AA batteries with the E-PL6

alexisgreat wrote:.

Yes, I think I'm doing something wrong- basically I go into Review mode for an hour after a shoot and go through the results (using the magnify option) to examine the results in the LCD, I'd say up to an hour gets spent doing this every day.

Prior to this I was fiddling with menus quite a bit but since you've helped me with MySets, that problem should now be behind me (Thanks!)

Typically a camera is good for maybe 2 or 2.5 hours on time, so you have half wiped out the battery by reviewing. I never do that, I just take it home and review on the computer.

Does so much charging shorten the life of the batteries?

Usually they are good for about 500 charge cycles before they decline to about half capacity. Usually takes some years (3 to 5?) and by that time we usually move on to new cameras anyway.

Thanks, I saw that mentioned somewhere in the literature, and I think I heard or saw someone say that if you dont use the batteries enough that will also reduce their life.

Batteries can last for ages stored, but need to be stored at around 40% capacity, then once a year fully chargers, then reduced to 40% and out back onto storage. Nice work if you can manage all that without going insane.

As an example, the venerable old BLM-1 (which were built like a tank!) will last about 10 years regardless of how much you use them. I bought a pair for my C-7070 which I purchased in 2005 and they've just now started to lose capacity and need recharging every couple of days regardless of how much or how little I use them. I bought two more BLM-1 with the E-520 which I purchased in 2008 and they still go two weeks between charges and when I put them on the charger, it takes them four hours to charge! I think time it takes to charge them is a sign of how much capacity they have?

Not really, some chargers are slower than others. The faster chargers lessen the battery life, the slower chargers are healthier for the batteries.

I also heard something about not letting batteries stay fully drained for any length of time- that reduces their lifetimes- they should be stored at 60% capacity.

No, stored at 40%.

Digital cameras are definitely much different from film- with film cameras, we used them for decades or more! I know people that used the same film camera for 35+ years!

The camera was a vehicle for the film, it was the film that slowly made advances.

I've been worried about that since with my other cameras I dont recharge batteries more than once a month.

Depends on the camera type, mirrorless really are time related battery drainers.

I see that now, I was thinking it's because mirrorless cameras have a more compact battery since being light is a selling point- and you use the LCD much more than you would an EVF (which our cameras do not have).

LCD or EVF are both serious battery drainers. The secret is.....

1. Turn on camera
2. Take the shot
3. Turn off the camera (if not needing it for, say, more than half a minute)
4. Back to step 1.

I'd like there to be some standardization of Li Ion and Li Poly so the same batteries can be used in many different camera types (and brands!)

Ha, ha, universal world peace will happen long before that.

Regards........ Guy