Customer Reviews

Panasonic VW-VBG130 1HR Battery Pack (for TM700, HS700, HDC-SD1 or AGHSC1U)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The battery runs my HDC-SD5 for a full 1.5 plus hours. Just as advertised.

Amazingly overpriced for a battery that basically runs my HDC-HC1 for a little over an hour.

Can you say "stick 'em up"???

_____________________

2-6-09

Follow up: This battery's price has finally fallen by about 50 percent to it's current $55 +/- price now listed here. When my original review was written the going rate was around $120 IF you could find them.

BEWARE of Panasonic. *Research well* before you buy. While their prosumer line is excellent, they have no qualms whatsoever about high prices and short supplies on basic accessories for units like these.

I was looking for two spare battery packs at a good deal price for my new Panasonic mini DVD camcorder model VDR-D50P. I have used after market products before with excellent results. I chose this battery and ordered two of them. They were listed as repalcements for my model.Panasonic CGR-DU06A/1B Rechargable Battery for most Panasonic Camcorders THEY DO NOT FIT. Panasonic has changed ever so slightly the size of the bracket the batttery mounts into on the cam and the charger. I was able to return the batteries to the company for a refund. After futher research on the Panasonic battery I needed, I returned to Amazon with a Panasonic part number (VW-VBG130). I did a search and it came back with more of the same thing I had bought before that did not fit. However, in the mix were several companies that listed the battery as this part number and as being an ORIGINAL, Panasonic part. This battery sells locally for AROUND $125.00 but I found it on Amazon for $55.00 plus shipping but NO TAX. I ordered two of them and they indeed are Panasonic batteries with the correct part number and they fit my camcorder. Here's the AMAZON.COM link to the CORRECT battery For the Panasonic VDR-D50P camcorder; http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000SCUWOY/ref=dp_olp_2

BY THE WAY, the link shown at the right of this review is the link to the correct battery for the VDR-D50P Panasonic. To get to the $55.00 price look down a little and to the right of the ZOOM option for the photo of the battery. you will see the link to the dealers selling them for $55.00 or so. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you contact the company before buying to get a gut feeling for the company and their attitude before you order, there are usually several optional companies selling the item if you don't get that desired "fuzzy" feeling at first.

Apparently the so called "after market" has not caught up with the fact that Panasonic has changed the mounting bracket size sligtly for the newer size batteries. This was indicated by the dealer when I returned my original purchase. I'm sure in time they will discover this change and produce the correct battery. For now, 9-30-08, apparently we have to use the ORIGINAL.

NOTE: The battery, VW-VBG130, also fits the New Panasonic SD memory card type camcorders also. I did some research on this. With the new SD card camcorders this battery will run the cam for about 60 to 70 minutes. On the mini DVD recorders like mine you will get about 50 minutes because the battery is having to move the laser head and mechanism as well as the motor that spins the DVD itself.

By the way, at this writing, 9-30-2008, there are some good deals to be had on the nice Panasonic SD card camcorders from last years models which are wonderful units and got very high user ratings. The newer units this year have no appreciable improvements over last year's model. Try looking at circuitcity.com in the "OUTLET" section. If you do not see the "OUTLET" link on the main page, simply type OUTLET in the search bar and click GO and presto you will be there and you can do a search for Panasonic Camcorders. The nice THREE CHIP model HDC-HD5 is below $500.00 at this time (9-30-2008) when you put it in your shopping cart. Wish I had one :-)

We bought a high capacity battery only to discover you need an external cartridge holder and cord to connect to the actual camera. Too bad that was not described more fully. So this battery is a duplicate of the one you get with the camcorder. It plugs directly into the camera. It has less usable record time and that is a disappointment. We prefer to have at least two batteries in case we cannot get to a charger each evening. Otherwise this battery performs as advertised.

This battery is basically the exact battery. Nothing sexy, just a nice second battery for the camcorder. I was somewhat concerned because my specific model wasn't listed in the general description (HDC-SD5), but the battery numbers were exactly the same. The other concern I had is that the model number in the item description has a "-K" and my battery didn't. If you have an SD5, don't worry as long as your battery is a VBG130, you're good. I get the same amount of recording time (~100 minutes) as the original battery gets.

More than 2 years later, this battery STILL gives me 90 - 100 minutes of recording time. I wish I could give it 7 stars. Best deal for a battery I've ever had.
The OEM battery gives me around 80-90 minutes, so they hold up pretty well.
I still use this recorder a couple of times a week, so it gets a lot of use and almost always for the full battery life (soccer games and church).

I use small camcorders for my business, doing a lot of small clips in my shoots to cover public events, and grab just highlights. (Usually around 200 video clips per job, constantly record-and-pause, no recordings more than 5 minutes.) In buying this extra battery, this one really goes way beyond than the "1 hour", and is definately a lot of bang for your buck. PERFECT for the SDR-H40 camera, I have only used the entire life of this battery once, during a 4-hour event and shooting about 90 minutes of footage. If you have a compatible Panasonic camera, this is a MUST BUY! I got it on sale here at Amazon for $60, they cost #100 everywhere else. NEVER use generic batteries for your name-brand cams. You will pay for it in the end!

Great battery,delivered in good condition,delivered performance for more than one and a half hours without falering.

Everyone needs a spare battery. We all have unexpected moments in our lives. It's good to have one of these to capture those moments. Just make sure you fully charge the battery before storing it so that you can use it whenever the need arises. Of course, make sure you have enough space in your memory card. Or better yet, have a spare SDHC card at your reach.

Like any good scout or camper, it's wise to be prepared. Since running the Panasonic camcorder's "included battery" allows for quite limited recording sessions, an extra battery could provide some heroic rescues at just the right time and place. Choosing the recording time provided by an extra battery just depends on how you plan to use the camera, and likely time periods for these recording sessions between recharging.I anticipate some relieved feelings each time I remember that I have a battery to fall back upon.

Best is purchase it with your camcorder. Its very helpful. I did not face any battery issues through my trip to Alaska since I had a back up.