C100: 3rd party batteries
- Thread starter matt s.
- Start date
Eric Coughlin
Veteran
I have four of these (and four Canon batteries): http://www.amazon.com/Wasabi-Power-Battery-BP-970G-8500mAh/dp/B0046V58Y2
Last about three, maybe four hours, compared to Canon's five hour batteries. One of them started dying after about 30 minutes so I stopped using it, but the other three all work great up to about three hours. Really, for the price, I find them great.
Last about three, maybe four hours, compared to Canon's five hour batteries. One of them started dying after about 30 minutes so I stopped using it, but the other three all work great up to about three hours. Really, for the price, I find them great.
Jim Martin
DVXuser Sponsor
Ditto....there are places to go cheap and batteries are not one of them.....
Jim Martin
Evsonline.com
Andrius Simutis
Veteran
Have to chime in and recommend the Canon batteries. There was a thread a while back about a fried C100 and all evidence pointed to the third party battery. Just not worth the risk vs the cost.
Andrius Simutis
Veteran
If you have access to a charger during your shoot you could get by with two batteries, but three is a better choice for an all day shoot just to be safe. I don't think I've ever run through three even on a long day, and on some of the shorter stuff I don't even fully use up one.
PedroAquiles
Active member
I think the BP-950G its compatible, and its half the price because don´t have the external button and leds for the power charge info.
Andrius Simutis
Veteran
Don't have time to look it up right now, but I recall reading that there are some issues possible with using that battery. Something about the camera being unable to monitor something or other causing a power spike? Can't recall the exact reason or if it was only a C300 issue, but was told to not use them.
These work fine.. Going on over a year with 3 oem's and 3 of the wasabi's, would say I get about the same run times out of both of them(all 6 get equally used and cycled). Also have bought wasabi's for gopro, 5d mk ii, fs700 and much more, all working absolutely fine and in some cases outlasting its oem counterpart. What ever decision you make, don't feel the need to buy into the oem battery hype train. If you have the money to pickup a few extra OEM's, I recommend it. If not, you will likely be just as pleased with third party offerings. My own opinion aside, just look at the sheer volume of sales/positive reviews, that should give you a pretty clear indication as to how "safe" they are.
In my personal experience, those on the oem bandwagon are likely either tied in some way/shape/form to oem sales/service or is masking some other form of negligence on their own part.
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Canon C100 C300 C500 Battery Options Texas Media Systems
Canon C100 C300 C500 Battery Options Texas Media Systems
We experience fewer issues with the Canon batteries.
The Canon BP-955 and BP-975 are built in Japan and physically feel better constructed.
The Canon BP-955 on the left fits flush in the battery compartment.
We do like the DC tap & battery power meter that Swit provides on their battery below.
We do like the Lenmar for the $80 price and the 2 year warranty.
From left to right in the photo below:
Canon BP-955 $180
Lemar LIC970G Battery $80
Canon BP-975 $280
Swit S-8845 Battery with DC Output $98
Chargers & DTAP Adapter:
Swit S-8845 2 Channel Canon Battery Charger $165
IDX LC-2C 2 Channel Canon Battery Charger $155
Dolgin TC40 4 Channel Canon Battery Charger $425
Switronix XP-DV-C300/20 Regulated D-Tap to DC Cable $150
Canon C100 Mark I with Switronix D-Tap to DC Adapter & F&V V-Mount Battery System
Canon C100 Mark I with BP-955
Canon C100 Mark I with BP-975 Battery
Canon C100 C300 C500 Battery Options Texas Media Systems
We experience fewer issues with the Canon batteries.
The Canon BP-955 and BP-975 are built in Japan and physically feel better constructed.
The Canon BP-955 on the left fits flush in the battery compartment.
We do like the DC tap & battery power meter that Swit provides on their battery below.
We do like the Lenmar for the $80 price and the 2 year warranty.
