Since I don't have an XL1S anymore or an XL2 for that matter I don't know
what amps and volts those batteries want. Check those as well. You will
definitely need a converter that goes from 12v to 7.2v (if I remember correctly).

The higher the amps the better (the longer it will last). I believe a Lenmar
battery I once bought for my XL1S was in the range of 4200 mA, or 4.2 A

I am looking for reviews on Vidpro Canon BP535 8 Hour Lithium Ion Battery before i buy one. And also where can i get the best bargain for 1.6 X extender for my XL 2 Pal?
Thanks

I'm sure this has been answered many times in all the Canon forums, but the search feature isn't working and need I need to know this asap.

The list price on the batteries ($100?) is a little steep and I wanted to know if there was any reason I shouldn't use something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/CANON-BP-945-941-XL1-XL2-XL1S-GL1-GL2-GL3-8HR-BATTERY_W0QQitemZ7561214654QQcategoryZ20330QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Or any of those under $100 ebay batteries, for that matter.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the post.

I've had no problems with non-canon batteries on my XL2/GL2, I have used 4 X 6000mah BP945 batts for over 2 years with no issues.

Thanks, that's what I wanted to hear!

I just bought a "techCell"(7.2 5500mAh) version of the canon battery for an xl2 because it was a third of the price, when the charger reads full i put it on the camera and it only reads half way and if I heard right a Li-ion battery doesnt have memory issues so is this thing just bunk or what ?

I just bought a "techCell"(7.2 5500mAh) version of the canon battery for an xl2 because it was a third of the price, when the charger reads full i put it on the camera and it only reads half way and if I heard right a Li-ion battery doesnt have memory issues so is this thing just bunk or what ?

Welcome to the battery conundrum. You are correct, Li-Ion batteries do not suffer memory effect like their counterparts however they do require more care than other batteries. One thing that you need to know is that battery manufacturers purchase cells on the market to create their end product. The characteristics of the individual cells that go into the package vary widely. A 'cheap' battery for your camera may be just that on the inside. The vendor may have purchased cheap cells that may not meet the spec of a more expensive battery.

I'm an engineer for Motorola, in the last year, my customer complained about battery issues, we got a very formal education on what it takes to put together a quality battery pack for our radios. I was amazed at the vast differences in a batch of cells made by the same manufacturer much less vendor to vendor. One company that makes batteries for us has multiple levels of quality for the same size cell and they range in price accordingly. A cheap cell that tests well might get you close to the output that you want but a more expensive battery cell was one that tested better and was at or above the required output.

Ok back to your issue, below I have copied some basic battery information from batteryuniverse.com which deals with the care of a cell pack for best and optimal use. If after you follow some of the basics described below and the pack is still not up to par, send it back, get a credit and get a new battery pack. BTW, I've been gettng cells from a company called The Battery Bank in Orlando. They are on the web and offer the better quality 3rd party cells such as PowerCell2000 which many have claimed and I will attest to be a great cell at a great price.

Hope this helps you a little. ML

----------

Battery Do's:

Fully charge/discharge battery up to 4 cycles before achieving full capacity of a new battery

Fully discharge and then fully charge the battery every three to four weeks to keep maximize the cycle life.

Remove from the device and stored in a cool, dry, clean place if the battery will not be in use for a month or longer,

Recharge the battery after a storage period, usually if it has been sitting for more than three weeks.

Ensure maximum performance of the battery by optimizing the device's power management features. Refer to the manual for further instructions.

Battery Don'ts:

Do not short-circuit. A short-circuit may cause severe damage to the battery.

Do not drop, hit or otherwise abuse the battery as this may result in the exposure of the cell contents, which are corrosive.

Do not expose the battery to moisture or rain.

Keep battery away from fire or other sources of extreme heat. Do not incinerate. Exposure of battery to extreme heat may result in an explosion.


My new battery isn't charging. Is it defective?

Usually NO. New batteries come in a discharged condition and must be fully charged before use. It is recommended that you fully charge and discharge the new battery two to four times to allow it to reach its maximum rated capacity

It is generally recommend an overnight charge (approximately twelve hours). It is normal for a battery to become warm to the touch during charging and discharging.

