20D Battery Life

Digiman · 15th December 2004

This might be old news to most of you 20D owners but I thought I should share this experience with those people sitting on the fence and still debating whether to upgrade to a 20D.

I charged the 511A battery that came with the cam about 3 weeks ago, reset the frame numbering to 0 and was shooting with it until it finally ran flat this morning. I checked numbering of the last shot taken and it was an amazing "2059". WOW! More than 2000 shots on a single charge!

Mind you, I used it in a normal manner, not particularly trying to conserve energy, although I only used the built-in flash a few times. I previewed the shots all the time, and also deleted shots along the way.

I'm surprised that Canon's own estimates are so conservative (abt 1,000 shots, w/o flash & 700 witth 50% flash).

Perhaps the other 20D users can confirm this?

jeff49er · 15th December 2004

Yes battery life is as long as " thousand thousand years"

Falcon · 15th December 2004

That is a quantum leap from 10D which is only 200+ shots.

John Tan · 15th December 2004

Imagine how much you can shoot when you are using with grip w 2 batt!!! Even the IS lens can't suck it dry after 1000+++ shots!

Pablo · 15th December 2004

Hi Digiman,

Can't say that I have tested a battery till flat.
I change mine over when I know I am at about 800. (have 2).

This is not for pro work; I just don't want the disappointment of a flat battery.

Digiman · 15th December 2004

Originally Posted by Pablo

Hi Digiman,

Can't say that I have tested a battery till flat.
I change mine over when I know I am at about 800. (have 2).

This is not for pro work; I just don't want the disappointment of a flat battery.

I know what you mean, Pablo. I probably won't shoot until the battery is totally flat again. I just wanted to see how far it could go for once. Anyway I have plenty of batteries with me at all times and a flat battery is really no biggie.

Pablo · 15th December 2004

Originally Posted by Digiman

I know what you mean, Pablo. I probably won't shoot until the battery is totally flat again. I just wanted to see how far it could go for once. Anyway I have plenty of batteries with me at all times and a flat battery is really no biggie.

Yo, Hi Digiman,

Glad that you did experiment.
I am not always brite enough to remember the backup

So now I know I have less chance of "Ahhh NO !!"

Cheers

leejiing · 15th December 2004

Originally Posted by Digiman

This might be old news to most of you 20D owners but I thought I should share this experience with those people sitting on the fence and still debating whether to upgrade to a 20D.

I charged the 511A battery that came with the cam about 3 weeks ago, reset the frame numbering to 0 and was shooting with it until it finally ran flat this morning. I checked numbering of the last shot taken and it was an amazing "2059". WOW! More than 2000 shots on a single charge!

Mind you, I used it in a normal manner, not particularly trying to conserve energy, although I only used the built-in flash a few times. I previewed the shots all the time, and also deleted shots along the way.

I'm surprised that Canon's own estimates are so conservative (abt 1,000 shots, w/o flash & 700 witth 50% flash).

Perhaps the other 20D users can confirm this?

wah.. Digiman finally upgraded liao... hehe.. so how is it compare to your old 10D?? any regrets??

Digiman · 15th December 2004

Originally Posted by leejiing

wah.. Digiman finally upgraded liao... hehe.. so how is it compare to your old 10D?? any regrets??

Bro, of course no regrets lah. The loud shutter takes some getting used to though...

leejiing · 15th December 2004

Originally Posted by Digiman

Bro, of course no regrets lah. The loud shutter takes some getting used to though...

yup... sama sama.. my only complain about that camera oso

cyanwater · 16th December 2004

Originally Posted by Digiman

I know what you mean, Pablo. I probably won't shoot until the battery is totally flat again. I just wanted to see how far it could go for once. Anyway I have plenty of batteries with me at all times and a flat battery is really no biggie.

I'm impressed!

Is a batt grip better or a spare batt? Btw, how much does a spare batt cost?

leejiing · 16th December 2004

Originally Posted by cyanwater

I'm impressed!

Is a batt grip better or a spare batt? Btw, how much does a spare batt cost?

I got myself the battery grip as I want the vertical grip, AA size battery adaptor and of course, more shots before I change batteries hehe

... u could get 3rd party spare batts from eastgear which is good enough...

