Thanks. Is there any way to get that info without fishing thru the menus?
Nikon D500/500mm PF battery query
- Thread starter guitarman67
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No None that I know of. but with the battery meter on the top screen I only go in once every so often to see what the percentage is at. now I kinda know where 20% is and swap batteries at the point.
Thanks Gordon. You would of thought that with all the menu options available Nikon would of given that option. Oh well. 
You could put it in the my menu items... if you use them... you still have to go into the menu but if you limit what you put in there it on the first page.
By the timestamps, you were both writing at the same time, but Gordon won at the OK Coral....
Or do we just call him Quick Draw McGordon
Checking the Nikon web site, there seems to be at least 4 different EN-EL15 type batteries.
EN-EL15
EN-EL15a
EN-EL15b
EN-EL15c
Anyone know exactly what the differences are? No specifications that I could find.
Are there differences in capacity that may be causing the issue for @guitarman67 who is using the "b" variant?
Some more reading here
www.slrlounge.com
and
www.apotelyt.com
The battery meter on the top screen as far as I am aware only shows the active battery.
If you have an additional battery grip such as the Meike MK-D500 Pro (maybe others such as the Nikon MB-D17) for the D500 there can be a battery that is at 0% in the camera or grip (depending on how the battery selection priority is made) and you cannot tell what the actual usage of both batteries is without going into the menu.
EN-EL15
EN-EL15a
EN-EL15b
EN-EL15c
Anyone know exactly what the differences are? No specifications that I could find.
Are there differences in capacity that may be causing the issue for @guitarman67 who is using the "b" variant?
Some more reading here
Is Nikon's D500 Sending Its Batteries To An Early Grave?
Nikon D500 shooters, how’s your battery life? If yours seem lackluster, you are not alone. D500 battery issues aren’t a new thing; in 2016 Nikon acknowledged the fact that in some situations, Nikon D500 cameras weren’t drawing all the power from batteries before proclaiming them dead. They...
www.slrlounge.com
Nikon D500 battery: what are the options?
The Nikon D500 uses the Nikon EN-EL15 battery pack. Read on to learn more about this power unit and available alternatives.
www.apotelyt.com
The battery meter on the top screen as far as I am aware only shows the active battery.
If you have an additional battery grip such as the Meike MK-D500 Pro (maybe others such as the Nikon MB-D17) for the D500 there can be a battery that is at 0% in the camera or grip (depending on how the battery selection priority is made) and you cannot tell what the actual usage of both batteries is without going into the menu.
JANuser
Active member
There are some differences between the different models. The unlettered version, came with cameras (first ones shipped with the D7000) made after September 2010, and continued to until the D500 was released (1900mAh). The A shipped with the D500, it had a new battery chemistry (1900mAh), but otherwise unchanged. B shipped with the D850/Z6/Z7 and enabled USB charging (Z cameras only), camera turned off 1900mAh). C ships with the Z5, allows USB charging, and powering the camera while on (2300mAh). According to Nikon’s website the C is only compatable with the Z5/6/7, D850, D500 and D780. All the previous models are listed as comparable with all EN-EL15 type cameras.
I have 3 B and several originals, cannot say I notice any difference in older cameras, but the D850 works best with the Bs best as I can tell.
Edited:Checking the Nikon web site, there seems to be at least 4 different EN-EL15 type batteries.
EN-EL15
EN-EL15a
EN-EL15b
EN-EL15c
Anyone know exactly what the differences are? No specifications that I could find.
Are there differences in capacity that may be causing the issue for @guitarman67 who is using the "b" variant?
Some more reading here
andIs Nikon's D500 Sending Its Batteries To An Early Grave?
Nikon D500 shooters, how’s your battery life? If yours seem lackluster, you are not alone. D500 battery issues aren’t a new thing; in 2016 Nikon acknowledged the fact that in some situations, Nikon D500 cameras weren’t drawing all the power from batteries before proclaiming them dead. They...
