Well, this is coming off of a ruined day of photography due to the battery management in the Phase One 645 Camera [Not the DB, but the camera body]. So...there might be a little emotion...
I'm also hoping this saves someone else the aggravation of what I went through.
Yesterday, I went to do some photography on the Coast. At home in a 72 degree house, I checked the battery on the Phase One 645. The battery meter said full-- left it on 20-30 seconds no problem. Turned the camera off.
Get to my location (65-67 degrees), set up, turned the camera on-- still shows full; take 3-4 dial-in shots--- battery meter shows full. Go to take the shot with mirror lock-up; the meter drops to 1/2 half-full; as I'm taking the shot; the camera locks with "batt low" message. Turn off mirror lock-up, hoping to get the shot. Nope, doesn't work
From MichaelR's review:
The Phase One camera body uses six AA cells...I did not have the camera long enough to discover what the battery life with regular alkaline batteries is, though Phase One claims about 3,000 captures at room temperature.
3,000 captures?? Not in the real world! For this much money can't they build REAL battery meter circuitry? Right now, I wish I hadn't traded my Hassie version of the DB-- at least my 501CM never failed at sea level or 11,000 feet; 110 degrees or 25 degrees.
The Phase One back I use has never had a battery problem. I start with a full battery and shoot most of the morning; it shows half full by lunch. I shoot a little in the afternoon and may have to change the battery for last light--- and this is at 25-40 degrees!!
Yes, I should have had backup batteries (because of Murphy's Law)--- but with all my other cameras--- I can get off several shots (at least) when the camera goes to half full; even with the original EOS 1D! I didn't expect it to die instantly Full-->Half-->Bye-Bye in less than 20 seconds.
Hopefully this saves someone else lost opportunity.
NGOphotographer