Extending battery life in D2?

[jrethorst]

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I'm going to take a weeklong backpacking trip this summer, and will bring my Digilux 2. I hope that the three batteries I have will be enough.

 

First things first, I won't use flash at all.

 

I'll use manual focus all the time, since I guess that the camera uses a fair amount of electrical power to autofocus.

 

Anything else I should think of?

 

Thanks.

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[stuny]

Other than turning it off between shots (unless you're doing a series of individual shots) and limiting your review of the shots, that's it.

[farnz]

Shooting RAW only will save using battery life for in-camera jpeg processing.

 

Turn off auto review and try not to chimp too much, as Stuart pointed out.

 

Pete.

[jrethorst]

"Chimp"? Wazzat mean? :-)

 

Am I right that auto focus uses significant power? I hope not, since I find manual focus with the EV is hard to do.

[farnz]

"Chimp"? Wazzat mean? :-)

 

Am I right that auto focus uses significant power? I hope not, since I find manual focus with the EV is hard to do.

John,

 

It was not meant in a derogatory sense:o, it's the act of checking the histogram of the image you've just taken and uses power to drive the D2's LCD; refer here.

 

The D2's lens is relatively light and since the 'travel' of the moving parts is small autofocus shouldn't consume very much power. Macro focus will consume slightly more power because it has to move the elements further but even then I suspect it's a small fraction of the power consumed when writing to the card.

 

Incidentally, after further consideration I withdraw my advice to conserve power by shooting RAW only because the RAW file is larger than the jpeg file and takes several seconds to write to the card. I'm no longer certain (in the D2's case) that in-camera processing and writing a jpeg to the card would necessarily consume any more power than writing the RAW file to the card.

 

Pete.

[elgenper]

"Chimp"? Wazzat mean? :-)

 

Am I right that auto focus uses significant power? I hope not, since I find manual focus with the EV is hard to do.

 

Thing is, manual focus may use just as much power, possibly even more. The manual focus ring does look and feel like a good old mechanical focus ring, but it isn´t. It sends impulses to the same motor that does AF, and it´s still that motor that does the job. And, since MF by looking into the finder and trying to determine sharpness isn´t very easy (as you´ve found), the motor will probably have to work more for each picture than when using AF.

[jrethorst]

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It was not meant in a derogatory sense

 

Not taken as such; I just hadn't heard the term. Still learning . . . but your helpful link made a couple of good points: that chimping can cause us to lose the next shot, depending on subject matter, and that instant review is one of the many plus factors for digital.

 

The D2's lens is relatively light and since the 'travel' of the moving parts is small autofocus shouldn't consume very much power. Macro focus will consume slightly more power because it has to move the elements further but even then I suspect it's a small fraction of the power consumed when writing to the card.

 

Thing is, manual focus may use just as much power, possibly even more. The manual focus ring does look and feel like a good old mechanical focus ring, but it isn´t. It sends impulses to the same motor that does AF, and it´s still that motor that does the job. And, since MF by looking into the finder and trying to determine sharpness isn´t very easy (as you´ve found), the motor will probably have to work more for each picture than when using AF.[/QUote]

 

This is good to know. Manual focus through the EVF is the only thing I don't like about using this wonderful camera.

 

Incidentally, after further consideration I withdraw my advice to conserve power by shooting RAW only because the RAW file is larger than the jpeg file and takes several seconds to write to the card. I'm no longer certain (in the D2's case) that in-camera processing and writing a jpeg to the card would necessarily consume any more power than writing the RAW file to the card.

 

Good to know as well. As Thorsten quotes someone on his site, "life is too short for RAW" with the D2's great jpegs.

 

Thanks to all for the good advice.

[John Thawley]

Thing is, manual focus may use just as much power, possibly even more. The manual focus ring does look and feel like a good old mechanical focus ring, but it isn´t. It sends impulses to the same motor that does AF, and it´s still that motor that does the job. And, since MF by looking into the finder and trying to determine sharpness isn´t very easy (as you´ve found), the motor will probably have to work more for each picture than when using AF.

 

Now that's something I didn't know. Interesting.

 

John

[wda]

A comment on 'chimping'; while I understand the power saving theory, I think it is necessary in two cases. The first shot in a new situation or with new lighting quality deserves a quick check that exposure is correct. I always check the histogram to avoid clipping. Second, when I recognize a potentially important subject/opportunity, I always try to take several shots and check the lcd for composition exposure etc. In between those examples, it is seldom necessary.

[elgenper]

Now that's something I didn't know. Interesting.

 

John

 

John, I´m a bit intimidated by this. After all, you´re one of the true gurus of the D2.. And I´ve learned lots, both from you and from Thorsten.

 

Still, I´m pretty certain I´ve read from several reliable sources that the MF is "fly-by-wire". And, after all, one turns the focus ring beyond the infinity mark and lock it there to get AF. While technically possible, such a mechanism would be rather complicated, and surely have far more of a mechanical decoupling feel than the light detent one feels now. Also, if one focusses at infinity, turns the camera off, turns the focus ring to 0.3 m and then turns on with the camera close to one´s ear, one can hear the soft whir from the focussing below the rattle from the aperture mechanism.

 

Where is Mark Norton? He must know for sure.

[acei001]

not use more

[John Thawley]

"Chimp"? Wazzat mean? :-)

 

Am I right that auto focus uses significant power? I hope not, since I find manual focus with the EV is hard to do.

 

The term "chimping" was originated early in digital history by a sportshooter who made a habit of catching friends looking at the back of their cameras going "whooo and haaa" and basically displaying excited behavior... not unlike that of a chimpanzee. I've been doing it since 1998. LOL

 

After reading and considering all the ifs and buts of manual, auto-focus, etc. etc. - and the impact on battery life, I really believe it's probably negligible and a trade off at best, one way or the other.

 

Consider manual takes a little longer... also zooms the display... and there's still that louder hum when you 1/2 depress the shutter button. Basically, the camera is always doing some sort of humming...

 

I could be wrong... but I think the only way to significantly preserve battery life is turn off the preview and stop chimping. Using the back of the screen is in essence like powering up a portable TV. Nothing will hammer the battery life more than that.

 

I've found the battery can fill up a 1 gig card. So take an extra battery and an extra (or 2 gig) card and fire at will.

 

Taking pictures shouldn't be about saving anything .... except the memory of the moment.

 

JT

[MJSPhoto]

I thought this was chimping

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[farnz]

Great call (and photo), Morgan!

 

Pete.

[John Thawley]

I thought this was chimping

 

THAT is awesome!!! LOL

[Digitom]

I'm going to take a weeklong backpacking trip this summer, and will bring my Digilux 2. I hope that the three batteries I have will be enough.

 

First things first, I won't use flash at all.

 

I'll use manual focus all the time, since I guess that the camera uses a fair amount of electrical power to autofocus.

 

Anything else I should think of?

 

Thanks.

 

Well, after I read this thread and the many good and less good advices, I think dont´t burden yourself with the problem how to save energy! This will limit your spirit for Photography! I think for such a trip the best solution is to buy a 4th battery pack - and then be free of sorrows.

 

My advices also are:

 

-use only the viewfinders small monitor, the big one on the back will eat too much power.

-use AF instead of MF (reason given above) OR

-when you make landscape fotos, switch to MF and set to infinity. No motor then needed.

-do not check the pics in the view mode, there is time for that at home when back.

-if yo do JPG normally, don´t change (there is no significant higer power consumtion)

 

Finally: as an emergency solution: take a 2nd small digital pocket camera with you, so if D2 fails or all D2 battery packs are empty - you have a chance to still get a photo.

 

Greetings

Thomas