Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/08/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I don't know how they are exactly the same, when some are sold rated at 1700 mAh, some 1800 mAh, and others at 1900 mAH (the same as Leica branded.) Some are even sold with this disclaimer: *"Note: this battery can use in Leica M9,but only can charged by Leica M8 Charger" *My mileage really varied from some of you. I was NEVER happy or comfortable with aftermarket Leica batteries performance.* * On Tue, Aug 7, 2012 at 3:32 PM, Phil Forrest <photo.forrest at earthlink.net>wrote: > The batteries are exactly the same but if the word "Leica" on the > battery makes one feel better then that's fine too. $130 vs $19. I shot > both the M8 and M9 since January 2010 and the only problems I had with > batteries were one non-OEM that arrived DOA and another original Leica > battery that caused sensor problems and shutter faults. That's a small > sample of only 8 batteries but that was my experience. > > Phil Forrest > > > > On Tue, 07 Aug 2012 16:07:20 -0400 > Mark Rabiner <mark at rabinergroup.com> wrote: > > > Again I go back to your seven thousand dollar investment. Filled with > > delicate electronics and costing seven grand usd. > > THEN having spent the 7 grand we don't want to spend another hundred > > bucks on a backup battery we want to subject this mechanism to an > > unknown entity at cut rate prices.? Not my mentality at all. > > The minute I'd see a light blinking faster than I thought I'd > > remember it blinking I'd go "quick put the real battery in there > > before it shorts out". > > > > Mark William Rabiner > > Photography > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/ > > > > > > > From: Frank Filippone <red735i at earthlink.net> > > > Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> > > > Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2012 10:56:37 -0700 > > > To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> > > > Subject: Re: [Leica] Battery Report M9 Firmware 1.196 > > > > > > There is only 1 application for the Leica battery... otherwise > > > called the BLI-312. Leica M8/9 cameras. Overall, substantially > > > less than 200,000 have been made in the past 6 years or so. ( even > > > if I am wrong with the 200,00, certainly no one would think Leica > > > made a Million M8 or M9 cameras....) > > > > > > The market for Leica M8/9 batteries is so small, there is only 1 > > > conclusion that can be drawn.... All the batteries, Leica branded > > > or otherwise, are from the same manufacturer(s). > > > > > > The ones that Leica gets are tested and have passed some Leica > > > criteria. The batteries you get from aftermarket companies are the > > > ones that may have passed, are overruns, or failed some test > > > criteria of Leica. You do not know which. > > > > > > Further, in MOST firmware, there is a check program that looks for > > > the current residing version. If the proposed version is more > > > recent than the old, you can upgrade. If the proposed version is > > > older than the current residing version, you can not upgrade. It > > > is likely Leica employed this in the design of the new FW. ( I > > > think I remember something on this in this forum in the past.... > > > ) If you are going to try this, you will need to have kept on > > > your computer or SDHC Card, the old version of the FW, as Leica > > > keeps only 1 version available for download at one time.... V1.196 > > > currently > > > > > > More further, if you are chicken to upgrade FW because of your > > > supply of aftermarket batteries, remember that the next version of > > > the FW will be based upon this version of FW. All the worries you > > > have about batteries will be repeated ad nauseum in the future. > > > Which means that IF Leica does improve something ( not only an > > > added feature, but a real improvement), unless you bite the bullet, > > > you are locked out of that improvement. Eventually you will drink > > > the Kool Aid. > > > > > > Lastly... the aftermarket batteries cost 1/10 those of Leica > > > heritage. If the aftermarket batteries only last 1/2 as long, and > > > cost 1/10 as much, you are 5 times more ahead of the game...... > > > Basic logic says that if you need or want a mess of batteries > > > ( long trip, remote trip, long shooting session, etc) you are best > > > off financially buying the aftermarket ones, cull out he bad ones, > > > and keep the good ones..... but they may not last as long..... no > > > big deal, remember they saved you $140 each. > > > > > > Forget the Apple battery comparisons... Apple makes so many > > > computers, that it pays an aftermarket manufacturer to make a > > > battery from their own designs. Some of these designs will use > > > parts that are different, "differently" toleranced, or just plain > > > defective. Not true with Leica. Not enough market to be worth the > > > production and marketing headaches. > > > > > > My M9 comes back from the Doctor tonight. I will install the new > > > version of the FW, and try out my OEM and old non-OEM batteries and > > > report back. Hopefully that will put this to bed, finally. > > > > > > Frank Filippone > > > Red735i at earthlink.net > > > > > > > > > Anyway, all three fit the M charger, work fine in the M9, and > > > report a full charge. > > > > > > FWIW, I have had extensive experience with replacement batteries > > > for Apple notebooks. Like Leica, the Apple batteries seem > > > over-priced, and the Chinese replacement batteries are way cheaper. > > > When you first get one they seem to work okay, and once in a while > > > you get a good one that holds its charge and you feel smart because > > > you just saved over $100. However, some Chinese batteries have > > > small tolerance problems, and don't fit precisely (it might fall > > > off). Some don't fully charge, or recharge. In that case you just > > > lost your $25 bargain. From this I would say that the suspect > > > battery has to be tested in an M9 to be sure. > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Leica Users Group. > > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > -- > http://philipforrestphoto.wordpress.com/ > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/philforrest > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > -- Regards, Sonny http://sonc.com/look/ Natchitoches, Louisiana USA