Those of you who have one know how impossible it is to get batteries for this camera. I've seen several aftermarket brands with batteries. Has anyone tried any of them? I don't need a lecture on batteries so don't start I've had great luck with Opteka on my 5/30/20Ds any bad ones I should look out for? Thanks.
Nope, there's a brand spanking new battery with longer battery life and lots of other useless features that for some unknown reason had to be shaped differently....
Tony Hoffer wrote:
Nope, there's a brand spanking new battery with longer battery life and lots of other useless features that for some unknown reason had to be shaped differently....
+5
Same shape, better life, changed the electrode position and shape (hardly a shape change). Because they changed the electrode position, means new chargers are needed too. Canon, that was mega lame.
Nikon cameras use the same battery for ALL cameras (D3, D700, D300). Come on man.
Have you tried calling local camera shops instead of going online? I was in the same boat as you, couldn't find anything online so I decided to call San Jose Camera Video since they're right down the street and low and behold they had 2 in stock. Only down side was I had to pay tax on it :P
bryanfoto wrote:
Have you tried calling local camera shops instead of going online? I was in the same boat as you, couldn't find anything online so I decided to call San Jose Camera Video since they're right down the street and low and behold they had 2 in stock. Only down side was I had to pay tax on it :P
Yeah I'll just wait for the cheap Chinese knockoffs. I agree, uber-lame with the battery switch. I like my BP-511's. I can get a pair of them on fleabay for $5 shipped. Why should I pay $60+ for a battery that cost $.05 to make? It's like toner/ink sales for a printer, or extra batteries for your camcorder.
*edit*
Just checked ebay, and yes, knockoffs are available right now. Even they are price-gouging ($34 for a pair), just not as much as Canon
I've been on order from Adorama for probably three weeks on these things. I'm having a harder time getting the stupid battery than I am getting the camera itself. =\
By the same token, it wasnt *really* necessary to create a new camera mount for EF-S lenses. By creating a new mount and making it physically incompatible with non EF-S cameras, they effectively locked out the market for older 1.6x Canon bodies.
Good for body sales, bad for glass sales. The third party lens makers had a field day with this one.
But I generally agree Canon's 1# priority is making money, not appealing to consumer wishes.
Tony Hoffer wrote:
Nope, there's a brand spanking new battery with longer battery life and lots of other useless features that for some unknown reason had to be shaped differently....
I'm still anxious to see sterlingtek brand batteries for the 5D II - battery availability is one of the big contentions I have about getting the camera. That and camera body price.
form wrote:
I'm still anxious to see sterlingtek brand batteries for the 5D II - battery availability is one of the big contentions I have about getting the camera. That and camera body price.
Wow, my only contention with the price is that I wish it was higher. At this price, lots more amateurs can join the full-frame fun.
I've had great luck with Opteka on my 5/30/20Ds any bad ones I should look out for? Thanks. 
