battery question

[sorashell]

I've been searching old threads and can't some up with the answer (or understand what I'm looking for).

I am getting a Digital Rebel XT (it should be here by Tuesday and I'm so excited that I'm actually dreaming about it, lol). I want to have everything ready for my new baby when it gets here and am trying to put together all what I need. The salesperson at Best Buy sold me a Canon gadget bag with some included accessories but I don't think the battery is going to work. It's a BP-511A and from what I can see, the XT takes the same battery by S40 does, the NB-2LH. Is that right? What is the best battery for the Digital Rebel XT, and can anyone recommend a good place to get it? Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

*edited to add~

As long as I'm asking questions, can anyone recommend a few necessities? I ordered the kit with the basic lens and will be using it at an entry level, brand new to SLR and the finer points of photography, mainly for pics of my kids and shots of nature/flower/outside stuff. I am going to need some kind of a bag for it I guess, and a UV filter/lens protecter, right? I ordered the SanDisk Ultra 1G CF card (which I found cheaper from reading this site, ahthankyouverymuch). Any advice is greatly appreciated. :)

April

[weemannie]

The BP-511A fits 10D and 20D. Canon (UK) web site only mentions the NB-2LH for the 350D (Rebel XT). So it would appear that the salesman is incorrect. Its a smaller battery than the BP511.

Living in the UK I can't recommend anywhere for you to buy a spare battery, but I'd stick with Canon personally. That's just my opinion, others are quite happy with non canon batteries.

As far as extras are concerned, definitely get a UV filter to protect your lens. Its a lot cheaper to replace a filter, than a lens! I'd suggest a second CF card as well. From memory, the Canon gadget bag is quite small, so whilst it may suit your needs now, it may prove too small once you start getting 'L' fever :lol:
One last thing I'd suggest is a tripod. Many landscape photographers, including me, use a tripod for 99% of shots.

Have fun, and I look forward to seeing some of your photographs on the forum soon :)

[MarkH]

You can get good batteries from www.sterlingtek.com for your new camera at $14.99 each. These have better capacity than the Canon battery, but the same fit and same voltage.

This is the page you want:
http://www.sterlingtek.com/digital-camera-batteries-canon-digital-camera-batteries.html

I bought 4 of their BP-511 equivalent batteries for my 10D and they last very well. 4 Batteries + freight cost me less than 1 Canon battery sells for locally.

[lostdoggy]

You can get good batteries from www.sterlingtek.com for your new camera at $14.99 each. These have better capacity than the Canon battery, but the same fit and same voltage.

This is the page you want:
http://www.sterlingtek.com/digital-camera-batteries-canon-digital-camera-batteries.html

I bought 4 of their BP-511 equivalent batteries for my 10D and they last very well. 4 Batteries + freight cost me less than 1 Canon battery sells for locally.

I second that for sterlingtek.com would do business with them. Ship on time no funny business.

[Mitcon]

I'd agree on a tripod, though not always convenient they will ensure steady shots for landscape, nature & flowers. Depending on the type flowers and nature you want to shoot a Macro lens or a set of close up filters may be of interest also. The close-up filters would be a much cheaper starting point.

One of the remote controls can be very handy and cost only a couple of dollars. I just got 2 batteries and another charger with car adapter from Eforcity, think I paid $19. Got them through Ebay but I think they have a website also. As for how good they are I don't know yet. They charge up & work, time will have to tell the rest. :D

[Spots]

I definitely recommend sterlingtek.com also. However, if you go thru pricegrabber.com the price for the batteries are $10.49 US and international shipping is a flat rate of $8.99. And I might add...these are very good batteries and I have not had a problem with them.

I agree with getting a tripod and a remote. If you decide to go with the remote get the cabled one instead of the wireless. The wireless only works if you are directly in front of the camera or have some sort of reflective device set up since the sensor is on the front of the camera. Not very handy unless you are in the shot.

HTH
Spots

[bauerman]

Another vote here for Sterlingtek - great company and great batteries. NO reason to spend 3 or 4 times as much for inferior Canon batteries.

