Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/01/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hello luggers: I was somewhat concerned with the battery life of the two lithium = cells in the new R8 motor-winder (type D123A). Maybe these cells are relatively cheap in the US, as pointed out in = an earlier message on the subject, but the typical situation is = different in Europe. Maybe it could just be better and more = cost-effective to wait for the motor-drive that will use 8 AA = batteries. So, I asked the Leica information service in Solms about this matter. = The Acrobat PDF file on the Leica website says that up to 15 films of = 36 images can be shot with one set of batteries at -20=B0 Celsius. I = asked how long they would last under more normal circumstances. Answer: Unter normalen Testbedingungen bei Raumtemperatur k=F6nnen mit dem = MOTOR-WINDER R8 im Durchschnitt bis zu 30 Filme =E0 36 mit einem = Batterie-Satz belichtet werden. Es gibt gro=DFe = Qualit=E4tsunterschiede bei den Lithium-Batterien, so da=DF es sich = um Durchschnittswerte handelt, meistens konnten 35 bis 40 Filme = belichtet werden. Um die Kosten zu senken wird es das Power-Pack mit eingebautem = wiederaufladbaren Akku geben. Dieses Power-Pack ist f=FCr Juni/Juli = 98 vorgesehen. Der MOTOR-DRIVE R8 ist f=FCr die "photokina 98" (September 98), = geplant. Dieser wird voraussichtlich mit AA-Batterien betrieben = werden. Translation: Under normal test circumstances at room temperature an average of up = to 30 films of 36 images can be shot with the motor-winder R8. There = are big differences in quality among different lithium batteries, so = this figure is really an average. In most cases 35 to 40 films could = be shot. To reduce costs we will bring out a Power-Pack with built-in = rechargeable batteries. This is scheduled for June/July of this year. The motor-drive R8 is scheduled for the Photokina 98 (September 98). = It will function with AA batteries. I am not sure how this works out for you, but at a price of around = 350 BEF a piece for Duracell or UCAR for one lithium type D123A = battery, this means 700 BEF for let's say 35 films. This comes out at = a price of 20 BEF for one films, which roughly equals 1 DEM or half a = dollar per film. I find that rather expensive. Maybe it could be better to wait for the motor-drive that will = operate on normal alkaline AA batteries. 8 such batteries would set = me back at about 400 BEF for a good brand. Any more film squeezed out of these batteries above 20 would be net = gain in comparison to the motor-winder. And I take it that the R8 = does not consume power as the Nikon F5 (for which 8 AA alkaline = batteries last for 15 films!), so one would have a more = cost-effective solution with the motor-drive. Of course, on the other hand, the motor-drive is much bulkier and = heavier, and who really needs 3.5 frames per second? For my purpose, = the motor-winder would be perfect: 2 frames per second, slim, = relatively light and not a burden to carry around. I am just not sure what to do ... Pascal Belgium - -------------------------------------------------------- Sent on a Macintosh PowerBook G3, the fastest laptop on the planet - -------------------------------------------------------- <<< PGP public key available on request >>>