How many Batteries do you have for your digital M?

[raid]

I have one battery for the M8. I will get an Asian one soon.
How come thatthe vast majority bought Chinese back-up batteries while some state that Leica batteries are better? When you spend several thousand Dollars on the M8 or M9, I would not risk my camera if the off-brand batteries could damage it.

[nightlight]

I only have a battery on the m8.2, it lasts me for about 500 shots and so have never felt the need for a second one. I don't make much use of the LCD though, just occasionally to change ISO.

[raid]

I have one by Leica and three back-up batteries by some other brand.

[jaapv]

It seems to vary by the day. I have about eight Leica batteries and a bunch of other brand ones gathering dust in my cupboard.

[Richard G]

I just bought a second one, an M8 battery. I wonder if it matters if it was sitting on a shelf for three or four years.

[Snowbuzz]

1 Leica, 1 off-brand.

[Pioneer]

Two Leica brand batteries. Use the one till it dies, swap it for the charged one and put the dead one in the charger. Seems to work out ok.

[raid]

I now have two original batteries and five batteries that are made by other companies.

[IEDEI]

2 and both original Leica. I would never buy 3rd part ones due to lack of quality control.

[raytoei@gmail.com]

2 original batteries + a charger. had some problems when power source was intermittent during my holiday to DPRK in 2012.

raytoei

[topoxforddoc]

I have 2 genuine Leica batteries for my M9 and 7 batteries for my two DMRs. The battery life on the M9 is great and way better than the DMR.

[raid]

I am not seeing any problems due to off brand batteries so far.

[x-ray]

Have any of you on this forum ACTUALLY had your camera damaged by a 3rd party battery. I'm not talking "I read on the other forum" but want to know first hand experience of damage.

I haven't yet found anyone with first hand experience of damage. My guess, Leica is trying to scare folks into spending another $125 for a $6 battery.

I have both Leica and Chinese with no problems from either.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by x-ray

Have any of you on this forum ACTUALLY had your camera damaged by a 3rd party battery. I'm not talking "I read on the other forum" but want to know first hand experience of damage.

(A) why spend thousands of dollars on camera gear, and skimp on a $100 battery and choose a $20 one? really makes no sense.

(B) 3rd party batteries nearly never perform like originals. i've experienced this time and time again with any electronics....as well as Leica.

(C) it's an odd thing to ask how many have had damage....i think that's what we are trying to avoid here by buying proper batteries.

[LCT]

Never got the least damage with my dozen generics which perform the same as originals mostly and saved me a lot of money. Only problem with M8 and M9 is one have to discharge totally the battery in the camera before recharging it.

[x-ray]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

(A) why spend thousands of dollars on camera gear, and skimp on a $100 battery and choose a $20 one? really makes no sense.

(B) 3rd party batteries nearly never perform like originals. i've experienced this time and time again with any electronics....as well as Leica.

(C) it's an odd thing to ask how many have had damage....i think that's what we are trying to avoid here by buying proper batteries.

Why throw money away when you don't have to. I've run 3rd party batteries in my Canons when I had them (6years) and never has an issue and they lasts just as long as the Canon brand. My aftermarket batteries for my M9 perform the same as my Leica brand. I just don't see any need to buy a $125 battery if a $6 works just as well. I don't see it as skimping but see it as buying wisely. I almost never pay retail for major things. I save thousands of dollars a year buying wisely.

[Richard G]

Originally Posted by LCT

Only problem with M8 and M9 is one have to discharge totally the battery in the camera before recharging it.

Can this be true? I've never done it. Lithium batteries for laptops don't need this either.

[LCT]

Originally Posted by Richard G

Can this be true? I've never done it. Lithium batteries for laptops don't need this either.

Neither batteries for other cameras AFAIK but Leicas are special as you know. If you don't do it with your M8 or M9, you will get false meter readings i'm afraid.

[gfspencer]

Originally Posted by Richard G

Can this be true? I've never done it. Lithium batteries for laptops don't need this either.

I've only discharged a Leica battery once and that was by accident. Most of the time I let them get very low. They all seem to work fine.

[x-ray]

Originally Posted by LCT

Neither batteries for other cameras AFAIK but Leicas are special as you know. If you don't do it with your M8 or M9, you will get false meter readings i'm afraid.

Rarely run them all the way down and never had a problem.

[LCT]

Then you have found rare batteries i believe. Mind to tell me which brand?