bobmcg Posted February 17, 2018 Share #1 Posted February 17, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would appreciate any guidance on third-party batteries. I'm a new Q owner and the manual has some menacing statements about using only Leica OEM batteries. Thanks in advance. Best, Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 17, 2018 Posted February 17, 2018 Hi bobmcg, Take a look here Third Party Batteries. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
SonomaBear Posted February 17, 2018 Share #2 Posted February 17, 2018 I would appreciate any guidance on third-party batteries. I'm a new Q owner and the manual has some menacing statements about using only Leica OEM batteries. Thanks in advance. Best, Bob I've been using non-Leica batteries for almost two years with zero problems. It is a standard Panasonic specification. I only have Leica ones here with me so I can't tell you which other ones I use. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografr Posted February 17, 2018 Share #3 Posted February 17, 2018 (edited) There are counterfeit and non-OEM batteries all over the internet. Some are fine, others can definitely damage your camera's electronics. When you spend more than $4000 on a camera, why take a chance just to save a few bucks? (Note: It's now more than two years later so I'd like to amend the $4000 figure and change it to $8000.) (Another year has passed. Now $9000.) Edited May 10, 2022 by fotografr 4 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadohead Posted February 17, 2018 Share #4 Posted February 17, 2018 The Lumix DMW-BLC12PP is identical to the Leica battery. I use them all the time and you can get 3 Lumix batteries for the price of one Leica battery. I also use the Lumix charger with my Leica and Lumix batteries. It's smaller than the Leica charger and has a fold out plug instead of a power cord. Much more convenient and easier to travel with. 9 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leica Guy Posted February 17, 2018 Share #5 Posted February 17, 2018 The Lumix DMW-BLC12PP is identical to the Leica battery. I use them all the time and you can get 3 Lumix batteries for the price of one Leica battery. I also use the Lumix charger with my Leica and Lumix batteries. It's smaller than the Leica charger and has a fold out plug instead of a power cord. Much more convenient and easier to travel with. +1. I have the same battery and charger. Works great. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marchyman Posted February 17, 2018 Share #6 Posted February 17, 2018 I have some Wasabi Power batteries that are made from "Premium Cells from Japan". They work, but... they don't last nearly as long as the stock Leica battery. Since I have two of them (plus the stock battery) it's not much of an issue. On the positive side, they were quite cheap. If I ever need to buy more batteries I'll look at the Lumix version. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobmcg Posted February 17, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted February 17, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) I can't seem to find the Lumix versions in stock anywhere. Have they been discontinued? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leica Guy Posted February 17, 2018 Share #8 Posted February 17, 2018 (edited) In stock right now at B&H under the Panasonic name. I checked again and am now unsure. I own the Panasonic LUMIX DMW-BLC12PP. It works fine in my Q. I checked on B&H and they’re selling the DMW-BLC12E. I’m not familiar with that model. It physically looks the same, but someone asked in the reviews would it work with a Leica Q and it was answered with NO. So, now I don’t know. I’d buy the Leica branded one and not look back. I just read that there are a lot of fake Lumix batteries on the market and in eBay. Careful. Edited February 17, 2018 by Infiniumguy Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobmcg Posted February 17, 2018 Author Share #9 Posted February 17, 2018 Is this what you are referring to: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/761043-REG/Panasonic_DMW_BLC12_DMW_BLC12_Rechargeable_Lithium_ion_Battery.html Technically, it's not the BLC12PP but I have no idea if that makes a difference. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobmcg Posted February 17, 2018 Author Share #10 Posted February 17, 2018 Is this what you are referring to: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/761043-REG/Panasonic_DMW_BLC12_DMW_BLC12_Rechargeable_Lithium_ion_Battery.html Technically, it's not the BLC12PP but I have no idea if that makes a difference. As a follow-up to this, in the Q&A the B&H staff write that this is not compatible with the Q. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leica Guy Posted February 18, 2018 Share #11 Posted February 18, 2018 On the Internet I read that the letters following the 12 are a code for where it was manufactured. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcon468 Posted February 18, 2018 Share #12 Posted February 18, 2018 Before I bought my Q, I own both a Nikon D7000 and a Lumix GX1 M4/3 camera. If there is a weakness with the Q, it is the battery. I get more output with the GX1, and it goes without saying the Nikon, as opposed to the bad battery in the Q (I have four). With all of the technology available, why a better battery is not available at this time baffles me. I wish that the pending firmware upgrade will include some type improvement to the integrity of thy battery system. German engineering at its worst! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullmoon Posted February 21, 2018 Share #13 Posted February 21, 2018 Try Amazon or Adorama - I just got a Panasonic battery and it works great. Amazon will point you to the right battery for the Q. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
antigallican Posted February 21, 2018 Share #14 Posted February 21, 2018 I use chilipower spares. They work just fine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmschuh Posted February 21, 2018 Share #15 Posted February 21, 2018 For original battery quality you can buy a Sigma BP-51 Li-Ion Battery. It's from the same factory (Wuxi China) as the original Leica or Panasonic battery. You can get it for round about 25,- Euros here in Europe (Amazon etc.). All other batteries on the market are clones from the original batteries with lower capacity in the majority of cases, no matter what capacity is printed on it. With the Sigma BP-51 Li-Ion battery you get the original battery with a different label on it, but it is absolut technically identical to the Leica or Panasonic version. No risk with poor quality or inflating batteries for 1/3 of the price of the Leica battery. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobmcg Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share #16 Posted February 21, 2018 For original battery quality you can buy a Sigma BP-51 Li-Ion Battery. It's from the same factory (Wuxi China) as the original Leica or Panasonic battery. You can get it for round about 25,- Euros here in Europe (Amazon etc.). All other batteries on the market are clones from the original batteries with lower capacity in the majority of cases, no matter what capacity is printed on it. With the Sigma BP-51 Li-Ion battery you get the original battery with a different label on it, but it is absolut technically identical to the Leica or Panasonic version. No risk with poor quality or inflating batteries for 1/3 of the price of the Leica battery. Thank you! This was exactly what I was looking for. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted February 22, 2018 Share #17 Posted February 22, 2018 The battery for the Leica V-Lux 4 and V-Lux 114 are the same battery as for the Q. Same goes for the Panasonic equivalent of the V-Lux 4 & 114. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanjaeger Posted February 22, 2018 Share #18 Posted February 22, 2018 The Lumix DMW-BLC12PP is identical to the Leica battery. I use them all the time and you can get 3 Lumix batteries for the price of one Leica battery. I also use the Lumix charger with my Leica and Lumix batteries. It's smaller than the Leica charger and has a fold out plug instead of a power cord. Much more convenient and easier to travel with. Could you provide a model number for the LUMIX charger? Thanks in advance, Stephan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leica Guy Posted February 22, 2018 Share #19 Posted February 22, 2018 I use the Panasonic charger model DE-A79. It has the fold out plug. I also located a Lemix DC-K5 and it’s great for traveling. It only requires a micro-USB plugged in. I like that it’s so small. 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! 1 Quote 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/281907-third-party-batteries/?do=findComment&comment=3466697'>More sharing options...
Astropap Posted February 22, 2018 Share #20 Posted February 22, 2018 Ooooh. I much prefer that kind of charger to the Leica version. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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