Canon XL1 & XL1S Batteries / Battery Options

Roger Berry · November 29th, 2003, 05:13 PM

Have a look a batterymegasource.com, they've got all kinds of stuff at superb prices compared with UK high street.

I've bought from them four times now and things have always reached Luton in three or four days. It's all unbranded, made in China etc but performs fine; eg. the spare XL1 3600mAh bat gives about 15 mins more shooting time than the 3000mAh original.

Takeshi Fukushima · December 8th, 2003, 12:55 AM

I occasionally borrow IDX Endura batterys. Adaptor on the rear. On for a shoo for 5 hours, still had 40% left! Need more power, just attach another battery onto the battery. The larger batteries also give the camera better balance.
The thing about the IDX v-mounts are that they go directly onto Sony broadcast cameras as well. I need to get them myself. nice.

XL1 adaptor
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=242078&is=REG

battery & charger
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=231387&is=REG

Mark A. Foley · December 26th, 2003, 07:55 PM

How long can one expect in record time using the 7.2V BP-945 Li-Ion battery?

Nawaf Alali · December 27th, 2003, 01:37 AM

I just shot a soccer match yesterday using this battery. The camera was turned on for around 2 hours. Actual recording was for a full 60-minute tape. After I finished, the battery indicator was on 50%. So I assume you can safely shoot more than 2 hours with it.

Mark A. Foley · December 27th, 2003, 05:09 AM

Thanks....
I have been shooting wedding via A/C power source...but am concerned about pwoer glitches and lost of mobility being tied to a cord.

Ed Frazier · December 27th, 2003, 05:43 AM

I use two 945s on the CH910 when recording auto races. The camera is always on for at least four hours, sometimes five and I normally record at least three hours with lots of zooming. Then next day I use the same batteries to rewind and capture all tapes. (single pass scan and capture with no stop/rewind/start during the capture) All this is done without recharging. These batteries are two years old now and they can still record the entire event but might give up sometime during capture of the last tape.

When using the CH910 you don't get a "fuel guage" in the viewfinder, only the flashing red battery message when power gets low. With another battery ready, you can take one off the CH910 and replace it on-the-fly and the record or capture process is not interrupted. (might be hard to change one while recording unless you have an assistant though)

Rennie Knopf · January 27th, 2004, 08:06 AM

Anyone else had the same problem with the battery on the XL1 falling off because the stop under the battery does not not seem the extend out enough to give the battery support.. Any quick fixes out there or is this one for the pros at the shop?

Thanks

Chris Hurd · January 27th, 2004, 09:35 AM

Consider a professional battery solution which mounts on the rear of the camera via the MA100 or MA200 accessory bracket, such as Anton Bauer, IDX or Aspen.

Jeff Donald · January 27th, 2004, 10:00 AM

Some brands of batteries fit better (higher quality moldings) than others. If you're using a third party battery, you might try the Canon brand. Also, the locking components on both the battery and the camera locking mechanism are plastic. To the best of my knowledge all cameras in this prosumer category use plastic components, so this is nothing out of the ordinary. The plastic wears and over time and use requires replacement.

Don Palomaki · January 27th, 2004, 03:33 PM

Has the spring on the battery retainer/release button lost its spring, or is the projection that locks the battery in the 'up' position worn down?

As an interim measure try wedge a piece of something about 1/4" thick under the inserted battery to prevent its slipping down and out. Maybe tape it to the battery to hold the wedge in place.

Rennie Knopf · January 27th, 2004, 04:40 PM

Thanks,
Yes, the spring has lost its spring. I guess after time we all seem to do that. I will try wedging something under it untill I get a pro battery. That is the next item on my list.
Thanks muchly

Jeff Donald · January 27th, 2004, 05:04 PM

Small pieces of velcro can help too. You don't want to be dropping your battery as it can be severely damaged.

Yi Fong Yu · February 1st, 2004, 12:46 AM

bp-945 is only 4500mAh by comparison and runs for how long? i dunno i haven't used it. i just recently got an XL1s and was duped (?) by salesguy to buy 2 battery packs. it was advertised as 8 hrs. will it really do that long during normal usage?

Frank Granovski · February 1st, 2004, 02:14 AM

I doubt it'll do 8 hours, but anything over 2 hours is good---probably do 5.5 hours or so. For example, all my 2-hour batteries actually only do about 1.2 hours---with using the LCD, a tad less.

Don Palomaki · February 1st, 2004, 07:37 AM

IMHO a battery that outlasts a tape is a great to have. Easy to change batter when tape is changed.

Battery runtime will depend on your shooting technique and modes, whether AF and OIS is on or off, how much zooming you do, etc. As a rough approximation I would say divide the MAH rating by 2000 for a reasonable safe guess of the reliable "camcorder on (in any mode) time" you can get from a battery, and you may get more from a fresh, young battery. And as batteries age, the on time figure drops.

