Not happy with battery times on HV20. Not irate, just not happy. Anyone know of/using a battery pack for the HV20? I'd like something that would give me 2 - 3 hours even if using the LCD display and mic shoe on the top. Bob

The Canon BP-2L14 at 53 bucks looks like a no-brainer to me.

I went with the Lenmar LIC2L12 for $25 from Amazon. It's rated at 7.4v 1500mAh and carries a 3 Year Warranty.

Are you sure it's the LIC2L12? I looked it up on Amazon and it's only rated at 1250mAh...

I sent my wife to grab an HV-20 and a spare battery today from my local camera shop which I had pre-ordered. I asked them for the canon BP-2L14. What they sold me is a promaster equivalent for the "NB-2L14". It's rated for 1500mah, but only 7.2V. Will this work?

(I'm thinking of not even trying it, but returning it as they charged me more than what the Canon BP-2L14 is normally listed for...)

It seems there's a BP-2L18 being sold online (3rd party) which is 2000mAh 7.4v and is supposedly compatible with the BP-2L14 (Canon's 1450mAh). I'm comparing a "BP-2L12" 3rd Party and an Original Canon- BP-2L14 and their physical dimensions and look are the same. The specs are similar at 1450mAh/7.4v Of course I can't tell the build quality internally nor can I find any specs beyond that. Canon probably doesn't manufacture the batteries themselves. Unless either one gets dropped and cracked, is there any real harm to using noname Batteries?

There are a lot of supposedly "compatible" batteries being offered, and all sorts of claims as to their capacity, longer life, etc. Some are backed by long warranties.

My experience with these products has been almost entirely negative. Most consumers have no way of really knowing how well the battery is internally designed, how long it will actually continue to hold a long charge, and whether it will develop leaks. The manufacturers' warranties may also have weasel-worded language to exclude such things as "normal wear" to escape any real responsibility.

I personally prefer to go with the same brand (Canon) battery which (unlike Sony's lithium ion batteries) is very fairly priced. (I paid over $100 for Sony's 3-hr battery for my HC3 camcorder just a few months ago). The Canon at around $50 seems to work great, and is honestly rated.

Larry

Are you sure it's the LIC2L12? I looked it up on Amazon and it's only rated at 1250mAh...
It is incorrectly listed on Amazon. The current model of the Lenmar LIC2L12 is 1500mAh (as spec'd on Lenmar.com), and that's what I received, as did a friend, from Amazon.

I've been using 3rd party batts on my Rebel XT for a couple of years and haven't had any issues. I do think the potential for failure is higher with these kinds of products, but that's the chance you take.

placing an order now...

IAN, Thanks!

Even the packaging is labeled as 1300mah, but the batteries themselves are labelled as 7.4V 1500mah. You can't see that until you cut open the blister pak.
(I'm charging them tonight and I'll test them tomorrow at the Red Stick International Animation Festival. I'm the documentarian.)

My $40 Impact brand from BHPhoto Video gets me the same amount of filming time as the $8 packs from Ebay (HV10 though)

I never get 2 full hours out of a battery pack...

Hi guys,

Got my cam today - feels lovely! ... But abit "naked" with only one battery! I'm in europe - have found the following:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/For-Canon-BP-2L18-Battery-BP2L12-BP2L14-ELURA-MVX-MV_W0QQitemZ160100423631QQihZ006QQcategoryZ43434QQcmdZViewItem

whaddya think? :-)

// Lazze