Opteka Battery Grip Misreads Battery Level

[simonmiles]

Hello there. First post on this fantastic board. I recently bought an Opteka battery grip for my Rebel XT. The battery meter would show empty after about 50 shots or so and then shut down. I thought this was odd as I was able to take about 300 or so shots before using the battery grip. I returned the battery grip and now the "new" one is doing the same. I am assuming that they replaced the old one with a new one. I searched the forum and the internet for pertinent information. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this before and what was done to remedy the problem. I have even read that it's possible that maybe the camera just won't accept the use of a battery grip. I was tempted to buy a Canon BG-E3, but would it make a difference? Am I stuck without the use of a battery grip? Thanks in advance.

[JackProton]

Do you still get 300 shoots without the grip? Its possible that your battery could have gone bad about the time you bought the grip. The number of shots you can get from a single charge can also vary widely depending on how much you use the LCD to review shots.

[simonmiles]

The battery grip is new along with the battery. I just purchased the grip about three weeks ago. The first one I kept for a week and sent back. I received the second one less than a week ago. The battery in the camera without the battery grip takes about 300 shots. I don't know if I've just had bad luck and received two defective Opteka grips or if they sent me the same one and pretended like it's a new one. Not sure if it's my camera, but I wouldn't think so. I guess there is the possibility that maybe my camera just doesn't work with a battery grip, but wouldn't that be odd? Tempted to go try a Canon grip to see if the battery level reads right. Would love some other suggestions or hints. Thanks.

[2005GLI]

Its funny you posted something like this. I've noticed that my xt reads full charge with the sterlingtek batteries but i can't do the sensor cleaning cause it says low battery. weird.

[mkuriger]

300 shots on one charge? I have taken 4000+ shots without running the battery down.

[Tee Why]

I've not heard of this and don't have this problem on my Opteka grip with the XTi.
One thing I'd check is to make sure that the contacts on the battery tray and the ones that goes into the grip is clean.

[simonmiles]

300 shots on one charge? I have taken 4000+ shots without running the battery down.

I may have been lowballing the shot count. The matter of the issue though is not the total number of shots, but the level of the battery shown when I use the battery grip. The same battery that seems almost depleted when using the battery grip is completely full when placed into the original compartment without the grip. I can't believe you can get that many shots one one charge. That's amazing.

[simonmiles]

I've not heard of this and don't have this problem on my Opteka grip with the XTi.
One thing I'd check is to make sure that the contacts on the battery tray and the ones that goes into the grip is clean.

I'll check the contacts, but they look clean. Actually, I've read several reviews on Amazon.com where other people have mentioned the same thing. The low ratings were usually attributed to the rubber peeling off. There were probably three or four where people mentioned the same inaccurate battery level which resulted in the camera shutting down when in fact the battery still had a good charge.

[JackProton]

I may have been lowballing the shot count. The matter of the issue though is not the total number of shots, but the level of the battery shown when I use the battery grip. The same battery that seems almost depleted when using the battery grip is completely full when placed into the original compartment without the grip. I can't believe you can get that many shots one one charge. That's amazing.

The battery level indicator with Li-Ion batteries is extremely inaccurate due to the fact that these types of batteries tend to stay close to their rated voltage up to the point where they are nearly exhausted. Adding a second battery with the grip changes the electrical characteristics slightly and appears to throw off the battery level indicator even more. The battery level indicator is, at best, a very coarse measurement.

[simonmiles]

I wouldn't really have a problem if the level was off slightly. The issue is that the battery grip thinks there is no more juice left and the camera will then shut down. Once I remove the battery grip, the meter reads full. I proceed to take many more shots just to be sure that the level is correct. Not sure what to think or do. Tempted to return the grip again, but not until I know for sure that I'm ruling everything else out. Thanks.

[Tee Why]

I do remember when I first got mine, it says that battery was dead. I then played with the battery tray a bit inserting it and taking it out. As the gold contacts can become oxidized and needed to be broken in. After that, the battery level has been consistent and pretty accurate.

[JackProton]

Personally, I would have no problem using my grip even if it knew that I could get, say, another 5% more shots using the batteries one at a time without the grip before the camea shut itself down. I tend to recharge batteries before that point anyways. Discharging Li-Ion too low can damage them.