300D · 16th December 2004

hmm....maybe i should dump my 300D for 20D??

leejiing · 16th December 2004

Originally Posted by 300D

hmm....maybe i should dump my 300D for 20D??

dun say dump lah, 300D is still a very good cam ... but if you got the monies to upgrade.. just go for it!!! like me hehe

300D · 16th December 2004

Originally Posted by leejiing

dun say dump lah, 300D is still a very good cam ... but if you got the monies to upgrade.. just go for it!!! like me hehe

hahaha..... it's only my crude way to say put it aside...

anyway, i will use the $ to buy lens instead.

will upgrade when D200 is out.

RiStaR · 17th December 2004

Originally Posted by Falcon

That is a quantum leap from 10D which is only 200+ shots.

That's not a very fair comparison? 10D with 511 vs 511A with 20D? Maybe it'll be better if a 10D owner tested it with a 511A....

imaginary_number · 17th December 2004

Apparently, with the battery grip, the rate of power consumption seems to go up. Someone in dpreview has done some tests. Personally, I get around 700+ shots with the grip (dual batts) before the battery indicator drops to 1 bar (w/ review 4s). Was also using the higher ISOs.

Seriously, I'm more impressed with the 580ex. On a set of 2500mah, I got 700+ shots too, with at least 80% bounced flash. And it was still going strong. Recycling time is really fast as well.

chenwei · 17th December 2004

Originally Posted by Falcon

That is a quantum leap from 10D which is only 200+ shots.

maybe ur batt got prob? mine can last 400+ not a prob, still haven't finished somemore... (1GB card full lol~)

Digiman · 17th December 2004

Originally Posted by chenwei

maybe ur batt got prob? mine can last 400+ not a prob, still haven't finished somemore... (1GB card full lol~)

I agree. I remember I could get abt 500 shots on a fully charged 511 on the 10D. Maybe your battery is faulty.

BTW, I made a mistake in my first post. On closer check, I actually managed abt 2,400 shots on the 20D.

cyanwater · 17th December 2004

Originally Posted by leejiing

I got myself the battery grip as I want the vertical grip, AA size battery adaptor and of course, more shots before I change batteries hehe ... u could get 3rd party spare batts from eastgear which is good enough...

Any idea how much would a 3rd party spare batt cost?

15th December 2004	#1
Digiman Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,235	20D Battery Life This might be old news to most of you 20D owners but I thought I should share this experience with those people sitting on the fence and still debating whether to upgrade to a 20D. I charged the 511A battery that came with the cam about 3 weeks ago, reset the frame numbering to 0 and was shooting with it until it finally ran flat this morning. I checked numbering of the last shot taken and it was an amazing "2059". WOW! More than 2000 shots on a single charge! Mind you, I used it in a normal manner, not particularly trying to conserve energy, although I only used the built-in flash a few times. I previewed the shots all the time, and also deleted shots along the way. I'm surprised that Canon's own estimates are so conservative (abt 1,000 shots, w/o flash & 700 witth 50% flash). Perhaps the other 20D users can confirm this?

15th December 2004	#4
John Tan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: JRimage Xpress Posts: 5,682	Imagine how much you can shoot when you are using with grip w 2 batt!!! Even the IS lens can't suck it dry after 1000+++ shots! __________________ JRimageXpress.com

15th December 2004	#5
Pablo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Blue/Green Planet Posts: 1,855	Hi Digiman, Can't say that I have tested a battery till flat. I change mine over when I know I am at about 800. (have 2). This is not for pro work; I just don't want the disappointment of a flat battery. __________________ Time, is an effortless construction :)

15th December 2004	#2
jeff49er Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Punggol Park Posts: 2,020	Yes battery life is as long as " thousand thousand years"

15th December 2004	#3
Falcon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,870	That is a quantum leap from 10D which is only 200+ shots.

16th December 2004	#13
300D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Still looking Posts: 55	hmm....maybe i should dump my 300D for 20D??

17th December 2004	#17
imaginary_number Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,895	Apparently, with the battery grip, the rate of power consumption seems to go up. Someone in dpreview has done some tests. Personally, I get around 700+ shots with the grip (dual batts) before the battery indicator drops to 1 bar (w/ review 4s). Was also using the higher ISOs. Seriously, I'm more impressed with the 580ex. On a set of 2500mah, I got 700+ shots too, with at least 80% bounced flash. And it was still going strong. Recycling time is really fast as well.