I recently picked up a used A7R II body from someone locally to have as a backup to my A7R IVa. It came with non-OEM battery and charger. The non-OEM battery that came with it seemed useless as it drained incredibly fast. So, I purchased a couple of other non-OEM batteries and a charger to go with them (Enegon is the brand). These are not expensive batteries and my thought was just to get inexpensive ones at first to evaluate the camera.
Given that, these brand new batteries are also draining really fast, even with the camera turned off. I have put the camera in airplane mode and made a number of other battery-saving changes (although I don't know why any of this would have an effect if the camera is off). Still, over just one night with the camera turned off, the battery loses about 30% of its charge. This is also with no lens attached.
In using the camera, taking something like 15 shots and quickly looking at them also drains the battery by a lot, around 20 to 30%.
In searching online, I can find no helpful information as to how to solve the problem. The most interesting discussions that I can find point to the battery charger, claiming that chargers that charge slowly will improve the battery performance substantially. Is this the case? If so, is there a charger that can be recommended? I am definitely willing to buy higher quality batteries and a better charger, but I don't want to spend money and have the same problem.
Nitecore has a charger but it is a quick charger. Their products are good and I would definitely consider it as well as some of their batteries. But I still would like to know if these items would substantially reduce the battery drain.
I would stick with original Sony batteries and chargers to avoid problems like this, or worse.
Fast charging cheap non-OEM batteries that lack a thermal switch can damage them, which can in turn damage your camera. I don't think that sort of risk is worth it to save a few pennies on batteries.
molson wrote:
I would stick with original Sony batteries and chargers to avoid problems like this, or worse.
Fast charging cheap non-OEM batteries that lack a thermal switch can damage them, which can in turn damage your camera. I don't think that sort of risk is worth it to save a few pennies on batteries.
Yes, I don't mind buying the OEM products. My question is really if the battery performance will be any better.
Abuttolph wrote:
I recently picked up a used A7R II body from someone locally to have as a backup to my A7R IVa. It came with non-OEM battery and charger. The non-OEM battery that came with it seemed useless as it drained incredibly fast. So, I purchased a couple of other non-OEM batteries and a charger to go with them (Enegon is the brand). These are not expensive batteries and my thought was just to get inexpensive ones at first to evaluate the camera.
Given that, these brand new batteries are also draining really fast, even with the camera turned off. I have put the camera in airplane mode and made a number of other battery-saving changes (although I don't know why any of this would have an effect if the camera is off). Still, over just one night with the camera turned off, the battery loses about 30% of its charge. This is also with no lens attached.
In using the camera, taking something like 15 shots and quickly looking at them also drains the battery by a lot, around 20 to 30%.
In searching online, I can find no helpful information as to how to solve the problem. The most interesting discussions that I can find point to the battery charger, claiming that chargers that charge slowly will improve the battery performance substantially. Is this the case? If so, is there a charger that can be recommended? I am definitely willing to buy higher quality batteries and a better charger, but I don't want to spend money and have the same problem.
Nitecore has a charger but it is a quick charger. Their products are good and I would definitely consider it as well as some of their batteries. But I still would like to know if these items would substantially reduce the battery drain....Show more →
Buying OEM probably the surest solution to this problem. I usually get B&H 3rd party, it seems like they'd have little incentive to sell junk
Nitecore is usually good hesitant if it's fast though. An hour or more to charge is probably better imo.
These batteries are small and it doesn't sound like the ones you got are good quality.
I will have to present an opposing view on Sony original batteries. I have been using batteries sourced from Ali Express rated at 2000 Mah capacity. I do not believe the 2k rating but they are certainly a lot better than anything else I have used. One brand is Batmax, there are others. They are more expensive, but well worth the extra cost.
I appreciate the responses from everyone. Today I reset the camera, turned on airplane mode and other options that use a lot of power, then turned the camera completely off. I will check tomorrow to see what the battery has done.
Also ordered a Sony OEM charger as the next step.
I agree that I did not get the best quality batteries. They were more for initial testing with the intent to purchase better batteries if I decide to keep the camera. Even though they are not the best, I would not expect the batteries to drain as fast as they do. The next test will be with the actual Sony charger. If the battery life gets better, then that will be good info. I do plan to get higher quality batteries.
Pulling the batteries out at night is a good idea too and that may well end up being the solution.
Checked the battery this morning after re-initializing the camera yesterday evening. The charge is about the same as what it was yesterday, so that very well may have taken care of the issue. More time will tell, but it looks to be a positive sign.
FWIW I have 3 OEM Sony Batteries that were new with my A7r II in Dec 2015, and I think they are all still decent by A7r II standards. 1 gets me through a birthday party or something like that no problem. I have put over 38,000 actuations through those batteries (fairly evenly I think), and they are still going!
c360tx wrote:
FWIW I have 3 OEM Sony Batteries that were new with my A7r II in Dec 2015, and I think they are all still decent by A7r II standards. 1 gets me through a birthday party or something like that no problem. I have put over 38,000 actuations through those batteries (fairly evenly I think), and they are still going!
Very good to know - thanks! I will be buying new batteries in the not-too-distant future and appreciate the info on the Sony OEM batteries.
OEM batteries are certainly better with the problem (and better still when they're fresh) but you'll still get drain if you let the camera sit for a couple days. Just get a dual charger and be thankful the batteries are small and relatively cheap.
I have about 20 batteries for my A7r ii. Besides Sony, the RAV power and Wasabi have been great - about the same as the OEM. I don't think RAV is around any more - a pity as I thought they were the best. I have bought some "OEM" Sony's off Amazon that I believe were Chinese fakes. Anyway the Wasabi's are still around and have been good to me.
After re-initializing the camera, the non-OEM batteries that I purchased are doing a lot better. It appears that there was just some battery drain caused by the camera and the re-initialization reduced that drain substantially.
Abuttolph wrote:
After re-initializing the camera, the non-OEM batteries that I purchased are doing a lot better. It appears that there was just some battery drain caused by the camera and the re-initialization reduced that drain substantially.
This is good to know in case it ever happens to my A7R2. I’ve definitely never seen battery drain happen that fast and I use a variety of batteries, including OEM, Rav power and Wasabi. I can’t say for sure if any brand is better or worse. The OEM batteries might last a bit longer but the third party ones are so much cheaper that I personally think there’s no need to buy them.
Abuttolph wrote:
Yes, I don't mind buying the OEM products. My question is really if the battery performance will be any better.
Umm, of course it would…unless there is something wrong with the camera. No one would put up with a camera that drained a battery after 60-100 shots.
My experience with the 2-series bodies was that you get 300-450 images in normal temperature shooting with normal amounts of inspection of images after shooting.
