I'm getting a D70 next month (from Hong Kong), that's for sure. I was wondering whether I should get a second battery. I often travel for 1-2 weeks. Is the charger too bulky to carry? If I take it with me, perhaps that'd be enough and I don't need a second battery? Do I have to wait until the battery to drain out before I recharge it? Any advice will be appreciated.
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Do I need a second battery?
- Thread starter ramber_ge
- Start date
Ilja
Leading Member
If you'll wait for it to drain out you'll have to wait really l o n g ...
But personaly I think it's comfortble to have a spare one. I don't feel restricted knowing I can just change batteries, even though one battery last for ages. So far (3 months) I only needed change batteries one time while taken pictures.
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Geoffrey Rippingale
Well-known member
Although the battery lasts a very long time on a single charge, it is certainly worth having a second (Nikon) one fully charged in your bag....they cost a lot, and it's a good insurance policy. These batteries don't suffer from the "memory effect", so you can top them up at any time.
The charger is about the size of a fat packet of 20 cigarettes.
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Hi!
The fact that the D70 battery lasts a l_ o n g time, for me makes it more rather than less important to have a spare with you at all times - I never know when it'll expire, and you get comparatively little (cira 40-ish pics) warning from "battery full" to "replace battery now" shorter with fill-in flash (ok, so I sometimes forget to carry my SB-800).
Recharging: whilst you can recharge with harm at any time, a Li-Ion battery life is measured in "recharge cycles" which is fized at about 1,000 ish for full performance.
So, if you recharge early often, you'l get less energy from your battery than if you wait until the indicator goes below full - your choice as to which you do - but after about 1,000 cycles it'll start significantly degrading regardless (unable to hold as much charge).
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Regards, Paul.
The fact that the D70 battery lasts a l_ o n g time, for me makes it more rather than less important to have a spare with you at all times - I never know when it'll expire, and you get comparatively little (cira 40-ish pics) warning from "battery full" to "replace battery now" shorter with fill-in flash (ok, so I sometimes forget to carry my SB-800).
Recharging: whilst you can recharge with harm at any time, a Li-Ion battery life is measured in "recharge cycles" which is fized at about 1,000 ish for full performance.
So, if you recharge early often, you'l get less energy from your battery than if you wait until the indicator goes below full - your choice as to which you do - but after about 1,000 cycles it'll start significantly degrading regardless (unable to hold as much charge).
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Regards, Paul.
longtimeirish
Member
Montydog is right on target when he says there is not a lot of warning when the battery goes from "battery full" to "replace battery now." It's an incredibly good battery, but if you're not checking it frequently when taking lots of pictures, you will be without power.
A second battery is an excellent investment. With a second battery you won't be charging the first one more often than you need to and hence should get longer life from it. By the way, the battery charger is remarkably light.
Good luck. You will love this camera.
A second battery is an excellent investment. With a second battery you won't be charging the first one more often than you need to and hence should get longer life from it. By the way, the battery charger is remarkably light.
Good luck. You will love this camera.
Beta
Active member
If your cf cards storage space is the bottleneck you don't need another battery. I would say one can shoot at least 500 MB images with single charge when using best jpeg quality.
ricardo jamin
Forum Enthusiast
Battery also has shelf life, according to http://www.batteryuniversity.com/ , LiIon battery will lost a sizeable chunk of it's "capacity tank" after two years. Doesnt matter how many times you recharge it.
Answering the original question, I think having at least 2 batteries are a good decision. You never know when you "forgot" to charge or perhaps for unexpected time you dont get access to electricity.
But dont stock up too much battery because the battery will age even if you dont use it.
For me 2 D70 is enough, I'm able to get approx 500 raw shot with generous LCD viewing on a single charge.
--ricardo
http://www.jaminphotography.com/
Answering the original question, I think having at least 2 batteries are a good decision. You never know when you "forgot" to charge or perhaps for unexpected time you dont get access to electricity.
But dont stock up too much battery because the battery will age even if you dont use it.
For me 2 D70 is enough, I'm able to get approx 500 raw shot with generous LCD viewing on a single charge.