[oldsquawk]

When you buy cheap products you get cheap results. Opteka is very hit or miss with the quality of their products. Buy the Canon OEM grip and you won't have these problems. The grip will work properly for years to come.

[90blackcrx]

When you buy cheap products you get cheap results. Opteka is very hit or miss with the quality of their products. Buy the Canon OEM grip and you won't have these problems. The grip will work properly for years to come.

Thats funny, cause I just searched battery grips and found people having issues with canon battery grips, and it seems like they have a recall on them as well.

[mcmadkat]

I find that using a 3rd party grip I get roughly 500 shots, maybe less. That doesn't matter as I have a lot of betteries, but it could be annoying. ed: but if I am shooting the same settings I can get 1,000 shots.

50 shots is wrong. Have you tried it with just one battery in the grip not two? How many shots then. Compare to battery in camera then you know if the grip it to blame.

[simonmiles]

I find that using a 3rd party grip I get roughly 500 shots, maybe less. That doesn't matter as I have a lot of betteries, but it could be annoying. ed: but if I am shooting the same settings I can get 1,000 shots.

50 shots is wrong. Have you tried it with just one battery in the grip not two? How many shots then. Compare to battery in camera then you know if the grip it to blame.

I charge the battery until the green light comes on. Then I use just one battery in the grip. I get about 50-100 shots before the battery meter has about one bar left. From there, it is only a matter of time before the camera shuts down thinking that there is no more juice. Once I remove the grip and place the same battery back into the original compartment, the battery meter reads full. I take about 50 or so more shots just to be sure that the battery really is reading correctly.

[JackProton]

That sounds like dirty contacts.

Try rubbing lightly with a pencil eraser:
-the contacts on the batteries themselves
-the contacts for the batterires on the battery tray
-the contacts on the end of the battery tray
-the contacts INSIDE the grip
-the silver contacts on grip that go into the camera

[mkuriger]

my canon battery grip does the same exact thing. as well as my friend's. I just got my battry grip 2 days ago so I know the contacts are not to blame. once the battery appears to be dead in the grip, the camera stops working. if I take the battery out and put in the camera without the grip, it's a full charge again.

I find it really weird that this would happen on my brand new 30D with a brand new grip and brand new batteries, as well as happen on my friends old gear. is there a solution?

[Tee Why]

It can happen once in a while. I find that removing the batteries and the grip and then reinserting them helps to kind of "reset" the thing.

[90blackcrx]

When you buy cheap products you get cheap results. Opteka is very hit or miss with the quality of their products. Buy the Canon OEM grip and you won't have these problems. The grip will work properly for years to come.

I will also add, after doing a little searching around, seems like they are identical, someone mentioned that the company that makes canon is making these.

Going to pick one up pretty soon.

[simonmiles]

I don't know for sure if I've resolved this issue, but I have made some discoveries. I attached the battery grip and used just the original Canon battery that came with my kit purchase. The battery meter seems accurate and I took over 150 shots without the battery level diminishing or the camera powering down. I purchased a battery on eBay for cheap. It is new and supposedly has a higher capacity than the standard Canon battery. When I use this battery with the grip, the battery level starts to become inaccurate and shuts down as previously mentioned after 50 shots or so. Of course, when I place this battery directly into the camera without the battery grip, the levels are full charge. I guess the battery maybe has a different voltage which is causing the grip to read it wrong. Not sure why it works when it is directly inside the camera. I used generic batteries in my 300D with a grip without any issues so I thought I wouldn't have any problems. Maybe I just received a dud battery. I'm not 100% sure that the grip isn't at fault so I may buy a battery from SterlingTek since their batteries seem to be of higher quality. Hope this helps someone.

[DigitalOxygen.ca]

I have the same issue with my Opteka grip. I have not tested how many shots I get with the different batteries, but when I use 1 single fully charge original canon battery it in the grip it shows full power. However, when I insert the AA cartridge fill with 6 fully charge Energizer NiMH batteries (the same kind I use all the time in my Canon 430EX flash) it shows half full right away. I am ok with this if I can still get lots of shots out of it, but if the camera will think that it's out of power soon after I start shooting this will be a problem.

I am hoping that the contacts just need to get "broken in" as someone else said earlier in this thread. Otherwise my plan of using the 6 x 2500 mAh batteries to get 15,000 mAh will not work!

