New BG-E2 Battery Grip Advisory?

Not sure of this is new or not, but I just got an e-mail notice on this:

http://www.usa.canon.c​om …929&keycode=211​2&id=28260

It has been discovered that when using Battery Grip BG-E2 with EOS 20D/20Da or EOS 30D digital SLR cameras, there are cases that, even with fully charged batteries (exclusive battery pack or NiMH battery) or unused AA size batteries, only a few shots can be taken or "bc" is displayed immediately.

BG-E2 Battery Grips that cause this phenomenon will be repaired free of charge.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this issue has caused for you. We will make every effort in quality control to provide products that our customers can use with confidence. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.

Please refer to the following for details:
Products:
Battery Grip BG-E2 and Battery Magazine BGM-E2
- Battery Grip BG-E2
Serial Number 000001 - 096000 (shown below)
- Battery Magazine BGM-E2

Phenomenon:
Even with a fully charged battery (exclusive battery pack or NiMH battery) or with an unused AA size battery, only few shots can be taken or "bc" may be displayed immediately.

NOTE:
Please note that phenomenon concerned may occur under the following conditions. The products will not be considered as defective in these cases.

When a BG-E2 grip that is being charged is attached to the camera, the camera may not check the battery level correctly. Please attach the grip to the camera, and then charge the battery.
If AA alkaline batteries are used under the temperature below 20°C, shots may not be taken. Also, the power of the AA alkaline batteries depends greatly on manufacturers' design specifications and storage conditions. With some AA alkaline batteries, shots may not be taken.
The number of shots taken and the level of battery power vary with the quality and the condition of the battery.
With NiMH rechargeable batteries, the battery level may not be shown as full even if they are fully charged.
Services Offered:
Battery Grip BG-E2 will be repaired free of charge
Battery Magazine BGM-E2 for BG-E2 Battery Grip will be exchanged with a new product free of charge.

Contact Information for inquiries:
Call Center
1-800-828-4040 (toll free)
*Available with your cell phone or PHS.

Office Hours:
Weekdays: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays, holidays: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Interesting! I've never had this problem, though. Matter of fact, I've never gotten the charge off maximum! I'm too scared to leave the house partially charged, so I charge it every time I go out. Just lately I've been letting it go down a little, but it takes a lot of shots!

Year old news. Obviously some missed it.

I suspect they've reissued the notice including the 30D.

The serial number range and the description of the problems hasn't changed.

David

RFMSports wrote:
Year old news. Obviously some missed it.

might be year old news... but the problem still exsists with my grip. I just got it a couple weeks ago and sent it right out to the repair center. They sent it back yesterday, and it's still reading low battery on my camera with TWO BP-511's. I'm able to shoot with it like this, so it's not a huge problem, but I'm still sending it back. I am waiting for a friend tomorrow to get her new 20D so I can see if it's just as bad on hers. I just have this funny feeling I'll have to send my 20D in with it to get adjusted. I'll probably have them clean and tweak it while it's there.

Oh and my serial is 236744

We got the 30D and put the 20D grip on it. We got a new, updated grip. It still would lockup from time to time.

Not one issue with the same grip on the 30D.

RFMSports wrote:
Year old news. Obviously some missed it.

How can it be year old news, when the advisory specifically mentions the 30D body?

It means that they still have not fixed it!

Not necessarily. This advisory contains the same details as the one issued about a year ago, except that the list of cameras affected now includes the 30D.

It talks about the same faults, the same resolutions and the same serial number range of affected grips as the year-old advisory.


David

It was a "tongue in cheek" post!

I bought mine 2 months ago and have the problem with the NiMH batteries. I thought it was the batteries since I put in AA Alkaline and show full but only NiMH show one bar. I guess I'm going to have to send in my grip. Damn. I like the grip and hate to miss it for a month or so.

My BGE2 serial number is like 150000 or so. It fits perfectly to my 30D and doesn't flex. No lockups or battery problems either.

I called Canon and turns out my problem is normal. When I put NiMH, I'm suppose to get low battery bar. This is normal. So I don't need to send it in...yeah.

Yeah... NiMH have a lower voltage rating. The camera is rated at 8.1v and 1.2v x 6 isn't 8.1...lol.

I found out that my grip works great in another 20D. So I have to send my grip & 20D in. The newer 20D cameras have been dialed down so that they show low battery capacity at a lower level. My camera does it at 8.0 volts and the newer cameras do it at 7.5 volts. My camera needs to be tweaked to show full capacity with the BP-511's in the grip. Otherwise, functionally it is fine. I could not send anything in and live with the battery reading as is. I shot all day with it today with no problems.