Lithium AAs in the grip for extended shooting?

[GabeHerz]

I'm going to be on a 2 week ski trip where I will not have a chance to recharge batteries. I plan to take my canon 20D and the grip. I'm thinking about taking a bunch of Lithium disposable AAs to keep it powered up. Has anyone had any experience with using them? Better than the rechargeables? Thanks All!

[rhys]

Charge your main batteries (you do have two) to the max and use them up first. Then use your AA Lithiums.

[TMR Design]

What kind of life do you actually get out of the AA magazine in the grip? I've never even put batteries in mine.

[GabeHerz]

What kind of life do you actually get out of the AA magazine in the grip? I've never even put batteries in mine.

I don't know yet, and that is something that I will test. I was hoping someone could shed some light on the issue though. For what I need them for, it comes down to the number of pitures that can be taken per ounce of battery. Lithiums are pretty light, and offer good low temp performance, so I'm thinking they may be the ticked. Any experience out there?

[rhys]

I have never tried. I have AA alkalines in my BGE3 AA slider though. I must try them one day to see what happens.

[GabeHerz]

I have never tried. I have AA alkalines in my BGE3 AA slider though. I must try them one day to see what happens.

SOmeone just pointed out that they are NOT recommended in the instructions. I think it may be a voltage issue...http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00IGj1

[StealthLude]

Ive used alkalines at normal temp w/o a problem...

Ive used NiHM in hot, cold and normal and worked even better than the alkalines... and is what I use most of the time in both my flash and pack when needed.

Ive used Lithium in my 580ex and in a point and shoot with fantastic results... but stopped buying them due to cost.

I think you would be fine.

[Psychobiker]

I've used alkaline in the flash, no problem but they takes yonks to recycle. and I killed them after 20 mins. Ni-MH (2000mAh) are great, also as are the canon battery packs, I have two 750mAh ones in my BG-E3 and it just goes, and goes

[Wilt]

Lithium batteries have longer voltage stability for low current draw applications (like modern CMOS circuitry), but have poor voltage life for higher current draw applications. That is one reason why Bronica recommended the silver oxide or alkaline batteries for its film SLR and did not recommend Lithium batteries with the same form factor! You want high MaH rating on the batteries you choose, and NiMH is good for that. With lithium batteries, they last on the shelf a very long time (10 yr.) so are good emergency backups, but their high cost with no rechargeability make them a liability for regular use.

[Jon]

Actually, I found Li disposables gave me excellent life, far surpassing what I get with NiMH, in my old Kodak digitals. They do quite well with the irregular demands placed on them by digital cameras or electronic flash. In fact, the principal reason that manufacturers caution against using them is that they permit such rapid recycle times that they and the device using them, may overheat with heavy use.

[Jethro790]

Holy smoke, I think I have gone a month before charging both my batteries in the grip. Maybe I'm not shooting enough, but I'd almost say that I would feel safe leaving on a trip with just the two reg. batteries charged up.

[TopGear1Ds]

Just want to add.. Make sure whatever your spare batteries end up being, you should be keeping them warm before use. Interior jacket pocket if you can.

[RichNY]

Holy smoke, I think I have gone a month before charging both my batteries in the grip. Maybe I'm not shooting enough, but I'd almost say that I would feel safe leaving on a trip with just the two reg. batteries charged up.

Your batteries won't hold their charge as long in the cold.

[rhys]

Has nobody considered the old tricks with film cameras of:
1. Multiple batteries, kept warm in your pocket until use.
2. With the AA battery holder, you could put a cable into that and have a set of AA NiMh batteries in your pocket on the other end of the cable. You'd have to do some DIY but it's not that hard.

A further alternative would be a small solar panel - that could be charging one battery while the other was in use!

A more high-tech approach - a model aeroplane engine turning an electric motor to generate electricity to charge you batteries on site. Not hard to do and not heavy either.