Battery for Canon Rebel XT

[mom to 4]

I am looking to get another battery for my new Rebel so I have plenty of power when I go to Italy.

Amazon.com has them for 49. Amazon also bring up a place called Ace Ditigal Club.com who has it for 42.

Has anyone ever done business with Ace? I trust Amazon and don't know of Ace, but $6. is $6.

Any input would be welcome......... is this an OK question to ask on the forum??

[mom to 4]

I meant $7 is $7. Can't believe I did that!! Math was never my strong point.......but it was the rounding I did that killed me! I am really not THAT bad at math!

[NMarti]

Colleen
I just bought a lens hood from them last week and it came within 3 days and had no problems. Check the shipping though - Amazon usually offers free shipping on order over $25 so you may lose your savings to shipping.

[crljean]

You might also check ebay. I thought I saw new ones for less than $42.00. Might be worth checking.

[mom to 4]

Thanks Carol and Nancy! I checked Ebay....I always forget about them and I always think the stuff there is used....I forget they have new too.

I checked Ace and they say their shipping is $4.99 per order.....I want to order 3.....I know that sounds like a lot, but I wouldn't want to be in Italy and not have battery power! We will be there two weeks and then next year are going back for 3.....I figure one for each week..... So, if I can order 3 @42. per plus 4.99, I think that will still beat Amazon w/free shipping! I am glad Nancy that you have dealt with them, I feel much better "knowing" someone who has used them!

Thanks!!!! You guys on here are the best!

[Carbone]

Colleen, have you checked with B&H ? They usually have good prices

Ray

[BettyC]

Colleen--I got 2 extra batteries for my XT here: At Sterkingtek

http://store.yahoo.com/sterlingtek/cabaandch.html

They last me longer than the genuine Canon battery does. I had bought batteries from them for a camera I previously owned.

[Ward Grant]

I'm just concerned about your "one week" per battery allotment. My Sony will go several hours on a battery, but I don't think I could get a week out of them, especially on a vacation to Italy. Are you planning on bringing a battery recharger? I know you might have to adjust for voltage (US to Europe) but I would think Italy would have fairly consistent power supply.

[PaulH]

I'm just concerned about your "one week" per battery allotment. My Sony will go several hours on a battery, but I don't think I could get a week out of them, especially on a vacation to Italy. Are you planning on bringing a battery recharger? I know you might have to adjust for voltage (US to Europe) but I would think Italy would have fairly consistent power supply.


Actually I'd bet the charger is multi-voltage capable - you would need the plug adapter (just a few bucks).

RAY !!! Correct me if I'm wrong (I'm a Nikon kind of guy ) :)

[Carbone]

I've avoided stepping in because I have a very "intolerant" opinion on the matter of batteries.

I have seen cases of third party batteries either not lasting as long as genuine batteries, not as much as in the duration between two charges but life duration. I have seen cases of compatible batteries damaging cameras and flashes. And recently, Nikon has been the victim of a fraud in the sense that their name was put on false batteries which neither lasted as long nor provided adequate charge for their camera.

I am not the kind who blindly thinks Canon is the best everywhere (i.e. I have Sigma lenses) but on the subject of batteries, I would not buy anything other than a Canon genuine battery pack. The power is monitored by Canon to not damage the battery and they will not damage your charger neither.

And as for a pack lasting a week, it comes down to how many shots are you going to take. Rebel XT batteries are made to last about 600 shots (in labs, in real life, it's probably close to 350-400). That is you aim, compose, press half way and shoot. You do not compose and change your mind. So how many times do you hesitate ? I do this is a lot! I compose, focus and decide.. no good, next.. :) This does not count for a shot, but it does use battery juice.

Definitively, you'll want to bring the charger. Remember, you can't buy fully charged batteries anywhere. And the charger is really small.

