Impact Batteries in the A1?
 

I'd read something about large non-Canon brand batteries sticking in the A1's battery compartment. There is a huge price difference between Impact ($129.99) and Canon BP-970 ($164.99) batteries at B&H.

Anybody have any experience with Impact batteries, specifically the larger-sized BP-970s in the A1?

I ordered a Impact 970 from B&H last week and when it arrived the plastic package it came in was already open and the battery was cracked! I couldn't believe it. I called B&H and they just told me to return it and they would ship me a new one, But please I paid full price for a new one and it's broken.

I am unsure of the Impact Batteries, but TapeWorks provides Lenmar batteries as an option other than the Canon. Check them out at http://www.lenmar.com/
I have customers that have purchased the LIC970G 7.4V 7200mAh
Lithium-Ion battery instead of the Canon BP970 and they mentioned that the Lenmar battery works just as good if not better than the Canon Version. And they purchased the Lenmar at a better price ($99.95 from TapeWorks)

Scott Cantrell
TapeWorks Texas Inc - HDVinfo Sponser
866-827-3489
scott@tapeworkstexas.com

I have the Lenmar LIC-941's & they're made just a tad too big & do get stuck. The easiest remedy though is to place some gaffer tape on the back & use enough to make yourself roughly a 1/2" pull tab. I'd amagine the LIC-970G's are the same. It takes maybe a second longer to extract it. Big deal :)

It's a goofy fix, but I'd rather the small inconvience than to pay a lot more for a Canon brand.

Bill

There are places to go cheap, and batteries and tape are not the ones. Be smart and spend the money on Canon batteries.

Jim Martin

I got two of the larger ones from B&H and boy they seem to last for ever!

I do not see any problem with the fit as reported by some others when using the larger batteries.

One bat. did arrive cracked but it is too much of a hassel for me returning from West Coast Australia. I super glued it up with no problems. Two of these cheaper high capacity batteries plus the camera original will give you days in the field away from power. I am not sure how many cycles they will last, but at the price...

I ordered one of the large Impact batteries with my camera. It just about fills the entire cavity in the A1 but slides in and pops out just like the stock Canon battery. We'll see how it lasts.

One thing the puzzles me a little is that the Canon battery that comes with the A1 has five contacts on it. The Impact battery only has two. So far it seems to work and charge the same but I'm curious what the other three contacts are for on the Canon battery. Anyone know?

-Dan

I always thought that extra contacts on batteries like you mention are for diagnostics, such as capacity, more accurate time remaining, voltage, etc. But even though the A1 itself has these contacts in the battery compartment, there's no indication anywhere that they are implemented.

Bill

Thanks, Bill. I also thought they might be for a fast charger since the contact pads are larger. In any case, the battery works great. My impression so far is that the A1 does not go through batteries like my DVXs do. This battery and the stock Canon battery should be enough to cover most events I do. Time will tell as to how many charge cycles it will handle.

-Dan

Thanks for this thread, and for the message about the gaffer's tape. Just bought a Lenmark battery, used it tonight for the first time, it went in a little weird, and got stuck. Just got it out with the gaffer's tape, and am taking it back on Monday. I have the Canon battery and an Impact knockoff, which has worked fine since I got the camera. But I will not be getting another Lenmark battery...

The Impact BP-970s work perfect for me and are $40 cheaper than the Canons at B&H.

For tight batteries, get some ScotchBrite, not the cheaper dollar store stuff and lightly sand down the housing until it slides in more smoothly. It's smoother than sandpaper.

original Canon battery died after just 2 months of use, will Canon replace it?
 

The original Canon battery that came with my XH A1
died after just 2 months of use, will Canon replace it?
I probably only used it 4 or 5 times, as the back-up
to the other two large batteries that I have... It won't
charge, and my voltmeter indicated 0.0v... which is
kind of odd. (the other big batteries all showed the
proper amount of voltage)

I'm asking becasue I can still remember a couple of years
when Canon refused to replace my old GL-2's battery.
(but it was already 1 year and 1 month after purchase)

Just wondering if I should bother at all...

Thanks!

It seems like you're having poor luck with Canon lately... you're the one who returned an HV20 after only an hour of using it. Nevertheless, the warranty on the battery is the same as the camcorder... twelve months... so they should replace it. There's only one way to find out, and that's by contacting Canon USA directly, at 1-800-OK-CANON.

Since you're in the best position to answer your own question, perhaps you can report back and tell us what you find out. Good luck,

Actual battery lifetime BP-950/970
 

Hi:

I have searched the forum, the question has been asked, but no one seems to have monitored the battery lifetime. The only numbers are Canon's official claim of 5 and 7 hours for the BP-950 and 970 respectively.

On a normal day, how long can you go without a recharge?

I know, that on a normal day, you likely do not shoot continuously, depending on the project, it may be more interesting: How much footage do you get on a full battery.

Thanks, Erik