Sony A1 Exposures per battery charge

[etiennescamera]

I had an interesting experience this weekend, where I accompanied my wife to an out of town dog jumping and agility competition, taking my camera along just to take a few shots of our own dogs, but then arriving there and being told by the organisers that they had forgotten to arrange and official event photographer and asked whether I could help out. I told them that I had only two batteries for the weekend and had not bothered packing a charger since I didn't expect to take too many photos, but I would do what I could until my batteries run out.

To my great surprise, I got nearly 2300 exposures per battery for a total of almost 4600 shots over two days (they will just have to make another plan for the third day). This is far more than I expected and I believe significantly more than advertised by Sony.

I was wondering what the experience of others on this forum is?

 

[iamdlewis]

I find that the batteries tend to last somewhere in the 4 hours a charge range basically regardless of the number of images that I take unless I am doing a lot of tracking shots. I know I had a day waiting on eagles to do something in which I got about 200 images on a charge over 4 hours and another day in which I got around 5700 over 2.5 hours (there was still like 10% charge left but no light left) shooting swallows. I have been on plenty of outings in which I am out for around 4 hours and take in the 2000 range of shots with the battery being nearly dead.

 

[etiennescamera]

I find that the batteries tend to last somewhere in the 4 hours a charge range basically regardless of the number of images that I take unless I am doing a lot of tracking shots. I know I had a day waiting on eagles to do something in which I got about 200 images on a charge over 4 hours and another day in which I got around 5700 over 2.5 hours (there was still like 10% charge left but no light left) shooting swallows. I have been on plenty of outings in which I am out for around 4 hours and take in the 2000 range of shots with the battery being nearly dead.

Interesting. I have never thought about it in terms of time and have no idea how long I spent actually taking photos over the two day period, since the competition happens in fits and starts, with new courses being built for different class dogs and height adjustment of the obstacles for different size dogs.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

On warm days I will maybe use 2/3rds of capacity with the camera being on for most of the day, amount of shots varies of course. Cold days will kill a battery in half a day, and very hot days not much more. Ambient temperature was probably spot on for efficiency on the days you shot.

 

[etiennescamera]

On warm days I will maybe use 2/3rds of capacity with the camera being on for most of the day, amount of shots varies of course. Cold days will kill a battery in half a day, and very hot days not much more. Ambient temperature was probably spot on for efficiency on the days you shot.

Another factor I never really considered. I will definitely be interested to see what happens when I visit the Okavango in December, expecting to have some very hot days there.

 

[Ralph]

If you carry a C cable with a usb on the other end you can charge your battery that way.
I keep one in my bag as well as a power pack and if I run out I can charge the battery this way.
It really does work. And or any USB port you can plug the C end cable to will do the same thing.

 

[etiennescamera]

If you carry a C cable with a usb on the other end you can charge your battery that way.
I keep one in my bag as well as a power pack and if I run out I can charge the battery this way.
It really does work. And or any USB port you can plug the C end cable to will do the same thing.

Good advice, thanks

 

[AlphaWorld]

I had an interesting experience this weekend, where I accompanied my wife to an out of town dog jumping and agility competition, taking my camera along just to take a few shots of our own dogs, but then arriving there and being told by the organisers that they had forgotten to arrange and official event photographer and asked whether I could help out. I told them that I had only two batteries for the weekend and had not bothered packing a charger since I didn't expect to take too many photos, but I would do what I could until my batteries run out.

To my great surprise, I got nearly 2300 exposures per battery for a total of almost 4600 shots over two days (they will just have to make another plan for the third day). This is far more than I expected and I believe significantly more than advertised by Sony.

I was wondering what the experience of others on this forum is?

The CIPA rating is never going to be a good guide to battery life - it involves shooting single shots and lots of chimping. I've achieved similar results. You get a lot more shots by shooting bursts. Shooting long bursts I have managed to get almost 4000 shots to a single charge.

 

[etiennescamera]

The CIPA rating is never going to be a good guide to battery life - it involves shooting single shots and lots of chimping. I've achieved similar results. You get a lot more shots by shooting bursts. Shooting long bursts I have managed to get almost 4000 shots to a single charge.

Makes sense, thank you. I was shooting relatively short bursts of 10-15 exposures at 10 fps and chimping a bit, but not too much. Also found an article now about how the CIPA ratings are done and it seems to really be aimed at seriously draining the battery.

 

[AlphaWorld]

Makes sense, thank you. I was shooting relatively short bursts of 10-15 exposures at 10 fps and chimping a bit, but not too much. Also found an article now about how the CIPA ratings are done and it seems to really be aimed at seriously draining the battery.

Well, I think they are trying to simulate how a beginner might use the camera, so beginners don’t think “they say 2000 shots and I got 200!”

That, and yes, they are trying hard to drain the battery so the test can be done fairly quickly

 

[Jeff A]

I have never tested my batteries for time or capacity but I am very pleased with how well they hold up.. I have been known to inadvertently leave my camera on sometimes and it has not hurt me too much. I could not be happier.