M8 batteries

[mort linder]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

i have a number of batteries that need to be fully discharged to before recharging to record as fully charged on the camera . to discharge the battery , i will run the camera on play 

until the battery is discharged . #1 is this bad for the camera  ?  #2 if the battery is charged before being fully discharged , is the battery actually fully charged even though it doesn't

read so on the camera ? would there be another way to discharge the battery . 

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[david strachan]

Hi Mort

Seems that you are using a couple of aftermarket batteries there.

I've bought a couple too, for my two M8's, and found them reasonable, but all considered now buy only Leica brand.

I'd run the camera down completely and then charge completely...this way the battery indicator seems reasonably accurate.  The M8's have slow rundown, so sometimes I'd carry spare, or not, just depends what and where you are going.

To completely exhaust the batteries one needs to leave the camera ON, and the "Auto Off" to OFF. No need to have it on play.  Takes overnight to exhaust. It doesn't hurt the camera.

To get a full recharge to show on the indicator, on after market batteries, they need to be fully discharged, and then fully charged with the charger. 

...

Edited November 1, 2021 by david strachan

[mort linder]

23 hours ago, david strachan said:

Hi Mort

Seems that you are using a couple of aftermarket batteries there.

I've bought a couple too, for my two M8's, and found them reasonable, but all considered now buy only Leica brand.

I'd run the camera down completely and then charge completely...this way the battery indicator seems reasonably accurate.  The M8's have slow rundown, so sometimes I'd carry spare, or not, just depends what and where you are going.

To completely exhaust the batteries one needs to leave the camera ON, and the "Auto Off" to OFF. No need to have it on play.  Takes overnight to exhaust. It doesn't hurt the camera.

To get a full recharge to show on the indicator, on after market batteries, they need to be fully discharged, and then fully charged with the charger. 

...

hi davjd

thank you for your reply . i will try just leaving the camera on to discharge the battery , and try to just run the camera down in use and carry an extra battery .

[tommonego@gmail.com]

I have had 2 3rd party M8 batteries die on me in the last year, one was only 2 years old. The camera came with 2 batteries one was iffy and died, the other (from Amazon) I bought and that is the 2 year old one that isn't working. B&H has had the M8/9 Leica batteries on sale recently so I picked one up. It is so much better than my previous "good" battery.

[cobbu2]

M8 batteries, whether original Leica or aftermarket, are very unpredictable in my experience, no matter what charge/discharge regimen I used. I’ve had original batteries quit on me without warning and the aftermarket batteries work fine and vice versa. That’s why, for a day’s outing, I bring 2 charged spares. I rarely had to use the 2nd spare, but I always had peace of mind.

[farnz]

On 11/18/2021 at 11:49 PM, cobbu2 said:

M8 batteries, whether original Leica or aftermarket, are very unpredictable in my experience, no matter what charge/discharge regimen I used. I’ve had original batteries quit on me without warning and the aftermarket batteries work fine and vice versa. That’s why, for a day’s outing, I bring 2 charged spares. I rarely had to use the 2nd spare, but I always had peace of mind.

it's always been the same.  I bought my first M8 in 2006 and learnt quickly that once the battery capacity meter dropped the first bar to change to a freshly charged battery regardless.  I still do it today with my second M8 and I've been free of problems like stuck shutter, the camera dying suddenly and needing the battery to be taken out and put back in etc.

Pete.

[cobbu2]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

2 hours ago, farnz said:

it's always been the same.  I bought my first M8 in 2006 and learnt quickly that once the battery capacity meter dropped the first bar to change to a freshly charged battery regardless.  I still do it today with my second M8 and I've been free of problems like stuck shutter, the camera dying suddenly and needing the battery to be taken out and put back in etc.

Pete.

A wise and prudent practice for sure, the best way to avoid surprises.