GL2 & XM2 Battery / Batteries

Mark Holland · April 26th, 2007, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alon Levi

Hello,
i've just bought a brand new bp-945 (6000mAh) battery for my canon GL2... and i've a weird problem - although I have fully discharged and recharged the battery, the camcorder battery indicators says it's only half-full. what does it mean? is it not fully charged? is the indicator wrong ?

TIA,
Alon.

In the title, you say "Impact". I assume this is the brand name of the battery? What makes me ask, is that I've noticed that my generic batteries will cause the GL-2's battery indicator to show about half capacity after only a couple minutes worth of usage. I get the expected amount of use time from the batteries, but the meter isn't right. Maybe that's what you're seeing?

Alon Levi · April 26th, 2007, 10:55 PM

that's exactly what happens... so I guess it doesn't effect the battery performance, just the indicator, ah? so how do you know when the battery is going to be exhausted ? (it stays on the half-full indicator until it gets really half-full, or does the indicator has no meaning at all?)

quite annoying I must admit ... makes you feel that technology ain't that perfect yet ;)

thanks for the answer.
alon

Don Palomaki · April 27th, 2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

so how do you know when the battery is going to be exhausted

The battery indicator is probably based on battery terminal voltage, which depends in part on the internal resistance of the battery as well as the charge state.

Experience is the best approach. Do some tests and watch what happens to the display as you run the camcorder, and watch when the camcoder shuts down on low battery. Can't expect Canon to have matched their display to correspond to third party battery characteristics.

Dale Guthormsen · April 28th, 2007, 11:26 PM

Good evening,

I have three canon catteries and three jobber batteries. All of them in fact show fine on the in camera meter. Go figure???

Jenna Klingensmith · May 29th, 2007, 04:56 PM

Hi, quick question.. I'm looking into getting extra batteries for my GL2.. the one the came with is.. just doesn't cut it. It's brand new, but after being fully charged, and filming for five minutes, the batter is down to 3/4th full.. and I don't get it. I need to be able to film for a least 2-3 hours, without having to worry about my battery dying in the middle of something important.

So.. are there particular batteries that are reliable? (I'd like model numbers to if possible)

I also would like to know.. if the charger that I have will work with any battery I buy, or will I have to buy a new charger? I have the Canon ca 920 battery/power adapater, and my battery is a 915.

Any help is greatly appreciated

Jarrod Whaley · May 29th, 2007, 07:51 PM

BP-945's. You can get generic ones for $20 on Ebay, and yes, they work just as well as the Canon-branded ones do. At about one-fifth the price of the "official" batteries, you really can't go wrong.

Jenna Klingensmith · May 29th, 2007, 08:21 PM

but will i need to buy a new charger for that battery, or will it fit my canon charger?

Trond Saetre · May 30th, 2007, 02:53 AM

You can use the standard canon charger you already have for the BP945 battery also.

Graham Bernard · May 30th, 2007, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trond Saetre

You can use the standard canon charger you already have for the BP945 battery also.

Being doing this for 5 years with the BP945s. No problem.

When I first started out, there was ENOUGH power/time in the slim/supplied battery to allow me to do a quick "top-up" of my 945 and get going again. Now I have 2 XM2s and four BP945s - but with the extra camera I got that extra charger unit too.

Grazie

Mark Holland · May 30th, 2007, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarrod Whaley

BP-945's. You can get generic ones for $20 on Ebay, and yes, they work just as well as the Canon-branded ones do. At about one-fifth the price of the "official" batteries, you really can't go wrong.

I agree. I've gotten 4 this way so far. The standard charger works well. I have a second charger for whenever I need to charge 2 batteries at once, or I need a charger at the studio as well as in the field.

Mark

Jenna Klingensmith · May 30th, 2007, 12:30 PM

The reason I asked about the charger, was because I was looking at a canon gl2 battery on ebay.. Dont' remember the model number, but it was a B "9$$" .. and it said 'works with a b 9$$ and 9$$ charger".. so I assumed that meant that the battery would only work with that particular charger..

But I assume if it fits on my camera, it should fit on my charger, right?

Technically i have two batteries right now, but they both are lower B ... numbers.. so I assume that means.. earlier models? or less powerful? I haven't used the second battery yet, but it came with the "package" of gl2 stuff i bought on ebay, and most of the accessories they gave me where.. not what they made them out to be, so I assume it's no good..

Ok, since we are on the subject of batteries, and this is a bit off subject, but of course the GL2 didn't come with an on board light.. they sell a gl-2 light, but it runs off of the battery of the camera.. But I think they sell lights that come with some type of battery pack that you stick in your pocket?
What type of camera light do you have? I don't want one that eats my battery, unless it's not that bad...

thanks :)

Trond Saetre · May 30th, 2007, 12:48 PM

As long as it is a Canon BP9xx battery, it will work fine with the charger you already have.
Lower numbers (ex BP915 compared to BP945) means less capacity.
Other batteries like the BP500 series will NOT work with your camera.
I recommend you get at least one BP945 battery.
(There has been some non Canon batteries, equally or more powerful, than the BP945, mentioned in earlier threads some time ago. But I can't remember the names right now)

Lights:
The VL-3 light that draws power from the onboard camera battery is a 3watt light. It is okay up to about 7-10ft from the camera, but not as the only light source.
The VL-10 is a 10watt light that would need a separate battery. (BP9xx series, same as the GL2) This light can in some cases be too bright, and ex. blow out the forehead of people.
I have used both these lights, but only have the VL-10 right now.
With this light, I use the battery that came included with my XM2, and I use the BP945 for the camera.

