Opteka Battery Grip Misreads Battery Level

Hello there. First post on this fantastic board. I recently bought an Opteka battery grip for my Rebel XT. The battery meter would show empty after about 50 shots or so and then shut down. I thought this was odd as I was able to take about 300 or so shots before using the battery grip. I returned the battery grip and now the "new" one is doing the same. I am assuming that they replaced the old one with a new one. I searched the forum and the internet for pertinent information. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this before and what was done to remedy the problem. I have even read that it's possible that maybe the camera just won't accept the use of a battery grip. I was tempted to buy a Canon BG-E3, but would it make a difference? Am I stuck without the use of a battery grip? Thanks in advance.

Do you still get 300 shoots without the grip? Its possible that your battery could have gone bad about the time you bought the grip. The number of shots you can get from a single charge can also vary widely depending on how much you use the LCD to review shots.

The battery grip is new along with the battery. I just purchased the grip about three weeks ago. The first one I kept for a week and sent back. I received the second one less than a week ago. The battery in the camera without the battery grip takes about 300 shots. I don't know if I've just had bad luck and received two defective Opteka grips or if they sent me the same one and pretended like it's a new one. Not sure if it's my camera, but I wouldn't think so. I guess there is the possibility that maybe my camera just doesn't work with a battery grip, but wouldn't that be odd? Tempted to go try a Canon grip to see if the battery level reads right. Would love some other suggestions or hints. Thanks.

Its funny you posted something like this. I've noticed that my xt reads full charge with the sterlingtek batteries but i can't do the sensor cleaning cause it says low battery. weird.

300 shots on one charge? I have taken 4000+ shots without running the battery down.

I've not heard of this and don't have this problem on my Opteka grip with the XTi.
One thing I'd check is to make sure that the contacts on the battery tray and the ones that goes into the grip is clean.

mkuriger wrote in post #3593874
300 shots on one charge? I have taken 4000+ shots without running the battery down.

I may have been lowballing the shot count. The matter of the issue though is not the total number of shots, but the level of the battery shown when I use the battery grip. The same battery that seems almost depleted when using the battery grip is completely full when placed into the original compartment without the grip. I can't believe you can get that many shots one one charge. That's amazing.

Tee Why wrote in post #3593958
I've not heard of this and don't have this problem on my Opteka grip with the XTi.
One thing I'd check is to make sure that the contacts on the battery tray and the ones that goes into the grip is clean.

I'll check the contacts, but they look clean. Actually, I've read several reviews on Amazon.com where other people have mentioned the same thing. The low ratings were usually attributed to the rubber peeling off. There were probably three or four where people mentioned the same inaccurate battery level which resulted in the camera shutting down when in fact the battery still had a good charge.

simonmiles wrote in post #3594016
I may have been lowballing the shot count. The matter of the issue though is not the total number of shots, but the level of the battery shown when I use the battery grip. The same battery that seems almost depleted when using the battery grip is completely full when placed into the original compartment without the grip. I can't believe you can get that many shots one one charge. That's amazing.

The battery level indicator with Li-Ion batteries is extremely inaccurate due to the fact that these types of batteries tend to stay close to their rated voltage up to the point where they are nearly exhausted. Adding a second battery with the grip changes the electrical characteristics slightly and appears to throw off the battery level indicator even more. The battery level indicator is, at best, a very coarse measurement.

I wouldn't really have a problem if the level was off slightly. The issue is that the battery grip thinks there is no more juice left and the camera will then shut down. Once I remove the battery grip, the meter reads full. I proceed to take many more shots just to be sure that the level is correct. Not sure what to think or do. Tempted to return the grip again, but not until I know for sure that I'm ruling everything else out. Thanks.

I do remember when I first got mine, it says that battery was dead. I then played with the battery tray a bit inserting it and taking it out. As the gold contacts can become oxidized and needed to be broken in. After that, the battery level has been consistent and pretty accurate.

Personally, I would have no problem using my grip even if it knew that I could get, say, another 5% more shots using the batteries one at a time without the grip before the camea shut itself down. I tend to recharge batteries before that point anyways. Discharging Li-Ion too low can damage them.

When you buy cheap products you get cheap results. Opteka is very hit or miss with the quality of their products. Buy the Canon OEM grip and you won't have these problems. The grip will work properly for years to come.

oldsquawk wrote in post #3598611
When you buy cheap products you get cheap results. Opteka is very hit or miss with the quality of their products. Buy the Canon OEM grip and you won't have these problems. The grip will work properly for years to come.

Thats funny, cause I just searched battery grips and found people having issues with canon battery grips, and it seems like they have a recall on them as well.

I find that using a 3rd party grip I get roughly 500 shots, maybe less. That doesn't matter as I have a lot of betteries, but it could be annoying. ed: but if I am shooting the same settings I can get 1,000 shots.

50 shots is wrong. Have you tried it with just one battery in the grip not two? How many shots then. Compare to battery in camera then you know if the grip it to blame.