Long exposure, timelapse and the woes of battery life

[hamlet]

A grip will only double the lifespan, as it'll hold two batteries instead of your current one. No grip holds three batteries.


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That is a bummer.

The plug I linked will give you unlimited power though...


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This is true, but i cant hook it up to remote places.

 

[TCampbell]

I'm not a Nikon guy, but typically the grips do let you use either one or two batteries (it is not necessary to have both batteries in).

I'm looking at the Vello brand grip for the D3200 and here in the US (I realize you are on the other side of the pond) is about $65. The battery door is on the back, so it'd be pretty easy to swap batteries quickly as they get low.)

When I do astrophotography the camera is imaging almost non-stop for several hours. That would kill any battery so the camera runs off AC power. While that's fine in an observatory because we actually have AC power, that's probably not available to you out in the field at a train station.

 

[hamlet]

I'm not a Nikon guy, but typically the grips do let you use either one or two batteries (it is not necessary to have both batteries in).

I'm looking at the Vello brand grip for the D3200 and here in the US (I realize you are on the other side of the pond) is about $65. The battery door is on the back, so it'd be pretty easy to swap batteries quickly as they get low.)

When I do astrophotography the camera is imaging almost non-stop for several hours. That would kill any battery so the camera runs off AC power. While that's fine in an observatory because we actually have AC power, that's probably not available to you out in the field at a train station.

This is excellent news! I could stay for the full 6 hours if i buy 5 additional batteries to add it to the one that came with the body.

 

[astroNikon]

I'm not a Nikon guy, but typically the grips do let you use either one or two batteries (it is not necessary to have both batteries in).

I'm looking at the Vello brand grip for the D3200 and here in the US (I realize you are on the other side of the pond) is about $65. The battery door is on the back, so it'd be pretty easy to swap batteries quickly as they get low.)

When I do astrophotography the camera is imaging almost non-stop for several hours. That would kill any battery so the camera runs off AC power. While that's fine in an observatory because we actually have AC power, that's probably not available to you out in the field at a train station.

I'm going to have to see your setup as you live only 20 miles or so away. My astro stuff is simple unfortunately.

 

[Light Guru]

I addition to a battery grip there are some settings you can change to conserve power.

Turn off the preview on the LCD, and switch to manual exposure and manual focus. Turning those things off means the camera las les to do with each shot and thus uses less power.

 

[hamlet]

I addition to a battery grip there are some settings you can change to conserve power.

Turn off the preview on the LCD, and switch to manual exposure and manual focus. Turning those things off means the camera las les to do with each shot and thus uses less power.

Well thank you. I use M mode all day everyday now.

 

[Bulb]

The most convenient option:
Attach an AC adapter to your camera. The AC adapter can be plugged into a power inverter in your car or a generator.

The less convenient option:
Buy a grip (or two). Make sure the batteries are Nikon-made and not third-party. Have an extra set of batteries if the first set runs out. Turn off all of the image previews, LCD lights, AF, stabilizer, etc.

The Bill Gates option:
Buy 10 Nikon D4 cameras, 10 grips, and 20 Nikon batteries. When a camera's battery loses its charge then simply pocket the card, throw the camera away, and ask your servant to order a new one. Continue shooting forever as you set the record for the world's longest and most complex time lapse whilst you simultaneously cure malaria.

Option #4: If the train station has a ticket booth then ask them if you can run an extension cord for an AC adapter.

 

[hamlet]

Cant seem to find a nikon grip. I would like to buy their first party hardware.

 

[erotavlas]

I have the exact same problem as you, but I'm using a Sony NEX 5N. and for me its worse because you can't disable the LCD viewfinder. But regardless I managed to shoot a time lapse of the night sky for over 4 hours with 827 shots. It was a long ordeal as I had to stay awake until 4AM in order to keep swapping / charging the batteries several times to keep it running. Swapping out the batteries quickly didn't seem to have any negative effects in the smoothness of the timelapse. I just shut it down, popped the door open and change the battery without moving the camera or tripod I guess it depends what interval and exposure you use. I you use an interval between shots that give you enough time to swap the battery then your good.

Since I want to do something else or have a nap while my camera is working I decided to buy an inexpensive third party AC adaptor for times when I can haul a power pack out into the field, which I usually do anyway when I have my telescope with me But for those times you need more portability the adaptor has a detachable connector. Someone in another thread suggested determining the exact DC voltage your camera requires and putting together your own power pack out of D Cell batteries, and connecting that to the AC adaptor. I want to try this eventually.

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...t-time-lapse-remote-location.html#post3049377

 

[hamlet]

Thank you, that looks like a really good idea. I actually ordered a dozen nikon batteries just a couple of days ago. It should sustain me for the entirety of my photo sessions.

 

[Braineack]

Cant seem to find a nikon grip. I would like to buy their first party hardware.

they don't make one for your camera.

 

[hamlet]

I noticed. I didn't feel comfortable with trusting my cam to a third party product, but i am not in a position to abstain from buying one. So i looked up one that is similarly priced to the originals of the higher nikon models and read some reviews and bought that one. I just can't have a cheap one melting the inside of my battery holder or short circuiting it.