Leica M10-R battery life

[ArielL]

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Hello to you all,

I was wondering if anyone knows how long the battery life of a new M10-R should last whilst having the camera continuously on - auto preview disabled, Liveview disabled, WiFi disabled, LED disabled, no Visoflex in use, no Auto mode is in use, sleep mode is disabled. The camera has the latest Software version.

I am currently only getting around 4 hours battery life on two separate batteries(8 hours in total). Today for example I only shot 30 images, however as previously stated I don't tend to turn the camera off or put it in sleep mode.

The camera has already been sent to Wetzlar and there they 'fixed' the circuit board - however now after getting it back, the battery life is exactly the same as it was, before I sent them the camera.

Was wondering if this is the normal battery life for a brand new M10-R whilst being continuously on.

Thank you in advance!

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[KeyofG]

1 hour ago, ArielL said:

Hello to you all,

I was wondering if anyone knows how long the battery life of a new M10-R should last whilst having the camera continuously on - auto preview disabled, Liveview disabled, WiFi disabled, LED disabled, no Visoflex in use, no Auto mode is in use, sleep mode is disabled. The camera has the latest Software version.

I am currently only getting around 4 hours battery life on two separate batteries(8 hours in total). Today for example I only shot 30 images, however as previously stated I don't tend to turn the camera off or put it in sleep mode.

The camera has already been sent to Wetzlar and there they 'fixed' the circuit board - however now after getting it back, the battery life is exactly the same as it was, before I sent them the camera.

Was wondering if this is the normal battery life for a brand new M10-R whilst being continuously on.

Thank you in advance!

Mine falls asleep after 5 minutes of no use so I haven’t run out of battery yet in a day. I would never think of turning it on and never letting it fall asleep. 
 

seems more like an experiment than real world use. Seems reasonable that the battery would die after 4 hours of being on non-stop. 

 

Edited May 7, 2022 by KeyofG

[ArielL]

9 hours ago, KeyofG said:

Mine falls asleep after 5 minutes of no use so I haven’t run out of battery yet in a day. I would never think of turning it on and never letting it fall asleep. 
 

seems more like an experiment than real world use. Seems reasonable that the battery would die after 4 hours of being on non-stop. 

 

Thank you for your reply. I have figured out the battery drainage is most probably caused by using Multifield metering.

[jdlaing]

Not a really great idea to run an M digital camera that long due to heat buildup on the sensor and chip package.

[KeyofG]

5 hours ago, ArielL said:

Thank you for your reply. I have figured out the battery drainage is most probably caused by using Multifield metering.

The M10R only uses Center Weighted metering. The other metering modes only work with the live view or the EVF mounted. As soon as you turn the LCD off and just take pictures normally with the rangefinder it defaults to center weighted. 
 

the Leica M11 meters like a mirrorless camera, so the other meters do work with the rangefinder due to it uses the sensor to meter and the shutter stays open the whole time. With our M10s the shutter is closed. That’s why the shutter blades look like a grey card basically. 
 

here I am. Been taking photos for 2 hours. I’ve taken 40 so far. I’m at 85%. But like I said, the camera must be allowed to sleep when I’m not taking pictures. 
 

my sleep settings are set at 5 minutes … 2 minutes is annoying  

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Edited May 8, 2022 by KeyofG

[PCPix]

 I just did a five day shoot last week using an M10R. Sleep time set to five minutes, review set to 3s, occasional use of live view: used two batteries per day (9:00-4:30 shoot day). Total number of images taken 3600 across the whole project (L jpeg and DNG of everything), roughly 360 images and 3.5 hours off each charge.

ArielL - you didn’t say what your reasoning was for wanting the camera on all the time?  I’m not sure letting the camera stay awake all the time is necessary, the five minutes sleep setting practically never gets in the way and I can’t say I had any instance where I was caught out by the camera being asleep. As mentioned by others a shorter sleep time can become annoying.  

What also may be apparent, is the camera uses ‘almost’ as much battery switched on doing nothing as it does taking pictures... you got 4 hours and 30 (or 15??) images compared to my 3.5 hours and 360 images per battery. 

