Battery life for sx50

[Elliern]

Just got my new camera yesterday and of course the first thing I did was fully charge the battery. Since then I have taken about 10-15 photos (and deleted them all) and went into the settings a few times to become more familiar with the location of things. Now the battery has already gone down one bar. Does that seem normal? The only comparison I have is my Nikon D5100. With it I can take at least 200 or more photos before going down a bar. When I go to one of our wildlife preserves, usually shoot for 2-3 hours.

I guess the main question is how many extra batteries do I need to carry with me for a 3 hour shoot? Thanks, I hope to not have too many questions. I know some people get annoyed by that.

 

[Hollander]

I would get one for sure Ellie and take it from there. For a day shooting I find that more then enough.

Rob.

 

[Don_Campbell]

Ellie Rankin wrote:

Just got my new camera yesterday and of course the first thing I did was fully charge the battery. Since then I have taken about 10-15 photos (and deleted them all) and went into the settings a few times to become more familiar with the location of things. Now the battery has already gone down one bar. Does that seem normal? The only comparison I have is my Nikon D5100. With it I can take at least 200 or more photos before going down a bar. When I go to one of our wildlife preserves, usually shoot for 2-3 hours.

I guess the main question is how many extra batteries do I need to carry with me for a 3 hour shoot? Thanks, I hope to not have too many questions. I know some people get annoyed by that.

First, the capacity of the battery seems to increase with the first few charges so: use it, charge it fully, and use it some more.

The number of photos taken can be a minor contribution to the use of battery power. Several things use power faster: keeping the rear screen lit (the EVF is a lighter load); zooming in and out including using the framing assist button; continuous autofocus; continuous IS; taking video.

A lot of the above operations are things I use more in shooting wildlife and so I find battery power runs down relatively rapidly out in the field shooting birds for instance. I have 3 batteries and I make sure that they have a full charge before I go out. Topping off the charge on a half-discharged battery may shorten its life but missing a shot is more expensive in my book.

Don

 

[Britney Elvis]

Ellie Rankin wrote:

Just got my new camera yesterday and of course the first thing I did was fully charge the battery. Since then I have taken about 10-15 photos (and deleted them all) and went into the settings a few times to become more familiar with the location of things. Now the battery has already gone down one bar. Does that seem normal? The only comparison I have is my Nikon D5100. With it I can take at least 200 or more photos before going down a bar. When I go to one of our wildlife preserves, usually shoot for 2-3 hours.

I guess the main question is how many extra batteries do I need to carry with me for a 3 hour shoot? Thanks, I hope to not have too many questions. I know some people get annoyed by that.

I hardly change batteries on a long hike... but I think you should have got more use out of your new battery than that. Let it run all the way down and recharge fully a couple of times and you should be ok.

But pick up this battery for your camera - Wasabi. Comes with two batts, a car charger, back up home charger. It came highly recommended on this forum and I have used them in rotation with the original battery since I got the camera. Dont get the cheap ones on ama/ebay

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www.amazon.com

 

[MurryG]

Ellie,

I only own two batteries, the one that came with the camera and a generic one and they seem to get me through a full day of shooting with juice to spare. I always try to run them clear down before recharging and leave them on the charger 15-20 minutes after the orange light turns to green. I haven't done an exact count but I'm guessing I'm getting over 200 photos on each battery.

So my suggestion is to let the battery run down completely while you are playing with the camerra and then give it a good charge before going out for a day of shooting.

Murry

 

[Millwood]

My understanding is that lithium rechargeables to not have a memory and that fully cycling them shortens their life. In fact, the best life occurs if you neither fully charge nor fully discharge them! Or course, for photo use you will fully charge. And probably run them flat. But that's for convenience, not better life.

 

[diane143]

I got the Wasabi kitnlsted above and never went through two full batteries at a time on my trip. I took over 2000 pix, and recharged the used ones every night. I did find the OEM battery lasted a bit longer than the Wasabis.

 

[Elliern]

Thanks everyone. I was able to go to a local state park and took about 200 photos of spoonbills, wood storks, egrets, marsh hen, etc. Then reviewed them in the camera. Last night also got some shots of the moon....after I took the lens cap off...LOL. I have filter on my Nikon so not used to taking that cap off yet. Still have a fully charged battery. So that is good.

Will be compiling a list of accessories today and another battery will be one of them. Thanks for the info on the Wasabi battery.

 

[salway67]

Does not sound right,
Mine last at lease a couple days of use.