M8/9 battery question

[RFA]

Hi All
Is there any difference between the batteries for the M8 and the M9, I was surprised to see an advert for a generic M8 battery stating it can only be charged in an M8 charger and not an M9 one, I had always assumed the two batteries were the same.
Ron

 

[Paul Luscher]

Well, one of the batteries I use in my M9 is one I bought for the M8, when I had it. Batts look the same, the former M8 batt works in my M9, and charges in the charger which came with the M9 without any apparent problems, as far as I can tell.

 

[Fraser]

My batteries are all mixed up, have to say even though I buy generic batteries for my Canons the generic Leica ones have not lasted.

 

[elmer3.5]

Hi i use on my m9 a battery i purchased for my past m8, no problems and don´t percieve any difference between them.
Bye!

 

[250swb]

The generic battery is OK for the M8, but not the M9, but OEM battery is the same for both M8 and M9.

The M9 requires the extra circuitry that is inside the OEM version, but is missing in the aftermarket battery. This circuitry means the M9 can correctly read the state of charge, but it would seem to make no difference one way or the other with the M8. There are work arounds with the M9, but they are cumbersome.

Steve

 

[LCT]

The generic battery is OK for the M8, but not the M9, but OEM battery is the same for both M8 and M9.
The M9 requires the extra circuitry that is inside the OEM version, but is missing in the aftermarket battery. This circuitry means the M9 can correctly read the state of charge, but it would seem to make no difference one way or the other with the M8...

My M8.2 behaves the same way as your M9 with generic batteries apparently. The latter must be drained in the camera until the latter stops, failing which the camera cannot read the state of the charge correctly.

 

[250swb]

Thank you for the clarification LCT. I wonder what it is about the M8, perhaps Leica discovered they could grab 100% of the battery market by modifying the M8.2 to only accept OEM batteries?

Steve

 

[LCT]

I don't know Steve. I thought that M8, M8.2 & M9 were identical as far a generic batteries before your post # 5 above. But i have no experience with the M8 so i rely on you about the latter.

 

[theno23]

I have a feeling that early M8's shipped with a different charger, but I have a late model M8 battery that works fine in my M9 charger, and in my M9.

I don't know if the early M8 batteries were the same or not.

 

[LCT]

...modifying the M8.2 to only accept OEM batteries?...

Not sure if i was clear enough above. The M8.2 does accept generic batteries, a well as the M9 (and, i thought, the M8). Fortunately for me as some of my €10 generics are better than my OEMs. It's simply that generic batteries must be drained in the camera before recharging them. Not a big deal really, just a matter of getting used to it.

 

[250swb]

OK perhaps a recap is in order.

The M9 will take a generic battery because it is the same shape and size as OEM batteries. What the M9 can't do is read the state of charge from a generic battery unless it has been totally discharged before charging. This is the complication, because not only is it damaging to the battery to totally discharge it, but the practicalities of totally discharging a battery each time to complete zero are not worth the effort.

The easier work around with the M9 is to know your battery is fully charged and ignore the camera's battery meter. When it tells you it is a low battery press 'Set' and carry on shooting. Maybe after two or three times the camera recalibrates itself and the remaining charge is shown. The next time it tells you the battery is low, it really is!

That is how I coped with using a couple of generic batteries as spares during the great battery famine of 2009/10. Actually they seemed to hold a charge better than the OEM battery that came with the camera. But after six months waiting my order for a another OEM battery came through, and I haven't used the generic's since.

Steve

 

[LCT]

OK Steve, so no difference with the M8.2 (and M8?) at all. Now draining a battery in the camera does not discharge it completely in fact. The camera stops but there is some remaining charge actually. About 25% according to my Delkin charger. It's enough for the battery meter to work properly and my €10 generics work flawlessly so far, to the point where i keep the OEMs at home for sake or precaution. At the price they are sold i could have stored them in my safe as well... 🙄

 

[LCT]

By "OEM" i mean Leica sorry.

 

[MCTuomey]

OK perhaps a recap is in order.

The M9 will take a generic battery because it is the same shape and size as OEM batteries. What the M9 can't do is read the state of charge from a generic battery unless it has been totally discharged before charging. This is the complication, because not only is it damaging to the battery to totally discharge it, but the practicalities of totally discharging a battery each time to complete zero are not worth the effort.

The easier work around with the M9 is to know your battery is fully charged and ignore the camera's battery meter. When it tells you it is a low battery press 'Set' and carry on shooting. Maybe after two or three times the camera recalibrates itself and the remaining charge is shown. The next time it tells you the battery is low, it really is!

Steve

My experience with generics is the same, although I had to go thru one full cycle with the OEM batt before its status would display properly. After several full cycles of use/discharge/recharage, the M9 displays the battery status the same as it does for OEMs.

 

[wintoid]

@LCT - the Delkin charger shows percentage charged? Sounds fancy. Is it a good charger? Why did you buy it?

 

[LCT]

@LCT - the Delkin charger shows percentage charged? Sounds fancy. Is it a good charger? Why did you buy it?

Good charger indeed. Allows to charge two batteries simultaneously and has four LEDs showing 25%, 50%, 75% & 100% charge levels. Bougt it as a second charger for my country house and for the same reason as i bought generic batteries: i don't like the feeling to be ransommed that much. 😀 Uses an outboard power supply though which adds some bulk to the package.

 

[wintoid]

Thank you (ten chars)