BP-511 Canon vs. Generic?

[jukas]

I currently only have the single BP-511 that came with my 10D when I bought it. Between the hopeful addition of a BGED grip and my IS lens chewing through the power faster than my 28-90 or prime, I've found myself wishing I had more batteries.

I rememeber someone posted a link to generic 511's here (http://www.pricegrabber.com/user_sales_getprod.php/masterid=477477/lot_id=5852/ut=4370783c823eb5b5) However before I take the plunge and order a few I was hoping to hear from anyone who has used generic batteries instead of or in addition to the Canon ones.

It's a significant savings, but I want a battery that can do toe to toe with the Canon batteries in terms of images shot per recharge.

[ShutteringFocus]

I bought two generics from e-bay for $20...for both!

So far no trouble...heck, they last longer! :D

But I have only had them for a few weeks.

[mttmrphy]

Same here... I bought 2 generics for about the same price for my G3 last summer. I now use them in my dRebel.... no problems.

[msvadi]

I bought a generic battery on ebay from eforcecity/eforcetrading (the seller has several IDs) several month ago. I cannot see any difference in performace between Canon and generic batteries.

[Jim_T]

I got a garbage generic battery off eBay last year.. Out of the package it wasn't any better than the tired old BP-511 it was replacing..

It was guaranteed, but by the time I paid to ship it back and then get the new one shipped in return, it wasn't worth my while.. Especially if there was a chance the replacement was just as bad.

You can get a good deal, but be aware your mileage may vary..

[JZaun]

I got a 1300mAH battery for $11.99 here and It works well. It last longer longer than the Canon. Only use for 2 months so I can't vouch for how long it will work well . Looks exactly like a canon even down to tool marks. Probably made in the same place. :?

http://www.sterlingtek.com/ln03-canon-bp-511-dlc511.html

JZaun

[Nascar Nut]

I got a 1300mAH battery for $11.99 here and It works well. It last longer longer than the Canon. Only use for 2 months so I can't vouch for how long it will work well . Looks exactly like a canon even down to tool marks. Probably made in the same place. :?

http://www.sterlingtek.com/ln03-canon-bp-511-dlc511.html

JZaun
Was wondering if that battery would work in the 300d

[scottbergerphoto]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home;jsessionid=Anw9rL4nUM!815753471?ci=1&sb=ps&pn =1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=SearchBar&A=search& Q=*&shs=bp511
Lenmar and Power 2000 work very well.
Scott

[drisley]

Yes Nascar, the 300d also uses the bp-511, so it will work.

[cgratti]

I currently only have the single BP-511 that came with my 10D when I bought it. Between the hopeful addition of a BGED grip and my IS lens chewing through the power faster than my 28-90 or prime, I've found myself wishing I had more batteries.

I rememeber someone posted a link to generic 511's here (http://www.pricegrabber.com/user_sales_getprod.php/masterid=477477/lot_id=5852/ut=4370783c823eb5b5) However before I take the plunge and order a few I was hoping to hear from anyone who has used generic batteries instead of or in addition to the Canon ones.

It's a significant savings, but I want a battery that can do toe to toe with the Canon batteries in terms of images shot per recharge.

I have both the canon and a generic one... paid $25.00 for it and love it, not had a problem with it.

[Nolz]

im using a set of generic batteries i ordered from hong kong through ebay....and their mAh rating was better than that of the oem batt, and i find that battery life is as good if not that much better! and for 1/3 the price!...shipped! i couldnt be more happy...

i'd say get a set from someone here that has bought from the seller previously. im afraid i dont habe details of the seller of my batts but will post it up if i can find it when i get home ;)

[Brianbar]

I've noticed that some replacement batteries have a higher mAH (1300)
but a lower voltage (7.2) Canon being 7.4 volts.
Does either of these ratings make a difference that could cause a possible problem to the camera?
I'm sure Canon would tell it does.

Brian

10D
G3

[joeseph]

Battery "Life"... Hmmmmmm
I bought a third party spare for my D60 two years ago (unbranded really apart from being labelled BCN-511)
The Canon original is still happy doing a day's work (several 256M flashcards worth) while the third party lasts 30 mins if that. They've both been cycled back & forth but I have resigned the 3rd party one to the "emergencies only" department.

[Roger_Cavanagh]

This topic has been discussed on the Rob Galbraith Forums. The "official" Canon position as put forward by Chuck Westfall is that Canon-label batteries contain circuits designed to protect the camera in case of battery failure. Third party batteries may or may not contain similar protection capabilities. IF your camera is damaged as a result of a battery failure when using a Canon battery that will be covered by warranty. If the damage is caused by the failure of a 3rd party battery, then you are not covered.

Regards,

[theoldmoose]

Thanks, Roger. You beat me to it. :)

There have been previous threads on here (search for battery, etc.) where the dangers of using really cheap knock-off Li-Ion chemistry batteries has been discussed.

Ruining your camera is one thing, but there is an element of risk to your person, should one of these 'really good deals' short internally. Do a google search on 'exploding Nokia cell phones' to see what I mean.

[Ferdinand]

heheh I was the one posted the link to Sterlingtek's store front on pricegrabber. I have gotten generics from then at $9.99 a piece, using them now for 3 weeks and they are great.

Sterlingtek took care of my DOA too, so great customer service there, no hassle on returning parts. Will definitely shop there for my battery again.

Regards,
Ferdinand.

[MarkH]

I've noticed that some replacement batteries have a higher mAH (1300)
but a lower voltage (7.2) Canon being 7.4 volts.
Does either of these ratings make a difference that could cause a possible problem to the camera?
I'm sure Canon would tell it does.