[simonmiles]

I have the same issue with my Opteka grip. I have not tested how many shots I get with the different batteries, but when I use 1 single fully charge original canon battery it in the grip it shows full power. However, when I insert the AA cartridge fill with 6 fully charge Energizer NiMH batteries (the same kind I use all the time in my Canon 430EX flash) it shows half full right away. I am ok with this if I can still get lots of shots out of it, but if the camera will think that it's out of power soon after I start shooting this will be a problem.

I am hoping that the contacts just need to get "broken in" as someone else said earlier in this thread. Otherwise my plan of using the 6 x 2500 mAh batteries to get 15,000 mAh will not work!

Do you have the same problem using a non-Canon lithium battery? Thanks.

[JackProton]

Maybe I just received a dud battery.
After buying a grip, I picked up two new CTA batteries. With both brand new batteries installed, I was getting fewer shots than with my old Canon battery. Turned out that one of the new batteries was completely dead 3 days after its first charge and was dragging down the good battery while in the grip.

[simonmiles]

After buying a grip, I picked up two new CTA batteries. With both brand new batteries installed, I was getting fewer shots than with my old Canon battery. Turned out that one of the new batteries was completely dead 3 days after its first charge and was dragging down the good battery while in the grip.

I'm thinking that it's also a dud battery. When I have the generic and the Canon battery both in the grip at the same time, the battery level doesn't read right. The thing that is weird to me is that the generic battery seems to hold a great charge when it is directly in the battery compartment. Would you recommend batteries from Sterlingtek? I still need to eliminate the battery grip as being defective while I still have the warranty. Thanks.

[JackProton]

Bad batteries can appear to have a full charge but become totally drained after a small number of shots. This is pretty common. My bad battery gave itself away when it appeared totally drained acted like it was fully charged after only 60 seconds in the charger.

I replaced the CTA batteries with Sterlingtek (the replacement and the original good CTA battery both died simultaneously after 1 year) and have been getting very good results.

[DigitalOxygen.ca]

Do you have the same problem using a non-Canon lithium battery? Thanks.

Unfortunately I don't own any non-Canon lithium batteries right now. However I do know someone who has an extra battery that may be a non-Canon. I will research that if I can.

Which brings me to my the next quirk. I borrowed that same persons XTi for a wedding I am shooting this weekend and I decided to try the grip on the XTi. When the grip is installed on the XTi with the AA batteries as the power source it reads 100% battery level! I can then take the grip and move it over to my XT and it reads 1/2 ! Very strange. I am going to try some tests today to see how long the camera will last and now many shots I can take before it dies. I am going to clear the card, open the flash and fire away for a while and see if I can get it to shutdown. Hopefully I will be able to tell if the camera will die prematurely or if it will just sit at the 50% level for a long time until the batteries are actually drained.

PS, I was going to hook the XT up to my computer and use the EOS utilities time interval shooting to let the camera go through it's paces so I didn't have to sit there and hold the shutter button down, but the design of the software (for whatever stupid reason) will not allow you to shoot tethered while the battery is at the half way mark. I always found this odd and stupid. Guess I will have to do it myself.

[JackProton]

AA batteries won't last long at all. You'll burn through alkalines as fast as you can change them.

[simonmiles]

Unfortunately I don't own any non-Canon lithium batteries right now. However I do know someone who has an extra battery that may be a non-Canon. I will research that if I can.

Which brings me to my the next quirk. I borrowed that same persons XTi for a wedding I am shooting this weekend and I decided to try the grip on the XTi. When the grip is installed on the XTi with the AA batteries as the power source it reads 100% battery level! I can then take the grip and move it over to my XT and it reads 1/2 ! Very strange. I am going to try some tests today to see how long the camera will last and now many shots I can take before it dies. I am going to clear the card, open the flash and fire away for a while and see if I can get it to shutdown. Hopefully I will be able to tell if the camera will die prematurely or if it will just sit at the 50% level for a long time until the batteries are actually drained.


Would be great if you could test out the other non-Canon battery but not a big deal if you can't. Your plan to test the camera sounds exactly like what I did. I was sitting in my room just taking random shots of things to check the battery level. If your grip acts like mine, the level should go from full to half pretty quickly (maybe 100 shots). From there, I don't think you'll be able to get another 100 before the camera shuts down. Let me know how it goes. Thanks.

