier, it TOO said Hahnel on the casing. I subsequently bought 2 further BP945s, this time directly from Hanel in Ireland. Go figure! My belief is that Canon don't actually - shock horror - "make" batteries! Possible? I suppose it must be far cheaper to make and transport Canon BP945s all the way around the Globe to the UK, than to have the Irish company, who makes the same, have them post them to me at a 1/2 the price? Or do you think I've got this incorrect.

So:-
Japan > Uk OR Ireland > uk - which do you think? Tricky? . .and ALL have Hahnel on their casings.

For the record, my first BP945 cost nearly £100GBps; subsequent batteeries have cost from £60 down to £53. And NOW I can get the Hanel's at £39.99 !

http://www.fotosense.co.uk/manufactu...=165&offset=16

Tricky hey?

Buy lots - what you can afford - and keep 'em perky! There is nought more sadder than a videographer WIHTOUT power . . .Well, there is . . but I'm keeping this jovial ..

Grazie

Bill Wilson · April 19th, 2006, 07:43 AM

I had a GL1 for 5 yrs. My experience with the battery supplied as follows, after a year of use the 915 would no longer hold a full charge. I obtained two 3300 ma. units that I used for the next 4 yrs. They always took a full charge
& never gave any trouble, good quality; the price was also very affordable.
The 3300ma. were $36- apiece & the 5500ma. $49.95.
I obtained them from www.sabahoceanic.com

I am about to purchase 2 more for my GL2.

Ian Stark · April 21st, 2006, 11:56 AM

Grazie (and other Brits),

I've bought a number of BP945 equivalents for well under £20 inc P&P from eBay. Here's an example link

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-BP-945-B...QQcmdZViewItem . It's one of many.

No idea who the manufacturers are but at these prices I have to say I'm quite happy to buy a new one every few months! I took four with me to a shoot yesterday which lasted just under four hours. I didn't need to use more than one battery. I have done absolutely no tests to see how well they perform in different conditions but to be honest I don't really care at that price! Using third party batteries won't hurt the camera so I'll save my pennies for more exciting things (like apres-shoot beverages - did a few of them last night, hic).

Nice weekend to you all!

Ian . . .

Graham Bernard · April 21st, 2006, 12:26 PM

Wow! That IS cheap . . Thanks Ian . . I'll keep it mind. g

Dale Guthormsen · April 22nd, 2006, 11:54 PM

Bruce,

You can never have to many batteries. I prefer the 945.

I recently bought a jobber battery for pretty cheap. I dropped it once on the floor and the bottom plate broke loose, it was two days old (not happy). I glued it back together and it works fine. I wondered if the jobber was not as well made but I did not want to run further testing.

Even in car batteries I think it is something like three companies that makes all the batteries.

Graham Bernard · April 23rd, 2006, 03:39 AM

Yesterday came back from an all day shoot. Started 9:00am, ended 5:00pm. Lotsa of interviews; PUSH focus on a LANC; ZOOMs for framing and slows for effects; volume control adjusts; lots of adjustments and ONs and OFFs. Took 4x 945s. Changed 945 once. Most likely COULD have gone all day on the one - maybe not. Changed just to be sure. Didn't even bother to unpack the other two 945s. Apart from that once, the only other battery I had to change was a non-rechargeable 9v for my Senni Rx.

All batteries were "Canon-Type" from Hanel.

Went easy . .

Grazie

Dale Guthormsen · April 23rd, 2006, 10:00 PM

Grazie,

I was filming Aircraft Carriers last week and I shot all day with only one 945. I carried a few others for safety and only tired myself out more carrying excess weight.

Steve Maisch · June 29th, 2006, 10:21 AM

Looking to buy a second battery for my GL2.

On B&H's website they have a Canon BP930 for $74.95

Then they have an Impact BP930 battery for $49.95.

Whats the difference? Is Canon really that much better? Which should I buy.

Also I have a total of $200 to buy a battery and some protective filters/lenses. Any good suggestions on screw on filter kits for the Canon GL2?

Steve Maisch · June 29th, 2006, 10:34 AM

Anyone hip to the Tiffen Soft FX3 58mm filter for the GL2? Its like $40.

Looks good, but has anyone had practical use of it?

Nathan James · June 30th, 2006, 03:19 PM

Steve,

I can't say for sure what the diff is really other than the Mamps are a little different.

I just bought 3 Impact batteries for my GL2 yesterday so well see how they work.

Nathan

Jarrod Whaley · July 3rd, 2006, 10:51 AM

You can get generic BP-945 knockoffs for $20 on Ebay. I have been using them for about 2 years, and they work every bit as well as the Canons. There's absolutely no difference, other than the Canon logo.

