D200 question

[Clark White]

What is the average battery life for the EN-EL3e battery in a D200 with a VR lens? Mine seams to dye quite fast compared to my D40x, fast enough to be a real pain in the butt.

Thanks!
Clark White

 

[Clark White]

Also, are the Nikon brand batteries really worth twice the price? I can get two other batteries for the price of one Nikon.

Clark

 

[matt s]

Hmmm my nikon batteries go over 1000 shots before needing a charge. That is true for my d2x and was the same for my d70 (that IIRC has the En-El3 battery too).

something sounds off. As to off brand batteries, I tend to stay nikon.

 

[Johnny Christensen]

D200

D200 is a bit heavy on battery use. I have two of them and they tend to average 700 shots in one day on a full charge. If you use VR lenses that adds to the power use and therefor will drain the battery faster.

As with any camera, you can do a lot yourself to extend the battery life. Keep the exposure meter on for 6 seconds, rather than 30. Use the monitor to review your pictures - when actually needed. The monitor is eating away your power fast. Factory setup have you pushing the button to turn on the review, rather than automaticly on every time. Without that they couldent reach those unrealisticly high number of shots per charge that they are bragging about.


As for gray marked batteries, I haven't tried them. The Nikons are relatively cheap in the first place, so it never seemed worth experimenting in the first place.

 

[DiploStrat]

I have had a D200 since 2006. I use three Nikon batteries in rotation. While I have heard the horror stories about battery life, I usually get at least two days carry and use out of one charge. Someone posted that the camera "sleeps" automagically so I rarely turn it off.

Nikon worth it? Who knows, but after paying for the camera, it did not seem worth skimping on something as inexpensive as a battery.

All of Johnny's tips are good.

Great camera, more noise than the newer ones, but still very, very nice.

 

[Safado]

The only other things I'd mention is that obviously Continual focus eats up the batteries, as does long shutter speeds (night shots). I have one Nikon battery and one knock off and I get the same usage out of either. Good luck

 

[fangars]

I have not noticed any difference between my Nikon battery and my no-name as far as longevity goes for my D70s.

 

[Clark White]

Well I went to a camera store in downtown DC that claimed to have a Nikon battery. As they were handing me the receipt I noticed that even though it said NIKON on the package, the fine print said replacement for Nikon. I was a bit miffed at first, but the off brand has a higher AH rating, so we shall see how it goes!

Clark

 

[DrMoab]

I have both a Nikon and a no name brand that I use for my D80. The no name brand lasts about one and a half times longer than the Nikon does.

Take it for what it's worth.

 

[Clark White]

I did notice that the one I got is 1600mah rather then the Nikon 1500mah. We shall see how that effects it. I think the Nikon bat I got with the camera is just bad, so anything is in improvement. So far so good, but then again I've only taken a few shots (though it was with VR and flash).

Clark