[sorashell]

Thanks for the information, you guys! Hey, does anyone know anything about these batteries? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15072&item=7526461006&rd=1

I'm of the opinion that you get what you pay for, but this sounds like it would be hard to go wrong...

I think that I'll get some of those macro filters for sure, and I dug up my husband's old tripod. :) His old Samsonite camera bag for his old film Canon SLR will fit the Rebel too. Hey, if I keep saving money like this, I might need to buy another lens, right?

[FScott]

Thanks for the information, you guys! Hey, does anyone know anything about these batteries? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15072&item=7526461006&rd=1

I'm of the opinion that you get what you pay for, but this sounds like it would be hard to go wrong...

I think that I'll get some of those macro filters for sure, and I dug up my husband's old tripod. :) His old Samsonite camera bag for his old film Canon SLR will fit the Rebel too. Hey, if I keep saving money like this, I might need to buy another lens, right?

While your scrounging the bag from the "old film Canon SLR" grab the lenses as well! They will likely work although may be manual focus but heh, they're free right? (edit: except if they are canon "FD" where they won't work without an optical adapter. see:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=57023)

Finally Sterlingtek worked great for me and lots of us have experience with that site. If you go far afield you may be blazing a new trail. Finally, the "protective filter-or-not" is a religious issue around here. Many folks think that adding an extra glass element to your lens for which it was not designed cannot help the image quality. Others think that you need protection so that if you run the lens into a door jamb face first the filter breaks and not the lens. I fall into the former camp and am just careful and use the lens hood for protection. I'm also willing to replace a lens if I screw it up. To each their own.

-- Scott.

[Mitcon]

Those are the same batteries I got from Eforcity, although the ones that they gave me were 1500mAh and not 1000mAh :D. As I said it's a little early to say much other than they seem to work fine because I have only had them a few days now. So far so good. I wasn't sure about something so cheap either at first.
I couldn't even buy disposable batteries for the price of these. But I thought it was worth a try and with the money I saved I bought the battery grip :D.

[felix21685]

make sure u check out hte battery sticky !
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=79584

[sorashell]

While your scrounging the bag from the "old film Canon SLR" grab the lenses as well! They will likely work although may be manual focus but heh, they're free right? (edit: except if they are canon "FD" where they won't work without an optical adapter. see:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=57023) I was all excited about this too, but it turns out that they are the older FD models. Bummer! My SIL has a newer, film SLR (an older Rebel) so we can always share lenses later...once we get them. :p

Finally Sterlingtek worked great for me and lots of us have experience with that site. If you go far afield you may be blazing a new trail. Finally, the "protective filter-or-not" is a religious issue around here. Many folks think that adding an extra glass element to your lens for which it was not designed cannot help the image quality. Others think that you need protection so that if you run the lens into a door jamb face first the filter breaks and not the lens. I fall into the former camp and am just careful and use the lens hood for protection. I'm also willing to replace a lens if I screw it up. To each their own.

-- Scott.I'm going to have to read the threads about the lens covers and make a decision, thanks. I'll probably go with the Sterlingtek batteries too...I'd hate to mess up my new camera to save $8.

At least I can use my old battery with my new camera!

Thanks for the information, and thank you for pointing out the battery thread! I've said it before but I'll say it again, I cannot believe how much information is on this site!

[judyg]

Can I use the NB-2L instead of the NB-2LH in my 350? It's the same battery, just doesn't have the "H". Will it damage the camera, or just not get as much battery life? Anyone know?

[bolantej]

i remember reading somewhere that people have used the nb 2l batteries, but i've always been fond of following what the manufacturer says. NB2LH only. not worth the risk, you know? besides, on pricegrabber, the sterlingtek batts are only ten bucks.

[felix21685]

if you check out this sticky
http://photography-on-the.net/forum...ead.php?t=79584

you will find out more than you want to know about the batteries.
nb2l is fine ..if bought from sterlingtek. i have only used their 3rd party batteries.. can't vouch for others..