GL2 & XM2 Battery / Batteries

Graham Bernard · April 9th, 2003, 12:59 AM

"So what I’m really asking here is for the no-bs evaluation of these batteries" - I'm presuming you feel that the BS you have read hasn't helped - yeah? Well . . . like I, if you read between the BS lines you will notice that there is a lot of experience amongst the BS. - At the risk of being tarred with this BS brush too, I will reiterate that:

1 - It depends upon how much you use the Cammy

2 - How often you switch off/on of the cammy

3 - How much zooming you use

4 - If you use the flip-out LCD screen Or not

What other "downers" are there on battery charge life? Others can chip in their experience.

Having said all the above, my solution has been to use the 945 and have the slim battery that came with cammy fully charged as a "back-up". This can be used if I need to charge the very fast charging times on the 945.

If you Washington filming is that important to you, you will need to invest in as many batteries as you think you will need - this is expensive, and very heavy to carry around.

As you say, "I've been all over the net trying to figure this out . . " - this must surely give a clue.

Kyle, you could download the Canon manual and look at their typical performance figures for batteries. IMHO it will only add to your confusion. I've used cammies for 15 years and mostly I judge what I need for the session - yeah? A pro friend of mine who films and edits wedding videos, has backup batteries PLUS a battery belt. I suppose there aint no subsitute to one's own experience . . . I believe that's what people have offered here - No BS - Just their hard won experience.

Peace and Love - Grazie ;-)

Will Fastie · April 9th, 2003, 08:19 AM

Actually, the GL2 manual states that the "typical" recording times for the BP-915, -930, and -945 are 0:55, 2:15, and 3:25. Max times are 1:35, 3:55, and 5:55.

I have 930s and get somewhere between 2 and 3 hours. I've never gotten less than 2. I do not expect to be on battery power for more than 4 hours total, and I am usually near an outlet.

If you are going to shoot for 8 hours, buy 2 -945s or equivalent and one -930 as a backup. Change the battery after 4 hours to avoid loosing power just as you're shooting something important. For each additional 4 hours of shooting, you'd need another -945.

You'll also need chargers to get them all recharged overnight. Canon says recharge time on the -945 is almost 4 hours, so for 2x945 + 1x930 you'd need nearly 10 hours of charger time if they are all are drained.

Kyle Scharoll · April 9th, 2003, 12:54 PM

Graham,
I wasn't saying that the things that I've read on this site were bs, sorry if it came off that way, I was saying that all of these different sites that have different battery life times are not accurate or extremely over exaggerated. Thanks for the help

Kyle

Craig Peer · April 9th, 2003, 03:24 PM

My solution is to have at least 5 batteries. Go to
http://www.sabahoceanic.com/ - get 2 larger batteries and 2 standard size. Those, along with the battery that comes with the cam, will last you quite a while! Always have more than you need. Now, having said that, I wonder how many I'll need for a week on El Capitan in Yosemite with 3 Canon Optura 100 mc's ?

Steve Nunez · April 9th, 2003, 05:47 PM

The Power 2000 batteries from B&H lasts well over 5hrs with LCD use......945 type battery...very recommended!

Kyle Scharoll · April 10th, 2003, 05:41 PM

Has anybody had an experiance with lenmar batteries? (specifically the LIC-941 if possible)

Jeff Donald · April 10th, 2003, 07:44 PM

Yes, I use the Lenmars and the Mach 1 charger (AC/DC, very handy). Very high quality.

Bob Benkosky · May 12th, 2003, 04:09 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2928408213&category=15072

I was curious about this battery because it's fairly cheap compared to the actual Canon battery.

Has anyone bought this exact battery?

Ben Lynn · May 12th, 2003, 08:33 PM

Check out the thread "Cheap Batteries for XM2" that's been going around to find out what most people are buying at great prices.

Ben Lynn

Bob Benkosky · May 12th, 2003, 09:17 PM

Yea, saw that thread. That place does have great prices. I might just order one in advance before I even get the GL2.

