5D2 Battery Info Display

Why is it that the 5D2 equally uses both batteries, rather than using one and then switching to the other? Is there a way to do this, or is it set to use each equally for better performance?

Wow, no one?

I assume your talking about two batteries that go into a grip? And then go into the slot for one battery (well the grip goes into the camera battery slot).

I would assume it is just a cost issue. I would think that the circuits and controllers to use one battery at a time would cost more.

Why do you want to use only 1 battery at a time? I dont like having to charge two but the batteries in my 40D last forever (sterlingteks) and usually last of the entire time I want to be shooting. End of the day I recharge them overnight.

SoaringUSAEagle wrote in post #8138818
Why is it that the 5D2 equally uses both batteries, rather than using one and then switching to the other? Is there a way to do this, or is it set to use each equally for better performance?

That's been the way the Canon consumer grips have always worked. The 5D2 grip just gives us enough information to see it happening.

One benefit is that the power meter of the camera is more correct by considering the power grip as a single power source rather than two separate sources--half-power means "half of what you started with" rather than "one battery down."

Somewhat theoretical, but it's been shown that a battery can eake out a bit more power if it gets frequent rest periods. The grip alternates between the two batteries, thus giving them those frequent rest periods and perhaps a few more shots.

But the real reason is probably that it's the way that seemed right in the minds of the designers.