GL2 & XM2 Battery / Batteries

Tom Johnston · March 20th, 2005, 10:15 PM

I recently purchased an off-brand BP-945 series battery from ebay. I think I paid $20. I have used it a few times on my camera and had no trouble thus far. I have heard over time they can possibly damage the camera/battery terminals on the camera? Is this true? The only thing noticable is that the casing feels cheap and I can press it in easily when pressure is applied. Also, it's a bit looser fitting on the camera then the Canon batteries. Basically I'd like to know if I should continue using this battery, or if it will be harmful to my camera. Thank you for your time.

Ken Tanaka · March 20th, 2005, 10:48 PM

Poor fit and short life-spans are the most common complaints concerning cheap batteries. I don't recall damage being reported. If you shoot anything professionally, or even do critical amateur work, you should reconsider using any battery that does not seat firmly. Sooner or later it will dislodge and turn the camera off, inevitably in the middle of an unreproducible shot.

The best 3rd party batteries are made by Lenmar and Power 2000.

Marco Leavitt · March 21st, 2005, 10:28 AM

I agree that batteries are a poor choice to try and save money. Nothing will bring your shoot to a dismal end quicker than a dead battery and no backup.

Rob Taylor · March 22nd, 2005, 06:26 AM

I've had great luck with the Lenmar batteries. Perfect fit on my GL-2. Rob

Marco Leavitt · March 22nd, 2005, 07:25 AM

We use Lenmar too. Great batteries.

Dave Ferdinand · March 23rd, 2005, 04:36 PM

I have 2 unbranded batteries for my GL-2 (BP-945 and BP-941) and I had no problems whatsoever thus far.

Patrick Smith · March 23rd, 2005, 04:56 PM

i have three unbranded (ebay) 945 battiers and no complaints. They fit fine. They have never died on me.

Cosmin Rotaru · March 24th, 2005, 01:49 PM

I have two 915 (or what is the code... the smaller ones). One came with the camera. The other I paid 70 euros for it. Now they're "backup" units... :)

I only get to use an unbranded 945 that I paid 50USD for it! No problem at all!

Clint Newman · April 8th, 2005, 06:03 PM

Hi,

I will be purchasing a GL2, but I would like to know what is a good DV tape (I have never purchased DV tapes before)

How long does the standard battery last? (I know this is hard to estimate)

What is a good after market battery? / Brand

Any help will be great

Thanks

Ken Tanaka · April 8th, 2005, 07:02 PM

Hello Clint,
Tape is such a common topic that we have a section dedicated to this subject. You will not, however, find a "best" answer there or anywhere. Panasonic and Sony are generally the leaders offering a variety of tape grades. But many also like Fuji, Maxell and other brands. Despite all of the anecdotal yang yang you'll read the top brands are basically equals. Generally, buy the best grade of tape you can afford and stick with it.

The largest battery available for the GL-2 is the Canon BP-945 or equivalent. Life depends on how you use the camera but you can usually get at least 2 hours of shooting from one.

Do some Searching on batteries here to find many opinions on brands.

Have fun with your new camera and welcome to DV Info.

Clint Newman · April 16th, 2005, 10:36 PM

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I have been looking at this tape. http://www.adorama.com/PCDV60.html Do you know if this will work ok with the GL2?

Thanks

Patrick Smith · April 17th, 2005, 08:52 AM

No matter what you choose. Stick with that same brand.

Anyways i use a Sony Premuim (blue) and in the past have used Fuji.

No problems with either

Advil Dremali · April 17th, 2005, 05:46 PM

I use maxell tapes, since I can find them everywhere and I hear good things about them. They work fine for me and I've never had a problem.

I had a BP945 battery for my Canon XL2 and it worked GREAT. Very long battery life, I reccomend you get one yourself. Very long recording time and not too heavy. You won't regret it.

Jon King · April 18th, 2005, 07:06 AM

I like the Power-2000 BP-945 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack from B&H its worked great for me and its half the cost of an OEM battery. I got four recording hours out of this battery last weekend with juice to spare.

Justin Nalepa · July 11th, 2005, 09:37 AM

Hey folks,

Just a curious question, but do the batteries that come with the Canon GL2 have a memory? What I mean by that is, if you use a battery that has a 4 hour life, but only use it for 2 hours and then put in back in the charger, will it "program" itself to only recharge 2 hours from then on? Thanks.

