Just How Many Camera Batteries Do You Guys REALLY Need? :)

[dcsang]

This is a curiosity of mine more so than a "trying to figure out for myself" type of post.

I've seen many folks having multiple batteries for their digital (usually) cameras. Multiple Fuji, Sony, Nikon, Canon, Ricoh, Samsung, Leica etc. etc. batteries.

Now, while I do understand a need for them depending on the situation (i.e. paid work, extended leave away from all power sources) why do you find it necessary to have multiple batteries?

I ask this considering my own battery situation - I have 2 Nikon batteries for my D600 (grip included), 1 Sony for the A7 and 1 Ricoh for the GR. I don't ever recall "running out of juice" while shooting. So I'm curious why we bother buying multiple batteries? Are we not being judicious enough in our shooting methods? Are we being too "sloppy" (i.e. spray and pray)? Just what's the thing that drives you to have multiple power sources with you? 🙂

Again, just curious. No "right" or "wrong" answer here.... 🙂

Cheers,
Dave

 

[mllanos1111]

When I had my D700 I could shoot a two hour concert and a few thousand shots on one battery.
On my X-Pro1 I need two batteries for the same thing.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Depends wholly on camera/battery life and shooting expectations. I never leave home without at least two (one in-camera, one spare). For weekends and vacations I prefer three, just like redundant systems on an airplane...

One to use, one to have as a spare and a third in case one fails or is charging.

 

[Takkun]

I've always had just the one for my Nikon. I foolishly went on a 3-day shoot a few years ago without the charger and got by just fine on one battery.

Had 3 for my Fuji, and 3 now for my Leica. Granted, in both cases those were Flashpoint brand replacements, so a bit more affordable, but having a spare is nice on a day out, and two obviates the need for a charger on an overnight trip.

Slightly related: one favorite thing about shooting film is a dead battery or running out of media is remedied with a trip to Walgreens.

 

[semordnilap]

I have 2 or 3 for most of my cameras. I like to be able to go away for a weekend without having to bring a charger, or if I'm traveling to be able to cycle batteries between charge and use. Trips to far away places, if I'm doing a lot of photography, 3 is a good number, because if you lose one, you've still got 2 and can do a whole long day if necessary, and there are places where there's no easily replacing these batteries.

So for me it's security, and a small expense (and weight) compared to the camera, lenses, etc...

 

[defconfunk]

I have a pair of batteries for my OMD E-M1.

I have yet to need a second battery in a single session (longest being 3 hours and roughly 400 images). But I still carry a second battery. Better to have it and not need it than otherwise.

I'm not worried about running out of juice due to spray and pray, but camera run time. I'm not yet comfortable with how long the camera will last showing me a little screen the whole time. It does seem to be longer than I expected (and I guess the EVF doesn't use as much juice as a full sized screen).

 

[rybolt]

If you're using the Sigma Merrill cameras the question is not "how many you need". It's "how many can you carry".

 

[Sparrow]

If you're using the Sigma Merrill cameras the question is not "how many you need". It's "how many can you carry".

... constraint is the mother of creativity

 

[GaryLH]

Lol that is so true. I average about 90 shots on one battery for the dp Merrill's. But I don't go blasting away w/ them anyway. I usually carry my norm. Two extra batteries..but w/ my other cameras, the one in the camera is good enough for the day unless it was already half used. The third battery is more just in case.. W/ the dp Merrill I can use up all three batteries 🙁

Gary

Ps.. The good is that this battery is the same as the Ricoh GR apsc camera..so the gr is sometimes the backup second camera..

Also some of my cameras are really bad w/ accurate battery life info or go to dead fast after hitting the 15-20 percent mark, so better to have extra battery available.. Just got into habit after that.

 

[OurManInTangier]

Simple answer for me, I've run out before. If it's just me photographing for myself its no more than a slight annoyance which means I do something else. If it's paid work, it looks unprofessional and leaves me right in the schtuck.

I also carry more CF/SD cards than I'll probably need for any job or outing but batteries and cards weigh so little and take up so little space that for me its worth doing.

 

[GaryLH]

Good point.. I forget sometimes to bring the extra card. 🙁

Gary

 

[OurManInTangier]

Good point.. I forget sometimes to bring the extra card. 🙁

Gary

I did a job a few years back where one of the press lads bought his camera and lenses along but forgot his CF cards...all of them, apparently it was such a rush to leave the office he just plain forgot to check. I lent him one of mine and now we're both freelance we share work if either of us needs cover, all from a conversation, a laugh and a favour.

 

[burancap]

Not exactly on topic, but I recall when ordering my Sony RX-100 that the idea of NOT including a charger was absurd. So, immediately after pulling the trigger on the RX -I ordered a third party charger and two spare batteries. Over time, I found that more often than not, I actually have ended up just using the USB cable. Everywhere I go (home, office, or car) I have charging facilities. Long story short, I now think the concept is brilliant. Though having a spare battery or two can be critical, I just haven't needed to use one -at least in the RX.

 

[kxl]

If you're using the Sigma Merrill cameras the question is not "how many you need". It's "how many can you carry".

Same is true for the Sony A7R, even with the vertical grip, which holds 2 batteries. So, for the A7R, I carry 4 or even 6 (2 in the grip, the others in my bag).

For the D800e, 2 are sufficient for day's shoot, 3-4 when I'm traveling.

 

[Corran]

I have two batteries each for my D700 and D800E. I only have the extra for paid work, and even a full day of shooting, like a wedding, I rarely run out of even the first. They are "just in case." With the D800E, I'm more likely to run out of space on the 16GB card than the battery. The D700 with a 16GB card is more than enough for the full day and probably the rehearsal dinner the day before...

If I'm not shooting an event, I never, ever bring a spare, even for multi-day vacations, because the digital is usually just there for backup to my film cameras and sometimes astrophotography work. For day-to-day, sporadic shooting my batteries usually last a month or so.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Basically, I like to have one in the camera and a couple of spares in case I forget to charge one of them. When I had the M typ 240 for review (it's in American Photo) I found it inconvenient having just the one.

Cheers,

R.

 

[sig]

One battery per camera.

 

[Pioneer]

As has been said, depends on the camera. With my K1000 or LX I can only get a year or so on a set, so I try to keep them around. I haven't had to replace any on my Leica II yet so I am not sure how long they last. I know my little Sekonic L208 hasn't needed a battery in a couple years. The best of the lot seems to be my M3 and the M Meter. I haven't figured out where to put any batteries yet but they both still seem to work well.

I almost always carry a spare for my Pentax Q or my Leica M9. I don't bother with my older Pentax *ist digitals since they seem to go a very long time on a set of Lithium AAs.

 

[nikonosguy]

ok, assuming all of my batteries have been removed -- here we go
4 AA for both nikon flashes
8 AA for f5
8 for f4s
2 123 for sf-20 flash
battery for the hexar af
8 for the motor drive for the r5, plus the internal battery
4 AA and 2 cr 123 for the fuji finepix s2
and there's a few more about $100 to fill them all

 

[gns]

I guess running out of juice or memory is the digital equivalent of running out of film.
When I shot film, I usually kept about 20 rolls in my bag. So, an extra battery or 2 plus extra cards for me.