When charging the battery for the first time, the device may indicate that charging is complete after just 10 or 15 minutes. This is a normal with rechargeable batteries. New batteries are hard for the device to charge; they have never been fully charged and not “broken in.” Sometimes the device's charger will stop charging a new battery before it is fully charged. If this happens, remove the battery from the device and then reinsert it. The charge cycle should begin again. This may happen several times during the first battery charge. Don't worry; it's perfectly normal.

How can I maximize the performance of my battery?

There are several steps you can take to help you get maximum performance from your battery:

Prevent the Memory Effect - Keep the battery healthy by fully charging and then fully discharging it at least once every two to three weeks. Exceptions to the rule are Li-Ion batteries which do not suffer from the memory effect.

Keep the Batteries Clean - It's a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection between the battery and the portable device.

Exercise the Battery - Do not leave the battery dormant for long periods of time. We recommend using the battery at least once every two to three weeks. If a battery has not been used for a long period of time, perform the new battery procedure described above.

Battery Storage - If you don't plan on using the battery for a month or more, store it in a clean, dry, cool place away from heat and metal objects. NiCad, NiMH and Li-Ion batteries will self-discharge during storage; remember to recharge the batteries before use.

Sealed Lead Acid - (SLA) batteries must be kept at full charge during storage. This is usually achieved by using special trickle chargers. If you do not have a trickle charger, do not attempt to store SLA batteries for more than three months.

We have been using XL1s for the last 8 or 9 years at our church. One of the problems we have had over the years was the contacts where the battery or ac adapter mounts. We are updating our cameras and are thinking of buying XL2s. Were there any improvements made for the battery adapter? Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone know a solution? I was wondering how the Anton Bauer batteries mount?

Thanks for any info.

The Anton Bauer batteries mount to the back of the XL2's accessory mount. Thy use the same connection as the standard XL batteries though.

Is there an off brand name alternative (yet uses same cells) to the AB dionic 90 batteries. Who actually makes the batteries for AB? I found this site http://www.batteries4broadcast.com, they sell a AB equivilent pack (C2-4060P) for 725.00, vs 1397.00 for the AB brand on B&H. Has anyone bought from this place? Is there a place that sells recelled AB dionic 90 batteries? Or is it better to buy them brand new? I would like to purchase something like the dionic 90 but am trying to pay less. I am planning to power everything off the camera battery (light, shotgun, firestorm)
thanks
ruben

Is there an off brand name alternative (yet uses same cells) to the AB dionic 90 batteries. Who actually makes the batteries for AB? I found this site http://www.batteries4broadcast.com, they sell a AB equivilent pack (C2-4060P) for 725.00, vs 1397.00 for the AB brand on B&H. Has anyone bought from this place? Is there a place that sells recelled AB dionic 90 batteries? Or is it better to buy them brand new? I would like to purchase something like the dionic 90 but am trying to pay less. I am planning to power everything off the camera battery (light, shotgun, firestorm)
thanks
ruben

Several companies make A/B and V-Mount style batteries. You can go to our site sponsors such as Varizoom and Tapeworks Texas for more info and to purchase.

-gb-

i was looking at b&h's xl-2 cam there selling and for like an extra grand or so you can get an anton power pack or for a grand less you can get the standard BP-930 Battery Pack what is you take on this? and how long deos both batery work?

I can't speak for those schmancy anton bauer setups, but I can tell you that I've had no problems with regular old Li-ion batteries.

The BP-930 is fine. It just doesn't last that long (per individual charge). I'd recommend picking up a couple of cheap knock-off BP-945's on Ebay. The last I looked, they can be had for under $20. They're generic OEM-type things, but I've been using them for a long time with no issues whatsoever.

yeah true i agree why spend the big bucks when you can buy more cheap priced ones that will achieve the same does the BP-930 Battery Pack last at least 200 minutes?

It depends on the shooting conditions. You might get 90 min. out of the stock battery, but an hour is more likely. I really do recommend those cheap 945's. It really sucks to run out of battery power in the middle of a shoot.

