OM-1 MkII: BCX-1 Battery Charger

Photography

When bought brand new, the OM-1 MKII comes with a single battery, the BLX-1. It also comes with the F-7AC USB-AC adapter and a USB-C (USB 3.2) power cable, the CB-USB13.

The OM-1 MKII does NOT come with a battery charger like in the good old days of 2020 or 2021.

By the way, most camera manufacturers do not provide battery chargers with their new cameras.

Info

In 2022, The EU mandated that by the end of 2024, all new mobile phones, tablets, and cameras sold in the EU will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port. The same will apply to all computers with charging devices, like laptops and iPads, effective spring 2026.

With these regulations, the EU forbids manufacturers from including a charger with each device (to reduce electronic waste.)

Many countries, outside of the EU, follow many of the EU rules, including Japan when it comes to electronics.

When I bought my camera, I had to charge my single battery with the USB-AC adapter plugged into the camera. I don’t like it. I prefer to remove the battery and let it charge in its own charger. I guess I’m old-fashioned or just old.

The BCX-1 battery charger by itself is not available in Canada. It’s only available as a “kit” that includes the charger and one BLX-1 battery. And even that “kit” is not in stock; it’s a special order. I had to pay in full when ordering it.

So now, I have four batteries:

  • 2 original OM Systems BLX-1 batteries
  • 2 DTSE batteries

The problem with the charger kit is that it does NOT include:

  • the CB-USB13 cable
  • the F-7AC USB-AC adapter

I have to use these from the camera.

Now for the good news:

  1. The battery charger can charge two batteries at the same time and independently of each other. This means that it can charge a very low battery at the same time as an almost fully charged battery. It take between 2 and 2½ hours to fully charge a single battery or the two batteries at the same time.
  2. The battery charger can charge my two DTSE, third-party batteries at the same time. The charging time is the same as with the OEM batteries.
  3. I do not mix charging OEM batteries and the third-party batteries at the same time.

Info

Years ago with Canon chargers, I couldn’t charge Canon batteries and third-party batteries at the same time in the same charger.

I keep doing the same with the BCX-1 charger.