Canon XH batteries / battery thread

Mike Teutsch · April 21st, 2007, 01:24 PM

Before you get into sending for repair and fancy testing, try this to make sure the battery has not gone bad.

1. Fully charge the battery that was in it and let it sit for a good period, off of the camera and test it again.

2. Try a different battery in the camcorder, and see if the problem is still there.

It may be that you just have a battery going or gone bad.

Mike

Doug Chambers · April 21st, 2007, 07:33 PM

Hey all,
I'm going to be using the XH-A1 at a wedding for the first time next weekend and I'm a bit concerned about something. I have the stock Canon battery and the Impact BP-970. I'm wondering if these two batteries, fully charged, will be enough to get through a full day of shooting. The wedding is outdoors and I doubt I will be able to plug the camera up or recharge either battery and I want to be reasonably sure that these two batteries will be enough. Any and all opinions will be appreciated :)

Thanks,
Doug Chambers

Chris Hurd · April 21st, 2007, 07:35 PM

That's about ten hours of endurance, but I would add a third batt just to be on the safe side.

Alastair Brown · April 22nd, 2007, 03:32 AM

Don't worry, the batteries really do last for ages. I did a wedding 2 weeks ago and only switched from the stock supplied battery at the start of the evening reception. I reckon the larger BP945 would have seen me through the whole day easy.

Don Palomaki · April 22nd, 2007, 06:59 PM

If shooting for money, you can never have too many blank tapes or too many fresh charged batteries with you - you can only have too few. No one knows or cares if you have more than you needed, but the client gets mighty upset if you have one less battery or tape than you needed.

I would say plan on at least one good charged battery (e.g.., BP950) for each 1 hour tape you plan to shoot. You will not need that many if you use StandBy/Lock during long pauses in action at a typical wedding. Adjust this ratio as you gain expereince with your gear and shooting techinque.

Keep in mind, the more you shoot at a wedding, the more you have to sift through as you edit and the longer it takes to produce the end product.

Doug Chambers · April 23rd, 2007, 05:58 PM

Thanks for the advice. I just went ahead and ordered another BP-970. It hurt the wallet a little bit, but it will be sure to save me tons of worry. $130 is a decent price for peace of mind, isn't it?

Nathan Quattrini · May 1st, 2007, 07:28 AM

Does anyone have this battery? I`m confused about its usage. It comes with the A1 package, but the description is it works specifically with the G1/2 Xl 2. If you mount it under the camera can you not use a tripod? Or can a quick release attach to the battery, but won`t that mess with balancing the camera since the weight will all be in one little point under the cam? Also once the battery is under the camera...how does the power get into the camera?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=437763&is=REG

Edward Carlson · May 1st, 2007, 12:54 PM

The battery has it's own tripod hole, so you can still use a tripod. The power gets to the camera by way of a dummy battery. In the picture from the link, it is the bottom right thing, beside the charger. As long as the A1 has the same battery as the GL/XL series, this setup should work.

Nate Clarke · May 1st, 2007, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Carlson

The battery has it's own tripod hole, so you can still use a tripod. The power gets to the camera by way of a dummy battery. In the picture from the link, it is the bottom right thing, beside the charger. As long as the A1 has the same battery as the GL/XL series, this setup should work.

Does this mean you have to shoot with the battery door open then? That seems like a broken part waiting to happen. I love my XH A1 but the battery design makes me scratch my head.

My guess is that a 970 battery is going to be more than enough and this one is a little overkill.

Even Solberg · May 1st, 2007, 02:37 PM

Actually, if you look a little closer at the battery door, you will see there is a slot for snaking a cable out. Also works with the AC adapter.

Nate Clarke · May 1st, 2007, 02:46 PM

My bad - thanks for the heads up.

Still don't like the door thing though

Gert Kracht · May 1st, 2007, 03:01 PM

Considering the price of that battery, I would invest in a few 970's.
Exchanging those batteries should not be a problem because you also have to exchange tapes. Except when you use a harddrive solution ofcourse.

My 950 battery runs for about 4-5 hours. More than enough for me.
I think a 970 will run for 6-7 hours. So with three of those you could almost run 24 hours.

Next to that: with two or three you also can reload the empty one in between.

Bill Pryor · May 1st, 2007, 06:58 PM

I agree. With the battery that comes with the camera and a second 970, you can pretty much shoot all day. Buy a third battery and you're cool for about anything. That big Anton Bauer battery is probably about as heavy as the camera. I don't see any need for it.

Steve Yager · May 2nd, 2007, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Clarke

Does this mean you have to shoot with the battery door open then? That seems like a broken part waiting to happen. I love my XH A1 but the battery design makes me scratch my head.