Don Palomaki · May 30th, 2007, 01:00 PM

I've had success over a number of years with Lenmar LIC941 batteries with both GL and XL series.

Trond Saetre · May 30th, 2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Palomaki

I've had success over a number of years with Lenmar LIC941 batteries with both GL and XL series.

Don, how is this battery (capacity) compared to the Canon BP945?
The 945 is 4500mAh.

Don Palomaki · May 31st, 2007, 06:29 AM

Lenmar rates it at 6000 mAh, no doubt a best-conditions rating.

I've never done a definitive comparison test, but subjectively it has lasts at least as long as the Canon BP945, if not longer, on a full charge. But I rarely shoot more than a tape's worth in a single session, and if I do change tape, I usually change to a fresh battery at the same time.

April 26th, 2007, 10:55 PM	#287
Alon Levi New Boot Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 24	well... that's exactly what happens... so I guess it doesn't effect the battery performance, just the indicator, ah? so how do you know when the battery is going to be exhausted ? (it stays on the half-full indicator until it gets really half-full, or does the indicator has no meaning at all?) quite annoying I must admit ... makes you feel that technology ain't that perfect yet ;) thanks for the answer. alon

April 28th, 2007, 11:26 PM	#289
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	Good evening, I have three canon catteries and three jobber batteries. All of them in fact show fine on the in camera meter. Go figure??? __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

May 29th, 2007, 04:56 PM	#290
Jenna Klingensmith Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Near Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 112	Basic Battery Question.. Obies? Hi, quick question.. I'm looking into getting extra batteries for my GL2.. the one the came with is.. just doesn't cut it. It's brand new, but after being fully charged, and filming for five minutes, the batter is down to 3/4th full.. and I don't get it. I need to be able to film for a least 2-3 hours, without having to worry about my battery dying in the middle of something important. So.. are there particular batteries that are reliable? (I'd like model numbers to if possible) I also would like to know.. if the charger that I have will work with any battery I buy, or will I have to buy a new charger? I have the Canon ca 920 battery/power adapater, and my battery is a 915. Any help is greatly appreciated Last edited by Jenna Klingensmith; May 30th, 2007 at 12:30 PM.

May 29th, 2007, 07:51 PM	#291
Jarrod Whaley Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: chattanooga, tn Posts: 721	BP-945's. You can get generic ones for $20 on Ebay, and yes, they work just as well as the Canon-branded ones do. At about one-fifth the price of the "official" batteries, you really can't go wrong. __________________ -->jarrod whaley. www.oakstreetfilms.com

May 30th, 2007, 01:00 PM	#298
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	I've had success over a number of years with Lenmar LIC941 batteries with both GL and XL series. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

May 29th, 2007, 08:21 PM	#292
Jenna Klingensmith Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Near Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 112	but will i need to buy a new charger for that battery, or will it fit my canon charger?

May 30th, 2007, 02:53 AM	#293
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	You can use the standard canon charger you already have for the BP945 battery also.

May 30th, 2007, 12:30 PM	#296
Jenna Klingensmith Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Near Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 112	The reason I asked about the charger, was because I was looking at a canon gl2 battery on ebay.. Dont' remember the model number, but it was a B "9$$" .. and it said 'works with a b 9$$ and 9$$ charger".. so I assumed that meant that the battery would only work with that particular charger.. But I assume if it fits on my camera, it should fit on my charger, right? Technically i have two batteries right now, but they both are lower B ... numbers.. so I assume that means.. earlier models? or less powerful? I haven't used the second battery yet, but it came with the "package" of gl2 stuff i bought on ebay, and most of the accessories they gave me where.. not what they made them out to be, so I assume it's no good.. Ok, since we are on the subject of batteries, and this is a bit off subject, but of course the GL2 didn't come with an on board light.. they sell a gl-2 light, but it runs off of the battery of the camera.. But I think they sell lights that come with some type of battery pack that you stick in your pocket? What type of camera light do you have? I don't want one that eats my battery, unless it's not that bad... thanks :)

May 30th, 2007, 12:48 PM	#297
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	As long as it is a Canon BP9xx battery, it will work fine with the charger you already have. Lower numbers (ex BP915 compared to BP945) means less capacity. Other batteries like the BP500 series will NOT work with your camera. I recommend you get at least one BP945 battery. (There has been some non Canon batteries, equally or more powerful, than the BP945, mentioned in earlier threads some time ago. But I can't remember the names right now) Lights: The VL-3 light that draws power from the onboard camera battery is a 3watt light. It is okay up to about 7-10ft from the camera, but not as the only light source. The VL-10 is a 10watt light that would need a separate battery. (BP9xx series, same as the GL2) This light can in some cases be too bright, and ex. blow out the forehead of people. I have used both these lights, but only have the VL-10 right now. With this light, I use the battery that came included with my XM2, and I use the BP945 for the camera.

May 31st, 2007, 06:29 AM	#300
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	Lenmar rates it at 6000 mAh, no doubt a best-conditions rating. I've never done a definitive comparison test, but subjectively it has lasts at least as long as the Canon BP945, if not longer, on a full charge. But I rarely shoot more than a tape's worth in a single session, and if I do change tape, I usually change to a fresh battery at the same time. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com