DWatts Posted March 1, 2012 Share #41 Posted March 1, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Never had any problems with DSTE batteries in either M8 - Epson R-D1 - DLux2 - DLux5 Charging normally, run normally, meter works correctly. David Watts, Cornwall, U.K. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 1, 2012 Posted March 1, 2012 Hi DWatts, Take a look here Batteries again. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
lct Posted March 1, 2012 Share #42 Posted March 1, 2012 Never had any problems with DSTE batteries... Did you do my 80% test above? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotoism Posted March 1, 2012 Share #43 Posted March 1, 2012 Heard so much about DSTE batteries I decided to find out for myself just for fun. Got two in the other day for testing to eliminate sample variation. Both showed no power in the camera on arrival, which was expected. Put one in charger and the orange light went off in about two hours. I left it in with only the green light overnight. Took it out, put in in camera, turned off auto-power off, and left it. Power meter showed full charge at 3 bars. Picked it up to fire a few shots and left it there again. The bars went from three to two in about 2 hours, then went to one in roughly another two hours, went to empty in another two hours. Then I noticed the camera was off by about another hour later. I was not watching it all the time till the end so I didn't have a precise time when the camera shut down. Similar experience with the second sample. Orange light went off quickly but I still left it overnight, then it went from 3 to 2 to 1 to power off in about 6-7 hours. I did the exact same thing with my original Leica battery which came with the M8 years ago, and it powered off at about 5-6 hours. But remember this is an OLD battery from 2007! So it seems everything worked as should be. Both batteries on first introduction into the camera will show nothing in the meter until the shutter is pressed once, then both the bar and exposure count showed up. On subsequent removal and re-insertion the battery was recognized right away. The only thing I cannot test now is how long these two DSTE will last. Will report back 10 years later, or not. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted March 1, 2012 Share #44 Posted March 1, 2012 Did you do my test above? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotoism Posted March 1, 2012 Share #45 Posted March 1, 2012 Your 80% test? Not yet. Would you say 80% is 2 bar? I would not mind doing it but honestly, what I describe is how I use my batteries, OEM or otherwise. If it works within my routine, it works for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted March 1, 2012 Share #46 Posted March 1, 2012 I was not clear enough i guess sorry. Unless yours is different from mine, and all other ones AFAIK, those third party batteries don't work like Leica's. When you discharge them partially and recharge them, the camera meter remains at its previous level (when it is not stuck at 100%). The only way to avoid this is to use the battery until the camera stops, or to drain it another way, before recharging it normally. Not a big deal but this issue must be stressed to avoid misunderstandings IMHO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotoism Posted March 1, 2012 Share #47 Posted March 1, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) One thing about after-market batteries is that sample quality varies. With strict QC they may not come that cheap, so I always say YMMV. For myself, I run the battery, OEM or otherwise, until it's showing one bar or sometimes even no bar, then I change to another one. That way I have never had a "memory" problem that the batteries do not come back to 3 bars after recharging. I don't remember I have ever taken out a battery for recharging when it shows 2 bars. But I will try this on the DSTE just out of curiosity. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted April 9, 2012 Author Share #48 Posted April 9, 2012 Okay, Okay........ Your all right, I am the birk who tried to save money and avoid paying £70 for a battery (Leica you are taking advantage) but I have got fed up with my DTSE batteries, one fails within 40 shots, the other shows no charge and flashing... My fist spare is between DTSE and original. I have goes fed up of not knowing where I am with charge. I know have a spare original (M9) that lasts well, shows full charge and allows me to focus on pictures ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotoism Posted April 9, 2012 Share #49 Posted April 9, 2012 That's unfortunate. Both of my DSTE are still working. I did lct's test and indeed these batteries will remain at the partially charged level when removed for recharging unless they are drained in the camera till it turns itself off. Did you try running it till the camera stops then charge them overnight (even if the orange light is off)? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share #50 Posted April 10, 2012 Unfoirtunately because of the incorect battery readings they were only ever changed when my camera died completely, and left on typically overnight Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted April 10, 2012 Share #51 Posted April 10, 2012 Not sure to comprehend what you meant sorry. Did you mean that your camera died because of the battery? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share #52 Posted April 10, 2012 Sorry, I meant that the Camera simply ran out of battery with no warning as it shows 'no charge' when you put a charged DTSE battery in. I get limited use as well, perhaps half a day taking 20-30 shots before the battery is dead. The camera is pefect the DTSE batteries less so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted April 10, 2012 Share #53 Posted April 10, 2012 ...it shows 'no charge' when you put a charged DTSE battery in... Because you did not drain the battery before putting it in the camera i guess. I would first drain completely the battery, second charge the battery, third put it in the camera where it will show full charge if it works like mine. The tip is to refrain from removing the battery until the camera stops. Just happened to mine. In spite of the cam being still switched on, the top LCD does not show anything any more. Time for me to remove the battery and charge it but not before. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/171236-batteries-again/?do=findComment&comment=1979588'>More sharing options...
