The Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital camera was released during November 2008. Yep, 2008 — that’s 12 years ago! Imagine my surprise when I discovered that some official Canon accessories for the camera are still available. For a premium price. More about that at the end of this blog post.
Two items are required in order to provide continuous power for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.
1. Canon DC Coupler DR-E6 ($56.00)
Product image courtesy B&H Photo.
2. Canon AC Adapter AC-E6N ($88.00)
Product image courtesy Canon USA.
The AC Adapter is connected to an alternating current (AC) electricity outlet; the adapter converts AC power to direct current (DC). The DC Coupler connects to the AC Adapter (using the barrel connector end of the cables) and the “dummy battery” goes in the battery compartment of the camera, replacing the Canon LP-E6N Lithium-Ion Battery Pack (7.2V, 1865mAh) used by the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.
Tech Tips
- The battery compartment door must be closed in order for the camera to power-on.
- Be sure to disable auto power-off for the camera.
- This continuous power rig should work with any Canon camera that uses a Canon LP-E6N battery. That being said, I haven’t tested it with other models of Canon cameras. “Trust but verify,” as Ronald Reagan said.
Related Resources
- Canon DC Coupler DR-E6 – B&H Photo ($49.95)
- Canon AC-E6N AC Adapter – B&H Photo ($99.00)
What are the take-aways?
The total cost for both items is $144.00. In my strong opinion, the Canon-brand power adapter is overpriced by a factor of nearly four times. In other words, you pay a premium price for the comfort of knowing the products will work safely with your camera.
I wasn’t happy spending a lot more money than I think the product is worth, but was willing to do so when I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. I wish I knew then what I know now — I could have saved a lot of money!
Are less expensive continuous power solutions available? In a word, yes. More later in a series of follow-up blog posts.
Post Update
I just discovered a new item is coming soon to B&H Photo: Bescor Canon Style ACE6N Power Supply and DR-E6 Coupler Kit ($69.99). That’s approximately half the price of the official Canon power accessory!
Related Resources
This blog post is one in a series of posts related to continuous AC power and long-lasting battery power for select Canon, Fujifilm, and Panasonic digital cameras.
- Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W
- Will it work? Is it safe?
- Continuous power: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
- Continuous power: Fujifilm X-T3
- Continuous power: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
- The best of both worlds at bargain prices
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