From left to right in the photo below:
Canon BP-955 $180
Lemar LIC970G Battery $80
Canon BP-975 $280
Swit S-8845 Battery with DC Output $98
Chargers & DTAP Adapter:
Swit S-8845 2 Channel Canon Battery Charger $165
IDX LC-2C 2 Channel Canon Battery Charger $155
Dolgin TC40 4 Channel Canon Battery Charger $425
Switronix XP-DV-C300/20 Regulated D-Tap to DC Cable $150
Canon C100 Mark I with Switronix D-Tap to DC Adapter & F&V V-Mount Battery System
Canon C100 Mark I with BP-955
Canon C100 Mark I with BP-975 Battery
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Run&Gun
Veteran
I disagree...
I have no personal or business ties to any manufacturer(besides giving them my hard earned money) and I baby my gear. For me it's playing the odds and peace of mind. No one wants to throw money away, but the difference in price of OEM vs. third party batteries is pocket change in this business, at least at the upper levels. Third party batteries are basically use at your own risk and Canon won't cover any damage or malfunction caused by them(or even an occurrence that they can construe towards the use of one).
analog_addict
Well-known member
I will always buy 3rd party batteries. I do not believe OEM batteries warrant the price and a lot of scaremongering goes on. Just do a little research and make sure the batteries are properly chipped to show remaining life.
I have bought 3rd party batteries for the XL2, XHA1, AF100, 5D/60D, 550D, GH2, BMPCC and more. I did a little research and have never once had any issue. The 3rd party Sony NF types are particularly good for powering monitors, lights and recorders.
I think a lot of people don't do any research and end up buying batteries with poor life and which aren't properly chipped.
If you have a real concern then I would suggest SWIT. Still expensive but just as good as OEM. I use a SWIT V-Lock which I'm very fond of. I also use an unbranded V-Lock which works fine but doesn't last as long as the SWIT.
I have never once read of a 3rd party battery damaging a camera. :undecided
I have bought 3rd party batteries for the XL2, XHA1, AF100, 5D/60D, 550D, GH2, BMPCC and more. I did a little research and have never once had any issue. The 3rd party Sony NF types are particularly good for powering monitors, lights and recorders.
I think a lot of people don't do any research and end up buying batteries with poor life and which aren't properly chipped.
If you have a real concern then I would suggest SWIT. Still expensive but just as good as OEM. I use a SWIT V-Lock which I'm very fond of. I also use an unbranded V-Lock which works fine but doesn't last as long as the SWIT.
I have never once read of a 3rd party battery damaging a camera. :undecided
Andrius Simutis
Veteran
Rats! You've foiled my OEM sales scheme! :2vrolijk_08:
In my personal experience, those on the third party bandwagon are likely either cheapskates or foolishly mistaking short term savings for long term costs. I have a pile of dead third party batteries from when the LP-E6 was hard to get and more expensive. All the OEM Canon ones that are even older strangely still work just fine. Did I really save any money?
As others have pointed out, the difference in price isn't that much really when you compare it to the cost of the camera.
Eric Coughlin
Veteran
Most high end cameras use third party batteries; Red, Sony F65, Arri Alexa, etc., such as Anton Bauer mounts or V-mounts which are sold from a variety of third party companies. Red sells Red Bricks but I rarely see them being used on Red cameras. Why should lower end cameras then not use third party batteries if the higher end cameras are willing to "risk" it?
I've done the math and third party batteries come out cheaper in the long run. Maybe there's a 1 in 10,000 chance your camera will be damaged by the third party battery (I'd figure it is a low number considering how I've never heard of third party batteries damaging cameras; all I've ever heard is conjecture). For a $5500 camera, that's statistically speaking a $0.55 loss. Even at a 1 in 100 chance, it'd be a $55 loss. Not until you get to a 1 in 10 chance does it make it to a $550 loss at which point you start to break even on the savings, but I don't think anyone is arguing it's a 1 in 10 chance it will totally destroy your camera.
I suppose if you can't afford to replace your camera if that 1 in 10,000 chance does happen then maybe the risk isn't worth it, but I could afford to repalce my camera tomorrow if it broke, plus since I have three C100s and most shoots I do only require one I already have two backups.
As I'd mentioned, only one of my third party batteries has gone bad, so a $27 loss with about $850 I've saved by using third party batteries. Again, financially, everything comes in favor of third party batteries. If money is no issue, sure, go with Canon batteries, there are some advantages. I figure most people (including myself) who have a $5500 camera as their main camera still consider $500 a decent amount of money, so don't want to throw it away unless the benefits are worth it. For me, I'm in the middle ground; I have four Canon batteries and three third party batteries, so I use the Canons first and the third parties as backups; the majority of my shoots I don't use enough batteries to need to use the third party ones. Meanwhile, I can go spend that $500 in savings on something more useful, like a Tokina 11-16, for example. If I had to choose between telling a director I have to change my battery because it doesn't last as long as Canon ones or tell him I can't get the extra wide angle shot he wants because my widest lens is 18mm, I'd rather tell him the first.
Most people in the video business have to make financial choices when it comes to equipment and can't afford the absolute best of everything (most C100 owners can't afford Cinema lenses, HMIs, Cineflex system, etc.), so when it makes sense to save some money by being "cheapskates," or, wisely saving money, we do so.
I've done the math and third party batteries come out cheaper in the long run. Maybe there's a 1 in 10,000 chance your camera will be damaged by the third party battery (I'd figure it is a low number considering how I've never heard of third party batteries damaging cameras; all I've ever heard is conjecture). For a $5500 camera, that's statistically speaking a $0.55 loss. Even at a 1 in 100 chance, it'd be a $55 loss. Not until you get to a 1 in 10 chance does it make it to a $550 loss at which point you start to break even on the savings, but I don't think anyone is arguing it's a 1 in 10 chance it will totally destroy your camera.
I suppose if you can't afford to replace your camera if that 1 in 10,000 chance does happen then maybe the risk isn't worth it, but I could afford to repalce my camera tomorrow if it broke, plus since I have three C100s and most shoots I do only require one I already have two backups.
As I'd mentioned, only one of my third party batteries has gone bad, so a $27 loss with about $850 I've saved by using third party batteries. Again, financially, everything comes in favor of third party batteries. If money is no issue, sure, go with Canon batteries, there are some advantages. I figure most people (including myself) who have a $5500 camera as their main camera still consider $500 a decent amount of money, so don't want to throw it away unless the benefits are worth it. For me, I'm in the middle ground; I have four Canon batteries and three third party batteries, so I use the Canons first and the third parties as backups; the majority of my shoots I don't use enough batteries to need to use the third party ones. Meanwhile, I can go spend that $500 in savings on something more useful, like a Tokina 11-16, for example. If I had to choose between telling a director I have to change my battery because it doesn't last as long as Canon ones or tell him I can't get the extra wide angle shot he wants because my widest lens is 18mm, I'd rather tell him the first.
Most people in the video business have to make financial choices when it comes to equipment and can't afford the absolute best of everything (most C100 owners can't afford Cinema lenses, HMIs, Cineflex system, etc.), so when it makes sense to save some money by being "cheapskates," or, wisely saving money, we do so.
adolgin
DVXuser Sponsor
A camera can not be damaged even by a defective battery - this is a common misconception (spread by some service technicians). The reason is a cell voltage can not be higher than 4.2V (or 8.4V for a standard 2 cell DV battery). It is an electro chemical thing, Li-Ion cell just can not develop more than 4.2V fully charged. If it fails, it goes down to 0 volts or close to it.
Off course, if a pack blows up inside a camera, anything is possible, but it does not happen too often
Off course, if a pack blows up inside a camera, anything is possible, but it does not happen too often