[simonmiles]

I replaced the CTA batteries with Sterlingtek (the replacement and the original good CTA battery both died simultaneously after 1 year) and have been getting very good results.

Thanks for your useful replies and suggestions.

[DigitalOxygen.ca]

AA batteries won't last long at all. You'll burn through alkalines as fast as you can change them.

You might be right if I were using normal alkaline batteries, but I am of course using the NiMH style. Same ones I use in my Canon 430EX flash.

I just finished some testing 464 RAW shots (2 x 2GB cards filled) ALL with built-in flash fired (set to standard +/- 0) and it didn't skip a beat. Can still keep going, just tired of testing for now.

Would be great if you could test out the other non-Canon battery but not a big deal if you can't. Your plan to test the camera sounds exactly like what I did. I was sitting in my room just taking random shots of things to check the battery level. If your grip acts like mine, the level should go from full to half pretty quickly (maybe 100 shots). From there, I don't think you'll be able to get another 100 before the camera shuts down. Let me know how it goes. Thanks.

Sounds like my scenario is slightly different than yours, but I will test what I can when I can. My battery level NEVER read full at any point, even when I put the batteries in after a full charge. It was just the XTi that read full, but judging by the fact that my XT just did 464 RAW shots without skipping a beat I don't suspect the XTi would have any problems either.

I'll let you know what I find out when I have some time.

Update: After recharging my batteries the meter now shows full when I put them in the grip on the XT. I will have to see how long it is before it drops to 1/2 level.

Update Again: Hah, I just took about 10 shots and the level dropped to 1/2. I turned off the camera, took out the cartridge, re-insterted it, and turned the camera back on and it reads full again. Quirky.

[DigitalOxygen.ca]

Finished shooting a wedding this weekend using the Opteka grip filled with 6 Energizer NiMH AA batteries and I never ran out of power. Don't have an exact number (because I deleted some shots as I went) but I got over 1,000 RAW shots out of the 6 batteries. I even got another 50 or more on the weekend out at the cabin before they died.

After those died I swapped to the other cartridge which contained two Canon brand batteries (the standard ones that come with the XT and XTi, etc) and got another 500+ shots. Never did fully drain those ones. The battery level indicator started at full and dropped to half at some point but it took a while. I would say I must have gotten between 250 and 350 shots before it dropped to the 1/2 mark but I wasn't really paying close attention so I can't say for sure.

[simonmiles]

Finished shooting a wedding this weekend using the Opteka grip filled with 6 Energizer NiMH AA batteries and I never ran out of power. Don't have an exact number (because I deleted some shots as I went) but I got over 1,000 RAW shots out of the 6 batteries. I even got another 50 or more on the weekend out at the cabin before they died.

After those died I swapped to the other cartridge which contained two Canon brand batteries (the standard ones that come with the XT and XTi, etc) and got another 500+ shots. Never did fully drain those ones. The battery level indicator started at full and dropped to half at some point but it took a while. I would say I must have gotten between 250 and 350 shots before it dropped to the 1/2 mark but I wasn't really paying close attention so I can't say for sure.

Thanks for the update. I am thinking about ordering a pair of batteries from Sterlingtek as many have recommended them here. Don't really want to pay for the Canon brand. Hope those work better with my grip.

[Tee Why]

I've one Sterlingtek and one OEM Canon in my Opteka grip and don't seem to have any trouble.

[simonmiles]

I've one Sterlingtek and one OEM Canon in my Opteka grip and don't seem to have any trouble.

Thanks for the info. Another positive vote for the Sterlingtek batteries.

[90blackcrx]

So how do the two battery packs work ? Are both in use at one time, or once one dies, the other one takes over ?

[JackProton]

So how do the two battery packs work ? Are both in use at one time, or once one dies, the other one takes over ?
They run in "parallel", I believe, so that they're both providing part of the power at the same time. I assume its best to use two batteries of the same capacity and charge level for this reason.

[rooeey]

My battery grip is currenlty holding 1 canon and one generic battery and i get the same amount of shots as with two canon batteries however the indicator goes from full to empty with no in between stage.
With two canon batteries it goes down in increments.

[JackProton]

I think what you're seeing is caused by one battery being completely drained while the other one still has some charge left. One reason why it may be better to use identical batteries.