Ray

[mom to 4]

Ok, lets see how much I can address in this. I think I would stick with the Canon batteries simply because I do not want to have any warranty problem with using something other than theirs. I have purchased 4 1 gig cards. I think I was told that each card will give me 250+ pictures. I was also told that battery life would probably be 250 pics. That is why I was going to buy 4 batteries. What does everyone think about how many batteries I should have? I do have a "converter" (if that is what you call it) to use over there. I am going over with my cousin and she did tell me that she was not about to bring her ipod with its charger and take the chance of it getting "fried" She has been over there many times (more than 30) and I figured if she would plug in her ipod, do I really want to plug in my charger and battery???? I have never been outside the US (except Canada & Mexico before the age of rechargables, etc...) So I really am not sure what to do.

I am really relying on all of you, you guys have much more knowlege that I do on such things........

ALL INPUT IS WELCOME AND APPRECIATED!!!!!!!

[mom to 4]

Oh, Ray.....I did check B & H and I could find the canon battery on there that I was looking for.....that really surprised me because my neighbor swears by them....says they have everything......maybe I missed something.....wouldn't be the first time!

[Carbone]

Colleen :

Canon NB-2LH (Rebel XT battery) at B&H :
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=349740&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Next, look at the back of your charger, it'll tell you if it's international or North American only voltage compatible :

http://homepage.mac.com/carbmac/captures/charger.jpg

This is my 10D charger and it says INPUT : 100V to 240V, 240V being Europe and 100V being (I think) Asia. North America is 110V.

Canon makes gears that can be used everywhere. In your case, it's only a matter of having the plug adaptor.

Ray

[mom to 4]

Ray:

Wow! I never knew the backs of those things that reading material that I should look at!!!! Mine does say Input 100-240. It also says for use outside the US refer to the instruction manual. But......I can't see anything in the instruction manual about it. I will continue to look.....

Thanks Ray!

[Carbone]

If it says 100-240, you're safe :)

Ray

[Carbone]

Should have added.. the iPod is also the same, as long as you get the adaptors. My razor and alarm clock are also international, so is my Powerbook, my iron and several other things.

Ray.. the international man of electricity ;)

[mom to 4]

Ray:

I've got an adapter. So I guess I am good to go.

By the way: You're not just the international man of Electricity.... You're Da Man!

So.....I guess I don't need to worry too much about how many batteries I buy do I???

Thank you so much for all your help.

PS I love Montreal. We have a place, actually it was my parents retirement home, in northwestern Maine and many times we head up to Montreal for a visit when we are up there.

[Carbone]

I always carry two batteries with me : One in the camera, one in my bag. The one in the camera is used until completely depleted and the other one is always fully charged.

Ray
PS. Thanks for the kind words :)

[mom to 4]

Ray:

I will do the same. I think having a spare battery or two cannot be a bad thing!

And THANK YOU for your help!!!!!!!!!:D

[Ward Grant]

Ray:

I will do the same. I think having a spare battery or two cannot be a bad thing!

And THANK YOU for your help!!!!!!!!!:D

I've somehow ended up with two cameras and three batteries. Luckily, they are all interchangeable. I, like Ray, always have a fully charged spare battery. I think it is my old Boy Scouts training...Be Prepared.

Sounds like you are going to have a wonderful trip.

[mom to 4]

I like that Boy Scout sentiment. My son just became an Eagle Scout at age 14 in January!

[mom to 4]

About having a wonderful trip....I hope so....I think I will be fine once I am there, but I do not fly well. Haven't been on a plane in 17 years. Also having a daughter at the World Trade Center on September 11th didn't help my fear of flying, although she has been on a plane many times since then! I am very much a control person......like to know what is happening around me and that I can control it....in a plane I can't.....don't like that feeling.

[Carbone]

Colleen :

My doctor prescribed 6 pills for the first time I took the plane. If you take one, you'll feel just relaxed. Two you'll sleep, and 3 you'll be knockout for 12 hours :)

I only used one, and only for the going there trip, not for my return. It's Rivotryl (I don't know if it's the same name over there in the USA).

By the way, I love the scenery and architecture of the upper north east states :)

Ray

[crippencreek]

I also have an extra battery for the XT. I got it before I actually bought the camera and just before I recieved the Samsung Pro 815 for my birthday.