Is there a problem with my 5D battery grip?

plato · 5th May 2006

Hi, I have a 5D with the BG-E4 battery grip. Unlike my 10D with the BG-ED3 grip, the 5D grip shows half battery life when I insert only one battery in the grip (even though battery is fully charged), and full battery life only if both battery slots are used. The battery indicator will behave normally if the grip is removed and the battery used normally.

Is this the way it's supposed to work, or is something wrong with my battery grip?

mpenza · 5th May 2006

maybe urs was from the initial batches. there were some problems when 20D and this grrip was first launched whereby the camera with grip will show half bar and may suddenly shutdown. Canon repaired both the camera and grip.

kietgnoel · 5th May 2006

I don't know about the 5D's battery grip but I can tell you that this doesn't happen on the 300D, 350D & 30D with battery grip.

Sounds like something is not right. You might want to send it down to Canon for a check. Or you could call them and ask if this is normal for 5D.

plato · 5th May 2006

Originally Posted by mpenza

maybe urs was from the initial batches. there were some problems when 20D and this grrip was first launched whereby the camera with grip will show half bar and may suddenly shutdown. Canon repaired both the camera and grip.

Thanks. I know about the problems with the initial batches of the 20D battery grip, but I haven't heard such a thing about the 5D grip so far, which led me to wonder if this is a new feature rather than a problem. Unlike the 20D grip problem, the batteries still work normally as far as I can tell, just that the indicator isn't accurately reflecting the amount of battery charge left.

srisaro · 5th May 2006

I assume this is a problem rather than a feature... I don't have a grip for my 5D !

saperboy · 5th May 2006

I'm curious to find out the real deal, coz I'm thinking of getting a BG-E4 too.

ahsiang · 5th May 2006

r u using the original battery? if not, the battery indicator won't full bar even it's fully charged.

plato · 5th May 2006

Originally Posted by ahsiang

r u using the original battery? if not, the battery indicator won't full bar even it's fully charged.

That's very interesting! I was using a 3rd party battery. Think I'll have to do a test with my original canon batteries and see if it makes a difference.

Do you have any online resources where I can do more reading up on this? I didn't know that the grip can differentiate between 3rd party and original batteries.

Reflection · 5th May 2006

I have the BGE4 and 3rd party batteries. No such problem.

saperboy · 5th May 2006

Originally Posted by Reflection

I have the BGE4 and 3rd party batteries. No such problem.

okay then, its confirmed. Thanks for sharing.

plato · 6th May 2006

Hi, just to update everyone on things... I upgraded the firmware from 1.01 to 1.05 and the problem has gone away

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions.

v'sion · 7th May 2006

Me too no problem even with 3rd party battery, Go n get it check!

5th May 2006	#1
plato Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 226	Is there a problem with my 5D battery grip? Hi, I have a 5D with the BG-E4 battery grip. Unlike my 10D with the BG-ED3 grip, the 5D grip shows half battery life when I insert only one battery in the grip (even though battery is fully charged), and full battery life only if both battery slots are used. The battery indicator will behave normally if the grip is removed and the battery used normally. Is this the way it's supposed to work, or is something wrong with my battery grip?

5th May 2006	#2
mpenza Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 13,397	Re: Is there a problem with my 5D battery grip? maybe urs was from the initial batches. there were some problems when 20D and this grrip was first launched whereby the camera with grip will show half bar and may suddenly shutdown. Canon repaired both the camera and grip.

5th May 2006	#3
kietgnoel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 618	Re: Is there a problem with my 5D battery grip? I don't know about the 5D's battery grip but I can tell you that this doesn't happen on the 300D, 350D & 30D with battery grip. Sounds like something is not right. You might want to send it down to Canon for a check. Or you could call them and ask if this is normal for 5D.

5th May 2006	#5
srisaro Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Hougang Posts: 353	Re: Is there a problem with my 5D battery grip? I assume this is a problem rather than a feature... I don't have a grip for my 5D !

5th May 2006	#6
saperboy Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 293	Re: Is there a problem with my 5D battery grip? I'm curious to find out the real deal, coz I'm thinking of getting a BG-E4 too.

5th May 2006	#7
ahsiang Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 259	Re: Is there a problem with my 5D battery grip? r u using the original battery? if not, the battery indicator won't full bar even it's fully charged.

5th May 2006	#9
Reflection Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cowtown Posts: 1,132	Re: Is there a problem with my 5D battery grip? I have the BGE4 and 3rd party batteries. No such problem.

6th May 2006	#11
plato Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 226	Re: Is there a problem with my 5D battery grip? Hi, just to update everyone on things... I upgraded the firmware from 1.01 to 1.05 and the problem has gone away Thanks for all the advice and suggestions.

7th May 2006	#12
v'sion Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tampines(Singapore) Posts: 321	Re: Is there a problem with my 5D battery grip? Me too no problem even with 3rd party battery, Go n get it check!