--ricardo
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http://www.jaminphotography.com/
YES, you do
I took 20 pictures , from architecture interiors...i needed constant review for correct exposure check....and...i ran out of battery...
its good...the one that comes..but...you need backup!!!
Jump of the nest, let the world do the rest
I took 20 pictures , from architecture interiors...i needed constant review for correct exposure check....and...i ran out of battery...
its good...the one that comes..but...you need backup!!!
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Jump of the nest, let the world do the rest
dad_of_four
Veteran Member
IIRC, The life of the Li-Ion is also affected by age. The batteries have an approximate life of 2-3 years before the internal resisitance builds so much that it cannot accept a charge. So, a daily re-charge (365x3), or 3 years, which every comes first. (YMMV)
Recharging: whilst you can recharge with harm at any time, a Li-Ion
Recharging: whilst you can recharge with harm at any time, a Li-Ion
I have 3 batteries, two Nikon, and one from ebay (for £10). The £10 is just as good!
Some people are scared to use non Nikon batteries. It's no different than putting non sony AA batteries in you Discman.
It's just because they are a unique shape and not the regular type batteries that poeple worry.
Charger doen't weigh much at-all.
Some people are scared to use non Nikon batteries. It's no different than putting non sony AA batteries in you Discman.
It's just because they are a unique shape and not the regular type batteries that poeple worry.
Charger doen't weigh much at-all.
Thanks for all the tips. Since the battery lasts really long, I figure that it might be wise to just buy a cheaper battery (have seen lots of offers on the web) that's compatible to Nikon EN-EL3, just in case the original battery does run out in the middle of the day when I'm travelling. Is this a sensible choice?
Ben Lovejoy
Senior Member
I think you're mistaken about that - the 'cycles' measurement is based on full charge and discharge. A partial charge 'uses up' a partial cycle. Leastways, that's what a Sony technician told me when I had a very in-depth conversation about Li-ion batteries when I bought my Vaio.
Ben
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lawnmower
Senior Member
It wouldn't be a bad idea. I have had to use mine. Battery life is great though. I just don't like getting stuck.
Several days ago, there was a post which said
partial recharge is better than full recharge.
Full recharge may be better for NiMh.
ZG
partial recharge is better than full recharge.
Full recharge may be better for NiMh.
ZG
nikosalpha
Leading Member
I'd like to ask something! Supose you have 2 batteries! What is the better to do? Have always a backup battery charged on my bag and working with the first? or charging theme one and one? just to keep them alive?? I mean for the second battery.. what is better for its life? charging and recharging?? or staying charged??
Roman Foxman
Well-known member
Having the second battery is, no doubt, a good idea. But as an alternative, you can also rely on supplied with the camera CR2 battery adaptor. You can get 3 CR2s for around $12-15. And they will last you a while if the main battery runs out. That's what I do: I only run out once and when that happened CR2s worked fine. On the other hand, if you plan to run out often this solution may be a little expensive.
Roman
Roman
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Roman
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Roman
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According to a post several days ago. You'd better recharge the battery
when it loses 1/3 to 1/2 of the power.
ZG
when it loses 1/3 to 1/2 of the power.
ZG
nikosalpha
Leading Member
yes but in which order?? wait untill the backup battery drops in 1/3 even without using it?? Or using it on purpose??
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1. If you use one this time. May be it is better to use the
other one next time.
2. If you don't use one of the two for a while, remember
to recharge it once every one or two months.
ZG
other one next time.
2. If you don't use one of the two for a while, remember
to recharge it once every one or two months.
ZG
lrmat
Active member
I am going to get another battery soon, but in actuallity it's not a priority to me (i just like the insurance of having a backup). the battery lasts a long time evenif you are using the flash but if your not it lasts even longer. if you are shooting a couple of hundred pictures a day then you can safely go two... even three days without charging (just charge overnight no matter what the gauge indicates) and you should be fine.
if you are the forgetfull kind (who won't remember to charge every cuople of days) then you should make it a priority.
if you are the forgetfull kind (who won't remember to charge every cuople of days) then you should make it a priority.
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