A Charger That's Easy to Live With

I have a Canon PowerShot G7 camera, and it came with Canon's CB-2LW battery charger. This charger is intended to charge Canon's NB-2LH battery or equivalent, which is a small lithium-ion battery that works in the G7 camera.

I'm sure you can buy a Canon CB-2LW charger at a good camera store or Internet supplier, but I'm reviewing the one that came with my Canon G7 camera.

What it is

The Canon CB-2LW charger is nearly featureless. It is a dark gray plastic rectangle about 3.5 inches high, 2 inches wide and 3/4-inches thick. On the front side is a shallow well into which the NB-2LH battery slides. Just above this well is an LED that indicates the charging status.

The back side of the charger has just one thing worth noting: a flip out two-prong power plug that can be inserted in any North American-style power receptacle. The charger itself will work with power voltages from 100V to 240V and 50/60 Hz power, so it's compatible with international power standards. However, you will need power adapters if you take this to Europe or Asia.

The whole Canon CB-2LW package is lightweight and easy to carry in a camera bag or suitcase. It weighs only a few ounces and the plastic case seems rugged enough to take a bit of abuse.

Using it

The NB-2LH battery slides easily into the Canon CB-2LW charger, although once inserted into the well the battery is held in place so that it doesn't fall out. When plugged into a power socket, the LED glows yellow to indicate the battery is charging. Once the battery is charged, the LED turns green.

The NB-2LH and CB-2LW combo is fast, charging the battery in about 90 minutes and getting only slightly warm in the process. The Canon CB-2LW charger will accept only one battery at a time.

Summary

The Canon CB-2LW charger is the perfect match for Canon's NB-2LH battery. The charger is small, lightweight, simple to use and durable. It carries easily and is compatible with international power standards. More importantly, it's the only charger I know of that works with Canon's NB-2LH battery. If you have a Canon PowerShot G7 camera (and a few other Canon models), you will need a NB-2LH battery or something just like it. In that case, you will need a Canon CB-2LW charger to keep your batteries powered up.

I recommend the Canon CB-2LW battery charger.