I have a bunch of normal size batteries (that I use most with the Canon XL on-camera light) and a bunch of heavy duty batteries (all non-Canon bought cheap from Ebay) that work well for most of my needs.

I also have an extra heavy duty special XL2 battery pack belt that plugs directly into the XL2 and allows constant filming for many hours without recharging.

I have 4 extended batteries and never have needed anything else, unless you are going to be with no electricity for days on end... the AB battery kit is really overkill.



ash =o)

... with no electricity for days on end...
ash =o)

That is one of the main reasons why I take the Canon XL1/2/H1 battery belt (that provides 5-8 hours of constant power). For a lot of my filming, I'm a long way from a car or powerpoint for extended periods.

I have 4 extended batteries and never have needed anything else, unless you are going to be with no electricity for days on end... the AB battery kit is really overkill.



ash =o)

Unless you just like to have a nose heavy camera on your shoulder. (grin)

That's the main reason I went with it, and for future migration.

The future arrived a few weeks ago when UPS delivered my Sony F350. With an inexensive adapter, those batteries and charger are now powering the new camera. Not an option with the Canon style batteries.

-gb-

i have a couple canon brand batteries.. and some cheap no-name brands off ebay. I shot a short in 3 days using two xl1s last month. the canon batteries needed recharging after about 2 hours of shooting off and on. The no-name lasted the whole day..from sunrise to sunset. Both cams were running the same ammount of time and we had the same results all 3 days. I bought these cheap batteries when i had my gl1 and they last forever!

I heart my AB batteries. I've used them on the old Betacams and was then able to just buy the plate for the XL2. When I get a JVC HD100 or HD250 later this year, I'll be able to buy the plate for that one as well.

I hadn't realized that the anton bauers were so easily usable with other systems. That is nice.

Greg's point about balancing out the camera is a good one too.

In my case, though, I'm pretty much on the tripod at least 97% of the time anyway. And if I ever got a camera from a different manufacturer, I'd probably just get some $20 batts for it too.

I guess the AB's are good for some people, they just don't make sense for me and the way(s) I shoot.

And if I ever got a camera from a different manufacturer, I'd probably just get some $20 batts for it too.

I guess the AB's are good for some people, they just don't make sense for me and the way(s) I shoot.

You won't be finding any $20 batteries for the Sony I just got. ;-)

That's part of the problem with going to a higher end camera...all the other parts cost a lot more too and they aren't even included in the box. Yikes!

But that being said, there are less expensive 'compatible' batteries and chargers than going with the A/B brand.

-gb-

You won't be finding any $20 batteries for the Sony I just got. ;-)Touché. :)

I do see the utility in batteries you can use on anything. But I don't expect to be getting my hands on too many fancycams in the near future. I wouldn't even have an XL2 if I hadn't gotten a grant that paid for it.

But you never know, I guess.

We are shooting a feature film and a lot of it is outdoors. Batteries don't last long enough and we can't plug it in. Any suggestions? Are there products available that will allow us to film long lengths of time?

Also, is there any difference between MiniDV tapes or are they all the same? The different brands and "premium" labels etc.

You could buy the Anton Bauer battery adapter plate and stick a very large capacity battery on the camera which will run that thing all day long. Another way is to buy the dual battery holder/adapter from Canon and use two batteries in parallel. The advantage to this method is you can swap out batteries for fresh ones and the remaining battery will keep the camera running during the swap. Buy some of the new iithium high capacity batteries that Canon released with the XLH1. They are the best ones to date for operating time.

-gb-

Is this the battery you are talking about? http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/itempage.asp?itemid=6088

THe 250 dollars for the adapter plate is way too much.

We have this fanny pack looking thing that came with the XL1 (ebay) that has two really big batteries in it. They are connected to a cigarette lighter output. It's designed for lights I think, but if we get a cigarette lighter to outlet converter could we jsut plug the XL2 into it?

Get the CH-910 Dual Battery holder/charger. Then stock up on generic BP-945 batteries off eBay (I can recommend one seller) that use Panasonic cell packs. A pair of these will operate the XL-2 for a day, and that's tape moving time, too. Total cost is a fraction of that of an AB setup, not to mention a fraction of the weight and charge times.