K. Forman · May 13th, 2003, 05:37 AM

Bob- I haven't tried those batteries, but I have bought some cheapies by Ambico... I think. They were about $30 each, and have been fairly reliable for the past 2 years. They do die down after an hour with the LCD going on the GL1, and seem to be showing a memory problem, but still work fine.

Graham Bernard · June 18th, 2003, 03:40 AM

I've just recieved my HL945 5550mAh supplementary battery. On the same manufacturers battery - Canon Type - the battery is rated at 7.2v, on the packaging of the supp batt it too says HL-945 7.2v 5550mAh -BUT, but, but . . . on the label on the underside of the supp batt it says 7.4v. Will this make any difference? The manufacturer of the batteries who supplies my supplier has informed him that this is a misprint label problem, and I'm not to worry.

The XM2 manual rates the cammy at 7.2 volt too. I've also read posts here on the "battery thread" that Aaron is using 7.4 volt supplementary batteries:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5290&perpage=15&pagenumber=4

Any takers on this one?

HELP!

Grazie

Don Palomaki · June 18th, 2003, 04:11 AM

You should be OK. A fully charged Li ion battery actually puts out about 8.3 volts for a while.

Graham Bernard · June 18th, 2003, 04:17 AM

Don! You're a star! - Thanks - So it peaks at 8.3volts? Now THAT I can understand. - It would have been nice if the manual made some reference to this - yeah? It would stop a NumbNutz like me from getting into a panic . . . . ;-)

Regards,

Grazie

Graham Bernard · June 19th, 2003, 02:04 AM

Don, charged-up 7.4v - loaded it - powered up cammy - and NO cammy didn't blow-up!

TNX

Grazie

April 9th, 2003, 05:47 PM	#35
Steve Nunez Trustee Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 1,418	The Power 2000 batteries from B&H lasts well over 5hrs with LCD use......945 type battery...very recommended! __________________ Steve Nunez-New York City www.stevenunez.com

April 10th, 2003, 05:41 PM	#36
Kyle Scharoll New Boot Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Macomb, MI Posts: 10	lenmar batteries Has anybody had an experiance with lenmar batteries? (specifically the LIC-941 if possible)

April 10th, 2003, 07:44 PM	#37
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Yes, I use the Lenmars and the Mach 1 charger (AC/DC, very handy). Very high quality. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

May 12th, 2003, 04:09 PM	#38
Bob Benkosky Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Lake Park, Florida Posts: 202	Has anyone purchased this battery or similar??? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2928408213&category=15072 I was curious about this battery because it's fairly cheap compared to the actual Canon battery. Has anyone bought this exact battery? __________________ http://www.veoh.com/channels/filmmaker My clips and films.

May 12th, 2003, 09:17 PM	#40
Bob Benkosky Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Lake Park, Florida Posts: 202	Yea, saw that thread. That place does have great prices. I might just order one in advance before I even get the GL2. __________________ http://www.veoh.com/channels/filmmaker My clips and films.

April 9th, 2003, 12:59 AM	#31
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	"So what I’m really asking here is for the no-bs evaluation of these batteries" - I'm presuming you feel that the BS you have read hasn't helped - yeah? Well . . . like I, if you read between the BS lines you will notice that there is a lot of experience amongst the BS. - At the risk of being tarred with this BS brush too, I will reiterate that: 1 - It depends upon how much you use the Cammy 2 - How often you switch off/on of the cammy 3 - How much zooming you use 4 - If you use the flip-out LCD screen Or not What other "downers" are there on battery charge life? Others can chip in their experience. Having said all the above, my solution has been to use the 945 and have the slim battery that came with cammy fully charged as a "back-up". This can be used if I need to charge the very fast charging times on the 945. If you Washington filming is that important to you, you will need to invest in as many batteries as you think you will need - this is expensive, and very heavy to carry around. As you say, "I've been all over the net trying to figure this out . . " - this must surely give a clue. Kyle, you could download the Canon manual and look at their typical performance figures for batteries. IMHO it will only add to your confusion. I've used cammies for 15 years and mostly I judge what I need for the session - yeah? A pro friend of mine who films and edits wedding videos, has backup batteries PLUS a battery belt. I suppose there aint no subsitute to one's own experience . . . I believe that's what people have offered here - No BS - Just their hard won experience. Peace and Love - Grazie ;-)