There are plenty of other dvi members who use these batteries as well, and I've never heard of anyone having even a tiny problem with them. Even if one of them were to go bad after a while, at $20 it's nothing to just buy more. Seriously, pick up a couple of these and spend your money on quality glass.

edit: by the way, I know you're not asking for advice about filters, but just for the benefit of anyone else who might be looking I thought I'd add that you should buy double-coated glass whenever possible... the coating does a pretty good job of cutting out reflections.

Graham Bernard · July 3rd, 2006, 11:43 AM

Been using 1/3 party 945s for 3 years. Recently been using them to power an 12volt External 16:9 cheapo monitor - via a step up device - and they are still 50% full after 3 hours of use. Their refresh rate is well within convenience too.

Grazie

Chris Burgess · July 6th, 2006, 10:46 AM

i recently got the impact from B&H, and while the battery works just like it should, i have a real problem getting it to line up and lock in when i move it from charger to cam...its only this one battery though, and my old batt. fits fine as does the stocker canon so i know its not a problem with the cam...

once you get in locked in its fine but getting it there can be a hassle, and you don't want to force it and break something...

Kenneth Tong · July 31st, 2006, 01:35 AM

I am a supporter of 3rd party batteries. I bought one for HK$500 which has been working fine for 3 years. There is no sign of going weak. My friend told me that it can be cheaper if I buy it in China. It is just half the price of a Canon battery but one and a half longer video time.

Kenneth

Mark Donnell · July 31st, 2006, 02:25 PM

I have a warning for those who purchase batteries from anywhere. There is a huge business out there in substituting used batteries for new ones. This is generally done by carefully opening the package, exchanging the new battery for a used one, and resealing the package. I have experienced this at Fry's Electronics, and by mail order form Etronics. In the latter case, I strongly suspect that the company itself was doing the switch. It took me three tries to get a new, unopened battery from Etronics. The substitutes that arrived the first two times had been opened and the batteries had multiple scratches and other evidence of significant use. Buyer beware - this is a real problem.

April 19th, 2006, 07:43 AM	#257
Bill Wilson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Leesburg, Fla Posts: 86	Batteries for GL1 & 2 I had a GL1 for 5 yrs. My experience with the battery supplied as follows, after a year of use the 915 would no longer hold a full charge. I obtained two 3300 ma. units that I used for the next 4 yrs. They always took a full charge & never gave any trouble, good quality; the price was also very affordable. The 3300ma. were $36- apiece & the 5500ma. $49.95. I obtained them from www.sabahoceanic.com I am about to purchase 2 more for my GL2.

April 21st, 2006, 11:56 AM	#258
Ian Stark Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,237	Grazie (and other Brits), I've bought a number of BP945 equivalents for well under £20 inc P&P from eBay. Here's an example link http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-BP-945-B...QQcmdZViewItem . It's one of many. No idea who the manufacturers are but at these prices I have to say I'm quite happy to buy a new one every few months! I took four with me to a shoot yesterday which lasted just under four hours. I didn't need to use more than one battery. I have done absolutely no tests to see how well they perform in different conditions but to be honest I don't really care at that price! Using third party batteries won't hurt the camera so I'll save my pennies for more exciting things (like apres-shoot beverages - did a few of them last night, hic). Nice weekend to you all! Ian . . . __________________ www.vit-media.com www.classicmachinefilms.co.uk

April 22nd, 2006, 11:54 PM	#260
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	batteries Bruce, You can never have to many batteries. I prefer the 945. I recently bought a jobber battery for pretty cheap. I dropped it once on the floor and the bottom plate broke loose, it was two days old (not happy). I glued it back together and it works fine. I wondered if the jobber was not as well made but I did not want to run further testing. Even in car batteries I think it is something like three companies that makes all the batteries. __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

April 23rd, 2006, 10:00 PM	#262
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	all day shoot Grazie, I was filming Aircraft Carriers last week and I shot all day with only one 945. I carried a few others for safety and only tired myself out more carrying excess weight. __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

June 29th, 2006, 10:21 AM	#263
Steve Maisch Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 32	BP930 Battery from B&H Looking to buy a second battery for my GL2. On B&H's website they have a Canon BP930 for $74.95 Then they have an Impact BP930 battery for $49.95. Whats the difference? Is Canon really that much better? Which should I buy. Also I have a total of $200 to buy a battery and some protective filters/lenses. Any good suggestions on screw on filter kits for the Canon GL2?

