GL2 & XM2 Battery / Batteries

Andrew Atkins · March 6th, 2006, 08:50 AM

I've just recently bought a GL2 and picked up 3 bp-945's to use with it. I know the batteries are great, but I've only got the single charger that came with the cam. If I wear all the batteries out on the same day, I'm going to be charging for hours. So I want to pick up an additional charger but can't drop the $165 for the Canon version. Can anybody recommend a good generic charger for the 945's that won't cause any damage to the batteries?

Jim OMalley · March 6th, 2006, 04:05 PM

I've used the Power-2000 charger with no problems on Canon batteries and Power-2000 batteries. 30 bucks at B&H.

Graham Bernard · March 7th, 2006, 12:16 AM

Buy another GL-2. You get a new charger for free!

Grazie

Alan Craven · March 7th, 2006, 01:02 AM

I think Canon still make the dual battery charger.

Graham Bernard · March 7th, 2006, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Craven

Itnihk Canon still make the dual battery charger.

This one? $175?

http://www.pictureline.com/product.php?id=1054

G

Alan Craven · March 7th, 2006, 02:35 AM

That's the one - £135 from Warehouse Express.

On reflection, a second XM2 is better value!

I am OK I still have my defunct XM1 and all its bits.

Julien T. Chartier · March 8th, 2006, 07:59 PM

There's loads of batteries for really good prices on eBay!!

Graham Bernard · March 9th, 2006, 12:35 AM

I've got 4 BP945s

1 x "Canon" @ £94

3 x HANEL @ £50 each

BUT, when I look at the casing stamp, on all of them, they say ALL say "Hanel".

Hanel is a company that makes batteries in Ireland. Seems like they do it for Canon? Do Canon actually make batteries OR do they get reputable battery manufacturing companies to produce power packs for them?

Bottom line, all work fine for me.

Grazie

Alan Craven · March 9th, 2006, 01:09 AM

I have switched to Jessops own brand 930s. the most recent one cost £42.

They have a 2 year warranty and seem to store more energy than eny other brand I have tried, i.e. Canon, Hahnel, and Keene own brand.

As Graham says Canon are made by Hahnel, and I think Keene are too, perhaps that is not so surprising.

Graham Bernard · March 9th, 2006, 01:17 AM

. . oops "HAHNEL" . .thanks Alan!

"As Graham says Canon are made by Hahnel, . ." well I didn't "say" that. I'm just reporting what I have, and asked the question.

Grazie

Alan Craven · March 9th, 2006, 07:12 AM

Sorry Graham, I obviously read too much into what you posted.

I have two Canon branded batteries, one 6 years old from my XM1 purchase, the other new from my recent XM2 purchase. Both are labelled "CANON INC. Made in Japan".

This does not, of course, mean that they were actually made by Canon.

Richard Alvarez · March 9th, 2006, 08:52 AM

I recently purchased two BP 945 batts here in the states. Both marked PANNASONIC. And yeah, they last longer than my Canon or Lenmar Batts.

Bruce Pelley · April 18th, 2006, 05:34 PM

What do you use and how has your experience gone?

How much should I be paying for a 2 hour (or so) battery?

Are some brands more reliable than others or does it matter?

Any reccomendations for e-tailers or well-known stores?

Please comment.

Thanks,
Bruce

David L. Holmes · April 18th, 2006, 08:05 PM

I guess were not allowed to post info on retail stores here (kind of like free advertising or product endorsement) but you can do an online search for this :

Delkin eFilm DD BP-930 camcorder battery - Li-Ion 2 $40.95 *

This is the battery that I use exclusively in my GL2 and have had great luck. The only strange thing is, when the battery is fully charged, the camera will show 1/2 full for quite a while (quite a few hours) before dropping to 1/4 or lower. After it drops below 1/4 I replace the battery. I have been on only a few longer shoots, but I always seem to run out of DV tape before I run out of battery. You can never have to many batteries or tapes....

Don Palomaki · April 19th, 2006, 04:38 AM

Most third party batteries work well with the XL/GL series, but you hmay hve to give up some of the battery life display otions. Do not know if anyone has published a reliability study but we read very few horror stories about batteries failing.

It is difficult to spot the diffence between 90 and 110 minutes of available battery in the process of a shoot when changing tapes, managing talent, sitting in pause waiting for action, conisdering the normal vairation in batteries as they age, etc.

I mainly use Lenmar LIC 941 these days, but cannot tell you what their runtime is other than a fresh charge lasts longer than a blank tape during my typical shoots.

As to vendors, read the reviews and when you settle on a candidate vendor, check the web site of the local (to the vendor) Better Business Bureau to see if there are complaints anout it, as well as checking any on-line reviews.

