20D Batteries

[Mikey-2u]

The new 20D comes with a BP511A battery. I want some spares.... What is the difference between the BP511A, the BP512 & the BP514?

[evilenglishman]

The difference is that the BP512 and BP514 are camcorder batteries and probably wont fit into your 20D

[Morden]

BP511 - 1100 mAh.
BP511A - 1390 mAh. :)

That's it! Lasts longer. :D

[Mikey-2u]

so have Canon cocked up on their specs....?

http://www.canon.co.uk/for_home/product_finder/cameras/digital_slr/eos_20d/index.asp?specs=1

[evilenglishman]

It's interesting that they mention 2 camcorder batteries :D

looking at a photo of the BP512 it looks to me that it wont fit as it doesnt have the groove in the middle:

http://www.digital-cameras.com/shop/images/canon_bat_bp512box.jpg

same with the BP514
http://im1.onecall.com/Image%5fProducts%2fcanon%2fbp514%2ejpg

[Morden]

You mean by including the 512 and 514 in the list of suitable batteries? They look like they will fit, but even the 514 is 1390 mAh, which is no more than the 511A, so why risk it?

[Cal Maier]

It's interesting that they mention 2 camcorder batteries

looking at a photo of the BP512 it looks to me that it wont fit as it doesnt have the groove in the middle

The BP512 will fit the camera body but not sure about the new BG-E2 grip.
Same goes for the 10D, except that the Camcorder style batteries wouldn't fit the BG-ED3, as this required batteries with the centre groove.

Cal

[evilenglishman]

Accordong to dpreview:

Power • Lithium-Ion BP-511A rechargeable battery (supplied & charger)
• Supports BP-511 / BP-511A / BP-512 / BP-514
• CR2016 Lithium battery (date/time backup)
• Optional AC adapter


i cant tell by this photo if the groove is necessary

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/CanonEOS20D/Images/battcompartment01.jpg

if the groove isn't important then go for the most powerful - although the generic BP511's i have from ebay are 1400mAh :D

[evilenglishman]

The BP512 will fit the camera body but not sure about the new BG-E2 grip.

looks grooveless to me:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/CanonEOS20D/Images/batterygrip02.jpg

[Morden]

BP511 - 1100 mAh
BP512 - 1300 mAh
BP514 - 1390 mAh
BP511A - 1390 mAh

So we may as well use 511A's; they definitely fit everything and no other type offers improved capacity. :)

[evilenglishman]

anyone got a more powerful one?

http://www.electricvenus.com/dump/batt.jpg

[Morden]

I bought two "third party" 1200 mAh batteries shortly after I bought my D60 (with its 1100 mAh BP511). They both proved unreliable. I'll use Canon batteries unless SORELY tempted otherwise, and a difference of less than 1% will not tempt me! :D

[evilenglishman]

I have 4 3rd party batteries and one canon original - the canon is the worst for me. It runs out much quicker than any of the others. That could be its age though.

[Morden]

I guess it's "the luck of the draw", as is much in life. :roll:

[Vinny454]

BP511 - 1100 mAh
BP512 - 1300 mAh
BP514 - 1390 mAh
BP511A - 1390 mAh

So we may as well use 511A's; they definitely fit everything and no other type offers improved capacity. :)

My BP512 say's it's only 1100 mAH. :?

[Morden]

BP511 - 1100 mAh
BP512 - 1300 mAh
BP514 - 1390 mAh
BP511A - 1390 mAh

So we may as well use 511A's; they definitely fit everything and no other type offers improved capacity. :)

My BP512 say's it's only 1100 mAH. :?

I saw two different ratings for that battery,and gave it the benefit of the doubt. :)

The 511A still seems like the best option.

[drisley]

The original Canon BP512 is 1100mah, the same as the BP511.

[Belmondo]

FWIW.
I was in Best Buy today, and they had a Canon camera bag/battery/filter combination deal that sells for about $80.00.

It includes a convetional (good quality) top-loader camera bag, a BP-511A battery, and a 58mm Canon UV filter. The bag does say 'Canon' on it, albeit in fairly small letters.

Considering that the battery alone sells for $55 at B&H, it's not a bad deal.

[scottbergerphoto]

After throwing away my second Canon BP511 today I bought 2 of these. I have two older ones and they have held up very well. These are 1500mAh,
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=232733&is=REG
Regards,
Scott

[shiningstardv]

eBay is really the only way to go for digital camera batteries. Not only are they cheaper, but they are better too. The BP-511A is only 1390 mAh, whereas I have seen 1800 mAh BP-511 equivalants on eBay for about $8 a piece. I bought two of these "3rd party" batteries for my little Canon s400 rated at 1200 mAh (the normal Canon battery for the s400 is 800 mAh) and they are so wonderful - they never run out of life (I always get back home to charge them before they die) and are as reliable as any Canon brand battery (I have used them for about 5 months now, and still as good as new!). Plus I only paid $15 for the two of them (including shipping) off eBay.

As soon as I get my 20D in, I will be buying two 1800 mAh "BP-511" batteries for it. They are about $20 (including shipping) for two batteries. And plus even if for some reason the batteries DO die on you, you can go out and buy two more for not even the price you would have paid for ONE Canon brand BP-511A.

Everyone has their own opinions about Canon brand vs. 3rd party, but for me these eBay-bought batteries work wonders, and I encourage all you guys to pick up a few and see what they can do!

[spoolin_photography]

1500mAh BP-511 Li-ion Rechargeable Battery for Canon
$18.00 AUD +$7 posatge and handling + they will ship out two batteries without additional postage

cant go past Ebay for that price

[FlipsidE]

Is there any chance that the 1800 mAh generic batteries could cause damage to the camera, or is the only real chance you take that the batteries may not last very long?

Thanks in advance

FlipsidE

[shiningstardv]

mAh is only a measure of how much power (charge) a battery can hold, not the amount of power it outputs (7.2 volts in the case of the BP-511). Therefore, it will not harm the camera. I can't even think of any reasons why the 1800 mAh batteries wouldn't last as long as 1390 mAh or 1500 mAh batteries. Unless the cells aren't made as well, in which case you just don't know until you try the battery for a while.

[billsh]

Hey guys. Thanks for all the good info. This is a question I have been pondering for a couple weeks myself. I think I'll order a couple and give it a try. Since it can't hurt your camera, you don't have a lot to loose. I have the original which came with my 20D to fall back on if these don't work.

[shiningstardv]

Bill,

I don't know if you have seen this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=312803#312803) at all, but there is some stuff in there you might want to see as well. But your idea sounds like the right one to me. That's what I do and what I will be doing for my new 20D.

Maybe we could all post back when we get our batteries in and try them for a little, just to get some referance points for new buyers...