5D Classic always low battery

[werdn]

I have a early production 5D Classic (original owner), and the battery display always shows low battery, even thought the battery is fully charged and can be used for many hours. Sometimes it shows up as fully charged, sometimes it shows up as low battery (one bar). This happens on three of my batteries. 

Do you guys think that it is becasue I need a new battery, or is the the camera's problem? Thanks in advance!

[Peter]

Old batteries?

[Waddizzle]

If the batteries are as old as when the camera was being sold as new, then they have exceeded more than twice their list life expectancy.  It is possible that there is an issue with the battery compartment, or how the camera reads the batteries.  But if the issue is not consistent with all batteries, then suspect the batteries.

[EDIT] I do not know if the 5D battery is still being produced, but I would doubt it.  So, be aware that any "new" batteries are probably just as old as the ones you have on hand.  They have simply never been used before.

[werdn]

Yeah, I think it might be a battery problem. Haha, I have had my batteries since 2006! I am going to try out one new battery first. Should I get a OE Canon one, or are third party ones OK? Also, should I get 1390mAh (original capacity) ones, or some 2000mAh ones I see on amazon?

Thanks!

[Waddizzle]

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@werdn wrote:

Yeah, I think it might be a battery problem. Haha, I have had my batteries since 2006! I am going to try out one new battery first. Should I get a OE Canon one, or are third party ones OK? Also, should I get 1390mAh (original capacity) ones, or some 2000mAh ones I see on amazon?

Thanks!

---

Stick to using only genuine Canon batteries, and only purchase them from factory authorized dealers.  There is a lucrative market of counterfeit camera batteries and memory cards on sites like Amazon.  It is buyer beware over there.

[werdn]

Ok, ill probably buy from B&H, but **bleep** $50-60 for a battery is a lot 😂

Edit: Are watson batteries good? It is also a choice on B&H

[Waddizzle]

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@werdn wrote:

Ok, ill probably buy from B&H, but **bleep** $50-60 for a battery is a lot 😂

Edit: Are watson batteries good? It is also a choice on B&H

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I have never tried Waltons in my cameras.  I do have AA rechargeable Watsons in my 600EX III RT flash.  No issues.

[Peter]

Estimated recoverable capacity

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@werdn wrote:

Yeah, I think it might be a battery problem. Haha, I have had my batteries since 2006! I am going to try out one new battery first. Should I get a OE Canon one, or are third party ones OK? Also, should I get 1390mAh (original capacity) ones, or some 2000mAh ones I see on amazon?

Thanks!

---

A lithium ion battery stored at 40% of charge at 25 degrees Celsius will have an estimated recoverable capacity of 96% one year later. Stored at 100% of charge it will have an estimated recoverable capacity of 80% after one year. After 14 years there will not be much left.

[Waddizzle]

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@Peter wrote:

Estimated recoverable capacity

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@werdn wrote:

Yeah, I think it might be a battery problem. Haha, I have had my batteries since 2006! I am going to try out one new battery first. Should I get a OE Canon one, or are third party ones OK? Also, should I get 1390mAh (original capacity) ones, or some 2000mAh ones I see on amazon?

Thanks!

---

A lithium ion battery stored at 40% of charge at 25 degrees Celsius will have an estimated recoverable capacity of 96% one year later. Stored at 100% of charge it will have an estimated recoverable capacity of 80% after one year. After 14 years there will not be much left.

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Good point.  You make me suspect that the Dr. Watson batteries might be more recently manufactured. But, I would still want one Canon battery, anyway. 

[RobertTheFat]

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@werdn wrote:

Ok, ill probably buy from B&H, but **bleep** $50-60 for a battery is a lot 😂

Edit: Are watson batteries good? It is also a choice on B&H

---

The only camera battery that I can recall outright failing on me was a Watson. OTOH, it had cost me nothing, because it was included with a camera I bought from B&H. Would I buy a Watson battery? No. Would I take one and use it if it were effectively free? Sure. Would I use it as an event photographer at a shoot that really mattered and where things were happening fast? Probably not.