Hey guys,

Quick question for ya.

New to the DSLR world and loving it.

I've found myself when walking around with the camera, that I'm tending to turn the cam off between shots to conserve battery. Is this a recommended practice or should I just leave the cam on while walking around looking for that next shot?

Thanks in advance for the input!

 

psinsyd, I tend to do both. I think the big thing you need to do is to play. Charge up the camera and go out for a 2 hour walk about and not turn the camera off. Does the camera last that length of time. If yes, then what about a 3, 4, etc hour trip? You will find that as long as you are not using the flash, you can probably get 5 hours out of the camera easy. You start going flash crazy, you may only get 1-2 hours out of the battery.

All my experience is with Canon cameras. Can not speak for the other brands. If you are truely worried about it, get yourself a second battery and go from there. The batteries are small and fairly cheap to buy. Then, if you kill a battery, you swap it out and keep going.

 

Thanks Thermo! Really good point and I'll try a trip one day with keeping it on. Already carry a second battery with me, so I should be good to go with the testing!

 

psinsyd, the other option is to get an attachment for your camera that allows you to install 2 (or more) batteries into a common carrier that gets mounted to the bottom of the camera. They make them and will give you the increased time. But, at the same time, you are now carrying around 2 (or more batteries) at the same time plus the weight of the housing. My dad has a Canon T4i with the 2 battery carrier and for me, it is just too bulky and too heavy. He loves it. I have the Canon XSi and like the light weight and small body that it is. That is a second option.

 

Yeah, I've been considering one of those as well. I have a Nikon D5100 and have pretty big hands, so I've been having a bit of cramping in my hand when holding it. Been also trying to play around with how I'm holding the cam, but was thinking the bigger real estate of an extra capacity battery holder may help that as well.

 

psinsyd:

I use a Nikon D3200 and always have a spare battery with me. The cost to buy a new EN-EL14 battery is about $18.00 to $22.00 and is well worth the cost. The Nikon D5100 will turn itself off by itself in the "on" position after a certain length of time. Then depressing the round silver shutter release button on the top half way, that will reactivate the camera. There is no need to keep turning it off and on. You can go to the menu....then select AUTO OFF timers and it give you about 4 options.

After using the D5100 for a short period of time, you will get used to it very quickly. You have a great 16.2 megapixel camera that will provide EXCELLENT resolution on all photos.

Be aware that your particular model, the Nikon D5100 is well known for eating up battery life compared to other Nikon D Type bodies. You should be able to capture about 800-1000 photos on one full battery charge.

Enjoy, it's a great Nikon, except for owning a model that has a reputation for a shorter battery life. Buy the extra battery, you won't be sorry.

 

I shoot lots of auto-bracket shots, and I am leaving it on. With it not being turned off, the auto-bracket settings stay. Mine is an old Canon Rebel XTi.

On multi-day trips, I usually carry 2 batteries, 1 inside the camera, the other fully charged, ready for plug in if the first dies. The battery does last some time. I remember going to SF Fleet Week airshow and I setup quite early, about 9 in the morning and I did not have to switch until 2pm or so, and I did some intensive shootings.

 

Thanks Rich! Absolutely loving the cam and am blown away by some of the shots!