Canon batteries or alternatives?

Hi. I have a few Canon BP-511 used for about 3 years. I also have a Power2000 BP-511 brand new but stored away for those 3 years. I have a few questions:

1. Can one mix original Canon with Power2000 batteries in a grip?
2. What's the practical life span of a used battery?
3. Will storing a battery in its original packing for 3 years affect the battery's life?
4. What battery do you use, original or alternative?

I use batteries from Merkury. Last heaps longer than OEM ones. About 1/10th of the price too. Also, Sterlingktek are good too.

No option for one of each.

Bought a generic from Best Buy, and it works nearly as well as the Canon brand.

I don't know how to vote-I use both. I have 5 BP-511 compatiable batteries, 2 Canon and 3 generic. All work just fine.

i think so longs as you buy some form of branded after market batteries you're pretty safe. The canon ones are really something of a rip off (in the uk at least)

Reason why I ask is because a year ago, I had my Power2000 BP-2L12 for my Canon camcorder explode and start a fire in my office. Luckily I was around (and awake) to put the fire out! I was charging with a Power2000 charger.

The Power2000 brand was recommended by B&H salesperson. Now I am hesitant and fearful in buying any third-party equivalent.

Also, I now charge all my batteries for any equipment in my bathroom (marble/granite wall and floors).

Perhaps I should write to the manufacturer and show them the pictures of the fire... who knows... they might payup for some new glasses...

I've got 3 Canon and 3 alternative brand and one dead Canon.

The only battery that died was the original I got with my 10D back in July 2003. For the first month or so, that was all I had and it got a workout. My guess is that did it in before the rest.

I have 2 Canon BP 511 batteries (one very old from my 5 year old G2 and one more recent from 2 years ago bought 20D) and 3 generic ones I bought cheaply on eBay.

The Canon ones are still going strongly (with the new one being stronger than the old one, but both give me at least 500 images on one charge) , while the generic ones started to lose their capacity 2 weeks after they were delivered. Actually, on my G2, the new battery got me a bit more than 300 images, and the old one something like 200-250. On the 20D I never really bother ... a charge normally lasts a few weeks.

Now I am not surprised ... I assume that with generic batteries you can be lucky or not (I obviously was not, so be it).

But what does surprise me is that whenever this question is asked, everybody and his grandmother chimes in and says that whatever generic batteries out there are both much better and a lot less expensive than the Canon batteries...

Ok, I might be exaggerating here, but what is Canon then doing wrong with their 50$ batteries if every corner shop allegedely is selling a much better product for 10$? Why are they so stupid when it comes to batteries, if they are able to build such great cameras and lenses ?

Mind you, I don't say that there are *not* very good batteries out there at competitive prices ... what bugs me to no end is that many people assume that whatever no-name battery you buy you will be sure to get better quality than the original at a fraction of the cost. You are not sure of that.

That story about that exploding charger certainly makes the hair raise on the back of my head...

Best regards,
Andy

jr_senator wrote in post #2712448
I don't know how to vote-I use both. I have 5 BP-511 compatiable batteries, 2 Canon and 3 generic. All work just fine.

Sames here.

Mark

Well you ask questions, but also have a poll. for the poll though add in a both option. But I’ll give a shot to your questions as well.

ebann wrote in post #2712005
1. Can one mix original Canon with Power2000 batteries in a grip?

Yes, the manufacturer of the battery has nothing to do with the physical characteristics of the battery. However, not all manufacturers are of the same quality and sometimes a shady manufacturer will cut corners and even though it is labeled as a certain package type it might not fit as well as a more reputable manufacturer.

ebann wrote in post #2712005
2. What's the practical life span of a used battery? ?

I assume that there are Lithium-ion batteries. One of the downsides of Li-ion are that they age even without use. A 3 year old battery is near the end of it’s lifetime and may not have more to give. Much depends on how it was stored. Secondly Li-ion have a limited # of charges. It ranges somewhere between 300-1000 charges. There are a few things you can do to increase the # of charges like do not keep your battery in the charger all the time, do not charge the battery completely, and do not run the battery to empty, and finally store the battery about ½ charged, not full nor empty.

ebann wrote in post #2712005
3. Will storing a battery in its original packing for 3 years affect the battery's life?

Yup, Li-ion batteries age just sitting on the shelf. A 3 year old battery may not operate. However, we are playing with storing them in a deep freeze and it seems to greatly slow the aging process. I have taken to storing my batteries in the freezer now if I know I am not going to use them for several weeks. It will be interesting to see if it helps.

ebann wrote in post #2712005
4. What battery do you use, original or alternative?

Both

"All of the above." I still use the original BP511 from my D60 as well as the BP511As from the 20D and 5D and several (5? 6? 8? I'm not even sure where all of them are and I just reorganized the camera room) Sterlingtek, Digipower and Energizer, among others, brands.

Andythaler wrote in post #2712865
But what does surprise me is that whenever this question is asked, everybody and his grandmother chimes in and says that whatever generic batteries out there are both much better and a lot less expensive than the Canon batteries...

Best regards,
Andy

I don't know, personally, but Last October I ordered 4 batteries (2 for me, 2 for my nephew) and when they arrived, side by side, they were the exact same thing, including the exact color, as the Canon, without the Canon name printed on them. They were sold as generic brand for $11 each. In every respect, they work the same as the Canon branded batteries. By the same means, so does the silver Lenmar (I think it is?) that I also bought for $15 or so some time ago.

Does Canon manufacture their own batteries? If so they may resell them to a vendor to sell. Or if a supplier does make them, they must have the rights to sell them themself.

There are always people that insist on original manufaturer parts and that is likely the market for Canon, and probably a profitable one at that.

I have the Canon battery that came with the camera and several from Sterlingtek. They all work great. The Sterlingtek ones last a bit longer (higher mAh rating)...and they were much, much less expensive than Canon batteries.

I have one canon battery and 3 generic one and they are all the same to me. Still have one in the box not yet opened, hope it will be ok when I do decide to use it

I use both as well. I have read here and at Naturescapes that the Canon ones perform better in cold weather. Shooting at near zero degrees F does cut down my charge indicator, usually to one bar, but the camera seems to go on quite a while. I have given the Canon ones to my wife and don't really know if they would do better, but it would seem logical that the battery with the most amp/hours would last the longest.
Anyone know a good technical reason why the Canons would indeed work better in cold weather?