175 dollars is a bit much to spend on that. Was that link correct to the battery you were talking about that's the best in terms of operating time?

Just go with the cheap generic 945's you can find on Ebay. I use them all the time, and I've never had any trouble. They usually go for about $20.

Don't forget about the Canon dual charger/holder. I use 2 945s on mine and it also balances out the camera a bit more with the stock lens pulling it forward. Every week lasts all day for me event filming for anything up to 7 or 8 hours.

Marc, be sure to read my article Canon XL2 Battery Endurance (http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxl2/articles/article09.php).

Anton Bauer batteries are great and they are the industry standard. Pretty much all professional video cameras have an Anton Bauer gold mount when they leave the factory*. They're universal. As Greg pointed out, his Anton Bauers are migrating from his old camera to his new camera.

A Hytron 50, or Dionic 90 on the back helps balance the front-heavy XL2 nicely. My handheld shots are steadier and my wrist and arm are in better shape at the end of the day.

I got Power 2000 BP-945's before I got the A/B system and they were adequate. Four would get me through a day with a couple rotated through the charger. I can go pretty much all day with one Anton Bauer Hytron 50 running the camera, FU-1000 and occasionally, a 35W light. The Dionic 90 would last even longer at 90 watt hours. With the Anton Bauers, I have almost no battery changes, so I'm usually just stopping to change tapes. With the larger cameras, I have to change batteries more frequently because they are drawing much more power than the XL2's 9watts.

I can also use my A/B batts to power my PVM-9L3 monitor, Dedolights, and other items.

Anton Bauer (http://www.antonbauer.com/)

*Sony has their V mount and IDX is cutting into A/B's market share, but Anton Bauer is ubiquitous.

We have the A/B plate on all of our XL series cameras. and we purchased the IDX adapter plate to run the v-locks. You can run the field monitors, and most other needed items all off the same type of battery. Also keep in mind that you gain a 12volt D-tap power port right on the camera for lights, on board monitors wireless devices etc..

I come from the video world of very heavy cameras. I find my new XL-2 is front heavy. I purchased the ANTON BAUER plate and saved money by buying the new SWITRONIX 130W battery. I can power my Sachtler light and camera for hours on end now and have a proper balance of the camera.

I really don't mean to be combative when I say this, but it just doesn't make sense to me to spend $1000 on a battery system if your main reason for buying it is to balance the camera. If that's all you want, then mount a salvaged construction brick on the shoulder rest for free. It may not be as pretty, but your video will look the same either way, and that seems like the important thing to me.

While so many people seem to be very happy with the Anton Bauer setup, I just can't see why it's a justifiable expense. Generic BP-945's are dirt cheap and plentiful. Yes, it's easy to migrate your AB setup to another camera later. But it's also just as easy to buy Anton Bauers when you actually do get a new camera and stick to the $20 batts while they still work. You're only going to end up spending maybe $40 or $60 that way, and you can put off the expensive purchase of schmancy batteries until you really need them--and quite possibly, you never will.

Finally, I just want to add that I'm not trying to argue with those who've bought the AB's and are happy with them. If you're happy, then that's what matters. I'm just reiterating my opinion here for the possible benefit of those who are currently making this decision. That opinion being, in summary, that you'll be more than fine with $20 knock-offs. You'll need to change batteries more often, but you'll also save a boatload of money that can be spent on more essential things.

I really don't mean to be combative when I say this, but it just doesn't make sense to me to spend $1000 on a battery system if your main reason for buying it is to balance the camera. If that's all you want, then mount a salvaged construction brick on the shoulder rest for free. It may not be as pretty, but your video will look the same either way, and that seems like the important thing to me.

While so many people seem to be very happy with the Anton Bauer setup, I just can't see why it's a justifiable expense. Generic BP-945's are dirt cheap and plentiful. Yes, it's easy to migrate your AB setup to another camera later. But it's also just as easy to buy Anton Bauers when you actually do get a new camera and stick to the $20 batts while they still work. You're only going to end up spending maybe $40 or $60 that way, and you can put off the expensive purchase of schmancy batteries until you really need them--and quite possibly, you never will.

