Give Your Canon V10 Camera the Gift of Removable Batteries with this Nifty Hack
May 1, 2025
David Prochnow
Our resident “how-to” project editor, David Prochnow, lives on the Gulf Coast of the United States in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He brings his expertise at making our photography projects accessible to everyone, from a lengthy stint acting as the Contributing How-To Editor with Popular Science magazine. While you don’t have to actually build each of his projects, reading about these adventures will contribute to your continued overall appreciation of do-it-yourself photography. A collection of David’s best Popular Science projects can be found in the book, “The Big Book of Hacks,” Edited by Doug Cantor.
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It goes without saying that the Canon PowerShot V10 Camera is a beautifully designed video logging (Vlog) platform. That is; except for one teensy, tiny problem. The camera lacks a removable battery. Therefore, when the battery is exhausted, you have to plug the camera into a USB-C power supply. Compounding this unfortunate charging issue is that the battery only has enough power for providing approximately one hour of video recording before succumbing to this required recharging.
Ugh; what’s a poor influencer to do?
Fear not; in a matter of minutes you can convert your Canon V10 into a removable-battery-equipped video powerhouse. And this is a hack that anybody can easily perform…even the most severely tool-challenged photographer.
Screws Are So Overrated
While this is a dead-simple process to perform, you can actually thank Canon for providing you with step-by-step instructions printed inside the Canon V10 Advanced User Guide. Starting on page 283, you are guided through the process for disassembling the camera and locating the internal battery. Here are a couple of helpful pointers to consider during this disassembly process:
- You can download a PDF version of the Canon V10 Advanced User Guide.
- Remove your microSD card before you begin disassembling the camera.
- Follow the six steps described in the Canon guide and keep all of the removed screws in a safe container.
- Remove the Canon NB-13L Battery.
- Purchase additional batteries and a portable battery charger. There are valid substitute batteries and chargers that can work with the V10 camera. Consider these:
- Canon NB-13L Battery $48
- Watson NB-13L Battery $30
- Canon CB-2LH Charger $43
- Watson Compact Charger $20
[Please note: Make sure to turn the V10 camera OFF before swapping batteries.]
Congratulations, you now have a V10 camera that can utilize removable batteries. How, you ask? Simple; rather than reassembling the V10 camera, just gently and loosely put each of the covers together with the main camera/lens board and hold everything tightly closed with an elastic band. Wrap this band below the lens and inside the recessed area below the LCD screen and above the kickstand. Yes, it’s a little sketchy for holding, but the actual operation of the camera will function normally. Now, go on that safari and record…endlessly.
Oh, and you’re now, also, a bona fide hacker…use your screwdriver responsibly.
Enjoy.
David Prochnow
Our resident “how-to” project editor, David Prochnow, lives on the Gulf Coast of the United States in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He brings his expertise at making our photography projects accessible to everyone, from a lengthy stint acting as the Contributing How-To Editor with Popular Science magazine. While you don’t have to actually build each of his projects, reading about these adventures will contribute to your continued overall appreciation of do-it-yourself photography. A collection of David’s best Popular Science projects can be found in the book, “The Big Book of Hacks,” Edited by Doug Cantor.
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