Olympus 12-100 and shorter battery life

I "tried" to do a search but the forum search is not working.

It found nothing for "12-100" and I know there are posts on that lens.

 

Anyone with an Olympus 12-100, I would like feedback on the effect on battery life.

 

I have a 12-100, and until somewhat recently, I did not notice that the battery life on my EM-mk1 was significantly reduced when using that lens. But I had not used it for longer than an hour.

 

With a Panasonic-Lumix 12-60, I get about 4 hours of continuous run time.

With the 12-100 and Sync IS on, I get a bit more than 2 hours run time.

 

I first noticed this shooting a Lacrosse game in mid 40F temp. For 2 games (about 3 hours total) I went through 2-1/2 batteries. I expected to only use one, and when I switched to battery #3, the alarms started going off in my head. I figure the cold was hard on the batteries, but did the lens suck that much power?

Turns out that the lens did suck power. I shot a baseball doubleheader in 80F temp, and my run time was about 2-1/2 hours per battery.

 

Around home this is not an issue as I pack my spare batteries, and charging is not a problem. But this increased battery drain made me buy a 4th battery for my EM1. So I am reconsidering it's use for traveling.

On my last trip with the PLumix 12-60 and 4 hour run time, I went through 2-1/2 batteries in a day.

At the rate I experienced, I project that the 12-100 would go through 6 batteries in a day. Or I have to power down the camera a LOT more often. And charging at night would be a pain; I would have to carry FOUR battery chargers and a power strip, to charge 4 batteries at once, and charge in 2 shifts.

Can't say I've noticed vs 12-40mm PRO (with the EM-Mk II). Perhaps the IS on the lens takes a bit more power? You could switch it off (you still have IBIS)? Got to say I always turn my camera off for any period of time, even between shots. The start up time is the same as when you start up from sleep-induced power off.

The 40% greater capacity of the EM1-mk2 battery is making an upgrade tempting.

I have two EM1.2. One has the 300mm mounted and stays on the kitchen table for shooting birds.

The second body has various lenses mounted including the 12-100mm.

 

I haven't performed a careful comparison but my impression is that the 300mm uses more power than the other lenses.

Can't say I've noticed vs 12-40mm PRO (with the EM-Mk II). Perhaps the IS on the lens takes a bit more power? You could switch it off (you still have IBIS)? Got to say I always turn my camera off for any period of time, even between shots. The start up time is the same as when you start up from sleep-induced power off.

 

duh

Why did I not think of running just IBIS??? :confused:

I think as I get older, I do not think as well.o_O

Hi Gary, you and me both.

Well I think battery #4 is defective.

Run time tonight was about 1 hour (fully charged) :( The other batteries go about 2-1/2 hours.

I sent a message to the seller, but being in HK, I don't know if they will do any thing. And postage to ship it back to them would probably be high.

I would have to carry FOUR battery chargers and a power strip, to charge 4 batteries at once, and charge in 2 shifts.

 

Hi Gary, I recently discovered (on eBay and Amazon) that there are dual channel chargers available that will charge 2 batteries at a time. For some other battery types there are chargers with even more channels, but chargers for the Oly BLN-1 only seem to go up to 2.

Hi Gary, I recently discovered (on eBay and Amazon) that there are dual channel chargers available that will charge 2 batteries at a time. For some other battery types there are chargers with even more channels, but chargers for the Oly BLN-1 only seem to go up to 2.

 

But are they 2 pin or 4 pin chargers?

2 pin chargers do not utilize the PTC (Positive Temperature Control) circuit, so can overcharge the battery. Overcharged battery = swollen battery.

The battery compartment is too snug to deal with a swollen battery.

Ah, so that's what those extra pins do. All of the ones on amazon.ca seem to have only 2 pins. I've been using a generic charger because it's more compact than the Oly BCN-1 (no power cord required as on the BCN-1), but I just compared my generic charger with the BCN-1 and it only has 2 pins vs. 5 on the BCN-1. I haven't had any problems with the generic charger, but out of caution I guess I'll go back to using the BCN-1 from now on. I wish Olympus had designed it with a built-in folding plug though.

Ah, so that's what those extra pins do. All of the ones on amazon.ca seem to have only 2 pins. I've been using a generic charger because it's more compact than the Oly BCN-1 (no power cord required as on the BCN-1), but I just compared my generic charger with the BCN-1 and it only has 2 pins vs. 5 on the BCN-1. I haven't had any problems with the generic charger, but out of caution I guess I'll go back to using the BCN-1 from now on. I wish Olympus had designed it with a built-in folding plug though.

 

A charger that only has 2 pins relies on charger logic to determine when the battery is fully charged.

But, if the charger misses the fully charged point, the charger will keep on charging and over-charges the battery.

When a battery is overcharged, gas is generated. It is this gas that is generated when a battery is overcharged that causes the battery to swell. I do not think Lithium batteries are vented for over-pressure.

 

PTC is a circuit that monitors the temperature of the battery. It is primarily a safety mechanism to prevent a battery explosion/fire due to over-heating from over-charge, and on some designs also over-discharge. For this dicussion, by catching and terminating the overcharge it minimizes gas generated from overcharging, and minimizes swelling.

 

BTW, the battery charging design/circuit may differ by brand. Canon may do theirs different than Nikon, which may do theirs different than Sony, which may do theirs different than Olympus. And even within brands it may differ.