Canon BP-819 Lithium Ion Camcorder Battery Pack (2589B002) Review

I have a Canon Vixia HF11 camcorder, which is a tiny little thing that records in high definition. It really is small -- about the size of a Coke can. One of the downsides to the small size of the camcorder is that it has a small battery that neatly integrates with the package. This makes for a tidy appearance but not particularly long record times.

With a maximum record time of about 75 minutes, I knew that I wanted a backup battery that held even more power. Therefore, I bought a Canon BP-819 camcorder battery, which is good for nearly 120 minutes. I bought it at Amazon for about $75 (ouch!).

What it is

The Canon BP-819 battery is a small cube measuring about 1.5 inches tall, 1.5 inches deep and one inch wide. It clicks into a well in the Canon HF11 camcorder but is so deep that it extends about 1/2-inch from the back of the camcorder. (The standard battery, part number BP-809, is flush with the back surface of the camcorder.) The BP-819 uses the same "intelligent Li-ion" technology as the standard battery, which means that the camera's viewfinder will report exactly how much recording time remains in the battery.

Using it

The Canon BP-819 battery mounts just like the standard battery. There is a battery release slider on the bottom of the camcorder -- moving it releases the battery. Slide a new battery into the empty well and it clicks into place, ready to roll. If you're all ready and have nimble fingers, you can swap batteries in 2-3 seconds.

I do not have an external battery charger for the BP-819, so I charge it on the Canon HF11 camcorder. When plugged into its power supply, the camcorder will charge the BP-819 in about six hours. Once charged, the BP-819 will run the camcorder continuously for about 160 minutes. (Run times are shorter if it is cold where you are operating the camcorder.)

Since the BP-819 is so deep that it protrudes from the back of the camcorder by 1/2-inch, it slightly interferes with the start/stop button on the back of the camcorder. This is a little bit of an annoyance -- not a show-stopper but the battery is just a little bit in the way when it comes to pressing the start/stop button. I much prefer to use the camcorder with the standard battery, since it does not interfere with the button at all. However, the BP-819 does fit and I can work with it. And it will run the Canon HF11 camcorder for a l-o-n-g time.

Summary

I don't use the Canon BP-819 battery often but I'm glad I have it. It really does run the Canon HF11 camcorder for a long time, even if it is a little awkward to use. It is lightweight, easy to change out and it records perfectly using the camera's power supply. (Canon does sell an external charger but I don't have it.)

I conditionally recommend the Canon BP-819 battery. It does exactly what I expected it would do. However, if I did it all over again, I just might get the smaller BP-809 battery instead of the larger BP-819. Still, I give the Canon BP-819 a thumbs-up and recommend it, as long as you understand it is a little awkward to use.