how to keep Canon camera batteries charged in the field

[Bob Gross]

I'm dealing with a bunch of LP-6E or LP-6EN camera batteries. I have the standard Canon charger, which is AC powered only. I have a generic charger, and it is powered by either AC or +12VDC.

Some places where I go, there is no AC power at all, and the only +12VDC power that I can think of would be from my Goal Zero solar panel which has outputs of +12VDC or +5VDC. I would think of carrying the Goal Zero panel, except some places have little sun. I know one place where I will be this summer. On a good sunny day, there is little direct light, and the trees surrounding the place will limit the direct sunlight to be a hit-or-miss situation. I can't count on solar.

My normal approach would be to carry enough charged camera batteries to keep two cameras running for 5-6 days. However, the Canon 7D mark II camera is a real power hog. I can easily see going through 3 or 4 batteries per day. Presently, I own about seven such batteries, and I hate to keep buying more and more unless that is my only option.

Now, I have a bunch of Panasonic type 18650 lithium batteries here, and each has a 3400mAH rating. The nominal voltage is 3.7VDC, and they are each about 4.17VDC when they come out of the charger. So then I started thinking: Maybe I could rig up three of these in series, and then they could supply the 12VDC needed for my generic camera battery charger.

You could suggest that there is no advantage in buying 18650 batteries in order to recharge the LP-6E batteries that I don't want to buy more of. Part of that comes from the fact that I have never found a Panasonic 18650 battery that was anything less than perfect. They have virtually no self-discharge and great gobs of short circuit amperage. Lithium battery weight is kind of a wash no matter how you package it.

The LP-6E camera batteries are all over the place. I have real Canon batteries, good generic batteries, and cheap generic batteries. I have some that are very good, and I have others that aren't worth a damn. Some won't take a charge. Some are extremely slow to take a charge, and some are perfectly normal. It ticks me off when a $25 battery won't charge correctly or when they suddenly get funky after only three charge cycles.

I could go to this place with a whole bag full of 18650 lithium batteries, pop them into my charging system three at a time, and keep camera things going for a few days.

Can you think of a better way?

To answer one question, yes, I have the GPS function disabled in the camera in order to conserve battery power.

To answer another question, I have to fly to get there, so I can't be carrying any fuel cells or anything like that.

—B.G.—

[rOg w]

deleted

[Bob Moulder]

Big external pack?

You're carrying the weight anyway, so this might be more efficient.

Of course, all your eggs are in one big basket in that case.

[Lori P]

I use small Nikon cameras and use a spare battery on longer trips. If I bring my phone so I can read my kindle or use the gps or map apps, I bring a small battery pack to recharge via usb cables. It will charge both the camera and the phone, with different cables, up to four times. Never had to use the spare or recharge the camera even on the nine day, even used the camera on a weekend trip a few weeks later without charging it again. The phone was a different story.

I think 3-4 times a day is crazy. I would get a different camera. But I am doing ok with point and shoots. I have my sights set on an upgrade soon; my friend has been using a LUMIX with good results so I am looking into the Panasonics at Costco.

[Bob Gross]

" I can't imagine using a battery a day with the 7D or is there that much of a difference with the 7D Mrk II? "

Yes. I have an original 7D, and its battery usage is moderate. I went to the same place a few years ago and was using up about 1.5 batteries per day.

The new 7D mark II has significantly higher usage, partly because there are more features happening. I can go on a shooting walk for a mile, maybe snapping only two or three shots, and the battery will be down 25%. If I enabled the GPS function, that would be even worse. In fact, the GPS logger function is recording and drawing power even with the camera turned off, if you can imagine that. That's why I leave the GPS things disabled nearly all of the time.

Firing off 10 still frames per second takes a lot of juice. Video lights up the Live View rear screen, so it takes a lot of juice as well.

A point and shoot camera is more of a toy, so I'm not considering that.

I guess if Canon can't make enough profit by selling the camera, maybe they expect to make it by selling batteries.

I haven't given up on the solar panel solution, but right now the 18650 battery solution looks best.

–B.G.–

[Garrett McLarty]

Bob,

I know that you already have an awesome camera, and probably a few good lenses to go with it but…..

If you had a lighter weight camera, you could carry more batteries:) I have gone from canon 6D to Olympus OMD and though I have to carry more batteries, my overall weight is down significantly.

Like you, I have been using a goal zero panel to charge my batteries on longer trips. So, once I need to carry more than 5 batteries, I just bring the solar panel. However, I have also run into times there wasn't enough sun and between that and sub freezing temps, my batteries were sucked dry. Would be nice to have a lightweight alternative to solar charging.

Just to tempt you, here is a link to a thread with tons of shots reminding me that the camera is not limiting my pictures.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1127925/312

peace

[Jerry Adams]

Bobs not here

Oh, on second thought he may be reading – hi Bob : )

My theory is he's out hiking, and he'll "come back" and wonder what all the fuss is

Seems like when he was around, there was more criticism, now more love, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder"

[Bob Shaver]

I have a very light solar panel about 8" x 14". It has a small battery pack on it, and a USB port. I plug in a battery pack I have, which has LEDs to indicate the charge. The panel can charge the battery pack in less than a day. The battery pack can charge my iPhone twice. I don't know if that is enough power for your needs, but I went 2 weeks and it charged my phone and canon g12 batteries. I'll put a review and pictures on my blog.

[Author]

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