GL2 & XM2 Battery / Batteries

Jason, you mentioned the Interstate batteries for the GL2 in a recent post, but I've not been able to find them. Any good sites you could reccomend?

Do you know of a cheaper alternative than Cannons to charge two batteries at once?

Does the Cannon DC car adapter allow you to use a NRG battery pack?

THanks,

Andy Smith

[John VVV]

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2909&pagenumber=2

Andy here is a start on the charger question-- above.

For the interstate battery try a search for "Protected Power Company" could be protectedpower.com ?

Regards, John V.

Edit; here is the battery link http://www.yourbatteryterminal.com/xl1gl1extended.html

[Ken Tanaka]

The BP945-equivalent battery shown in Andy's link is rated at 4350mAh (milliampere hours, the general capacity rating for batteries). This will certainly run your GL1, GL2, XL1, or XL1s for a good long time. But, contrary to the site's assertion, this is by no means the "highest power rating". In fact, it's not even up to Canon's own BP-945 specification (4500mAh).

The Power-2000 BP-945 batteries sold at B&H Photo (and elsewhere) are rated at 6000mAh. I have several and can attest to their remarkable lasting power.

Yes, they are just a bit more expensive ($89.95) than the the others ($69.95). But if you're really interested in a go-all-day high-capacity battery this is your benchmark.

Others have reported that Lenmar makes a similarly high-cap 945 equivalent, too, but I've not tried one myself.

Ken, are you saying that the Power-2000 BP-945 6000mAh batteries are better that the original Canon BP-945 batteries?

The price for the Power 2000 is cheaper at $89.95 compare to $119.95.

The milliampere are higher.

So what is the catch? The weight? The durability? How many charges can this battery go through?

[Jeff Donald]

The catch is your not paying for Canon's advertising (or do tennis stars do endorsements for free). It also is slightly heavier than the Canon. I use two of the Lenmar batteries Ken refers to and I'm very happy with their performence.

Jeff

[Ken Tanaka]

Gilbert,
Basically there is no catch. As Jeff noted, Canon's mark-up of a 3rd party's batteries (Canon doesn't manufacture batteries) represents the price difference. Canon has a worldwide marketing presence, the manufacturer of the Canon-branded batteries doesn't. It's that simple. The Power 2000 batteries are, indeed, better than the original 945's.

I don't know the rated cycles but I've no reason whatsoever to believe that they're any shorter-lived than Canons. Mine have certainly not shown any degradation so far.

[Dirk Goris]

Who knows where in Europe I can buy this Power-2000 or Lenmar batteries?

Thanks,

Dirk

PS: The canon battery costs $179. What a rip off!

Thanks guys for all the helpful input on the 3rd party batteries.

Nobody seemed to know the answer to the "Car Battery Adapter" question. (Would it work on a NRG 12V belt?) After asking this question to a lot of people, I finally called Cannon. WOULD YOU BELIEVE NOBODY THERE, INCLUDING THE TECHS, COULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION???? Their bottom line was that it had not been tested and possibly could damage the camera, in which case they wouldn't be responsible. I started to ask him if he knew for a fact it had been tested with a Sabb, but figured it would sail right over his head.

I finally got a salesman at B&H that had sense enough to come in out of the rain. He said that 12 volts negetave ground battery belts were made to be compatable with automotive 12V system devices. Of course, you have to have the DC adapter for your device. He said that indeed they had used it that way on a GL2. Said that a to a videographer, a portable belt made a lot more sense than a car for power. DUH!!!

Moral to the story is buy from folks that can answer your questions.

Andy

[Blake Haber]

Hi. Does anyone have any good experiences with any particular off-brand (non-Canon) cheap-price extended-life batteries for the GL1/2 that they can happily recommend?

Thanks a lot,

Blake

[Barry Goyette]

The lenmar LIC941 is as good or better than the equivalent Canon battery. I leave mine on my gl2 for days at a time and it never seems to go down. Some have said it lasts for about 4 hours...haven't really tried to test it, but I can believe it. Saw one for 60 bucks on streetprices.com

http://www.StreetPrices.com/Electronics/SP619298.html?query=lenmar%20941

Typically I think you'll find it between $80-$100. I don't know if the sponsors carry it...check them out first.

Barry

[Ken Tanaka]

You'll want to see this thread:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...ght=power+2000

[Blake Haber]

Thanks a lot, Barry and Ken.

I went with the Power 2000 from B&H, for about $80US. So far it seems to be a good and long-lasting unit. I don't know how long because I've already shot more than an hour on it and the battery guage hasn't moved off of "max" yet.

b

[Ken Tanaka]

On the GL2 you may not have to charge the Power 2000 battery until your warranty expires!

Glad to hear you tried it out and are happy so far, Blake!

[Aaron Koolen]

I'll add a thumbs up for the Power-2000 also as I received one last week. Good, long lasting battery at a really good price.

[Stephen Sobel]

Ok, I understand the Power 2000 batteries last longer than the Canon ones. I also remember reading that they were somewhat wider. Does anyone know if this is true, and if so, how much wider?

For that matter, are they also heavier?

Stepehn