My advice really would be to try setting the 5 minute sleep time and see if this improves your experience. 

[ArielL]

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On 5/8/2022 at 4:57 AM, KeyofG said:

The M10R only uses Center Weighted metering. The other metering modes only work with the live view or the EVF mounted. As soon as you turn the LCD off and just take pictures normally with the rangefinder it defaults to center weighted. 
 

the Leica M11 meters like a mirrorless camera, so the other meters do work with the rangefinder due to it uses the sensor to meter and the shutter stays open the whole time. With our M10s the shutter is closed. That’s why the shutter blades look like a grey card basically. 
 

here I am. Been taking photos for 2 hours. I’ve taken 40 so far. I’m at 85%. But like I said, the camera must be allowed to sleep when I’m not taking pictures. 
 

my sleep settings are set at 5 minutes … 2 minutes is annoying  

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Thank you for your detailed reply. Much appreciated!

[ArielL]

On 5/8/2022 at 3:30 PM, PCPix said:

 I just did a five day shoot last week using an M10R. Sleep time set to five minutes, review set to 3s, occasional use of live view: used two batteries per day (9:00-4:30 shoot day). Total number of images taken 3600 across the whole project (L jpeg and DNG of everything), roughly 360 images and 3.5 hours off each charge.

ArielL - you didn’t say what your reasoning was for wanting the camera on all the time?  I’m not sure letting the camera stay awake all the time is necessary, the five minutes sleep setting practically never gets in the way and I can’t say I had any instance where I was caught out by the camera being asleep. As mentioned by others a shorter sleep time can become annoying.  

What also may be apparent, is the camera uses ‘almost’ as much battery switched on doing nothing as it does taking pictures... you got 4 hours and 30 (or 15??) images compared to my 3.5 hours and 360 images per battery. 

My advice really would be to try setting the 5 minute sleep time and see if this improves your experience. 

Thank you for your detailed reply.

My main reasoning for having the camera on, is for it to be ready at any given moment to be able to photograph. I have never turned any of my cameras off in the past, or had a lens cap on the lens for the same reason. Never have I encountered a battery drain so fast with only having shot 15-30 images. Having the camera fall asleep - means the camera needs to be awoken from that sleep - which from my tests takes a few seconds with this camera.

In any case - unfortunately, I now know that the only way to conserve battery life would be to let it sleep.

It would be great if there was a way to disable the light meter at times (as I believe that to be the main cause for the drainage - as it is constantly metering)- however I have not found that option anywhere on my web searches in regards.

Have a great week!

[ArielL]

On 5/7/2022 at 11:31 PM, jdlaing said:

Not a really great idea to run an M digital camera that long due to heat buildup on the sensor and chip package.

Thank you for the advice and reply.

[PCPix]

9 hours ago, ArielL said:

My main reasoning for having the camera on, is for it to be ready at any given moment to be able to photograph.

I think we all really want that - like an old film M! I used EOS1 cameras for years and never switched them off, however they wake up really quickly (almost instanly) and I do find the Leicas far slower to wake up (around 1 second).... but:

As many people have commented previously in countless other conversations, use sleep then simply press the shutter button as you are lifting the camera up and it will be awake and ready by the time you get it up to your eye - it becomes a habit very quickly and easily. If you're doing street, you should have spotted a potential 'character' and be primed well before - leaving plenty of time (well - seconds!) for the camera to be ready 😉

There is no way to switch off the metering, other than sleep.

[Leicaphile]

On 5/10/2022 at 5:27 AM, ArielL said:

My main reasoning for having the camera on, is for it to be ready at any given moment to be able to photograph

If you are paying attention the camera will be ready when you put it up to your eye. It takes about 1.5 seconds. As soon as you see something your hand should automatically go to your camera and shutter button. When you put it up to your eye it’s ready. 

[Ouroboros]

On 5/7/2022 at 10:31 PM, jdlaing said:

Not a really great idea to run an M digital camera that long due to heat buildup on the sensor and chip package.

He said everything is disabled.  If live view is not on continuously the sensor is not doing anything until the shutter is actuated, so there will be no heat and no noise issue.