April 9th, 2003, 08:19 AM	#32
Will Fastie Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jarrettsville, MD Posts: 353	Actually, the GL2 manual states that the "typical" recording times for the BP-915, -930, and -945 are 0:55, 2:15, and 3:25. Max times are 1:35, 3:55, and 5:55. I have 930s and get somewhere between 2 and 3 hours. I've never gotten less than 2. I do not expect to be on battery power for more than 4 hours total, and I am usually near an outlet. If you are going to shoot for 8 hours, buy 2 -945s or equivalent and one -930 as a backup. Change the battery after 4 hours to avoid loosing power just as you're shooting something important. For each additional 4 hours of shooting, you'd need another -945. You'll also need chargers to get them all recharged overnight. Canon says recharge time on the -945 is almost 4 hours, so for 2x945 + 1x930 you'd need nearly 10 hours of charger time if they are all are drained.

April 9th, 2003, 12:54 PM	#33
Kyle Scharoll New Boot Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Macomb, MI Posts: 10	Graham, I wasn't saying that the things that I've read on this site were bs, sorry if it came off that way, I was saying that all of these different sites that have different battery life times are not accurate or extremely over exaggerated. Thanks for the help Kyle

April 9th, 2003, 03:24 PM	#34
Craig Peer Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 72	My solution is to have at least 5 batteries. Go to http://www.sabahoceanic.com/ - get 2 larger batteries and 2 standard size. Those, along with the battery that comes with the cam, will last you quite a while! Always have more than you need. Now, having said that, I wonder how many I'll need for a week on El Capitan in Yosemite with 3 Canon Optura 100 mc's ?

May 12th, 2003, 08:33 PM	#39
Ben Lynn Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 636	Check out the thread "Cheap Batteries for XM2" that's been going around to find out what most people are buying at great prices. Ben Lynn

May 13th, 2003, 05:37 AM	#41
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Bob- I haven't tried those batteries, but I have bought some cheapies by Ambico... I think. They were about $30 each, and have been fairly reliable for the past 2 years. They do die down after an hour with the LCD going on the GL1, and seem to be showing a memory problem, but still work fine.

June 18th, 2003, 03:40 AM	#42
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	HELP! - 7.2v AND 7.4v Batteries??? I've just recieved my HL945 5550mAh supplementary battery. On the same manufacturers battery - Canon Type - the battery is rated at 7.2v, on the packaging of the supp batt it too says HL-945 7.2v 5550mAh -BUT, but, but . . . on the label on the underside of the supp batt it says 7.4v. Will this make any difference? The manufacturer of the batteries who supplies my supplier has informed him that this is a misprint label problem, and I'm not to worry. The XM2 manual rates the cammy at 7.2 volt too. I've also read posts here on the "battery thread" that Aaron is using 7.4 volt supplementary batteries: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5290&perpage=15&pagenumber=4 Any takers on this one? HELP! Grazie

June 18th, 2003, 04:11 AM	#43
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	You should be OK. A fully charged Li ion battery actually puts out about 8.3 volts for a while. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

June 18th, 2003, 04:17 AM	#44
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	TNX Don! Don! You're a star! - Thanks - So it peaks at 8.3volts? Now THAT I can understand. - It would have been nice if the manual made some reference to this - yeah? It would stop a NumbNutz like me from getting into a panic . . . . ;-) Regards, Grazie

June 19th, 2003, 02:04 AM	#45
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Working! Don, charged-up 7.4v - loaded it - powered up cammy - and NO cammy didn't blow-up! TNX Grazie