My guess is that a 970 battery is going to be more than enough and this one is a little overkill.

Check that manual. That door comes off.

Bill Busby · May 2nd, 2007, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Yager

Check that manual. That door comes off.

Huh? Say again? Where does it say that in the manual?

Bill

April 21st, 2007, 01:24 PM	#181
Mike Teutsch Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 2,614	First thing to do! Before you get into sending for repair and fancy testing, try this to make sure the battery has not gone bad. 1. Fully charge the battery that was in it and let it sit for a good period, off of the camera and test it again. 2. Try a different battery in the camcorder, and see if the problem is still there. It may be that you just have a battery going or gone bad. Mike __________________ Chapter one, line one. The BH.

April 21st, 2007, 07:33 PM	#182
Doug Chambers Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canton, NC Posts: 48	How many batteries? Hey all, I'm going to be using the XH-A1 at a wedding for the first time next weekend and I'm a bit concerned about something. I have the stock Canon battery and the Impact BP-970. I'm wondering if these two batteries, fully charged, will be enough to get through a full day of shooting. The wedding is outdoors and I doubt I will be able to plug the camera up or recharge either battery and I want to be reasonably sure that these two batteries will be enough. Any and all opinions will be appreciated :) Thanks, Doug Chambers

April 21st, 2007, 07:35 PM	#183
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,369 Images: 513	That's about ten hours of endurance, but I would add a third batt just to be on the safe side. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

April 22nd, 2007, 06:59 PM	#185
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	If shooting for money, you can never have too many blank tapes or too many fresh charged batteries with you - you can only have too few. No one knows or cares if you have more than you needed, but the client gets mighty upset if you have one less battery or tape than you needed. I would say plan on at least one good charged battery (e.g.., BP950) for each 1 hour tape you plan to shoot. You will not need that many if you use StandBy/Lock during long pauses in action at a typical wedding. Adjust this ratio as you gain expereince with your gear and shooting techinque. Keep in mind, the more you shoot at a wedding, the more you have to sift through as you edit and the longer it takes to produce the end product. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

May 1st, 2007, 07:28 AM	#187
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	Anton Bauer ElipZ 10k Under Camera Mounted Battery...? Does anyone have this battery? I`m confused about its usage. It comes with the A1 package, but the description is it works specifically with the G1/2 Xl 2. If you mount it under the camera can you not use a tripod? Or can a quick release attach to the battery, but won`t that mess with balancing the camera since the weight will all be in one little point under the cam? Also once the battery is under the camera...how does the power get into the camera? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=437763&is=REG __________________ Cinematography Site

April 22nd, 2007, 03:32 AM	#184
Alastair Brown Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Glasgow/Scotland Posts: 626	Don't worry, the batteries really do last for ages. I did a wedding 2 weeks ago and only switched from the stock supplied battery at the start of the evening reception. I reckon the larger BP945 would have seen me through the whole day easy.

April 23rd, 2007, 05:58 PM	#186
Doug Chambers Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canton, NC Posts: 48	Thanks for the advice. I just went ahead and ordered another BP-970. It hurt the wallet a little bit, but it will be sure to save me tons of worry. $130 is a decent price for peace of mind, isn't it?

May 1st, 2007, 12:54 PM	#188
Edward Carlson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States Posts: 807	The battery has it's own tripod hole, so you can still use a tripod. The power gets to the camera by way of a dummy battery. In the picture from the link, it is the bottom right thing, beside the charger. As long as the A1 has the same battery as the GL/XL series, this setup should work.

May 1st, 2007, 02:37 PM	#190
Even Solberg Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 106	Actually, if you look a little closer at the battery door, you will see there is a slot for snaking a cable out. Also works with the AC adapter. __________________ "Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." -- Edgar Allan Poe

May 1st, 2007, 02:46 PM	#191
Nate Clarke Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 39	My bad - thanks for the heads up. Still don't like the door thing though

May 1st, 2007, 03:01 PM	#192
Gert Kracht Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ens, The Netherlands Posts: 198	Considering the price of that battery, I would invest in a few 970's. Exchanging those batteries should not be a problem because you also have to exchange tapes. Except when you use a harddrive solution ofcourse. My 950 battery runs for about 4-5 hours. More than enough for me. I think a 970 will run for 6-7 hours. So with three of those you could almost run 24 hours. Next to that: with two or three you also can reload the empty one in between.

May 1st, 2007, 06:58 PM	#193
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I agree. With the battery that comes with the camera and a second 970, you can pretty much shoot all day. Buy a third battery and you're cool for about anything. That big Anton Bauer battery is probably about as heavy as the camera. I don't see any need for it.