1DS MII Batteries

[radar-eclipse]

I purchased a couple generic batteries labeled "Digital" with yellow labeling. The manufacturer, or importer is Sakar Int'l. The battery release button on the side is not a funtional button. Can't get the battery to latch. I got these on ebay. I am going to contact the seller who has a good history with tons of positive feedback.

Just a heads up. Probably should stick to Canon "mo money" batteries.

[Andy_T]

It is beyond my comprehension why somebody would buy a 8000$ battery and then skimp on batteries :confused:

Best regards,
Andy

[4545]

I purchased a couple generic batteries labeled "Digital" with yellow labeling. The manufacturer, or importer is Sakar Int'l. The battery release button on the side is not a funtional button. Can't get the battery to latch. I got these on ebay. I am going to contact the seller who has a good history with tons of positive feedback.

Just a heads up. Probably should stick to Canon "mo money" batteries.
i have a couple of real 1d batteries i'd sell for 100 bucks each if you're intrested
email me (nig_dragger@yahoo.com)

[martcol]

It is beyond my comprehension why somebody would buy a 8000$ battery and then skimp on batteries :confused:

Er... the clue is in the numbers... :D

[defordphoto]

A perfect case of "you got what you paid for." The Canon batteries are not THAT much money. And they last so long, you don't need that many anyway. Stick with the real deal.

[Andy_T]

Er... the clue is in the numbers... :D

You are right. Maybe it's better to buy an 8000$ camera :o

Best regards,
Andy

[Belmondo]

I've always been leery of 3rd-party batteries. I know, some are excellent, but considering the potential downside, I'm just more comfortable when they san 'Canon' on them. Realistically, most people really only need one extra battery anyway. I cannot imagine a day's worth of shooting on a single camera that would consume more than two batteries.

[Longwatcher]

From my experience with MY 1DsMkII
I only need one spare battery. One came with the camera.

I am averaging 2400+ images per charge so far. Maybe because I am not constantly changing focus ranges (it is on auto focus though) or not using IS, or maybe just because the battery is good.

So far if I charge the battery before the day's shoot, that's it; I haven't had to change the battery. The spare comes in handy though if I forget to charge the battery in the camera before the day's shoot, which tends to happen more often. Can you say oops.

One Canon Battery does not cost that much realtive to cost of lenses and camera and new Hard drives needed to store the data.

Just my opinion and experience,

[Moses]

After looking at third party batteries for my 1D MKII, I decided it was not worth it and bought a spare Canon battery at B&H along with the camera. It was only $119.00. That's less than 3% of the cost of the camera. The first battery I charged still hasn't come off of full charge indicator in the last (almost) a week.

I asked myself: Do you really want to take a chance on a third party battery on a four thousand dollar camera? I couldn't really answer yes to that.

PS: I went to the ophthalmologist today and got another prescription and I found that after only 30 days, I am going to see at least 50% better than the last prescription! I'm elated! :D

[radar-eclipse]

Wow, a lot of interest on this one. I am going to the local shop today to pick up two or three batteries. I have used some generics before and never experienced a problem. My interest in getting the generics were the higher amp hour ratings.

[Andy_T]

My interest in getting the generics were the higher amp hour ratings.

You mean the statement on the battery that it has a higher amp rating than the original battery :wink:

Best regards,
Andy

[Longwatcher]

Wow, a lot of interest on this one. I am going to the local shop today to pick up two or three batteries. I have used some generics before and never experienced a problem. My interest in getting the generics were the higher amp hour ratings.

Given my rate of images per battery charge, with four batteries, you should be able to take about 8,000-10,000 images. Unless going out in the field for a few weeks, that seems excessive to me.

Just my opinion that you might want to find out how long they actually last first before spending money. Just trying to be helpful. I know I don't like spending money if I don't need something.

[radar-eclipse]

Just picked up two more Canon branded batteries yesterday. I am doing a shoot tomorrow indoors. Cars and chicks! Just don't want to worry about battery power. That should work for me as one is always on the charger. Longwatcher, thanks, I haven't noticed or tested to see what to expect for the quantity of shots per battery charge. At this shoot last year, 8000 images were shot by four photographers. It's a marathon. So I shouldn't have to worry about that. Just my 4gb cards loading into my Flashtrax.
http://www.driveinstudios.com/

[radar-eclipse]

I pulled off only close to 1200 shots on Raw + Large Jpeg, and the Canon battery is still showing FULL. Holy Cow! That's great! I think I can take my three batteries on big trips without having to pack a charger.

[Longwatcher]

Did I tell you they are great or what.

You know I just noticed something, I was going to comment that the battery seems to skip through half full, only to realise from RTFM, there is no half full reading. I had been told that it goes through the half reading very fast to low. I just noticed there is no half reading, it is a low reading followed by a 'time to change battery' and 'panic'. And thus having realised that I never have actually seen the "Battery will be exausted soon" symbol come up, I could probably get another 100 or 2 out of the battery, but I start get ansy when the low setting show up after taking a couple thousand shots.

Even at the rate I take pictures, the first battery is usually recharged before I finish off the shoot with the second. Of ocurse if I were doing 8000 images in one day (other then figuring out how to store all that data) I would probably want a 3rd or 4th battery also, since I always believe in having a spare. And I thought 3400 in one day was a lot.

[radar-eclipse]

I emptied four 4 gb cards twice. Put them on a Smartdisk 80gb hooked up to my laptop. Didn't even get to use my Flashtrax yet. Thanks Longwatcher, I wish I realized it earlier before I cheesed out.

[Longwatcher]

I just remembered something somewhat humorous. At least to me.

I had loaned my now-Ex Girlfriend my D60 (along with my 28-135) and she had it for about 2 weeks when she said it would not take any more pictures. Well come to find out that despite giving her a battery charger and telling her where to look for battery charge, the battery was dead and she had forgotten to recharge it. She is not stupid, so I am thinking it must be the fact that she is a people person, not a thing person. We also had a small issue with the CF card (I had given her a 256MB card), but this she knew how to handle, but didn't bother since I think she was figuring I would download for her. I solved this problem by giving her my old/slow 1Gb card and dropping the jpeg size to small.

I am thinking if the battery had lasted as long as the NP-E3 does in the 1DsMkII; I would have had my camera back before the battery ever ran out and she would have never known.

BTW: I have my camera and more importantly my lens back. Obviously we parted on good terms.

[Roy P]

I purchased a couple generic batteries labeled "Digital" with yellow labeling. The manufacturer, or importer is Sakar Int'l. The battery release button on the side is not a funtional button. Can't get the battery to latch. I got these on ebay. I am going to contact the seller who has a good history with tons of positive feedback.

Just a heads up. Probably should stick to Canon "mo money" batteries.

I have 2 Canon batteries for my 1D, but also use a Hahnel brand battery (it's in camera at the moment) and found this works well, fits just like original and seals also work.

Roy