Canon XL2 Battery Endurance
by Chris Hurd

The XL2 operator's manual includes a battery endurance chart similar to the one below, however it is arranged a bit differently. In the manual, this chart is organized by the lens type. Here I've laid it out by viewfinder type, which keeps the lenses grouped together. If you have two lenses and one viewfinder, the chart here is easier to reference. If you have one lens and two viewfinders, consult the chart in the XL2 manual.

single battery pack			BP-930	BP-945
charging time with CA-920 (included with XL2 kit)			145 min.	220 min.
w/ multifunction LCD EVF (included with XL2 kit)	max. rec. time	with 20x L IS lens	155 min.	230 min.
		with 16x Manual lens	185 min.	280 min.
	typ. rec. time	with 20x L IS lens	90 min.	135 min.
		with 16x Manual lens	105 min.	160 min.
w/ monochrome CRT EVF (optional Canon FU-1000)	max. rec. time	with 20x L IS lens	120 min.	185 min.
		with 16x Manual lens	135 min.	205 min.
	typ. rec. time	with 20x L IS lens	65 min.	100 min.
		with 16x Manual lens	75 min.	115 min.
playback time in VCR Program Mode			235 min.	360 min.

Be advised that Canon's explanation of "typical recording time" allows for repeated operations such as record / pause, zooming, and powering up and down. Accordingly, the actual typical recording time may be even shorter than the durations stated above. A lot depends on a particular individual's shooting style.

For those who already own or are considering the Canon CA-910 Dual Battery Charger / Holder, the chart below is a rough projection of typical recording times using a pair of BP-930's or BP-945's. Its accuracy is not guaranteed, but it should be pretty close. As XL2 user reports come in, this chart will be updated to reflect real-world experiences.

dual battery packs		BP-930	BP-945
charging time with CA-910 (dual batt. charger / holder)		4 hr. 50 min.	7 hr. 20 min.
typical recording time w/ multifunction LCD EVF (included with XL2 kit)	with 20x L IS lens	3 hr. 00 min.	4 hr. 30 min.
	with 16x Manual lens	3 hr. 30 min.	5 hr. 20 min.
typical recording time w/ monochrome CRT EVF (optional Canon FU-1000)	with 20x L IS lens	2 hr. 10 min.	3 hr. 20 min.
	with 16x Manual lens	2 hr. 30 min.	3 hr. 50 min.
playback time in VCR Program Mode		7 hr. 50 min.	12 hr. 00 min.

In the near future, the Watchdog plans to accumulate XL2 battery endurance data for a variety of commercially available camera power solutions from such third-party manufacturers as Anton-Bauer, Aspen, IDX and others. Stay tuned!

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Thrown together by Chris Hurd.