Batteries

[charmdragon]

What batteries are compatible with the battery grip for a 20d?

[cicopo]

The same battery as the camera BP 511 or if you have the magazine you can use AA's

[ebiggs1]

This is another area where you want to make sure you buy Canon brand. The 3rd party batteries are so hit and miss they are not worth the risk to me, IMHO.

[amfoto1]

I've been using third party BP511s for many years without any problems at all. I bought a batch of them for what worked out to $8 US each delivered to my doorstep. The generic 3rd party batteries are at least as long lasting as the Canon batts I use along with them and recharge in the same charger.

I'd be more concerned about using third party LP-E6 (and similar) that are used by more recent models of Canon. I've stuck with OEM LP-E6s, even though some of them cost me very dearly when they were newly introduced and hard to find.

But, you don't need to worry about that. The 20D uses the older style BP511 or BP511A. I think you also can use BP512, but if memory serves, they are lower power capacity.

If you have the magazine and choose to use AAs, get a couple sets of rechargeables. Standard alkalines aren't good for very many shots.

[ebiggs1]

Your story is typical. Some guys get good service from off-brand batteries. Some guys don't and some get a burned up camera or charger. 

To this point Canon says, "Please be advised that Canon is not responsible, and will not be liable, for any malfunctions, damages or injuries caused by non-Canon genuine batteries, battery chargers, and/or AC adapters including, without limitation, counterfeit devices. We ask that you take special precautions when purchasing batteries, chargers, and/or adapters especially through internet auctions."

But, it is your choice, I guess?

[amfoto1]

Well, BP511/511A are pretty simple batteries... just two standard batteries linked together inside the plastic case. So there's little risk of problems with those, Canon or otherwise. By the way, the Canon OEM BP511A are imprinted with "Made in China", too. I'd guesstimate that the vast majority of guys get good service from the off-brand. Damaged cameras or chargers are extremely rare and unlikely (... but can happen with OEM batts, too... I had a Nokia phone burst apart during charging due to a failed original/OEM batt... the phone still worked, though). So just sayin'  that for BP511/511A, especially  for use in a BG-E2 grip that's worth maybe $50 tops, I'd say save some money and buy non-OEM in stead of the $50-apiece-OEM batts.

The later LP-E6 are another matter. They have some additional circuitry necessary to support the more sophisticated battery condition reporting to the camera and interaction with the charger. I would be much more concerned about buying non-Canon versions of any of the LP-Ex series (5DII, 60D and later, 7D, later Rebel/xxxxD series). With those cameras, I've stuck with OEM only, but when I bought the batteries were newly introduced and there weren't reliable substitutes... now there are.

There are reliable non-OEM being sold by reputible stores and fully backed up with warrranties. Sterlingtek is a widely respected battery specialist that sells online. B&H Photo and Adorama are among the major retail/online outlets that sell other reliable substitutes. I'm sure there are other reliable sources, but I'd think twice before buying from unknown foreign sellers on certain auction sites.

I haven't used them enough to know much about the NP-E3 and LP-E4 batt packs used by 1D series cameras.

***********
Alan Myers

San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7D(x2), 50D(x3), some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR & PRINTROOM

[ebiggs1]

"Damaged cameras or chargers are extremely rare and unlikely (... but can happen with OEM batts, too..."

But Canon stands behind theirs. It may be rare but not "extremely rare". And certainly not if it is yours!

To each his own.............

[Skirball]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

Your story is typical. Some guys get good service from off-brand batteries. Some guys don't and some get a burned up camera or charger. 

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Do you have any literature to cite for these burned up cameras?  The engineering side of my brain has a hard time imagining a battery failure mode that would cause it to burn up a camera.  I could see it leaking and potentially causing damage, but 'burning up' sounds far fetched given the workings of an electrochemical cell and simple voltage regulators in electronic circuitry...  but I suppose stranger things have happened.

Edit: And to the OP, I too have used third party generics for years without issue.  I do my research (making sure the supplier has good reviews), and I don't buy the cheapest of the cheap.  At most I've just noticed that some of the batteries don't hold as much charge as a Canon, or wear out quicker.  No explosions, yet.

[ebiggs1]

Hey, you guys are free to use whatever you want. It doesn't really matter to me.

In my world I don't have the luxury of not getting the shot. I don't get any, whoops, do-overs, or mulligan's. When you are just a snapshooter or a hobbyists, it is no big deal if your equipment fails on occasion albeit even if it is rare times.

I had a friend with a 7D that bought a cheap 3rd world import battery that swelled up inside the camera and could not be removed. The camera had to go in for service, some cheap battery, right? Swelling is just before exploding.

From Canon about off brand..."batteries and chargers do not follow industry safety standards and may overheat, melt, smoke, ignite and/or explode when in use."

Not a dangerous problem but 3rd party batteries for my 1 Series don't fit well which defeats the weather proof feature.

Thanks but no thanks, I'll stick to Canon branded batteries. Now you do as you wish.

[cicopo]

I don't know what chemistry the BP 511 uses but the NP E3 is a nicad and I've got some 3rd party ones which in my opinion were made with very low cost ingredients (they run down quickly & didn't last many recharge cycles when compared to my Canon brand ones. Nicads however aren't unstable but Lipo's are & can expode / start a fire etc & are a real problem for those of us who operate electric powered radio control planes / boats / cars. There are LOTS of very provable instances of such & I've seen one start a fire after a crash. Many cameras now use Lipo's from what I've read so to me it's important to buy from a very reputable source & be careful in handling them as in "do not drop".