How long does your battery (li-ion) typically last you at the parks?

[sdshutterbug]

I'll be using a DSLR at WDW for the first time in January and I don't have a BG or even a spare battery. I'm staying on the grounds so I can easily pop back over to the hotel to recharge if need be, but I don't want to inconvenience my family. I'll also be using a hot shoe flash some of the time - since that uses AAs, does that mean it does not take up any of the camera's power?

Anyways, I was wondering if either I should pick up a spare battery before I go or bring my charger to the parks if anyone knows of a place I can charge it there? Thanks!

 

[Icemann]

Never saw or heard of anyone being able to charge a battery at the park but that doesn't mean It hasn't been done.If I were you I would pick up a spare battery just in case, I've been in the park all day and haven't had too change the battery in my Nikon D40 I shot over 800 pictures that day.I had a spare battery with me just in case.A spare battery is a good investment My flash use's AA batteries also the camera just triggers the flash

 

[Golf4food]

I would definitely have a spare. If you don't want to buy a spare you can rent them from places online that do lens rentals - I've seen batteries, whole camera bodies, flashes, etc. for rent. I've only rented lenses, myself, but I see no problem renting anything else from them. Check around and see what you can find. I like www.cameralensrentals.com (because they also have Pentax products, unlike most who only carry Canon and Nikon).

 

[Evad]

I have always brought a spare with me to the parks but have never needed it. You should be fine with just one.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I usually always carry a second battery, but I doubt that you'll need it. I charge my battery in my hotel (or tent) every night and start with a fresh one every morning. The only times in recent memory that one battery hasn't been enough is when I'm shooting an event and taking well over 1,000 shots in a day.

You are correct that an external flash doesn't suck any of your camera's battery. The internal flash does consume a considerable amount of battery power. IS lenses also consume more power than non-IS lenses, but I haven't found the difference to be very noticeable.

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

Never saw or heard of anyone being able to charge a battery at the park

There are actually places to do this. The only one I know for certain is in Exposition Hall in the Magic Kingdom. I believe out front on the sign it even says camera center. I am not sure how it works if you just drop it off or if you have to wait. I think they allow you to plug up your charger and wait for it. I am going to be in a park tonight so I will ask at guest relations and come back here with an answer.

 

[gacompguy]

My Nikon D40 is about 18 months old and still on the factory battery. We just got home about an hour ago from our week long Disney trip. I still have over half a charge and shot over 1,000 pictures. I used my SB-400 external flash quite a bit and only had to change batteries once. Honestly, those batteries are probably still good... they were just taking too long to cycle for shooting a 4-year-old interacting with characters.

Personally, I don't carry a backup battery because I've never needed it. I fully (or as close as I can come) discharge my battery and then charge it. I can usually shoot for a week using the flash a lot or closer to two weeks with an external flash.

 

[sdshutterbug]

Thanks for the feedback - I will probably just risk it with the one based on what I've read here. I probably will have just enough power.

 

[KCmike]

I've never gone through a fully charged battery either. I had the fortunate ability to buy two extra batteries for my Canon when Circuit City was going out of business. The last day they were marking things done to nothing and I scored two of them. Now I have three total. You should be fine.

 

[boBQuincy]

I never went through a battery until I got a IS lens (and spent a 15 hour day at Epcot). If you carry your charger there should be plenty of places to plug in for awhile but it sure kills a lot of time. A second battery is worth a lot in peace of mind!

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

Thanks for the feedback - I will probably just risk it with the one based on what I've read here. I probably will have just enough power.

I asked tonight at Guest Relations at Hollywood Studios. The answer was they will let you charge your battery(with your charger of course) at the Exposition Hall in the Magic Kingdom. In Hollywood Studios just go to Guest Relations and they will let you charge it there. And I was told as far as Epcot & Animal Kingdom go, just ask at Guest Relations and if they don't do it there they will be able to direct you exactly where to go. So you can charge in the parks if needed. Now my personal experience, I have never run a battery dead in one day at a park. But I do have a spare just in case. It's nice to have that little peace of mind.

 

[disneyboy2003]

Thanks for the feedback - I will probably just risk it with the one based on what I've read here. I probably will have just enough power.

Hmmm, I, too, would agree with others that an extra battery would be worthwhile. In a way, it's almost similar to the question about how many memory cards to bring.

I'm not sure exactly how long it takes to charge a battery (an hour?), but that's time that you'd have to hang around near Guest Relations for your battery to charge.

I'm pretty sure your battery will probably last almost exactly a full day's worth of photography, especially at Disney. It'll depend on:

• how many pictures you take (~ several hundred to 1000/day ?)
• how much Image Stabilization (IS) you end up using (pretty much all the time), and
• how long you plan to spend at the parks (12-15 hours/day?)

What I'd hate to see is that you've taken a full day's worth of Disney vacation photos, and then at the end of the night, you want to try for Wishes / Illuminations / fireworks / Fantasmic photos, but your camera battery runs out!

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the smaller battery for the Canon Rebels (ex T1i) doesn't last as long as batteries for the Canon 40D / 50D / 7D.

Just like extra memory cards, you can always use the extra battery later on, so it'll still be put to good use even after your Disney vacation.

 

[Lizziejane]

another vote for taking a spare. Batteries have a lifespan, and there's nothing worse than getting caught off guard by a battery that lasts only half as long as it should. A spare is a good investment!

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the smaller battery for the Canon Rebels (ex T1i) doesn't last as long as batteries for the Canon 40D / 50D / 7D.

Not sure if it lasts as long as those others but I have yet to run my battery dead on my T1i on a day in the parks. And I took a lot of photos & even a couple of videos. But I still carry a spare.

 

[sdshutterbug]

Well my camera is going to be a T1i and I have one IS lens that I'll use a lot, and two non-IS that I'll use for low light. I plan on taking a few videos here and there too. Now I'm rethinking my decision....would hate to have to hang around guest relations for an hour...

 

[handicap18]

I have 3 batteries plus a AA battery instert for my camera. 2 of the 3 batteries are 3rd party from sterlingtek.com. They have worked perfectly for the last 4 years in both my Nikon D50 and D300.

Why risk it if you don't have to? 1 extra battery takes up just about no room in your pocket and isn't heavy. I never got a WDW park without at least 1 extra battery.

You can get a 1500 mAh battery from sterlingtek for $30 or a 1080 mAh from amazon for $13 (IIRC, the Canon battery is 1800 mAh).

 

[boBQuincy]

Hang around with someone who has a camera that takes the same battery as yours and that always brings a spare! Why do you think I bought DW the same camera as mine, I just put the spare battery in her bag!
Just kidding... we both carry spare batteries!

 

[ColleenG]

I just got back from the World and my battery lasted me about 2.5 days. I did have a third party second battery as a back up. It didn't last nearly as long as the Canon battery that came with my camera (Rebel T1i). I was glad to have the back up when I needed it. The back up probably lasted about a days worth of shooting.