Finally, I just want to add that I'm not trying to argue with those who've bought the AB's and are happy with them. If you're happy, then that's what matters. I'm just reiterating my opinion here for the possible benefit of those who are currently making this decision. That opinion being, in summary, that you'll be more than fine with $20 knock-offs. You'll need to change batteries more often, but you'll also save a boatload of money that can be spent on more essential things.

Duly noted. And for the record, I didn't buy a 'brand new' AB system for my XL2. I saved a boatload of money by using our classifieds and buying from a fellow DVINFO member. A win-win situation IMO.

If you don't need them, fine. It all depends on the type of work you do with your camera. But I factored 'camera balance' in my decision as just one of the benefits of the AB system. Interoperability and compatibllity with other equipment was another factor. Migration was yet another factor. Integrity and reliability another factor.

It's good to have choices.

-gb-

thx chris wow there some who really takes the extra time in life and i would say you get rewarded after a while thx alot nice article

I bought three of these cheap clones and I'm lucky if I use two on a normal day's shooting...


http://www.cheap-camcorder-batteries.co.uk/canon-bp-945.htm

I've worked with AB in the professional world of ENG, and I love 'em.

I own an Xl2 for my work, and made my decision to go with the 910 dual pack and cheap 945's for power for EXACTLY the reasons Jarrod outlined. At the time, I couldn't afford to buy into an AB system, and didn't see myself needing it for a while. (Still don't. When I freelance for TV stations, they supply the gear.)

I have one 930 (That's what came with the camera, right?) and four 945's. I've shot all day, and not run out of power. The great thing about the 910 is that it charges two batteries. So overnite, I set two batts on it, one in the charger that shipped with the cam, and I'm good to go. And yes, the weight of the 910 and the dual 945's is great balance. I also use the FU-1000 viewfinder, but I use the manual 16x lens.

Like the man said, choice is good.

I am a new XL2 owner and have a question about the CH-910 Dual Battery Charger...do I understand it right that this charger holds 2 BP-930 batteries and will mount to the bracket that was supplied with the camera? The bracket mounts on the back part of the XL2.

Thanks,

Richard

Hi Richard, yes that's correct, and it holds any two BP-9xx batteries in any combination. You could have two BP-945's, one 945 and one 930, etc.

Thanks Chris, I thought so...but wanted to make sure.

Happy Holidays!

Richard

the CH-910 Dual Battery Charger...do I understand it right that this charger holds 2 BP-930 batteries and will mount to the bracket that was supplied with the camera? The bracket mounts on the back part of the XL2.
Yes
The CH-910 holds two battery packs and can charge them one after the other. Once the batteries are charged, the CH-910, with batteries in place, can be simply attached to the bracket(which is mounted to the back of the XL2) and then connected directly to your XL2. This will give you twice the recording time of just one battery. It can be used with any combination of Canon BP-900 series Lithium-Ion batteries.

Keep in mind, it makes the Camera a little heavy, but you will get use to the weight. The extra weight at the back will help balance the weight of the camera. With the 20X lens attached, the frontend of the xl2 is the heaviest part of the camcorder. The extra weight at the back will be a counter-balance.

Does anyone have a picture of the dual battery on their camera?
Thanks,
Brandon

I recently worked on a gig using the XL-H1 and this camera had a v-lock type battery on the back and despite making the camera heavier, it made the long shoot easier as it was balanced better on my shoulder.

I'm now looking into getting such a battery for my XL2, does anybody have any suggestions of good buys for such an item

Cheers in advance

Owen

Nobody know of anything then?

Hi Owen

I use IDX v-locks on my Sony kit (DSR-450 etc.). They do 2 versions, the more expensive allow batteries to be piggy-backed for longer duration. Take a look at http://www.idxtek.com/

Alternatively, Hawk-Woods are a UK company taht are cheaper and make lots of bits - power taps etc for v-locks. See them at http://www.hawkwoods.com/

Hope this helps

Graham

Thanks Graham.

I've looked at the IDX systems before and they seem to suite my requirements the most. Bit pricey for me at the moment but I guess it'll go on the wishlist with a whole host of other things.

I guess I could just strap a brick to the back with some gaff in the meantime

Thanks again,

Owen