Charging M8/M9 Batteries in the Amazon...

[Obtong]

Well not just the Amazon, anywhere remote actually. How do today's photographers charge their camera batteries when they go off on assignments to remote places? I read somewhere (on this forum, I think) that the M8/M9 can take 200 or so photographs per battery charge. Do they bring several charged batteries with them? With the old mechanical/film Leicas the only limitation to how many pictures they could take on remote assignments was the amount of film they could carry.

~Dom

 

[kozik]

I imagine you'd probably want a camera with good weather sealing (1D MKIV for example) as opposed to a M9. Otherwise best bet is to carry multiple batteries. I'm sure you could set up a solar charger too and just plant it on your pack to charge a spare battery while you shoot.

 

[sc_rufctr]

What about a hand crank charger? (for really remote locations)

There are several models available from mobile phone batteries to laptop batteries.
I can't imagine it would too difficult to setup a charging option for the M8, 8.2 9 Battery.

http://www.olpcnews.com/hardware/power_supply/olpc_power_xocto_plug_freeplay.html

 

[myM8yogi]

The hand crank charger looks cool, but how long would you have to spend winding the thing?

Personally, I would go with lots of spare batteries and at least one of two charging options:
1) solar power charger if you are camping a lot or travelling in open daylight such as along the rivers.
2) a multi-socket splitter and at least two battery chargers so that you can re-charge as many batteries as possible when you do have access to electric power. Be aware that many isolated places in the Amazon only run an electric generator for a couple of hours after dark.

I would also employ very stringent power saving in-camera. i.e. shoot DNG only, switch the auto-review off, have power switch off after 1 minute, turn off the discreet shutter option, etc. Don't chimp or review photos in-camera beyond checking your initial exposure - just take lots more memory cards instead.

I would also recommend an ultra-wide lens and a tripod.

Good luck.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Film.

If it's a bit less remote than the Amazon -- I was once in Dharamsala when the power went out for a week -- there is often someone around with a generator. And of course there are cigarette lighter chargers.

Cheers,

R.

 

[sc_rufctr]

Further to Rogers post... (Thanks Roger)

According to the M8 PDF instructions your M8 should have come with a 12v cigarette charger.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Further to Rogers post... (Thanks Roger)

According to the M8 PDF instructions your M8 should have come with a 12v cigarette charger.

Dear Peter,

It did. Unfortunately the Land Rover (1972 SWB) didn't. So I made up an adapter.

Cheers,

R.

 

[johannielscom]

+1 for film.

 

[jaapv]

Dear Peter,

It did. Unfortunately the Land Rover (1972 SWB) didn't. So I made up an adapter.

Cheers,

R.

Of course not They are too drafty to smoke in.😛

 

[sc_rufctr]

I still like my hand crank idea.

Just imagine you're sitting in your tent in the Amazon.
It's pouring down outside and as your cup of coffee is brewing you're turning on the crank handle (for about 3 hours!)....

Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...
Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...
Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...



I think even the film guys could respect that 😉

 

[former member]

So some place where there is "No phone, no lights no motor cars, not a single luxury"...

Gilligan used an excercise bike with the generator on it.

There are Solar Chargers for 12v, one picked at random:

http://www.amazon.com/HQRP-Monocrys...e=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1280137932&sr=8-3

You could make an adapter.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I still like my hand crank idea.

Just imagine you're sitting in your tent in the Amazon.
It's pouring down outside and as your cup of coffee is brewing your turning on the crank (for about 3 hours!)....

Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...
Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...
Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...Wirrrrrr... Wirrrrrr...

I think even the film guys could respect that 😉

This looks more effective:-

 

[pachuco]

I have been in the Amazon, stranded with a dead boat engine. On day three my 20D's ran out of juice and all I had was my M3. Put me down as another vote for a mechanical film camera. (Although many people do use the solar device with great success)

 

[ampguy]

Like a good espresso, where the secret is in the grind, the best photos will be taken with a hand charged battery ...

 

[jbr]

So what is the solution?

So what is the solution?

Sorry to spoil all the fun 😱 but I would also be interested in a real solution, or more specific, who has real-life experience with a solar- or other device to charge an M8/M9 battery?

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Sorry to spoil all the fun 😱 but I would also be interested in a real solution, or more specific, who has real-life experience with a solar- or other device to charge an M8/M9 battery?

Well, solar has its limitations if you're constantly under a tree canopy. If you're on a boat in the middle of the river (unless it's raining) then a small portable solar device (and there are plenty out there for recharging phones and computers) would go well with a second battery. Each day you'd charge the one you'd used the day before.
If you're travelling by road a 12v car charger would be all you'd need. And depending on where you're staying you can probably plug a conventional charger into local power most nights. But still take a second battery. Power failures are not unknown!

So the answer is situational. Where will you be, how will you be travelling, where will you be staying at night? If you're deep in the jungle all day, every day and camping there at night you'd better take a film camera.

 

[ampguy]

what you need

what you need

If all you need is to charge camera (or cell phone, laptops) you can get a combination solar panel with charge controller, and inverter for ~$100 or so.

If you'll have days without sun or need to charge at night, you'll need a deep charge battery as well, which will top up charge when there's light ~$100 or so.

The above solutions are for low power consumption devices, capable of running on modified sine wave power. Your coffee maker, hair dryer, medical devices, and maybe even laser printer will need bigger and better solutions.

Sorry to spoil all the fun 😱 but I would also be interested in a real solution, or more specific, who has real-life experience with a solar- or other device to charge an M8/M9 battery?

 

[former member]

You should not need the invertor for the Leica, the charger comes with a Car Cigarette outlet adapter. If the Solar charger does not have it already, it is easy to buy a cigarrette style plug and splice into the solar charger. Same with a Laptop computer, most provide a car adapter.

I have used a $30 sealed lead-acid battery for charging Laptops, bought at the camping department of Target. Basically a 7amp-hour battery in a luggable case, DC outlets for radios and such. It also had a built in 12v Cigarette type outlet. I used it to charge a Laptop during a power outage. You would get a couple of M8 battery charges out of it.

 

[ampguy]

Thanks Brian

Thanks Brian

You're right about the car adapter with the M8 charger, I forgot about that, it is still in my M8 box unused.

I have seen those Duracell and other medium size batteries for electronics, but have only used smaller (AA, double AA) phone/ipod chargers, and larger (15 lb portable lead acid batteries). If I recall, my inverters were only $10 or $20.

I've bought dozens of notebooks and netbooks, never got a car adapter with them, at least in the box.

You should not need the invertor for the Leica, the charger comes with a Car Cigarette outlet adapter. If the Solar charger does not have it already, it is easy to buy a cigarrette style plug and splice into the solar charger. Same with a Laptop computer, most provide a car adapter.

I have used a $30 sealed lead-acid battery for charging Laptops, bought at the camping department of Target. Basically a 7amp-hour battery in a luggable case, DC outlets for radios and such. It also had a built in 12v Cigarette type outlet. I used it to charge a Laptop during a power outage. You would get a couple of M8 battery charges out of it.

 

[johannielscom]

I used a pocketable solar panel for my cell phone: never had enough power to charge a battery, only to use the phone while the panel was connected and the sun shining.
Next year when visiting the same festival I brought a hand crank: no solution either. Empty phone again.

You would need to haul fairly large solar panels or a rather high power crank. Hope you're not going to leave your boat or vehicle...

Bring film. Face it: there's only so much your DRF can handle.