[Charlotte]

Originally Posted by JMitchell

Sorry....er just to say I've never had a false low battery warning, and managed over 1,000 shots with it last week on one battery charge.

Jack please clear something up for me about the battery thing ... I have an EN-EL3e battery, but I can only take maybe 100-200 shots before it needs re-charging (don't quote me on that figure, it's a guestimate, since I've never actually counted). So how does the D300 fare so well with this battery

[JMitchell]

To be honest Charlotte, I have no idea. Perhaps Nikon have worked out something which allows the camera to consume less power whilst in use, because that's all I was using, the EN EL3e (no grip, too much to carry).

[Dabhand16]

Charlotte - are you sure you have the EN-EL3e battery?

My D70s bought just over two years ago has an EL3a. I thought the EL3e was developed for the D300, (or maybe the D200) but I could be wrong.

Don't forget the D300 has a CMOS sensor, so that and the different associated electronics might have a bearing.

FWIW - I saw a test on the D70s that said they got more than 2500 pictures from a charge. I've not kept a count, but I must say the battery life is astonishing on my D70s.

[Charlotte]

Graham - Yep, it's definitely the EN-EL3e, it says so on the battery.

Maybe the high shooting numbers are for JPEG rather than RAW. I also tend to use the histogram quite a bit. And maybe the D50 is just shocking, compared to other models, for battery use

[JMitchell]

My D50 seemed to last quite a long time when I was using it. Just as a side note (or two), the D50 uses EN EL3 batteries, not EN EL3e, so that could be one thing, but maybe yours is different. Also, I always shoot in RAW, and still get 1000+ shots on one charge

[Charlotte]

Originally Posted by JMitchell

the D50 uses EN EL3 batteries, not EN EL3e

It can use both. The EN-EL3e is simply an updated version of the EN-EL3.

Originally Posted by JMitchell

I always shoot in RAW, and still get 1000+ shots on one charge

I have one each of EN-EL3 and EN-EL3e batteries. Both seem to last about the same time, but I might test that out. Maybe it's my particular camera that's chewing more juice than it should be, for some reason.

[JMitchell]

Yeah I dunno, it's quite odd that. The D50 doesn't have a shot counter like the D300, so I never did actually know how many shots I got out of one charge, but I can't imagine 300 is the right amount...or maybe it is. Doesn't CMOS consume a lot less power?

[LJR69]

Coo first post. Hi everyone.

Just wanted to chip in and say that I too am getting around 1000 (RAW) shots from my battery in my D300. I wasn't aware of any mis-readings from the battery indicator. Certainly I haven't experienced that myself *touches wood*

[JMitchell]

Good to hear another good report, welcome to Pixalo. Perhaps you wanna introduce yourself in the Welcome Forum too

[LJR69]

*trips from the mighty shove in the direction of the Welcome Forum*

Yeah, you're right. I definitely planned to but my eye caught sight of this thread before I got there Thanks for the welcome.

[EDIT] Also, people should be aware that there are two types of EN-EL3e batteries. One which contains the chip the D300 needs to accurately report the battery life and usage and one without. An example of them both can be viewed here (which I found purely through chance btw)

EN-EL3e NOT compatible with D300 - NIKON EN-EL3e/ NIKON/ Camera Batteries/ Categories/ Digi-Quick.co.uk - Digi-Quick
EN-EL3e that IS 100% compatible with the D300 - NIKON EN-EL3e for the D300/ NIKON/ Camera Batteries/ Categories/ Digi-Quick.co.uk - Digi-Quick

[JMitchell]

Now that's very interesting! Thanks for the info
It's irritating how Nikon are becoming more protective of their gear, and making you buy all the accessories at an extortionate price, like the battery door cover for the grip when using an EL-EL4a. Just damned well supply it!

[LJR69]

lol Not just Nikon. I was looking at the excellent AquaTech Rain Covers today for my D300 and you have to purchase the right eye-piece for the camera you own in order for it to attach nice and neatly to your evf. That simple eye-piece costs £25! Just supply the damn thing. It's almost mandatory to have it if you are to use the rain cover in any sort of meaningful way!