nick.karras Posted March 13, 2008 Share #1 Posted March 13, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) After testing 2 samples, I have found the "Power2000" alternative battery for the M8 does not work. I don't know why, or how these can even be marketed, but they simply do not function. As a note, the battery is labeled: For LEICA BM8; 7.2 V; 2000 mAH; Li-ion; These can be found at a very popular NJ camera store. ϗαϱϱας Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 13, 2008 Posted March 13, 2008 Hi nick.karras, Take a look here Alternative battery does not function. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
0bli0 Posted March 14, 2008 Share #2 Posted March 14, 2008 7.2v?!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 14, 2008 Share #3 Posted March 14, 2008 Indeed. The M8 runs on 3.7 Any smoke? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vertekijker Posted March 14, 2008 Share #4 Posted March 14, 2008 Yes, Jaap, that could produce some smoke! Why risk that on an expensive item like the M8? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted March 14, 2008 Share #5 Posted March 14, 2008 ACD743 Adorama Replacement Rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery for Leica BM8 Digital Camera Battery, 3.6 Volts, 2000mAh. battery, batteries ,Leica BM8 digital camera battery,lithium ion battery, BM-8, bm8, bm-8, bm 8. Compare the voltage listed for both, oh what a tangled web we weave! Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwfreund Posted March 14, 2008 Share #6 Posted March 14, 2008 Penny wise pound foolish Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick.karras Posted March 14, 2008 Author Share #7 Posted March 14, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) The battery is advertised as 3.6 volts on Adorama. I wasn't until I tried the second battery that I realized the error. The M8 should have fault protection that can take care of these things, and apparently it does. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted March 14, 2008 Share #8 Posted March 14, 2008 The battery is advertised as 3.6 volts on Adorama. I wasn't until I tried the second battery that I realized the error. The M8 should have fault protection that can take care of these things, and apparently it does. I'm not so sure about this. I suspect the 7.2V on the Battery Barn page is a misquote. I'd be suprised if you can get two cells (7.2V) with a 2000mAh capacity in that size package. Or putting it another way, if you can, why isn't the genuine Leica battery 4000mAh? The only way to know is to ask the battery supplier to clarify the situation. You can't assume the camera has fault protection for battery overvoltage. If the battery really was two cells (7.2V) I doubt the Leica charger would charge it. Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
btrancho Posted March 25, 2008 Share #9 Posted March 25, 2008 I was in Adorama's NYC store last week and asked about their M8 battery. The salesman told me that they were selling so well that they having trouble keeping them in stock. He showed me the web description that stated 3.6 volts - 2000 mAh so I bought one. I was also picking up some Fuji instant film for my daughter and didn't look closely at the battery package until I left the store. The package was clearly labeled 7.2 volts so I turned right around and went back in to return the battery. This is where it got interesting. The salesman was polite and concerned but insisted that it would work fine, that they had sold "hundreds" with no complaints, and that Adorama would replace my camera if the battery caused any problem. His face then lit up as though he had a great idea and he asked if I had a pocket knife so we could open the bubble pack to look at the battery. I used my pocket knife and to his disappointment, the battery itself was also labeled 7.2 volts. He called over another salesman and told him of my concerns. His response was to suggest that I put the 7.2 volt battery in my M8 to see what happens. I laughed and declined the offer, asking if either of them would plug a lamp at home that was rated at 120 volts into a 220 volt outlet. I then asked if Adorama wanted to bet my $5000 camera on a $40 battery. I think it was then that they got my point. They took it back with no problem and I bought a Leica battery instead. I'd be curious to hear from anyone who has purchased this battery to know if they have encountered any problems. Even better, I'd like to know if they put a volt meter on the contacts on a freshly charged copy to see if it is correctly labeled. I have been using $19 third party batteries in my Canon DSLRs for five years and they've worked flawlessly. I do not believe that only $110 Lecia batteries will work in the M8 and would be happy to use an appropriate third party battery if I could find one that wouldn't turn my M8 into a toaster. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 25, 2008 Share #10 Posted March 25, 2008 I have four at 7.50 Euro each from Hong Kong on the Bay as emergency backup and to my great surprise they function flawlessly. The only downside is that they need to be fully discharged from time to time to recalibrate the charge indicator. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted March 25, 2008 Share #11 Posted March 25, 2008 ...I then asked if Adorama wanted to bet my $5000 camera on a $40 battery. I think it was then that they got my point. ... I do not believe that only $110 Lecia batteries will work in the M8 and would be happy to use an appropriate third party battery if I could find one that wouldn't turn my M8 into a toaster. Your post confuses me: on the one hand you laugh at the mere thought of Adorama gambling your M8 on a $40 third party battery but in the same breath you're happy to do exactly that with another third party battery. How does that work? Would you expect Leica to honour the terms of your M8's warranty if you damaged it with a third party battery? Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
btrancho Posted March 25, 2008 Share #12 Posted March 25, 2008 Your post confuses me: on the one hand you laugh at the mere thought of Adorama gambling your M8 on a $40 third party battery but in the same breath you're happy to do exactly that with another third party battery. How does that work? Would you expect Leica to honour the terms of your M8's warranty if you damaged it with a third party battery? Pete. You distort my words here. I'd be happy to use a third party battery with the correct voltage. I see no way that a third party battery with the correct voltage can damage the camera. As I stated above, I've used third party batteries for five years in my Canon DSLRs with no ill effect whatsoever. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted March 28, 2008 Share #13 Posted March 28, 2008 You distort my words here... Mmm ... nope, they're all your own words. ... I see no way that a third party battery with the correct voltage can damage the camera... Batteries can generate considerable heat during heavy discharge, especially where short circuits occur in poor quality batteries. The heat generated would be largely contained inside the camera and could easily cause damage, which would not be covered by warranty. ... I've used third party batteries for five years in my Canon DSLRs with no ill effect whatsoever. I'm glad to hear it but it was not without risk, whether you were aware of it or not. Using after market batteries in an M8 is a false economy simply because the potential for damage, if there were to be problems, so heavily outweighs any savings in purchase price. Personally I wouldn't consider using them in my M8 but YMMV. It's not my intention to irritate you but it is important to understand the inherent risk. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveB Posted March 28, 2008 Share #14 Posted March 28, 2008 I have seven batteries for my M8. I need that many in order to carry the camera for a month in the wilderness. One of them is the original Leica battery. The others, I bought last spring on eBay from a guy in Hong Kong. I'm coming up on the one year anniversary of buying my camera. I honestly can't tell you which battery is in there at any given time. If one's better than the others, I'm just missing it. I've logged 10-11K shutter actuations in just under a year. Had I bought OEM replacement batteries it would have cost me almost $700. I bought the ones from Hong Kong, expertly crafted by child slaves I'm told, for maybe $70. What's a guy to do? FWIW, I've had the identical experience and economics with several Canon cameras and the BP511 battery pack. Cardiac pacemaker? It's the same story. Doctors always try to scare you into buying brand name batteries. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleeson Posted March 28, 2008 Share #15 Posted March 28, 2008 Try a Lucas Pacemaker next time around... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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