M9 short lasting batteries issue?

[italy74]

Guys

sorry, I didn't want to hijack the other thread, so let me post again here..

Maybe some of you might be interested in this thread over another forum.
It looks like several M9 users have short-lasting original batteries, dying overnight even when auto-off is engaged.
Anyone here experiences the same issue?

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...hread=34084720

 

[scottwallick]

No problems here

No problems here

I haven't. I have the battery that came with my M9 as well as second OEM battery. Both work as they should. I too noticed an improved life after running them down and recharging a few times.

There are bound to be a few batteries received with dead cells, which would fall under the warranty. Replacements could be obtained from Leica without much hassle methinks.

Auto-off won't help much if the shutter is depressed, which turns the camera one again. So you can't rely on auto-off to keep the camera off (and from snapping away) while in a bag, on a strap, etc., if in movement.

 

[yanidel]

No issues either. I even get the impression that I get more shots out of a charge than I did with the M8.

 

[remphoto]

How many shots can one expect with an M9 (or M8) on a battery?

 

[arnulf]

I've had no problems whatsoever with my m9 battery.

 

[yanidel]

How many shots can one expect with an M9 (or M8) on a battery?

It is so much dependant on the amount of chimping and format. I shoot only raw, do some chimping and get 200 + I would say.

 

[italy74]

For what I heard, is not much a "number of pictures" you can take problem, rather a camera battery that doesn't survive overnight, while for what I know M8 hadn't this problem

 

[yanidel]

the one time it happened to me I had left it on and the button was pressing against the side of my bag. But I doubt a journeyman would get tricked by that.

 

[scottwallick]

For what I heard, is not much a "number of pictures" you can take problem, rather a camera battery that doesn't survive overnight, while for what I know M8 hadn't this problem

I had a bad second Panasonic battery for my LX3. It was a battery problem, not an LX3 problem. I exchanged the bad battery to B&H, new one worked fine. So I wouldn't classify this as a problem with an M9, but with a battery.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Much like Yanidel. If the M9 does give fewer shots than M8.2 or M2, it's negligible. Seems about the same to me. And certainly no 'dying overnight' problems.

Cheers,

R.

 

[ampguy]

about 300 - 400

about 300 - 400

jpgs only, with M8 classic. Using both original Leica batteries and 3rd party. No "cycling" rituals, just charge them up with the factory charger when the indicator shows them low.

About 1/3rd less in sub freezing temps.

How many shots can one expect with an M9 (or M8) on a battery?

 

[jaapv]

It is so simple - Don't switch off - dump in bag -the camera will switch itself on all the time and drain the battery....The number of shots per charge on the M9 is about the same as the M8.

 

[remphoto]

the one time it happened to me I had left it on and the button was pressing against the side of my bag. But I doubt a journeyman would get tricked by that.

Glad to hear that Leica has kept the character of the film Leica M's. This used to happen all the time with my M6 -- especially with a Tom A. Softie shutter release installed (not complaining, Tom's softies really improved my low shutter speed shooting).🙂

 

[italy74]

Guys
one update I wasn't aware at the time...
the OP on the other forum realized that his problem was (probably) the camera, not the battery, since changing battery the problem remained.

 

[s124am]

I have had the same battery in my M9 for the last week without changing but I never chimp because I keep the screen covered

 

[jackperk]

Dino -- A slight digression: I love your signature line

 

[dacaccia]

Too much ado with the monitor - looking, zooming, deleting etc. - shortens battery life. Handling the M9 like an M7 will help a lot. Who always needs his monitor to always be informed about his pictures should buy another digital cam. 😉

Well ... I miss the little battery status window of M8 on M9 cap ... 🙁

 

[dof]

I was surprised during a recent event/portrait session to discover that I'd shot more than 800 images on a single charge. This was on an M8 "classic" (I love how quickly these things become classic these days!), all shot in one session, auto-preview off, RAW-only, manual metering, and with occasional chimping to show the images to the subjects.

The battery is two years old now as well. Based on this small statistical sample, it appears that metering and image review are large factors in the duration of a charge.

 

[jaapv]

The whole problem is that these posts are from users that have just started shooting their M9. The battery is brand new and hasn't been conditioned, so not up to its full capacity yet. After a number of charge cycles it is just fine with an average of 400 shots on a charge. No need for polls as this is user misconception. The info screen is more informative than the little window. And can be read in the dark.

 

[sepiareverb]

I know the batteries in my laptop will exhaust overnight if I leave it on, don't see why a computer driven camera would be any different. Why not just turn it off?