Nikon D500 battery: what are the options?
The Nikon D500 uses the Nikon EN-EL15 battery pack. Read on to learn more about this power unit and available alternatives.
The battery meter on the top screen as far as I am aware only shows the active battery.
If you have an additional battery grip such as the Meike MK-D500 Pro (maybe others such as the Nikon MB-D17) for the D500 there can be a battery that is at 0% in the camera or grip (depending on how the battery selection priority is made) and you cannot tell what the actual usage of both batteries is without going into the menu.
You can specify which battery to use first when you have a grip installed In the setup menu, battery order. The control panel only displays the current battery in use... if there is a BP in front of the battery it means it‘s using the battery from the battery pack ( BP) otherwise it using the battery in the camera. You can add the battery info to the my menu screen so you only have to hit the menu and go to my menu to view it.
Last edited:
Thanks Gordon. I’ll check that out. Haven’t even scratched surface utilizing these types of features.
This is the easiest way to check. I have it as my default menu, iow, when I go to the menus, this one opens first and battery info is top line. Quick 'n easy
guitarman67
Active member
I'll see how things go with the menu changes I've made and report back here. Thanks all.
Graham Clark
gc-graphs
How do you set My Menu as the default option? I have My Menu (with battery as the top line item) assigned to Fn2 but would be interested in having it as the default when the Menu button is pressed.
Thanks in advance!
As far as I am aware, it can't be done. As you're doing it now appears to be the only way.
guitarman67
Active member
Hi all. Did another bird shoot today. Battery started at 100%...after 2.5 hours it was 85%. I did bursts and lots of single shots. Looks like the changes I made worked. Thanks all for the feedback/info.
The last menu you looked at,, will stay in that position until you open the menu again and choose a different menu
Graham Clark
gc-graphs
Has anyone actual used the new Nikon EN-EL15c battery in a D500? How did it function?
PhilColw
New member
I have a D500 and a D810 When the battery on my D500 is finished, I can put it on my D810 and still have quite a few shots remaining. I have read that this is a shared experience for many people and can be handy to know in an emergency.
Calson
Well-known member
I have my cameras set so the image is not displayed automatically on the read LCD after every shot and this extends battery charge life.
With batteries that are failing they will charge faster than a new battery as their capacity is lower. For my other batteries I use a ZTS Pulse Load tester to check true capacity but it will not work with my Nikon batteries.
For what it is worth going to a battery grip and using the EN-EL18 batteries has been a game changer for me. I can shoot for 3 days with the D850 and not need to change out the battery.
With batteries that are failing they will charge faster than a new battery as their capacity is lower. For my other batteries I use a ZTS Pulse Load tester to check true capacity but it will not work with my Nikon batteries.
For what it is worth going to a battery grip and using the EN-EL18 batteries has been a game changer for me. I can shoot for 3 days with the D850 and not need to change out the battery.
kbird
Member
I spoke to Nikon customer service and they do not recommend using the En-El 15c in the D500. It is only compatible with the Z7, Z6, Z5, D850, and the D780 . It has not been tested or recommended with D500. They recommend the EN-EL 15b.
Warren D
Well-known member
Sorry, that's a BS answer. They stopped making b's before the c's came out. Are they saying in a few years you won't be able to get a Nikon battery for your D500? Just because they officially don't recommend it doesn't mean it won't work. Went thru this years ago with the D100/200/300.
Agreed, the bottom of the D500 has a power rating label: 7V-12V @2.5A. The 15b is just a battery that's well within that voltage range and works just as an aftermarket grip with the larger EN-EL-18 series batteries works just fine and will not harm the camera either.
It is a BS answer... Like blaming everything on Covid right now... it's an excuse.
Warren D
Well-known member
Just to be clear, I'm not faulting the reps on the phone, they are reading off a script. It's rare I get one who actually owns and shoots advanced Nikon gear.