I also have my M10-R set to 5 minutes as I don’t see the point of having the camera turned on if it isn’t being used.  The OP obviously has his own way of using his camera, which is fine, but the M10-R battery life is poor compared to my Nikons especially when live view is enabled or when making long exposures. 

[Ouroboros]

57 minutes ago, Summilux-asph said:

The 10R, and all M10 for that matter, battery life is adequate for a rangefinder and how this is used. We aren’t spraying 20fps auto focus Tracking birds as you would with a Nikon. 
 

I like that the M10 battery is small enough I can put in my pocket. I put an extra one and it gives you all day battery life of heavy use. Heavy for a rangefinder. I can last all day on 1 battery with an average to slow shooting day. It’ll certainly last me all morning. I’ve never been out shooting the entire day. 

Adequate for a rangefinder?  What is that supposed to mean?

My interpretation of ‘heavy use’ is clearly entirely different to yours and you go on to admit that you have ‘never been out shooting the entire day’. I do. Frequently.

I don’t ‘track birds’. and I don’t ‘spray 20fps’, but I do use cameras to make my living and I know what is ‘adequate’ and what is not.  

 

 

[Ouroboros]

45 minutes ago, Summilux-asph said:

 My choice of camera would be a GFX100S. 

 

Mine wouldn't. 

Since you mention landscapes (I wonder why!), I mainly use Leica M's, Fuji rangefinders, large format and direct vision cameras for that. 

We obviously inhabit different photography planets.  My opinions on what is adequate and what is not are based on years of experience, not on wishlists. :)

[Ouroboros]

20 minutes ago, Summilux-asph said:

That’s GFX. 

 

You're wrong! 

It seems there's a world of photography out there for you to discover!

[charlesphoto99]

41 minutes ago, Summilux-asph said:

That’s GFX. 

 

You shoot landscapes. If it works for you, great, I’m just saying long exposure landscapes > a Leica M isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.. that’s all. 

I've been shooting 'landscapes' (more like sky and sea but same difference) with an M10-R and 135mm APO. Not long exposure, but there are no rules when it comes how to make images in any genre. I know people who have made landscapes with a Holga. No, a GFX is not needed. 

[charlesphoto99]

I guess it all depends on one's definition of landscape. 10-R and M10 (mountain). The sunrise on a stick. 

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[charlesphoto99]

Yeah, the battery, even as someone who has used the M in fast paced commercial/editorial situations I've never been concerned about the battery life, other than not having an extra one with me and the price. For serious high volumes of clickage, there's better cameras/platforms than that. But it really is a camera you can take anywhere with enough imagination. M10, LR conversion.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Ouroboros]

15 hours ago, Summilux-asph said:

No I’m not. 
Same for you I guess 

You can discover more about it here 

https://fujifilm-x.com/global/products/cameras/gfx100/feature-device/

You’re talking about large format film cameras? Fine. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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you’re saying this is you under here 

These cameras aren’t a mystery to me. I think I’ve pretty much seen them all by now. But that doesn’t make the GFX any different. 

I’m not saying every landscape guy has to be out there looking like Ansel Adams. I guess you could take this 4x5? and shoot street Photography with it too. Not ideal though. 

I said, if it works for you then fantastic. We aren’t out there shooting the streets with a Rolleiflex even though it worked for Meier. It’s just a Leica M isn’t the first camera that comes to mind when I think Landscapes. 

Re read post #18.

This exchange with you is utterly boring. I’ll leave you to your wish lists.

[Camaro5]

I shot two car shows on Saturday and had 22% remaining after about 3 hours.  I only took about 60 shots total but it was hot outside, close to 100* F.  I could feel the camera getting hot and would turn it off every now and then to let it cool down.  I was also using a Visoflex 20 and a 3 stop ND to shoot wide open.  Normally I can get about 150 shots on that amount of battery but the hot weather really seems to kill it.  

At one point I had a Hasselblad X1D and that thing really hated the hot weather out here.  It was so bad that it wouldn't even function and would just freeze up.  Even with the shorter battery life in the heat, at least the M10-R works nicely if you take care to not let it get too hot.

Edited June 6, 2022 by Camaro5