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So, hello guys!
I am eager to purchase M10, as I have a deep passion for Milky Way photography and making timelapses about them and I am ready to switch from Canon to Leica, BUT!

If I put Leica M10 on a tripod, I won't be able to change battery and if it goes off, I will have to unmount camera from a tripod and in this case my timelapse won't be constant :(

Are there any plates for M10, which allow to change battery without unscrewing camera from a tripod?

Thanks in Advance!

 

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Not a smart in astrophoto  :(  :(  but with M10 the lack is loooong exposure. Go for specs before getting one. Great photo

 

Yeah, I know

 

"The Leica M10 (as well as the Leica M Typ 240) has a maximum exposure time of 8 seconds at ISO 6400. As you go down the ISO range, the exposure time increases and can reach 60 seconds at ISO 200:

  • ISO 6,400 - 8 seconds
  • ISO 3,200 - 16 seconds
  • ISO 1,600 - 32 seconds"

However, the shot which I posted, had ISO 1250, F 4/0 and exposure 30 seconds, it's alright for Milky Way photography, the only problem is battery change and I want to find a solution

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Haven't seen any plates that allow battery exchange while tripod mounted. Please note that the plate also functions as sealing to both battery and SD-card. Especially with night-time photography, you don't want dew to get into that compartment, so for a plate you suggest, it should have proper weather sealing at whatever the opening is they use to get access to the battery.

If astrophotography is the main purpose, you might also have a look at the SL. It has a very nifty battery mechanism that allows easy exchange even when mounted on a tripod.

 

One thing to be aware of is that all Leica's apply Long Exposure Noise Reduction (LENR) that can't be disabled. Many people have asked Leica to allow disabling LENR in firmware, but so far it has not happened to any model, nor have I heard of any particular reason why. So each exposure in your timelapse will take twice as long to take as the actual exposure. since it is a timelapse, this does not have to be a major issue, but certainly something to be aware of.

 

As far as I know the M10 goes to 125s exposure max, so this would probably be enough for timelapses. Are you tracking the camera? If so, the 125s may become limiting

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Haven't seen any plates that allow battery exchange while tripod mounted. Please note that the plate also functions as sealing to both battery and SD-card. Especially with night-time photography, you don't want dew to get into that compartment, so for a plate you suggest, it should have proper weather sealing at whatever the opening is they use to get access to the battery.

If astrophotography is the main purpose, you might also have a look at the SL. It has a very nifty battery mechanism that allows easy exchange even when mounted on a tripod.

 

One thing to be aware of is that all Leica's apply Long Exposure Noise Reduction (LENR) that can't be disabled. Many people have asked Leica to allow disabling LENR in firmware, but so far it has not happened to any model, nor have I heard of any particular reason why. So each exposure in your timelapse will take twice as long to take as the actual exposure. since it is a timelapse, this does not have to be a major issue, but certainly something to be aware of.

 

As far as I know the M10 goes to 125s exposure max, so this would probably be enough for timelapses. Are you tracking the camera? If so, the 125s may become limiting

 

Ah, it hurts. 

SL is even more heavy than my canon with wide-angle lens.

Looks like I will have to wait for FF mirrorless like SL, but easier with TL lenses :)

 

thanks, mate!

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My experience with astro imaging is manual focus lenses are the simplest.

 

Having recently tried my Q on my mount I'd say you're flogging a dead horse.

 

I've had better images from a humble old Fuji X-E1.

 

If Leica allow the inbuilt LENR then maybe......

 

Gary

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I really couldn't imagine much of a worse primary use for a Leica than long exposure, astro photography. They simply aren't designed for what this type of use and while it's possible to some degree (not to get around your tripod problem), it's really downgrading from what you have for this specific type of work. I get why you want to ditch your Canon, but get a Sony or Nikon. Or if you have that $ to part and it's burning a hole in your pocket get a GFX or X1D.

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I wonder if this might work.  I checked my M10, and found that I can attach a typical plate and retain access to the battery if I remove the bottom cover.  Given that most astrophotography conditions will be dewey, I might suggest some sort of plastic or waterproof covering during the exposures.

 

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Ah, it hurts. 

SL is even more heavy than my canon with wide-angle lens.

Looks like I will have to wait for FF mirrorless like SL, but easier with TL lenses :)

 

thanks, mate!

 

TL2 totally out of the question due to sensor size? Theres a few lenses that would suit but the fast ones like the M lux's become a little narrow on APS...

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I wonder if this might work.  I checked my M10, and found that I can attach a typical plate and retain access to the battery if I remove the bottom cover.  Given that most astrophotography conditions will be dewey, I might suggest some sort of plastic or waterproof covering during the exposures.

 

 

Does the camera actually work though? Doesnt it come up with a warning when base plate is removed?

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If you by the Arte Di Mano halfcase with battery door and a small arca Swiss bracket (I have a small square one). You can mount the M10 to a ball head AND change the battery while mounted.

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I guess I am not smart enough to understand just what you mean by a time-lapse. I most shots are about 30 seconds that is not an issue with battery life. If you are talking about star-trails then I do not think the M10 will work obviously.

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Does the camera actually work though? Doesnt it come up with a warning when base plate is removed?

JTLeica, you are 100% correct!  My mistake :rolleyes: , and thanks for helping me out.  I'm still a bit of an M-Newbie, apparently.  It seems like 4pipes has a workable solution, though.

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Keep your Canon for astrophotography, and enjoy your M10 in daytime. As mentioned, the IR filter can be removed by specialized service. With a light pollution filter and a hydrogen alpha filter, you can get fascinating deep sky photos with it.

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There are half cases with battery doors and tripod screw mounts available that replace your bottom plate and contain a magnet that tricks the camera into thinking the base plate is present. One of those will do the trick. My favorite is the Arte di Mano version but I’ve seen others that should do the job for your application, as long as you are ok with the long exposure limitations of the M10 already mentioned.

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Yeah!

I saw it and also the comment with a case is an interesting set :)

Now I need to understand what is LENR and how to bypass it.

My max exposure time is 30 seconds.

Am I right that after a shot it will take another 30 seconds to make a "black shot" in order to create one shot with such exposure?

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