martin0reg Posted July 7, 2017 Share #141 Posted July 7, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Before I've read this very informative thread I just had the same problem with a new 3rd party battery (20€ from "subtel" at amazon.de) And I also have my M9 for only one month, so the charging issue is new to me. Anyway it was a bit different with my replacement: After a few charging cycles the battery showed "full" in the charger, but almost "empty" iin the camera. and the warning came up (low battery level - turn down the camera). Because I found the camera still working, with battery level going near zero, I was shooting continous to see when the camera really would stop working. After some continuous shootings more strange thing happened, just a minute ago: The warning (turn down..) seemed to flash very shortly, then - the battery level on the info display showed "full" ! Without charging again, from empty to full in a split second! This same battery is now in use, I'm curious to see if the level will show the correct level from now on. As I don't know if the "full" level is correct for this moment. I have no explanation, but the displayed level seems to be an issue for its own, different from the real state of charge....?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 7, 2017 Posted July 7, 2017 Hi martin0reg, Take a look here Non-Leica M9 Battery Test. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted July 10, 2017 Share #142 Posted July 10, 2017 Battery and camera communicate electronically about the state of charge - but if the camera speaks German and the battery Chinese (or is mute altogether) it is not strange to see problems. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shameetman Posted July 17, 2017 Share #143 Posted July 17, 2017 Wow I just placed a order on 2 Subtel batterys for the leica M9. Now i'm getting a bit worried.. What is the best way to use them and avoid issues? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted July 17, 2017 Share #144 Posted July 17, 2017 Just like with original and current M9 replacement battery (also China made, not Japan or EU) if it is in the camera, keep eye on them. Check if battery is still in the same shape periodically. Use them until warning message about low battery comes and charge them fully. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted July 17, 2017 Share #145 Posted July 17, 2017 The best way to use third party batteries is to leave them in the package in a drawer. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted July 17, 2017 Share #146 Posted July 17, 2017 Actually the battery can be topped off at anytime. No harm. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin0reg Posted July 23, 2017 Share #147 Posted July 23, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just like with original and current M9 replacement battery (also China made, not Japan or EU) if it is in the camera, keep eye on them. Check if battery is still in the same shape periodically. Use them until warning message about low battery comes and charge them fully. That's what I did. But after 2-3 charging cycles the battery SEEMED to not fully charge anymore, the camera warning "shut down" came up very soon, at the same time the level displayed by the camera was also down. I thought the battery was crap... But as a last resort, after reading this thread, I tried to "shoot" the battery really empty, despite the warning "shut down the camers". And there were more shots to shoot with the "low level" battery than I actually had shot until the warning came up. When the displayed level was at zero, it jumped to full... the camera and the battery seemed to speak both german finally. Other batteries with other "true" carging level may not jump to full, but have to be charged again, now from "true" zero. So I think... ...anyway the "shooting to empty" seemed to adjust the battery and camera and charger...somehow... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin0reg Posted July 25, 2017 Share #148 Posted July 25, 2017 Update after one normal shooting and charging cycle: the subtel battery still seems to indicate a wrong charging level to the camera. When the display was showing around 15% I took it out and into the charger. It took about 2 hours until the yellow led came up, what means 80% charge, after one more hour the green led stopped blinking, what means fully charged. So far so good... but back in the camera the display now shows only 10%, less than before charging, with a most probably now 100% charged battery.. "synchronizing" failed.. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin0reg Posted July 26, 2017 Share #149 Posted July 26, 2017 (edited) Well it seems I finally got it: - put the fully charged battery in the M. It shows low level, around 10%, but the camera still is working, despite the warning to turn it off - shoot some series or leave the lcd on, with high brightness. When the level is near zereo, the camera will only showi the warning - but not work anymore - after turning off and on again the level jumped to around 70% - *** then put it in the charger again *** (what I missed to do the last time) - when the battery was almost full (yellow led says: over 80%), I put it back in the camera and the level shows credible 90% Edited July 26, 2017 by martin0reg 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Posted May 8, 2018 Share #150 Posted May 8, 2018 I have been using a bunch of £20 batteries for a year and once I got around the method of getting the M9 to display the correct power levels they work as well as my original Leica battery. They are probably made in the same factory. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topsy Posted August 18, 2018 Share #151 Posted August 18, 2018 Before I've read this very informative thread I just had the same problem with a new 3rd party battery (20€ from "subtel" at amazon.de) And I also have my M9 for only one month, so the charging issue is new to me. Anyway it was a bit different with my replacement: After a few charging cycles the battery showed "full" in the charger, but almost "empty" iin the camera. and the warning came up (low battery level - turn down the camera). Because I found the camera still working, with battery level going near zero, I was shooting continous to see when the camera really would stop working. After some continuous shootings more strange thing happened, just a minute ago: The warning (turn down..) seemed to flash very shortly, then - the battery level on the info display showed "full" ! Without charging again, from empty to full in a split second! This same battery is now in use, I'm curious to see if the level will show the correct level from now on. As I don't know if the "full" level is correct for this moment. I have no explanation, but the displayed level seems to be an issue for its own, different from the real state of charge....?? That's weird, I've just had the same happen to me. I remembered I had read this somewhere (obviously here) and I was just about to throw the battery out then decided to try keeping shooting. I got to frame 103 when just as you say the warning battery low came on again but then went off and I checked info to find the battery level up to almost full?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted August 20, 2018 Share #152 Posted August 20, 2018 I was not using my M-E because it was in service and I get used not to use it for long time after getting it back from service. As result my made in China Leica battery works fine, but OTB original batteries are making M-E acting weird. One was not turning camera on and re-insert fixed it. Another, then M-E power switch was turned to off was still making M-E showing all menus. Re-insertion fixed it, but both batteries lost charge significantly and one is already refused by Leica charger. I have to drain it with camera set to not turn off and then I could re-charge it. At some point I'll just buy one more Leica made in China battery with correct chip inside. Another solution is to use M-E more often and re-train OTB Original batteries. . Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Valdemar Posted September 5, 2020 Share #153 Posted September 5, 2020 (edited) Well, here we are almost 10 years after the original post on this thread. I still have my M9 albeit with a new sensor replaced free by Leica a couple of years ago. I have 4 Leica brand batteries, and 5 no-name batteries. Most of them are as old as this thread, 9 or 10 years old. I bought a "Nitecore" battery charger and use that to charge the batteries. The Nightcore reports all batteries are still good and taking a good charge. The batteries are all used in sort of rotation with no problems. Surprisingly, I did have one "genuine" Leica battery fail a few years ago. It started to expand, so much so that it would not fit in the camera. I threw it away, but later learned that Leica might have replaced it had I sent it in to them. There have been no explosions, incendiary incidents or spontaneous combustions. I will report back here in another 10 years to those of you who are still alive or still interested. Stay tuned to this channel. Edited September 5, 2020 by M. Valdemar 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinot Posted September 6, 2020 Share #154 Posted September 6, 2020 On 4/5/2011 at 12:20 AM, Washington said: Today I received my M9 battery ordered through: Digital Camera Batteries - Buy a new Digital Camera Battery Wow! It came from Ding Dong Feng in Beijing! Now, I ask you, how can you NOT have faith in anyone named: Ding Dong!!?? I love it. It charged up just like a Leica battery…. and didn’t even explode. That’s a plus! It’s powering the camera now…. and still no explosion. How many pictures will it take (before exploding)? https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450910/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongfeng_(missile) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted September 8, 2020 Share #155 Posted September 8, 2020 (edited) Mine 3d party is OTB. Have to drain them fully before charging by Leica charger. And once they are in M-E they will show low battery. At some point camera will stop respond to buttons, I have to take one more shot and after it battery shown as charged and all is working fine. Edited September 8, 2020 by Ko.Fe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted September 13, 2020 Share #156 Posted September 13, 2020 $7000 camera and you have to cheap out on a battery! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted September 14, 2020 Share #157 Posted September 14, 2020 Are you talking to me? My M-E 220 was $3000 new. ☺️ Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.