Re: Batteries: how many... and tips for making them go furth
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 6:24 am
I don't really overthink my battery use. I know my my camera can do at least 800 shots per battery if I don't do too many half minute night sky exposures. I looked into mirrorless cameras briefly and when I saw that the weight benefit was only applicable on shorter hikes, I lost interest. The ergonomics of a DSRL are far more pleasing to me, too. I like the battery grip on it so I can carry it around my neck and shoulder and it forms a rather flat back side to stay level. That way I have it handy at all times.
To keep it powered on my typical 2-3 week treks, I only need to bring two batteries at the start of a hike, and about mid hike I add a third in a resupply may be 7-10 days in, mostly to make sure I have one if my little usb powered charger should fail or my schedule doesn't allow recharging of both batteries at that time (takes hours what the little charger).
There is also a small two 18650 cell battery bank in my pack that may get me one charge for one battery, but I've never needed it to keep the camera going. In a pinch, I think two batteries will get me through a typical hike. I never turn off the power on that camera, as it doesn't drain much at all when in sleep mode. The only thing I do to save some battery power over normal use is turning off LCD image review after every shot and switch the camera to "silent mode," which is supposed to be its least power demanding mode.
I briefly considered going light with my daughter's Sony Next-6 one summer, but I keep grabbing the camera with the best sensor from my gear shelf, and so far that's always been a DSLR (or film SLR years earlier). Seems from the battery weight you are carrying, I am not even that far off the weight of a mirrorless, or you take 5000 frames between resupplies.
To keep it powered on my typical 2-3 week treks, I only need to bring two batteries at the start of a hike, and about mid hike I add a third in a resupply may be 7-10 days in, mostly to make sure I have one if my little usb powered charger should fail or my schedule doesn't allow recharging of both batteries at that time (takes hours what the little charger).
There is also a small two 18650 cell battery bank in my pack that may get me one charge for one battery, but I've never needed it to keep the camera going. In a pinch, I think two batteries will get me through a typical hike. I never turn off the power on that camera, as it doesn't drain much at all when in sleep mode. The only thing I do to save some battery power over normal use is turning off LCD image review after every shot and switch the camera to "silent mode," which is supposed to be its least power demanding mode.
I briefly considered going light with my daughter's Sony Next-6 one summer, but I keep grabbing the camera with the best sensor from my gear shelf, and so far that's always been a DSLR (or film SLR years earlier). Seems from the battery weight you are carrying, I am not even that far off the weight of a mirrorless, or you take 5000 frames between resupplies.