external battery packs - DPChallenge Forums

11/19/2002 02:28:08 PM · #1

I've been researching these for digital cameras. Olympus sells one that is specially made for the E series cameras but it's very expensive (over $300).

I found a couple of solutions that seem to be quite well reviewed, both on websites and in forums around the net. I thought I would share them with other people who are interested in extending their run times without having to carry around multiple sets of rechargeables.

The one I just ordered is here:

DIGIPOWER DPS-9000 Universal Li-Ion Pack

And another one that I've read favorable things about and may also order is here:

MAHA PowerBank

I will update this information when I receive my orders and have had a chance to test the products.

11/19/2002 03:19:32 PM · #2

Note that this kind of battery pack works with either all brands or a large number depending on the model.

People who use energy intensive cameras like the Minolta DiMage 7's, yet want to shoot all day or all week without carrying around a zillion AA's should look into one of these options.

: )

hardwaybets

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

11/19/2002 03:51:18 PM · #3

That battery is, by far, the best solution for these power hungry cameras. I own a Dimage 5. I was so disappointed with the camera at the outset because of the short battery life. Apparently the problem lies in the camera's own battery sensors. Each battery must have an equal charge, which the camera measures right before it takes a picture, or it will not take the image. THIS BATTERY SOLVED MY PROBLEM! I am every impressed with the battery. I purchased another one because I liked it so much. I strongly recommend this battery, especially for Dimage shooters!

11/19/2002 09:07:23 PM · #4

just a bump of this thread in case anyone missed this info b4 : )

01/05/2003 12:40:42 PM · #5

Follow-up Report on the DPS-9000 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack

Background and Description
I purchased a DPS-9000 external battery pack from the link at the beginning of this thread in mid-November, 2002, and received it on the 22nd.

In the pack there was the battery itself, an AC charger, a selection of cords to enable a connection to all the major brands of digital cameras (14 brands in all are listed on the large compatibility chart).

The battery itself measures 1.75 x 3.25 x 1 inches. That is just a little bit bigger than the size of a "Plen-T-Pack" of "Extra" gum. It has a screw to attach to your camera's tripod mount, with a snugly tightenable hand-turned knob. The bottom of the battery has tripod mount also so that you can then mount the works to your tripod shoe.

The battery also has a row of 5 small LED's along one side that show you how much charge the pack still holds. There is a flush-mounted button that causes the LED's to illuminate so you can check the juice remaining at the 'touch of a finger'.

Initially you charge the pack for about 3 hours. The charger has an LED (light) on it that glows red when low, alternates between green and red when 'fairly well charged' and glows continuous green when fully charged. After that, you can top it off as much as you want, since there is no memory effect.

IN USE:

This thing blows my socks off. It makes my camera think that it's plugged into AC, so it never goes into 'sleep' mode. As a result, it's always on, always ready for a picture, no turning it off to conserve power.

Even leaving the camera on all day (about 6 hours of shooting, and just sitting there), the LED meter showed the battery to still be more than half full.

In another situation, a Christmas party, I had to shoot indoors, about 90% of the shots used on-camera flash. I shot about 150 pictures with flash over about 2 hours, and again still had about 3 out of 5 LED's worth of power on the battery.

I've also done a couple of 'model shoots' with the pack, and again, no sleeping, no waiting, and no worried about having enough backup batteries.

Additionally, I can keep 4 fully charged AA's in the camera, for "just in case" I deplete the DPS-9000.

I can safely say that in 90% of situations I will now encounter, I will never need my NiMH AA batteries and charging systems again :) (at least for this camera). I can go out and shoot, and not have to worry about carrying multiple sets of AA's, let alone the chore of making sure every set is always charged up. It is a very liberating experience.

If you use a camera model that is hard on batteries, I would definitely look into something like this.

I hope that this information is helpful to others :).

Message edited by author 2003-01-05 17:49:34.

01/05/2003 06:38:16 PM · #6

*bump*

irae

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8

01/05/2003 08:49:57 PM · #7

So what did it set you back? I was this close to buying one at Best Buy a couple of days ago for $59.99, but read somewhere that the BB stores in Ohio were selling them at $40.00. For that price, I might even get a second one for backup.