BG-E3, two batteries or one at a time?

[Gordon S.]

Picked up a BG-E3 grip the other day and I'm about to head off to a week long motorsports event where I suspect my camera will be pretty busy and I won't be able to recharge until the evenings. This leads me to the question of how best to manage my batteries. I have the OEM Canon NB-2LH pack and a generic 800mAH pack thats worked very well for me so far, quite a bit longer than the Canon. Am I better off using these individually in the grip or will I get the same amount of life out of them using them both at the same time? I prefer the balance of the camera with both batteries but I don't know how the batteries are shared for power, particularly with the differing mAH.

[CyberPet]

Put them in together, they'll last longer that way. Pack a set of AA-batteries just in case.

[brivett]

.... and check the colour of the contacts of the AA battery holder - If they are gold then it's the bug fixed version.... If they are silver it's the old and bound to fail version.... cat now mixed in with pigeons...

Big thanks to Jessops who have swapped my faulty (silver) grip last month and my 20D body this week. hopefully that will be the end of camera lockups...

Baz

[PaulEY]

I put both my canon batteries in, last ages had at least two days out of mine without using the flash though.

[andrewc]

would loading up the camera with 6 AA batteries each rated at 2400mAH be a good idea? I've got a battery grip on its way for my 350D and would be curious to know?

[CyberPet]

The AA batteries doesn't last as long as one would hope, but a good backup while charging your regular battires (which should take at the most 3 hours for two batteries - one at the time).

[Mitcon]

I agree with whats already said, use both batteries together. if you have a good read of the instruction booklet that came with the grip it should say somewhere that you can use 2 batteries with a different state of charge. it's ok to mix mAh ratings but I wouldn't ever mix voltage ratings. That said all the generic batteries I've seen for the XT/350D have been either 7.2 or 7.4 volts which has just been an indication as when fully charged the units I tested were all at the same voltage.

[bolantej]

i'd at least have one extra (3 total) to swap out just in case the set in the grip die on ya. you really have to shoot a lot to need 2 batteries in there at once. more than a thousand at least i would think.

[subtle_spectre]

With the grip and two batteries from sterlingtek I shot approx. 2000 jpgs before charging...at like 15.00 each, the sterlingtek units can't be beat, imo

[grego]

Grip is always worth it. And batteries aren't expensive either so, really the only expense is the grip.

[rklepper]

I have the grip and I have 2 batteries and also carry the extra cartridge with the 6 AA batteris. They last all day easily. The 350 seems extremely easy on batteries.

[Perfect_10]

Don't these grips handle batteries on a one-by-one basis ??
I'm sure my 10D grip uses one battery at a time .. so mixing different rated ones and manufacturers is not an issue. It will flatten one at a time.

[felix21685]

I believe the camera draws power from the battery with the most Mah until both are equal. Then it draws from both batteries.
I think i read that somewhere but i'm not sure.

[Mitcon]

I believe you are correct Felix, I too have read this.

[ed2day]

I believe the camera draws power from the battery with the most Mah until both are equal. Then it draws from both batteries.
I think i read that somewhere but i'm not sure.

I have read that and it seems to be consistent with what I see in practice.

[KurtKuhn]

I'd be willing to be that you'll run out of CF cards before you'll run out of power with two loaded.

-KK

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. I believe the standard battery is 750mAh or somewhere around there. So even with two, you're only up to about 1500 mAh or so. I went to Sam's Club and bought two 8-packs of 2500mAh(each) AA's at 20 bucks a piece. I use only the AA magazine, and therefore I get 15,000mAh just with one set of 6 AA's. You can't beat that with a big stick. I've calculated that it's enough for about 7 or 8,000 "flashless" shots. I've had my XT for about 2 months now, and I haven't changed the batteries yet! Plus, my 580EX lasts FOREVER with these batteries. You know..a good flash tends to drain a battery pretty darn quick. I get a good five hundred flashes out of a set of 4 of these gems.

In case anyone goes looking for them, they're energizer, and they're silver with lime green markings. They come in packs of 8 usually, with a charger.

[KennyG]

Buy a DC to AC inverter and charge them from your car with your standard battery charger. They are not expensive.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I don't get it...how I explained is a lot more energy for a lot less. Or..so it seems to me?

[KennyG]

Ronald, I think part of the reason you are not getting people saying what a great idea, is that your math is wrong. The batteries in series will only give whatever the lowest rated one will, you do not add them together. Assuming all batteries in perfect condition, it is 2500mah, not 15000.