Canon 7D batteries question ....

Ollie · #11 (**permalink**) 12-07-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeadsMan

Hello Pauline,I got my 7D a short while ago,I feel I have not yet touched it`s potential,but am pleased with it.I was thinking exactly along the same lines as Ollie,my Battery seems to last for ever.Not sure if you have to run batteries flat before charging anymore,do the newer batteries still have memory issues ?

The batteries on the 7D don't have a memory to my knowledge anyway. You can charge them at any point without any ill effects. I put mine on charge every night after I have used it. Sometimes it might be 75% charged. I have been doing this for six months or more and it doesn't seem to have any effect on the life of the battery or it's ability to hold it's charge so far at least.

PMG · #12 (**permalink**) 12-07-2010, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ollie

The batteries on the 7D don't have a memory to my knowledge anyway. You can charge them at any point without any ill effects. I put mine on charge every night after I have used it. Sometimes it might be 75% charged. I have been doing this for six months or more and it doesn't seem to have any effect on the life of the battery or it's ability to hold it's charge so far at least.

Thanks Roger thats reassuring. The websites and various things that I read thro the other day suggests that the first three charges and complete discharges matter - something to do with electrical rubbish or something? I was going to say free radicals but thats food!! Its suggested that once you get past the first three charges you can do what you like and charge when you want. One chap advocated full discharge every time, removal of batteries from camera whenever its not in use and charging of batteries to 50% evert day ........ Mmmmm - it might be good and right and maintain his batteries in tip top condition but I can't see me ever having time to do that - or be organised or remember where I was up to with the charging process - I have enough bother deciding which I've charged and which not ........ Its like the advice to run your mobile phone (aqnd house cordless etc) to down to nothing - but its just not convenient to be without either .........

Pauline

Jim Ford · #13 (**permalink**) 12-07-2010, 06:27 PM

This is a useful resource for battery information:

Welcome to Battery University

For those that can't be bothered to read through all of it, the following quote may be of interest:

"Aging is a concern with most lithium-ion batteries and many manufacturers remain silent about this issue. Some capacity deterioration is noticeable after one year, whether the battery is in use or not. The battery frequently fails after two or three years. It should be noted that other chemistries also have age-related degenerative effects. This is especially true for nickel-metal-hydride if exposed to high ambient temperatures. At the same time, lithium-ion packs are known to have served for five years in some applications."

Jim

PMG · #14 (**permalink**) 12-07-2010, 08:47 PM

Thanks Jim - will look at that website tomorrow - meanwhile hopefully the spares will turn up in the dinnertime post tomorrow so that I have them with me out in the isles - just in case there is something (other than me) out in the rain and gales that wants its photo taking!!!!!

Pauline

Michael A · #15 (**permalink**) 12-07-2010, 09:15 PM

Have had 7Dsince turn of the year i use compatable batteries in grip and find no problems with them after several hundred shots i carry original round as a spare, The only shortfall is as mentioned they don't charge in canon charger and they don't show how much charge is left. You can buy 4+ compatables to 1 canon. I never use compatables in any DSLR just in case of leakage only in grips.

PMG · #16 (**permalink**) 13-07-2010, 04:24 AM

Thanks MIchael A - thats an excellent tip and worth knowing - I may invest in a grip when I get home from my hols. I've not had one before with either the 20 or the 40D as I felt it would make the camera too bulky and ?heavy for creeping about in vegetation for insects. But its such a valid point you make about leakage that I shall reconsider this when I get back

Pauline

PMG · #17 (**permalink**) 13-07-2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

This is a useful resource for battery information:

Welcome to Battery University

For those that can't be bothered to read through all of it, the following quote may be of interest:

"Aging is a concern with most lithium-ion batteries and many manufacturers remain silent about this issue. Some capacity deterioration is noticeable after one year, whether the battery is in use or not. The battery frequently fails after two or three years. It should be noted that other chemistries also have age-related degenerative effects. This is especially true for nickel-metal-hydride if exposed to high ambient temperatures. At the same time, lithium-ion packs are known to have served for five years in some applications."

Jim

Thanks again Jim - I have dipped and speed read my way thro bits of this and gleaned that priming is not a neccesity for Li-ion batteries - they are good to go from the first off - tho according to the menu on the 7D the first one was not up to full effect the first time round - but at least now that the spares have arrived I can fully discharge this first time before swapping - tho that might depend on what is in front of me ........ if its a red necked phalarope I may swap to a full one immediately and double back to discharge the other!!
Everyone seems to have nothing but good to say about the 7D - so I'm fair looking forward to putting it thro a few hoops ......... 11 days of nothing but photography (fingers crossed) oh bliss

Pauline

Seltech · #18 (**permalink**) 13-07-2010, 01:21 PM

Pauline,

There is a seller on Ebay called batterybusiness that sells totally compatible LPE-6 batteries for around £19 including P&P.

These are identical to the Canon batteries, can be recharged in the Canon charger and have a chip so the full functionality of the original battery is maintained including the bar graph display.

You can buy three of these for the cost of a Canon one.

Hope this helps,

Paul.

PMG · #19 (**permalink**) 13-07-2010, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seltech

Pauline,

There is a seller on Ebay called batterybusiness that sells totally compatible LPE-6 batteries for around £19 including P&P.

These are identical to the Canon batteries, can be recharged in the Canon charger and have a chip so the full functionality of the original battery is maintained including the bar graph display.

You can buy three of these for the cost of a Canon one.

Hope this helps,

Paul.

Fantastic Paul - I was hoping someone would come up with some good news like that - thats just the job and well worth knowing for everyone - thank you

Pauline

glsammy · #20 (**permalink**) 13-07-2010, 04:01 PM

I've also not bothered to buy a backup battery yet. As others have said, the original seems to last for ages. I'm getting similar performance as Roger, with loads of rear screen usage and I've never been close to worrying about battery life. I use my 7D with my MP-e65, so the rear screen is used 100% of the time I'm using that lens.
I have a battery pack now on my 40D, with two compatibles. It's brilliant, makes using the Live View function a pleasure rather than worrying about running out of power.
I got one of the cheaper ones from here:
Battery Grip for Canon BG-E2N 20D 30D 40D 50D & 2 BP511 on eBay (end time 20-Jul-10 20:37:00 BST)
I'm very satisfied with it. The quality is first rate, as is the battery performance. The one I got also came with a remote control which to me is a bit of a waste of time as you have to be right in front of the camera to get it to work!