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Replacement Batteries for Camera's?

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 12:57 pm
by madeintahoe
I hope this is the right place to post this.

I finally bought a new camera after a year of not having a working camera...I bought the Panasonic Lumix DMC ZS25 model..this is my 1st time using a camera that uses this type of battery instead of using the old fashioned.. 4 double A batteries.
My question is for those that use a camera using this type of battery...do you just buy several replacement batteries to take when you are on an extended backpacking trip or even a two day trip?
Is there any solar battery charger to take along that would work for this model to charge the battery that one knows of?
This camera unfortunately does not have a very long battery time..which I knew before I bought it.

Thanks everyone!

Re: Replacement Batteries for Camera's?

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 1:11 pm
by maverick
You have way enough battery power for several days (260 shots), just don't use the
Wifi and GPS functions which uses up a lot battery life, which is one of the reasons
they raised the battery life.

Re: Replacement Batteries for Camera's?

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 1:22 pm
by madeintahoe
Thanks Maverick....The battery light is already flashing and I have taken less than 100 pictures...I would not use wifi or GPS..so I don't have to worry about that.
I fully charged the battery on Saturday the day after I got it in the mail...and this morning already the light is flashing. And now I have been researching replacement batteries and there seems to be different opinions on you have to use a Panasonic made only battery and not some off brand? Is this the case?

They have the battery on the Panasonic site for 45.00 and than they have one on Ebay for 125.00 :eek:

Re: Replacement Batteries for Camera's?

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 1:27 pm
by rlown
I couldn't find my post with the solar charger my friend carries (still have to look after work).

I carry 3 batteries for my olympus P&S. all charged before the trip. I shoot more than 260 pics as I cull when i get home; MPegs as well. It sucks when you run out of batteries. I even sleep with my camera just to make sure they stay warm. It was worse with AA's. the LiOns are much better and forgiving.

Russ

Re: Replacement Batteries for Camera's?

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 1:31 pm
by vandman
I take 8 batteries for a 14 day trip, and it's barely enough. Check out Amazon for the best price.

Re: Replacement Batteries for Camera's?

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 1:51 pm
by madeintahoe
Thank you Russ and Vandman

Vandman...are your extra batteries all the same brand that match your camera?...The price difference between the Panasonic website and Ebay on the same battery is a little worrisome

Re: Replacement Batteries for Camera's?

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 1:58 pm
by maverick
Vandman wrote:

I take 8 batteries for a 14 day trip, and it's barely enough.
:eek:
Usually for that many days I would take 3, if night shots are in the mix, but
2 would be enough. Live view, screen illumination, and previewing all shots suck
up battery life so one needs to be conservative and know their equipments limitations.
During my photography classes one of the things I try to emphasis is awareness of
ones shooting style and how it effects the final capture. Taking on the old ways of
large format photography were one had to carry sheets of film (Ansel Adams) limited the
shots available and would make one need to be judicial with shots selection unlike
today's machine gun style where one rattle off shots hoping to catch a decent shot
from hundreds.
Back then one was forced to think about composition, and wait for the perfect light
because you only had one chance at it otherwise you missed that fleeing moment.
Adopting some of there philosophy can lead not only to better shots but also conserve
on ones battery life in the long run IMHO.
MT wrote:
The battery light is already flashing and I have taken less than 100 pictures...I would
not use wifi or GPS..so I don't have to worry about that.
Something is off if you're only getting 100 shots, you should be at least getting
230. Maybe your battery is defective and not fully charging, and instead showing
a false "fully charged". Call Panasonic customer service.

Re: Replacement Batteries for Camera's?

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 2:00 pm
by vandman
I shoot with a Nikon, so I prefer Nikons, but have bought some off brands. Some work as well as the Nikons, some are crap. I always test them before I carry them into wilderness. I shoot a lot of photos on my trips, but I am careful to not waste the battery--turn it off when not in use and I don't review my shots until I'm back to civilization.

Re: Replacement Batteries for Camera's?

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 2:27 pm
by maverick
Panasonic customer service says using 18mp (full resolution), flash, video,
menu, zoom, gps, and Wifi all decrease battery life. :\
Try a different battery, if you get closer to the 260 mark with the same settings
used as when using the original than the battery is the culprit.
If this was purchased within 90 days its covered by warranty, call Panasonic with
the case# 31218147 that I started for you. Good luck.

Re: Replacement Batteries for Camera's?

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:24 pm
by SSSdave
Congratulations madeintahoe with your new travel superZoom. One cannot really talk about battery life in general terms across digital cameras as battery life will vary considerably.

Your battery is a BTETBCG10 2.0 ounce 3.7v 750 mahr Li-Ion battery costing about $10 each. That compares to:
Alkaline AA batteries 0.81 oz
lithium AA batteries 0.53 oz
rechargeable NiMH batteries 1.1 oz

Most small compact digital cameras have modest battery capacities with yours rated at 260 CIPA shots or 2.88 mahr per shot. However equating that to actual use in the field is vague. Obviously smaller cameras tend to use less power per shot than large cameras. Larger camera batteries particularly for DSLRs also tend to provide several times more shots because more serious photographers are more likely to use their cameras in remote field conditions. Thus more expensive larger digital cameras tend to have much larger batteries with more capacity. Lots of people used to film cameras leave their digital cameras on walking about between shots and that is sin #1 for digital cameras even with a timer set to shut down the LCD after a minute or so. Just turn em off.

My Canon G10 uses a 1.3 ounce 1150 mahr NB-7L at and is rated for 400 shots that is 2.87 mahr per shot or about the same as yours. Notice my battery weighs less yet has more capacity. On a 9 day backpack I will take 4 batteries fully charged so 1.3x4= 5.2 ounces. And no I take far far less than 4x400=1600 shots and the batteries would not even last that long unless I used my camera carefully. Using flash is the greatest drain and lots of zooming is next. I also shut my camera off unless I am about to take a shot.

As for a solar charger in the field, for less than a 12 days it would probably weigh more than simply carrying extra batteries. So you probably ought to buy several back up batteries and then see how many you go through on a short trip. Then buy enough more to sustain a longer trip. As for your low battery indicator showing after just 100 shots, I would not worry, as those functions are notorious for coming on early. Fully charge it, then see how many shots you get before it starts to turn on. Then keep using it until the battery is unusable to see how much of your kind of use it lasts.