7.2 vs 7.4 Volts? Probably both the same voltage. Reminds me of the 1.2V NiCad cell, some brands called them 1.25V, but the same chemistry in them produced the same voltage, it's all in how you measure it.

Higher Capacity could mean the batteries give a bit more runtime, unlike voltage the capacity can and does vary from brand to brand.

My Power 2000 batteries weren't as cheap as some, but way cheaper than Canon, they give easily as much run time if not more.

My opinion: Avoid the cheapest generic batteries, buy the better generic batteries (Power 2000, Lenmar, etc). Avoid Canon batteries!

Canon batteries are way over priced. They are also Lithium Ion batteries, that means that they start deteriorating from the day they are manufactured. The Generic batteries are also Lithium Ion batteries and deteriorate over time, the big difference is that it costs less to replace them.

After 2 or 3 years your batteries will provide MUCH less life, you will need to replace them, buying Canon just means you are spending much more. The Canon story about there being no safety circuitry on some generic batteries is true, the cheaper the battery the more likely this is. I would avoid the $10 batteries, but the $20-$35 batteries are likely to have the protection circuits just like the Canon batteries.

[theoldmoose]

Where did you get your information that Li-Ion batteries are bad chemistry?

I have had nothing but good luck with Li-Ion batteries. I wish that all the electronic equipment I have would use them, in fact.

NiCads, particularly in long series strings and not well-matched are nothing but trouble -- the first time you run them flat, some of the cells reverse, and can short from chemical dendrites that can form. Then, when you recharge the pack, the charging voltage is divided over the remaining cells (i.e. too high!) and the remaining cells will overheat and vent (better than exploding), drying out the electrolyte in the cell, reducing it's capacity. This forms the so-called 'memory effect' of NiCads, which is really doesn't exist -- the cause is misnamed for what looks like the symptom. In any event, most NiCad packs go bad quickly, unless they are expensively made of closely-matched cells (charge/discharge curves). Then they are used in space equipment, and have an on-orbit life of five to ten years, or better. But, most folks can't affort $50K for a NiCad pack. :)

Next were NiMH's. These were a definite improvement, and can typically be quick-charged (1 1/2 to 3 hours) repeatedly, and have low internal resistance, making them more desirable than non-rechargeable alkalines in photo flash (speedlite) applications. Unfortunately, you need to 'condition' new cells by charging them normally (15 hours) and discharging them a couple or three times, before you start quick-charging them. Most chargers supplied with NiMH's don't have this option, so a lot of folks never see the full capacity of these cells. In addition, about every ten or so times you quick-cycle these cells, it is recommended to slow-cycle them a couple of times. If you forget to do this, you end up with a pack like the one in one of my portable radio transceivers, where the pack charges normally (or quickly), and can last its rated watt-hours on low current draw (receiver-only operation), but when I attempt to draw a couple of amps from the pack for 2.5 watt transmit, the pack voltage droops below the transceiver cutoff, causing the radio to shut down. This pack is only about two years old, and hasn't seen much use.

Now, we come to Li-Ion cells. I've only ever bought either the manufacturer's branded cells for my cell phones, PDA's, laptop computer, and cameras, and have had nothing but good experience with all these devices. I've shallow-cycled my cell phones repeatedly (charging them nightly, even when they are only a few percent discharged), and yet after several hundred shallow-charge cycles, I can depend on a full disharge cycle (extending to two or more day's cell phone service) when I need it. A couple of cell phones in our household were five or more years old, and the phones broke from being dropped repeatedly, long before any of the Li-Ion batteries needed to be replaced. I have another Li-Ion powered portable transceiver that is capable of 5 watts output. I use it almost daily, and it is still going strong on the battery that was supplied with the unit almost two years ago.

Li-Ion is a proven technology, and if you've had any problems with it whatsoever, I would believe that you either had a badly manufactured cell in the first place (which could also be potentially dangerous), or you have a badly designed or manufactured charger circuit (which definitely can be dangerous with this chemistry).

Either way, please stop spreading unfounded, misleading rumors about Li-Ion as a poor battery chemistry. Buy only quality batteries and chargers from respected sources, and your Li-Ion problems will disappear.

[MarkH]

Where did you get your information that Li-Ion batteries are bad chemistry?


Li-Ion is not bad chemistry!

But they don't deliver the same capacity forever. Try searching a bit on the internet. There are complaints about the Ipod because the battery wasn't designed to be user replaceable, but it doesn't give such a good run-time after a couple of years.

Have you actually tested how much capacity you get from a new Li-Ion compared to one 2 years old?

NiCads are not very good in a lot of ways - Poor capacity for their size and weight, toxic cadmium.

NiMh is good, but needs cycling occasionally.

Li-Ion is better, shallow cycling causes no problems and regular use doesn't shorten their life much.

My Nokia battery in my cellphone has provided over 3 years good service, but now it struggles to run for 2 days on a charge, for the first year 4 or 5 days was easily acheivable. If I use it too much I can have trouble getting a full day out of a full charge. I'll buy a new battery and get another 2+ years out of it, nothing wrong with that!

If you can't find any articles on the internet that back up my assertion that Li-Ion batteries lose performance over time (regardless of use) then let me know and I'll find some and post the links for you.
:roll:

[Roger_Cavanagh]

Should have mentioned this link (http://www.rogercavanagh.com/helpinfo/38_bp511.htm) before. It's an amalgamation of BP-511 information garnered from various posts by Canon's Chuck Westfall.

There's also a link at the bottom of the page to another site that has some useful battery information.

Regards,

[photogdungan]

Lots of good information on batteries at www.batteryuniversity.com