-Justin

March 20th, 2005, 10:15 PM	#211
Tom Johnston New Boot Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Charlotte, North Carolina Posts: 11	Off Brand BP-945 Batteries? I recently purchased an off-brand BP-945 series battery from ebay. I think I paid $20. I have used it a few times on my camera and had no trouble thus far. I have heard over time they can possibly damage the camera/battery terminals on the camera? Is this true? The only thing noticable is that the casing feels cheap and I can press it in easily when pressure is applied. Also, it's a bit looser fitting on the camera then the Canon batteries. Basically I'd like to know if I should continue using this battery, or if it will be harmful to my camera. Thank you for your time.

March 20th, 2005, 10:48 PM	#212
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Poor fit and short life-spans are the most common complaints concerning cheap batteries. I don't recall damage being reported. If you shoot anything professionally, or even do critical amateur work, you should reconsider using any battery that does not seat firmly. Sooner or later it will dislodge and turn the camera off, inevitably in the middle of an unreproducible shot. The best 3rd party batteries are made by Lenmar and Power 2000. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

March 23rd, 2005, 04:56 PM	#217
Patrick Smith Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Utah Posts: 208	i have three unbranded (ebay) 945 battiers and no complaints. They fit fine. They have never died on me. __________________ patricksmith04@hotmail.com

March 24th, 2005, 01:49 PM	#218
Cosmin Rotaru Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Romania, Timisoara Posts: 453	I have two 915 (or what is the code... the smaller ones). One came with the camera. The other I paid 70 euros for it. Now they're "backup" units... :) I only get to use an unbranded 945 that I paid 50USD for it! No problem at all! __________________ Cosmin Rotaru

April 8th, 2005, 06:03 PM	#219
Clint Newman New Boot Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Australia, Gold Coast Posts: 10	New GL2 Tape / Battery questions Hi, I will be purchasing a GL2, but I would like to know what is a good DV tape (I have never purchased DV tapes before) How long does the standard battery last? (I know this is hard to estimate) What is a good after market battery? / Brand Any help will be great Thanks

March 21st, 2005, 10:28 AM	#213
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	I agree that batteries are a poor choice to try and save money. Nothing will bring your shoot to a dismal end quicker than a dead battery and no backup.

March 22nd, 2005, 06:26 AM	#214
Rob Taylor Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Wilmington DE Posts: 98	I've had great luck with the Lenmar batteries. Perfect fit on my GL-2. Rob

March 22nd, 2005, 07:25 AM	#215
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	We use Lenmar too. Great batteries.

March 23rd, 2005, 04:36 PM	#216
Dave Ferdinand Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 359	I have 2 unbranded batteries for my GL-2 (BP-945 and BP-941) and I had no problems whatsoever thus far.

April 8th, 2005, 07:02 PM	#220
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Hello Clint, Tape is such a common topic that we have a section dedicated to this subject. You will not, however, find a "best" answer there or anywhere. Panasonic and Sony are generally the leaders offering a variety of tape grades. But many also like Fuji, Maxell and other brands. Despite all of the anecdotal yang yang you'll read the top brands are basically equals. Generally, buy the best grade of tape you can afford and stick with it. The largest battery available for the GL-2 is the Canon BP-945 or equivalent. Life depends on how you use the camera but you can usually get at least 2 hours of shooting from one. Do some Searching on batteries here to find many opinions on brands. Have fun with your new camera and welcome to DV Info. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

April 16th, 2005, 10:36 PM	#221
Clint Newman New Boot Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Australia, Gold Coast Posts: 10	Hi, Thanks for your reply. I have been looking at this tape. http://www.adorama.com/PCDV60.html Do you know if this will work ok with the GL2? Thanks

April 17th, 2005, 08:52 AM	#222
Patrick Smith Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Utah Posts: 208	No matter what you choose. Stick with that same brand. Anyways i use a Sony Premuim (blue) and in the past have used Fuji. No problems with either __________________ patricksmith04@hotmail.com

April 17th, 2005, 05:46 PM	#223
Advil Dremali New Boot Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 70	I use maxell tapes, since I can find them everywhere and I hear good things about them. They work fine for me and I've never had a problem. I had a BP945 battery for my Canon XL2 and it worked GREAT. Very long battery life, I reccomend you get one yourself. Very long recording time and not too heavy. You won't regret it.

April 18th, 2005, 07:06 AM	#224
Jon King Tourist Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 2	I like the Power-2000 BP-945 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack from B&H its worked great for me and its half the cost of an OEM battery. I got four recording hours out of this battery last weekend with juice to spare.

July 11th, 2005, 09:37 AM	#225
Justin Nalepa New Boot Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sydney, N.S. (Canada) Posts: 12	Do Batteries have a memory? Hey folks, Just a curious question, but do the batteries that come with the Canon GL2 have a memory? What I mean by that is, if you use a battery that has a 4 hour life, but only use it for 2 hours and then put in back in the charger, will it "program" itself to only recharge 2 hours from then on? Thanks. -Justin