Advice Please - Batteries for a 20D

[mjmw]

So, my 20D arrived last week (hurray!) and I am now facing the typical battery dilemma with a new camera...are the cheaper non-canon ones any good?

I have bought a Hahnel BP-511 equivalent (1500mAh) to fill up the grip with the supplied Canon (1390mAh) at half the price of a Canon branded. I now have noticed that 7 Day Shop have 1500mAh and 1200mAh BP-511 equivalents (both VERY cheap) but no manufacturer mentioned.

My experience of cheaper batteries for cameras has been mixed, with most matching the performance of the branded ones for a while, then starting to loose charge faster as they got older (> 6 months) although I imagine this is probably due to poor storage or old stock at/from the supplier.

So, my questions are:
Does anyone have any views or opinions on cheaper batteries (esp. for the 20D)?
Should I pair the batteries in the grip with same manufacturer/characteristics?

Cheers

Mark.

[James Eaton]

Hi Mark,

I have purchased two batteries for my 20D from 7 Day shop like you mentioned, I've used them almost continually alongside my Canon-branded battery, I haven't noticed any difference in power useage between them, maybe in the long term they won't be quite as good, but at just over £10 a fantastic bargain, I would highly recommend the 7 day shop batteries. I have been using my for 10 months now, using them most days for the past 8 months.

Cheers,

James

[hollis_f]

I've had nothing but good experiences from SterlingTek (http://store.yahoo.com/sterlingtek/ln03-canon-bp-511-dlc511.html) Their BP-511 equivalents are 1800 mAh and cost just $12. That means that two batteries, plus postage, comes to less that the £18 limit for import duties/taxes. Delivery was amazingly fast and the batteries are just as good as Canon's - but they last 30% longer.

[stuartlawrie]

I too have used aftermarket cheap batteries with absolutely no problems. Mine came from Powersmart who have a shop on Ebay and are based in Chorley, they cost £8. They also do a rather nifty Canon charger which not only comes with a mains adapter but also an in-car lead which I find very handy all for I think £14 including a BP511 equivalent battery

[Corvus Corax]

I use non-canon batteries with no problems at all in my 20D's, I have Hahnell and 2 from Powersmart all of which perform faultlessly and are significantly cheaper than their branded alternative.

Go for it!

[hillie]

Mark,
I can only echo the above comments, I have had no problems with none Canon batteries. Got mine from Battery Force, it was an Energizer at £18.36. Excellent service. http://www.battery-force.co.uk


John

[Recurvirostra]

I have just bought some batteries from an eBay store in the US (http://stores.ebay.com.au/Battery-Merchants), one of which was a 1500mAh BP-511A equivalent. The price was US$8-49.

As I have only just bought them, I don't know how they will perform in the future, but as the store selling them has a 100% eBay Feedback Rating and has been in business since 1999, one would assume that these batteries are of good quality.

(Not sure how the link above will work from countries other than Australia. You may have to access this store through eBay in your own country.)

[Ragna]

I also use the 7dayshop batteries in my 20d and have had no problems they dont last quite as long as the canon battery but at only £10 they are excellent value.

[citrinella]

I bought a non-Canon battery very cheap in Xi'an last spring. Unfortunately, I moved on that night. The battery took and held charge, but wouldn't release it. This was confirmed when I brought it back to the UK.

This wouldn't put me off buying non-Canon. I would just stay in one place till you have had time to check it !

Bought a Canon battery in Nanjing this spring - also very cheap :-) (only battery I could find).

Incidentally, for travel in China I took a spare lead that fits the charger, bought and fitted a Chinese plug, and have no trouble charging - on the 3 Gorges ferry, in restaurants, wherever. Nobody minds. Now I wonder if I really needed a spare battery ...

Mike.

[mjmw]

Thanks everyone, no horror stories so I will go ahead and purchase.
Although cheap compared to the rest of the kit, I didn't want to miss a shot because of bad batteries.

Cheers

Mark.

[stuartlawrie]

Just to add to my previous comments. My powersmart batteries are now 2 years old and have seen two trips to Kenya and behaved faultlessly. I would add this isn't really light use either, have acquired around 30,000 images in that time, plus many disgarded in the field!!!

[nickb]

Hi all,

Does the same apply with the 350D, ie anyone got any experience of 3rd party non oem batteries for this versus the Canon 720 mAH original ? Seem to be around £8-£12 on ebay various capacities from 600mAH to 900 mAH. I'm guessing I should try the highest capacity from a reputable seller but dont want to be let down in the field...

p.s. Do the 3rd party car chargers work ok ?

Thanks
Nick

Just to add to my previous comments. My powersmart batteries are now 2 years old and have seen two trips to Kenya and behaved faultlessly. I would add this isn't really light use either, have acquired around 30,000 images in that time, plus many disgarded in the field!!!

[graham catley]

I bought 2 non-Canon batteries from Warehouse for £25 each with the camera and they are still fine---the 7dayshop ones seem just as good but ironically the original Canon battery which came with the camera only seems to hold charge for about two thirds the time of a non-Canon one

[kennygee]

In my experience non-Canon batteries are fine.

[baillieswells]

Hi all,

Does the same apply with the 350D, ie anyone got any experience of 3rd party non oem batteries for this versus the Canon 720 mAH original ? Seem to be around £8-£12 on ebay various capacities from 600mAH to 900 mAH. I'm guessing I should try the highest capacity from a reputable seller but dont want to be let down in the field...

p.s. Do the 3rd party car chargers work ok ?

Thanks
Nick

I have been using non Canon batteries with my 350D with no problems. Though I have only been using them for a few months since I bought the camera last summer.

[nickb]

Thanks a lot guys. I've just bought a 750mAH 3rd party battery and car charger for £20 from ebay, seems like a good deal but we'll see.

Nick


I have been using non Canon batteries with my 350D with no problems. Though I have only been using them for a few months since I bought the camera last summer.

[Adey Baker]

Just to put this in some kind of context - in normal use (!), where you have access to a charger at the end of the day, you probably won't need any extra batteries.

The most shots I've taken at a time with my 20D has probably been around 300 so there may be a need for extras if you shoot a lot more than this but the one battery in the camera body has served me well enough for over 12,000 shots during the past 10 months

[graham catley]

in Provence last Feb at about -4C in the mornings my battery on the 20D went dead after about 20 shots--once the temp reached 0C it seemed to last as normal---you can never have enough batteries!---

[Adey Baker]

in Provence last Feb at about -4C in the mornings my battery on the 20D went dead after about 20 shots--once the temp reached 0C it seemed to last as normal---you can never have enough batteries!---


Well, I did put a (!) after my 'normal use' quote to cover exceptional circumstances!

Page 162 of the 20D manual says, for the battery, 'Working temperature range: 0C - 40C/32F - 104F. Working humidity: 85% or less'