March 6th, 2006, 08:50 AM	#241
Andrew Atkins Tourist Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1	Generic Battery Chargers I've just recently bought a GL2 and picked up 3 bp-945's to use with it. I know the batteries are great, but I've only got the single charger that came with the cam. If I wear all the batteries out on the same day, I'm going to be charging for hours. So I want to pick up an additional charger but can't drop the $165 for the Canon version. Can anybody recommend a good generic charger for the 945's that won't cause any damage to the batteries?

March 7th, 2006, 01:02 AM	#244
Alan Craven Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: York, England Posts: 518	I think Canon still make the dual battery charger. Last edited by Alan Craven; March 7th, 2006 at 02:35 AM.

April 18th, 2006, 05:34 PM	#253
Bruce Pelley Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 339	Off brand GL-2 onboard batteries?Any Good??? What do you use and how has your experience gone? How much should I be paying for a 2 hour (or so) battery? Are some brands more reliable than others or does it matter? Any reccomendations for e-tailers or well-known stores? Please comment. Thanks, Bruce

April 19th, 2006, 04:38 AM	#255
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	Most third party batteries work well with the XL/GL series, but you hmay hve to give up some of the battery life display otions. Do not know if anyone has published a reliability study but we read very few horror stories about batteries failing. It is difficult to spot the diffence between 90 and 110 minutes of available battery in the process of a shoot when changing tapes, managing talent, sitting in pause waiting for action, conisdering the normal vairation in batteries as they age, etc. I mainly use Lenmar LIC 941 these days, but cannot tell you what their runtime is other than a fresh charge lasts longer than a blank tape during my typical shoots. As to vendors, read the reviews and when you settle on a candidate vendor, check the web site of the local (to the vendor) Better Business Bureau to see if there are complaints anout it, as well as checking any on-line reviews. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

March 6th, 2006, 04:05 PM	#242
Jim OMalley Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 81	I've used the Power-2000 charger with no problems on Canon batteries and Power-2000 batteries. 30 bucks at B&H.

March 7th, 2006, 12:16 AM	#243
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Buy another GL-2. You get a new charger for free! Grazie

March 7th, 2006, 02:35 AM	#246
Alan Craven Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: York, England Posts: 518	That's the one - £135 from Warehouse Express. On reflection, a second XM2 is better value! I am OK I still have my defunct XM1 and all its bits.

March 8th, 2006, 07:59 PM	#247
Julien T. Chartier New Boot Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 15	There's loads of batteries for really good prices on eBay!!

March 9th, 2006, 12:35 AM	#248
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	I've got 4 BP945s 1 x "Canon" @ £94 3 x HANEL @ £50 each BUT, when I look at the casing stamp, on all of them, they say ALL say "Hanel". Hanel is a company that makes batteries in Ireland. Seems like they do it for Canon? Do Canon actually make batteries OR do they get reputable battery manufacturing companies to produce power packs for them? Bottom line, all work fine for me. Grazie

March 9th, 2006, 01:09 AM	#249
Alan Craven Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: York, England Posts: 518	I have switched to Jessops own brand 930s. the most recent one cost £42. They have a 2 year warranty and seem to store more energy than eny other brand I have tried, i.e. Canon, Hahnel, and Keene own brand. As Graham says Canon are made by Hahnel, and I think Keene are too, perhaps that is not so surprising.

March 9th, 2006, 01:17 AM	#250
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	. . oops "HAHNEL" . .thanks Alan! "As Graham says Canon are made by Hahnel, . ." well I didn't "say" that. I'm just reporting what I have, and asked the question. Grazie

March 9th, 2006, 07:12 AM	#251
Alan Craven Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: York, England Posts: 518	Sorry Graham, I obviously read too much into what you posted. I have two Canon branded batteries, one 6 years old from my XM1 purchase, the other new from my recent XM2 purchase. Both are labelled "CANON INC. Made in Japan". This does not, of course, mean that they were actually made by Canon.

March 9th, 2006, 08:52 AM	#252
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	I recently purchased two BP 945 batts here in the states. Both marked PANNASONIC. And yeah, they last longer than my Canon or Lenmar Batts.

April 18th, 2006, 08:05 PM	#254
David L. Holmes Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Detroit, MI USA Posts: 96	I guess were not allowed to post info on retail stores here (kind of like free advertising or product endorsement) but you can do an online search for this : Delkin eFilm DD BP-930 camcorder battery - Li-Ion 2 $40.95 * This is the battery that I use exclusively in my GL2 and have had great luck. The only strange thing is, when the battery is fully charged, the camera will show 1/2 full for quite a while (quite a few hours) before dropping to 1/4 or lower. After it drops below 1/4 I replace the battery. I have been on only a few longer shoots, but I always seem to run out of DV tape before I run out of battery. You can never have to many batteries or tapes....