My first dSLR-travel and battery issue

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Popty Ping

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Simon
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Hi folks

I'm new to this forum and photography - only joined Friday and have already learnt a lot!

I'm buying my first dSLR next week (hopefully)! I'd pretty much decided on the Nikon d3100, but I've being reading about the Pentax k-r today. The reason I'm wobbling is I've been on a few holidays in recent years (particulary bus trips in US) where 30 odd people people have fought over one/two charging points. The Pentax's flexibility with batteries is therefore attractive to me.

I know the Nikon doesn't take AA, but I've been reading about battery grips (completely new to me!). There's not one for this camera yet, but it sounds like one might become available at some point. If one does, do these tend to have AA capability? That might sway me back to Nikon! I know I could get a spare but this extra backup would be great on such trips.

Also, are there any other options I'm missing!

Any help gratefully received!


Si
 
Nikon won't produce a grip for the D3100, they never do for the entry-level models, the Chinese manufacturer Phottix, who trade on Ebay as Etefore, were slated to introduce one at the end of last year, so if it's not on the market already I'd imaging it won't be long, price will probably be around the £30 mark direct from HK.
 
Thanks mate

I've read about Phottix. I didn't even know what a battery grip was until this week! Do they tend to allow AA batteries to be used?

Si
 
Yes, a battery grip is one solution. It also makes the camera larger and heavier, and it's easier to use in portrait orientation. These may or may not be important for you.

Personally, I wouldn't use a grip on holiday or a trip just to get more battery backup. I'd rather get a couple of extra batteries - light and don't take up space.
 
There are lots of power saving tips too, don't view your images in camera for starters.

Although, you should get 500+ pictures from a single charge.
 
Hi dougie

I thought about a solar charger. Any experience - do they supply enough power to charge them?

Thanks to everyone for replying btw!
 
Last time I used a solar charger was on 4 NiCad's in Arizona. It went in the bin a week later.
 
Popty Ping said:
Hi dougie

I thought about a solar charger. Any experience - do they supply enough power to charge them?

Thanks to everyone for replying btw!
Click to expand...

A little. But only in the UK, and never used solar to charge a camera battery.

I have a freeloader one and it would need a lot more sun that the uk can offer to charge up quick enough to be useful I think. But sunnier climates might be ok.
 
Hi Simon

I'm not sure re the Nikon, but I know the Canon grip (BG-E2) has a battery tray to allow for AA batteries, but I wouldn't know how long they'd last and how much it would cost on AA batteries.

I'd be tempted to purchase another battery or 2 as spares, should easily last you for the trips out and you could then charge up in the hotel at night ??
 
I took my nikon d200 on tour with a band around Europe for 2 weeks. I took approximately 200 pictures every night. I had 3 genuine nikon batteries with me and never needed a charger. I'm not sure how the pentax batteries are, but they last a lot longer than you think.
 
On my D300 I could get 1000 shots on one charge, buy a spare battery make sure you rotate them, and use them a few times before you go so they are achieving full capacity.
 
Hi folks

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply.

Andyred-I hear what you're saying, but I like to do bus trips where we camp at night. That can easily mean 2/3 weeks away from an electricity socket!

I've done a couple of great 2 week trips in the US in recent years. They were fab, but it was hard work getting to the charge point and battery life was always in the back if my mind.

Given these cameras shoot HD video, I might want to use that feature too.

I'm probably bring overcautious, but it is playing on my mind
 
OK. AA batteries do still have an advantage here. You can buy them just about anywhere, and a couple of back up sets of Eneloops will hold their charge for months, or longer. Alternatively, it may be worth checking out solar. I don't know much about this, but I believe people do use them on expeditions where there isn't any access to mains power at all. Try some of the outdoor websites.

I still think a few back up batteries will be sufficient though. Hope you find the solution you want/need.
 
Can you not get the Nikon and then just get a relatively cheap car charger?
 
Popty Ping said:
Hi folks

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply.

Andyred-I hear what you're saying, but I like to do bus trips where we camp at night. That can easily mean 2/3 weeks away from an electricity socket!

I've done a couple of great 2 week trips in the US in recent years. They were fab, but it was hard work getting to the charge point and battery life was always in the back if my mind.

Given these cameras shoot HD video, I might want to use that feature too.

I'm probably bring overcautious, but it is playing on my mind
Click to expand...

Ah well in that case a very good supply of AA batteries may well be on order if it's possible to use them.

Anyway, hope you have a great time ...
 
Personally (and this hurts me as a Nikon user!) I'd be inclined to go with the Pentax. If power is the biggest issue, and the Pentax can run on AA's, it seems like a no-brainer. You're going to get great pics from any DSLR, as a beginner people telling you one is better than the other is pretty much brand bias.

I've got a D40 and generic Chinese grip, and it does indeed add the ablity to use AA's, as well as two li-ion batts. Such is the battery life of the D40, especially with two lithium batteries, I've never had to use it on AA's. But I've never spent months crossing the US on a bus either :D
 
Hi Rommus and everyone else

I didn't go for months unfortunately-they're just a little 2/3 week break from work.

I am being over cautious really, but I just remember being on trips and there being waiting lists to use the 1 or 2 sockets available.

One other thing Ive been thinking about is - if I got the Nikon and charged a spare battery just before the trip started, what would the charge on the battery be like after say 7-10 days.

I must admit I'm not sure of the way the usual batteries (Li-on or whatever they're called) operate and the best way to look after them. I have got a handy guide from the Internet though.

Thanks again for all the help.


Si
 
Lithium Ion batteries hold charge very well. I'm not sure about the specific performance of the Nikon batteries, but I imagine they'd be much the same as Canon? I left a charged battery in my 30D when I went overseas for a few weeks, got held up, and came back 6 months later. The camera switched on instantly and I shot it for a few days after that. I can't remember if the battery had run down by then, but I don't normally carry on using it until it dies.

One tip. Buy the extra battery a few weeks before you go. They usually need to be charged, used, and recharged a few times to develop full storage capacity.
 
I can't speak for the d3100, but the d40 is incredibly light on battery consumption, I can shoot for days on a single charge, provided I'm not using flash; the flash and display are the main battery eaters. You can usually set any camera to minimise use of the screen. I don't think the 3100 has a top lcd, so you'd need to use the screen to alter settings.

If you need flash and go down the nikon route, their little sb400 runs off 2 AA's and is very small indeed, am sure there'll be a pentax equivalent too.

All my lithium batteries hold their charge very well, barely any battery drain even after weeks of non use. To minimise any current leakage, keep batteries out of the camera until needed, but this isn't a massive issue.
 
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