How many batteries for the Q2

[ymc226]

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I want a small, light and simple full frame travel camera (just consigned by TL2s) and that would be a Q2.  How may batteries do Q2 owners have?  Is one enough?  I don't take over a few hundred shots daily as my subject matter is usually family environmental portraits of wherever we are traveling.  Other than the Leica charger, is there a more compact/convenient way to charge the battery?  

I did have a Q in the past but that had a smaller battery.  

[RoySmith]

I travel with 2 batteries but it is rare that I need more than 1 fully charged battery per day.

For a travel charger I recommend the Nitecore ULSL It works very well. You’ll need a USB wall charger to power it, but you’ll probably have one to charge your device anyways. I like a USB wall charger with two ports so I can two things overnight. 
 

[Camaro5]

Two batteries is probably enough depending on how much your shooting.   I have four since my Q2 and SL2-S use the same one, and if travelling with just the Q2 I'd bring three just to be on the safe side.  

[vedivv]

29 minutes ago, RoySmith said:

I travel with 2 batteries but it is rare that I need more than 1 fully charged battery per day.

For a travel charger I recommend the Nitecore ULSL It works very well. You’ll need a USB wall charger to power it, but you’ll probably have one to charge your device anyways. I like a USB wall charger with two ports so I can two things overnight. 
 

I have the same set up. 

I prefer nitecore over Leica charger as well, as is it much smaller and more universal.  It is pretty hard to use up a fully charged battery in a day, but battery anxiety is terrible.  Plus when you are charging the battery,  electrical contacts are exposed.  So just get 2 batteries. 

[Tom Johnston]

In previous cameras (M8, M9, M10) I've always had extra batteries, but never got stranded.

I have just one battery for the Q2 and it serves me well for a day of shooting. I haven't had a problem with running out of charge. When I go out to shoot I leave with a fully charged battery. I usually charge at night when I get home or finished shooting. I haven't kept track of how many exposures I make in a day.

My usual practice is to use the viewfinder- display settings at EVF-Extended; Focus Mode- AFs; Assist Lamp- Off; Touch AF- Off; and Auto Review- Off. Power Saving Mode- Off.

I prefer not to chimp but will do so once or twice to check exposure or when conditions change noticeably.

If I was doing extensive travel I'd no doubt buy a 2nd battery. And thanks Roy for the Nitecore recommendation.

 

[M11 for me]

During a "normal" shooting day during a holiday you probably do not shoot more than 150 images. Considering you need to have with you the charging unit anyway then I think that one battery (the one in the camera) is plenty. You have to charge that battery of course every night in the hotel. 

That is how I do when I want to go light. And the main point: I never had problems with that. The same I do with my M11. Rarely I take a spare battery.

A last point: Start with one battery. You can always buy a spare one.

A final point: In your entry post you write about "a few hundred shots a day". If that means 300 then a spare battery is needed. But try to shoot less . . .

Edited October 26, 2022 by M11 for me

[ianforber]

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I have 2 batteries and use the same settings as @Tom Johnston. I shoot fewer images than you, although several will be long exposure IR shots. I’ve never needed to recharge either battery for a week’s holiday - I usually end up with one battery needing to be recharged and the other (in the camera) at about 20%. When in doubt though, take a recharger - it’s cheaper than another battery. Nitecore have had some mixed reviews here so I’d probably try to squeeze the Leica charger in my luggage. 

[Farrell Gallery]

I have one extra, and so far that's served me well, even on full day explorations. Never hurts to bring the charger too if traveling. 

[LocalHero1953]

I have five batteries, but that is because I have a SL2-S (I only need four really - an accidental purchase after a miscount produced the fifth). If I just had the Q2 I would have just two.

[stuny]

You will seldom need the second battery, but for two situations I most strongly urge you to get a second one: because if you fail to recharge overnight and only have one battery you may run flat the next day, or you may be anxious about "running out."

[iRandom]

At least two. I haven't had many opportunities to use my Q2 in the past few years and find that the battery in the camera is always dead when I do want to use it. It is not a problem since the second battery is always ready to go. 

I echo the recommendation for the Nitecore charger. It is nice and compact. Do keep the original Leica charger handy since the Nitecore is not able to reset the battery if it gets depleted too much. This sometimes happens as a result of the above.

[Trankster]

I have one spare battery and find I rarely use it if I start the day with a full or nearly full battery.  I recharge a depleted battery overnight when traveling or after a full day of photography. I mainly use the EVF and keep the LCD turned off.   If you go more than a day without access to electricity then multiple spares are a must.  I carry the Leica charger when traveling after the Nightcore failed to charge a dead battery. 

(Much the same as Tom)

 

Edited October 26, 2022 by Trankster

[ymc226]

Thank you all for your responses.  I just ordered the Q2 and an extra battery along with the Nitecore USB charger.  Early this year, I did consign my Leica SL and SL2 along with 4 extra batteries.  The SL system was too heavy and bulky, especially the zoom lenses and I rarely used it.  Only having to repurchase an extra battery, I feel more fortunate than others who have reacquired cameras and lenses.  

For those who the Nitecore charger did not reset or charge the battery, was the battery severely depleted?  I still have both a M9P and M9 Monochrom (both with replaced anti-corrosion sensors) and 6 original batteries.  I have to remember re-charge the batteries periodically as they drain even when unused.  Recently, 2 of the batteries would not initially charge on the Leica charger but after I started charging on a Delkin generic double charger (with specific Leica battery adapter plates), I was able to finish charging using the Leica charger.

[iRandom]

For me the cases where the Nitecore failed to charge the battery were after the battery got depleted by setting unused in the camera for an extended period. I've never had it happen in normal use since I change the battery when it gets down to one bar.

Putting the battery back on the Leica charger for a few minutes resets it and I can then switch it to the Nitecore.

[ravinj]

Definitely two. One is borderline for a full day's worth of shooting. Note that Nitecore does not charge the battery to 100%. At least not the one I have and I saw same feedback in a review on B&H by someone else.

[M11 for me]

vor 5 Stunden schrieb ravinj:

Definitely two

The decision has been made by the TO. He/she has ordered 2 batteries. That is fine. With all cameras I have several batteries as well.

But when you have a small budget and you ask such a question in this forum then the situation is probably different as the TO consciously ask himself the question if he/she should have one or 2 batteries to start with. Here the point comes in that most "average" users with Q2 most probably take a few dozens shots per day or maybe 150. And that is my point. An average user will be fine with 1 battery. Loading it over night is the thing to do so that every morning you have the fully loaded battery in your camera.

[ravinj]

Not sure what your point is with your long winded post in response to my short note. If you have a "small" budget, don't buy the Q2. Your average <> my average and Q2 can drain batteries fast. 

Edited October 29, 2022 by ravinj

[M11 for me]

Well yours was 2 lines and mine was 4 😄 Why does this little issue upset you?

Edited October 29, 2022 by M11 for me

[Olaf_ZG]

I always will have a spare battery, no matter which cam, which brand. 

 

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Hallo,

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[AndrewDD]

I have 3, but most of the time 2 is enough.

Two things to remember:

(1) a faster SD card greatly improves battery life as there is less buffering when writing to it

(2) shooting a lot of 4K video flogs the battery