April 19th, 2006, 05:51 AM	#256
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	The first BIG battery I bought was a GENUINE Canon, packaged as such CANON BP945 - it said "Hahnel" on the plastic casing. Subsequently I purchased same spec battery from a supplier, it TOO said Hahnel on the casing. I subsequently bought 2 further BP945s, this time directly from Hanel in Ireland. Go figure! My belief is that Canon don't actually - shock horror - "make" batteries! Possible? I suppose it must be far cheaper to make and transport Canon BP945s all the way around the Globe to the UK, than to have the Irish company, who makes the same, have them post them to me at a 1/2 the price? Or do you think I've got this incorrect. So:- Japan > Uk OR Ireland > uk - which do you think? Tricky? . .and ALL have Hahnel on their casings. For the record, my first BP945 cost nearly £100GBps; subsequent batteeries have cost from £60 down to £53. And NOW I can get the Hanel's at £39.99 ! http://www.fotosense.co.uk/manufactu...=165&offset=16 Tricky hey? Buy lots - what you can afford - and keep 'em perky! There is nought more sadder than a videographer WIHTOUT power . . .Well, there is . . but I'm keeping this jovial .. Grazie

April 21st, 2006, 12:26 PM	#259
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Wow! That IS cheap . . Thanks Ian . . I'll keep it mind. g

April 23rd, 2006, 03:39 AM	#261
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Yesterday came back from an all day shoot. Started 9:00am, ended 5:00pm. Lotsa of interviews; PUSH focus on a LANC; ZOOMs for framing and slows for effects; volume control adjusts; lots of adjustments and ONs and OFFs. Took 4x 945s. Changed 945 once. Most likely COULD have gone all day on the one - maybe not. Changed just to be sure. Didn't even bother to unpack the other two 945s. Apart from that once, the only other battery I had to change was a non-rechargeable 9v for my Senni Rx. All batteries were "Canon-Type" from Hanel. Went easy . . Grazie

June 29th, 2006, 10:34 AM	#264
Steve Maisch Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 32	Anyone hip to the Tiffen Soft FX3 58mm filter for the GL2? Its like $40. Looks good, but has anyone had practical use of it?

June 30th, 2006, 03:19 PM	#265
Nathan James New Boot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Grand Junction, Colorado Posts: 22	Steve, I can't say for sure what the diff is really other than the Mamps are a little different. I just bought 3 Impact batteries for my GL2 yesterday so well see how they work. Nathan

July 3rd, 2006, 10:51 AM	#266
Jarrod Whaley Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: chattanooga, tn Posts: 721	You can get generic BP-945 knockoffs for $20 on Ebay. I have been using them for about 2 years, and they work every bit as well as the Canons. There's absolutely no difference, other than the Canon logo. There are plenty of other dvi members who use these batteries as well, and I've never heard of anyone having even a tiny problem with them. Even if one of them were to go bad after a while, at $20 it's nothing to just buy more. Seriously, pick up a couple of these and spend your money on quality glass. edit: by the way, I know you're not asking for advice about filters, but just for the benefit of anyone else who might be looking I thought I'd add that you should buy double-coated glass whenever possible... the coating does a pretty good job of cutting out reflections. __________________ -->jarrod whaley. www.oakstreetfilms.com

July 3rd, 2006, 11:43 AM	#267
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Been using 1/3 party 945s for 3 years. Recently been using them to power an 12volt External 16:9 cheapo monitor - via a step up device - and they are still 50% full after 3 hours of use. Their refresh rate is well within convenience too. Grazie

July 6th, 2006, 10:46 AM	#268
Chris Burgess Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 30	i recently got the impact from B&H, and while the battery works just like it should, i have a real problem getting it to line up and lock in when i move it from charger to cam...its only this one battery though, and my old batt. fits fine as does the stocker canon so i know its not a problem with the cam... once you get in locked in its fine but getting it there can be a hassle, and you don't want to force it and break something...

July 31st, 2006, 01:35 AM	#269
Kenneth Tong Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 71	3 rd party batteries I am a supporter of 3rd party batteries. I bought one for HK$500 which has been working fine for 3 years. There is no sign of going weak. My friend told me that it can be cheaper if I buy it in China. It is just half the price of a Canon battery but one and a half longer video time. Kenneth

July 31st, 2006, 02:25 PM	#270
Mark Donnell Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Silver City, NM Posts: 385	I have a warning for those who purchase batteries from anywhere. There is a huge business out there in substituting used batteries for new ones. This is generally done by carefully opening the package, exchanging the new battery for a used one, and resealing the package. I have experienced this at Fry's Electronics, and by mail order form Etronics. In the latter case, I strongly suspect that the company itself was doing the switch. It took me three tries to get a new, unopened battery from Etronics. The substitutes that arrived the first two times had been opened and the batteries had multiple scratches and other evidence of significant use. Buyer beware - this is a real problem.