dwyersean Posted April 12, 2012 Share #54 Posted April 12, 2012 I have one Leica Battery and five eBay Leica batteries. I've found that it's best to use the eBay batteries untill the camera stops working and then change and charge. The Leica battery tends to cut out a little before the battery indicator implies and the spurious batteries tend to work when the indicator indicates they are empty. Initially I used to charge these batteries when the camera indicated they were empty. The batteries started to suffer from the memory effect, and would only take a partial charge. After working out what was wrong, and with a little patience, they are now still giving good service. The key for me was to use the batteries untill they stopped working. Slowly, they returned to taking a full charge, now I still treat them in the same manner. If I don't, the memory effect presents it's self, albeit slightly. I'm using these batteries for two years, happily. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted April 12, 2012 Share #55 Posted April 12, 2012 Ummm... Li-Ion batteries don't have a memory effect. This would suggest these fakes use NiCads:rolleyes: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted April 12, 2012 Share #56 Posted April 12, 2012 Not sure if it is a matter of memory effect. Leica batteries must have a chip or something that is missing in third party ones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hepcat Posted January 8, 2013 Share #57 Posted January 8, 2013 I've had very good experiences with bestbatt.com. (I have no affiliation with them.) The Canon camcorder battery I ordered had a big disclaimer that it wouldn't be compatible with the Canon's battery indicator and not to charge it on the camera. However, it lasted almost 4 hours compared to the 1 hour of the stock Canon battery and was 1/3 the price, so it was worth the tradeoff. It also came with both a wall and car charger. The M8 battery I ordered from there works just like OEM. Neither battery has caused any problems whatsoever with my cameras. I find myself in need of a couple more batteries, so after reading this, I went to bestbatt.com and ordered two of them. The tech specs claim that they have Japanese cells in them. They're on sale for $15 each. They're regularly $36. I figured that for $15 I'd give them a try and see how they react. Bestbatt.com shipped the batteries within 24 hours of the order. I'll report back on how they worked for me. I'm not opposed to spending $115 each for the Leica branded batteries if I absolutely need to, but then I'm not opposed to saving $200 if I don't have to spend it. If they're junk, I'm only out $30. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 8, 2013 Share #58 Posted January 8, 2013 Don't forget to discharge totally the batteries before recharging them and they should work normally. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted January 8, 2013 Share #59 Posted January 8, 2013 Not sure if it is a matter of memory effect. Leica batteries must have a chip or something that is missing in third party ones. I have one of those lousy clone batteries. Can someone can suggest a way to find the chip, if there is one? Eat away the plastic with acid? Saw off the plug/expression on the back? Don't forget to discharge totally the batteries before recharging them and they should work normally. My clone will not even discharge fully in the camera. The M9 simply shuts down when it is nearly full, and the battery will not fully charge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 8, 2013 Share #60 Posted January 8, 2013 I used to use a Swiss Army knife on a dead battery a couple of years ago but it was not a Leica one sorry. As for your current OEM battery, did you try to discharge it elseway, with a Xmas tree lamp for instance? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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