This might be a dumb question...

For the guys who camp, how do you keep your camera batteries charged? I'm going camping, my first time, for 3 days. I have 2 batteries but I'm afraid they will run down before the 3rd day. I'm planning on shooting the night sky which usually drains my batteries pretty fast I don't want to buy more batteries. 1Ds MK II batteries are large and expensive How do I charge them? Thanks guys!

There are solar powered chargers that have enough juice to recharge camera batteries.

I take it you are actually camping not just packing all the normal stuff you use everyday to drive somewhere else to sleep. You could always get a mini vagabond? But a solar charger is probably going to be your best bet.

By a solar charger do you just use a solar panel and connects to your charger? I do a lot of camping on the river, only accessible by boat, I put a second battery on the boat for the stereo and lights, I have a cigarette adapter that clamps onto the battery, and a charger that plugs into that.

Thanks guys! Please feel free to suggest brands and models of these solar chargers.

BTW We'll be sleeping in a tent at Watkins Glen State Park.

cmoy wrote in post #14539609
Thanks guys! Please feel free to suggest brands and models of these solar chargers.

BTW We'll be sleeping in a tent at Watkins Glen State Park.

Will your car be close by? Or is this a hike in and hike out state park?

I'm not sure. This is my first time at the park and first time camping. If it's close I could charge the batteries in the car.

Littlejon Dsgn wrote in post #14539624
Will your car be close by? Or is this a hike in and hike out state park?

See if any sites are available that have electric hookups.

cmoy wrote in post #14539639
I'm not sure. This is my first time at the park and first time camping. If it's close I could charge the batteries in the car.

That was my thought, most state parks I have been to my car was parked less then 20' from my tent.

dan.k78 wrote in post #14539642
See if any sites are available that have electric hookups.

Another great point even when tent camping in a state park I get a site with power, most parks have power sites (but some tent specific sites dont have power).

I would call the park and as about parking and if your site has power.

Just emailed our friends who's joining us and have been to this camp site about this Fingers crossed for hookups around the camp site.

dan.k78 wrote in post #14539642
See if any sites are available that have electric hookups.

I'm interested in solar-powered chargers as well. If anyone has any personal experience with them I would love to hear it as well. All I can see from searching are chargers for AA-type batteries or chargers will cell-phone type connections...

There's no AA-battery-tray option for the 1D is there?

We park on our camp site so I can charge my batteries in the car

I'm still interesting in solar charges that can charge a 1D battery. Thanks guys!

koala yummies wrote in post #14539695
I'm interested in solar-powered chargers as well. If anyone has any personal experience with them I would love to hear it as well. All I can see from searching are chargers for AA-type batteries or chargers will cell-phone type connections...

There's no AA-battery-tray option for the 1D is there?

cmoy wrote in post #14539769
We park on our camp site so I can charge my batteries in the car

I'm still interesting in solar charges that can charge a 1D battery. Thanks guys!

If you can drive in, there are lots of options. Harbor frieght, and radio shack sell folding solar panels that you can connect an appropriate inverter and use whatever you like.

I have three batteries and have never gone through all of them in even week long camping trips. How many shots are you planning on taking exactly?!

If you have to and will have a car then just get a big Marine Deep Cycle battery and charger,make sure it is charged when you go and use the camera 12vdc charger or an inverter and the standard charger.
I would imagine you can get a lot of camera charges out of any automotive sized battery.

Ed