November 29th, 2003, 05:13 PM	#241
Roger Berry Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Luton, England. Posts: 35	Battery Megasource Have a look a batterymegasource.com, they've got all kinds of stuff at superb prices compared with UK high street. I've bought from them four times now and things have always reached Luton in three or four days. It's all unbranded, made in China etc but performs fine; eg. the spare XL1 3600mAh bat gives about 15 mins more shooting time than the 3000mAh original. __________________ Old men should rage and burn at close of day

December 26th, 2003, 07:55 PM	#243
Mark A. Foley Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bonaire, Ga. Posts: 356	Record Time on 7.2V BP-945 Battery How long can one expect in record time using the 7.2V BP-945 Li-Ion battery?

December 27th, 2003, 05:43 AM	#246
Ed Frazier Major Player Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Las Cruces, NM Posts: 343	I use two 945s on the CH910 when recording auto races. The camera is always on for at least four hours, sometimes five and I normally record at least three hours with lots of zooming. Then next day I use the same batteries to rewind and capture all tapes. (single pass scan and capture with no stop/rewind/start during the capture) All this is done without recharging. These batteries are two years old now and they can still record the entire event but might give up sometime during capture of the last tape. When using the CH910 you don't get a "fuel guage" in the viewfinder, only the flashing red battery message when power gets low. With another battery ready, you can take one off the CH910 and replace it on-the-fly and the record or capture process is not interrupted. (might be hard to change one while recording unless you have an assistant though) __________________ Ed Frazier

January 27th, 2004, 08:06 AM	#247
Rennie Knopf New Boot Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North Florida Posts: 6	Battery falls off Anyone else had the same problem with the battery on the XL1 falling off because the stop under the battery does not not seem the extend out enough to give the battery support.. Any quick fixes out there or is this one for the pros at the shop? Thanks __________________ RK

January 27th, 2004, 09:35 AM	#248
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Consider a professional battery solution which mounts on the rear of the camera via the MA100 or MA200 accessory bracket, such as Anton Bauer, IDX or Aspen. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

December 8th, 2003, 12:55 AM	#242
Takeshi Fukushima Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 86	I occasionally borrow IDX Endura batterys. Adaptor on the rear. On for a shoo for 5 hours, still had 40% left! Need more power, just attach another battery onto the battery. The larger batteries also give the camera better balance. The thing about the IDX v-mounts are that they go directly onto Sony broadcast cameras as well. I need to get them myself. nice. XL1 adaptor http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=242078&is=REG battery & charger http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=231387&is=REG

December 27th, 2003, 01:37 AM	#244
Nawaf Alali Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Kuwait, Kuwait Posts: 100	I just shot a soccer match yesterday using this battery. The camera was turned on for around 2 hours. Actual recording was for a full 60-minute tape. After I finished, the battery indicator was on 50%. So I assume you can safely shoot more than 2 hours with it.

December 27th, 2003, 05:09 AM	#245
Mark A. Foley Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bonaire, Ga. Posts: 356	Thanks.... I have been shooting wedding via A/C power source...but am concerned about pwoer glitches and lost of mobility being tied to a cord.

January 27th, 2004, 10:00 AM	#249
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Some brands of batteries fit better (higher quality moldings) than others. If you're using a third party battery, you might try the Canon brand. Also, the locking components on both the battery and the camera locking mechanism are plastic. To the best of my knowledge all cameras in this prosumer category use plastic components, so this is nothing out of the ordinary. The plastic wears and over time and use requires replacement. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 27th, 2004, 03:33 PM	#250
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	Has the spring on the battery retainer/release button lost its spring, or is the projection that locks the battery in the 'up' position worn down? As an interim measure try wedge a piece of something about 1/4" thick under the inserted battery to prevent its slipping down and out. Maybe tape it to the battery to hold the wedge in place. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

January 27th, 2004, 04:40 PM	#251
Rennie Knopf New Boot Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North Florida Posts: 6	Thanks, Yes, the spring has lost its spring. I guess after time we all seem to do that. I will try wedging something under it untill I get a pro battery. That is the next item on my list. Thanks muchly __________________ RK

January 27th, 2004, 05:04 PM	#252
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Small pieces of velcro can help too. You don't want to be dropping your battery as it can be severely damaged. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 1st, 2004, 12:46 AM	#253
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	got a 7.2V 6000mAh battery pack, will it really go 8 hrs? bp-945 is only 4500mAh by comparison and runs for how long? i dunno i haven't used it. i just recently got an XL1s and was duped (?) by salesguy to buy 2 battery packs. it was advertised as 8 hrs. will it really do that long during normal usage? __________________ bow wow wow

February 1st, 2004, 02:14 AM	#254
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	I doubt it'll do 8 hours, but anything over 2 hours is good---probably do 5.5 hours or so. For example, all my 2-hour batteries actually only do about 1.2 hours---with using the LCD, a tad less.

February 1st, 2004, 07:37 AM	#255
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	IMHO a battery that outlasts a tape is a great to have. Easy to change batter when tape is changed. Battery runtime will depend on your shooting technique and modes, whether AF and OIS is on or off, how much zooming you do, etc. As a rough approximation I would say divide the MAH rating by 2000 for a reasonable safe guess of the reliable "camcorder on (in any mode) time" you can get from a battery, and you may get more from a fresh, young battery. And as batteries age, the on time figure drops. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com