Canon XH batteries / battery thread

Jim Duggins · March 21st, 2007, 04:10 PM

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?

Kevin Amundson · March 21st, 2007, 04:37 PM

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.

Scott Cantrell · March 21st, 2007, 05:10 PM

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

Bill Busby · March 21st, 2007, 05:49 PM

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

Jim Martin · March 21st, 2007, 06:20 PM

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

Robert Garvey · March 21st, 2007, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Duggins

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 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...

Dan Wilder · March 22nd, 2007, 12:08 AM

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

Bill Busby · March 22nd, 2007, 12:28 AM

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

Dan Wilder · March 22nd, 2007, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Busby

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.

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

Jeff Nelson · March 24th, 2007, 11:51 PM

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...

Jim Duggins · March 25th, 2007, 12:23 AM

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

James R. Leong · March 25th, 2007, 02:59 AM

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.

Leila Alkadi · March 25th, 2007, 09:14 PM

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!

Chris Hurd · March 25th, 2007, 09:33 PM

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,

Erik Norgaard · March 26th, 2007, 12:13 PM

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

March 21st, 2007, 04:10 PM	#136
Jim Duggins Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 73	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?

March 21st, 2007, 04:37 PM	#137
Kevin Amundson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Prague, MN Posts: 112	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. __________________ Kevin \| www.kraentertainment.com A picture is worth 1,000 words \| A 2 hour film at 24fps is worth 172,800,000 words

March 25th, 2007, 09:14 PM	#148
Leila Alkadi Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Washington Posts: 49	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!

March 25th, 2007, 09:33 PM	#149
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	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, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

March 26th, 2007, 12:13 PM	#150
Erik Norgaard Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 238	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

March 21st, 2007, 05:10 PM	#138
Scott Cantrell Sponsor: TapeWorks Texas Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 357	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

March 21st, 2007, 05:49 PM	#139
Bill Busby Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 959	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

March 21st, 2007, 06:20 PM	#140
Jim Martin Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Burbank, CA 91502 Posts: 949	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

March 22nd, 2007, 12:08 AM	#142
Dan Wilder Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 29	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

March 22nd, 2007, 12:28 AM	#143
Bill Busby Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 959	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

March 24th, 2007, 11:51 PM	#145
Jeff Nelson Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 194	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...

March 25th, 2007, 12:23 AM	#146
Jim Duggins Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 73	The Impact BP-970s work perfect for me and are $40 cheaper than the Canons at B&H.

March 25th, 2007, 02:59 AM	#147
James R. Leong Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada Posts: 81	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.