The new battery:
http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=2046
By switching to a new type of battery incompatible with the old BP-511a they have
1) Annoyed those with a stack of BP-511s which they won't be able to use, nor the charger.
2) Annoyed those who have the Canon M80 portable storage device/viewer which uses the BP-511s
3) Seriously crippled the chances of getting 3rd party batteries at a reasonable price (e.g £5 off ebay as opposed to £50 for the Canon original)
4) I'm sure there's a fourth one but I can't think of it yet.
However, the new batteries do look good, which may be some compensation.
http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=2046
By switching to a new type of battery incompatible with the old BP-511a they have
1) Annoyed those with a stack of BP-511s which they won't be able to use, nor the charger.
2) Annoyed those who have the Canon M80 portable storage device/viewer which uses the BP-511s
3) Seriously crippled the chances of getting 3rd party batteries at a reasonable price (e.g £5 off ebay as opposed to £50 for the Canon original)
4) I'm sure there's a fourth one but I can't think of it yet.
However, the new batteries do look good, which may be some compensation.
Read Ken Rockwell's reviews and he sees very little difference in all three cameras. :shrug: