HS30 Battery Life

I bought a second battery for my HS30, an off brand called "Power 2000" and charged it up for the first time last Saturday and tossed it in my camera bag. The Fuji battery finally exhausted on Friday morning and went I put the Power2000 in...nothing. It was completely dead. I recharged it and it is working fine now, but I can't believe the battery drained in just a few days. I do this sort of thing all the time with different cameras/batteries and never had this problem. My Pentax K5 battery stays well charged for well over a week, as does the battery for my Lumix GH2. Fuji wants nearly $70 for a battery and this Power2000 was only $15. I've used off brand batteries often and never had a problem before. Is it the battery, or does this particular model have issues?

NP-W126 7.2V 1500mAh Li-ion.

Any suggestions on how to deal with this? I always want a charged back up battery and while the first charge lasted quite a while for the Fuji battery, I'm uncertain quite how to calculate when a battery is drained.

You're always taking a chance with off brand batteries. I feel you've been extremely lucky to not have gotten a bad one before this one. I say buyer beware and keep in mind, you just might get what you pay for

Does anybody know how long this type of battery would typically hold charge? What is the approximate amount of time it should be 'fresh' after charging.

This forum has fantastic technically minded members and I'm hoping someone can give me a general idea on this.

Thanks.

Hmm...I've been using this cheap no-brand battery now for a few days and it is holding up wonderfully, giving me power for plenty of shots. Now I'm thinking that perhaps when I was charging it, the battery was knocked a bit off track in the charger. There is a person who could have accidentally done this when I charged it.

I still would like to get an estimate of how long I might expect a top rate battery of this type to hold a charge while not in the camera.

Thanks again.

Fulcanelli said:

Hmm...I've been using this cheap no-brand battery now for a few days and it is holding up wonderfully, giving me power for plenty of shots. Now I'm thinking that perhaps when I was charging it, the battery was knocked a bit off track in the charger. There is a person who could have accidentally done this when I charged it.

I still would like to get an estimate of how long I might expect a top rate battery of this type to hold a charge while not in the camera.

Thanks again.

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Someone said 'you might get what you paid for.' Well if someone pays $70 for a name-brand battery, they are NOT getting that. No battery is worth $70.

I have had excellent results with numerous off-brand batteries in my cameras. Any Lith Ion battery should hold its charge and remain fresh for a long time. I have a spare in my camera bag and who knows when it was last charged, but I put it in the camera and it shows a full charge. Good enough for me.

I did have one battery that refused to charge and the seller immediately sent me a replacement. Imagine paying $70 for the same thing? And I bet it happens. The 3rd party batteries are a bargain and all the fretting and wives tales about them being unreliable, short-lived, expoding, etc. are IMO nonsense. I suspect you are right that you just didn't quite have the battery in position for it to take the charge.

Isn't is a nice change to have a tiny charger and a small battery instead of a charger with one or two cords and a power brick and little batteries rolling all over? I think using a lith ion battery in the HS30 was the biggest improvement they could have made.

Fulcanelli said:

. . .

I still would like to get an estimate of how long I might expect a top rate battery of this type to hold a charge while not in the camera.

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Top rate or bottom of the barrel doesn't matter. All Li-Ion batteries should retain most of their charge for many months when out of the camera. It's still wise whether you use them or not, to put them back in the charger at least every 6 months, otherwise they may no longer be able to take a charge. NiMH batteries used to be very poor for holding their charge for long periods, but the new record holders are the "pre-charged" NiMH batteries. Sanyo's eneloop batteries are one example of these, and they can retain most of their capacity for 3 years.

I have a confession to make here. I wish I could crawl into my time machine (it's in the shop right now getting a maintenance tune-up) and go back to the minute I posted this and go get a drink of water instead.

The battery is fine. I just ran it through its first drain and I got hundreds of photos out of it. The problem was I put the battery in twisted backwards. Most of the Li batteries I have used in the past have very easy to line up contact points. This one doesn't, and without thinking (and without noticing the painted arrow on the side of the battery) I flipped it around so the contact points were not aligning with whatever they align to. No power.

I have never had a problem with off-brand batteries and I buy a back-up with every camera I own (and that has been quite a few.) How can Fuji justify a $70 price for something someone can reproduce and make a profit on at $15?

Problem solved. And yes, I punished myself extensively for not paying attention. Today is the first day in a week I'm allowing myself bread and water.

Fulcanelli said:

I have a confession to make here. I wish I could crawl into my time machine (it's in the shop right now getting a maintenance tune-up) and go back to the minute I posted this and go get a drink of water instead.

The battery is fine. I just ran it through its first drain and I got hundreds of photos out of it. The problem was I put the battery in twisted backwards. Most of the Li batteries I have used in the past have very easy to line up contact points. This one doesn't, and without thinking (and without noticing the painted arrow on the side of the battery) I flipped it around so the contact points were not aligning with whatever they align to. No power.

I have never had a problem with off-brand batteries and I buy a back-up with every camera I own (and that has been quite a few.) How can Fuji justify a $70 price for something someone can reproduce and make a profit on at $15?

Problem solved. And yes, I punished myself extensively for not paying attention. Today is the first day in a week I'm allowing myself bread and water.

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Do take care and pay attention. It just wouldn't do to push the bread and water in the wrong hole.

Bill, remember when we had this discussion in the past about Li-ion vs the new NiMH batteries? The main issue with Li-ion (besides their proprietary nature and prices, which I find offensive) is the fact that no matter how often or how little you use them, within about 2 years (according to the site we had quoted) they will die and not be able to be charged again. With the newer hybrid batteries, not only can it hold a charge for over 1000 shots (mine lasted 1300 shots before a recharge was necessary) but these batteries can easily last over a decade as long as you fully discharge and recharge them. Plus I rather love the LaCrosse computerized LCD battery charger, which has all sorts of neat little options

I wanted to ask you about these newer batteries though: when will Hybrids completely replace the regular NiMhs? The only thing I find frustrating about them is they're not very easy to find. I have two sets of 4 each and I would love to put them in all my devices that take AAs (two weather stations, computerized telescope, cordless mouse and keyboard, various remotes, etc.)
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http://Alex_the_GREAT.photoshop.com

alexisgreat said:

Bill, remember when we had this discussion in the past about Li-ion vs the new NiMH batteries? The main issue with Li-ion (besides their proprietary nature and prices, which I find offensive) is the fact that no matter how often or how little you use them, within about 2 years (according to the site we had quoted) they will die and not be able to be charged again.

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You have to be careful because 2 years may be well into the danger zone. One of the first Li-Ion batteries I bought (for the C-8080) had a note on the skimpy instruction sheet warnng that the batteries should be put back in the charger for at least 5 minutes every 6 months or so. Some can probably survive a year out of the charger without being damaged, but I recall at least a couple of people on a camera newsgroup several years ago complaining about batteries that couldn't be charged any more. IIRC, they had been in a drawer somewhere between 6 and 12 months without being used or charged.

alexisgreat said:

With the newer hybrid batteries, not only can it hold a charge for over 1000 shots (mine lasted 1300 shots before a recharge was necessary) but these batteries can easily last over a decade as long as you fully discharge and recharge them. Plus I rather love the LaCrosse computerized LCD battery charger, which has all sorts of neat little options

I wanted to ask you about these newer batteries though: when will Hybrids completely replace the regular NiMhs? The only thing I find frustrating about them is they're not very easy to find.

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Where do you live? I find them everywhere . Well, almost everywhere. I still have a set of Radio Shack's own pre-charged NiMH batteries, but they stopped selling them over a year ago. But all of the larger camera dealers in NY have them, and most of the stores like CVS, Rite-Aid, etc. sell Duracell's regular and pre-charged NiMH batteries. Best Buy also sells the pre-charged Duracells but their prices are pretty high.




http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Duracell+-+Precharge+Rechargeable+AA+NiMH+Batteries+%284-Pack%29/8511498.p?id=1186005932804&skuId=8511498&st=eneloop%20NiMH&cp=1&lp=11

alexisgreat said:

I have two sets of 4 each and I would love to put them in all my devices that take AAs (two weather stations, computerized telescope, cordless mouse and keyboard, various remotes, etc.)

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If I mentioned this eneloop kit before, B&H didn't have any in stock. Now they do. You may not need everything in the kit (especially the cheap charger), but the case is nice, the C and D cell adapters might be useful (I've put them to work) and as you can see from the photo, the new eneloops last much longer than the early versions.




http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/817165-REG/Sanyo_SEC_N10SETEVP_eneloop_Power_Pack_Starter.html

alexisgreat said:

The main issue with Li-ion (besides their proprietary nature and prices, which I find offensive)

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I paid $9.95 including tax (none) and shipping (free) for both a spare Lith Ion battery AND charger for my Canon. At present the same battery can be had for under $5 including shipping and a plug-on-the-wall charger much like the OEM can be had for under $4. I would bet something at least comparable would be available for Fuji's that use lith ions. One needn't pay 'offensive' prices for an OEM battery.

alexisgreat said:

is the fact that no matter how often or how little you use them, within about 2 years (according to the site we had quoted) they will die and not be able to be charged again.

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That hasn't been my experience. I've gotten three years out of even the off-brand cheap Lith-Ions - but at less than $5 that is not a big deal even if 2 years was normal.

alexisgreat said:

Plus I rather love the LaCrosse computerized LCD battery charger, which has all sorts of neat little options

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The cheapest LaCrosse battery charger with LCD's is $33 plus tax on Amazon. They have a fancier one that is $59.99 plus tax. Lots of nifty modes and 'channels' and all that. I don't know which of those you bought and "love".

But I don't want batteries as a hobby and I haven't spent even $33 on every spare battery I've bought for two Panasonic cameras, one Canon camera, and a spare charger for the Canon. Spending $33 for a gee whiz battery charger and then having to buy the batteries and have a battery hobby doesn't appeal to me.

alexisgreat said:

I have two sets of 4 each and I would love to put them in all my devices that take AAs (two weather stations, computerized telescope, cordless mouse and keyboard, various remotes, etc.)

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All fine places for AA batteries, but not in my cameras.

I used to be a staunch insister on AA battery power but having moved beyond that there is no way I'm turning back to fumbling with AA's.

Midwest said:

alexisgreat said:

The main issue with Li-ion (besides their proprietary nature and prices, which I find offensive)

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I paid $9.95 including tax (none) and shipping (free) for both a spare Lith Ion battery AND charger for my Canon. At present the same battery can be had for under $5 including shipping and a plug-on-the-wall charger much like the OEM can be had for under $4. I would bet something at least comparable would be available for Fuji's that use lith ions. One needn't pay 'offensive' prices for an OEM battery.

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You didn't mention the Canon model, but Canon's batteries are usually well supported by clone battery manufacturers and their prices are pretty low. The same goes for old Fuji batteries that are used in many cameras (think NP-95, NP-50, etc.) But Fuji charges a lot more for the new battery used by the HS30, and it's a good bet that it won't be available for anything like $5 from the clone manufacturers. Nikon's EN-EL7, used by the CP8800 and other cameras is no longer made by Nikon. There used to be a clone made by either Duracell or Energizer, but that's also no longer made. A small number of new EN-EL7 batteries survive, but the dwindling stock has them selling for up to $100 each. I've bought more than a dozen assorted Fuji clone batteries from different companies at very low prices (NP-50, NP-140, etc.) and 2 were DOA and another two failed within 3 charges. The others seem to be ok, close enough in capacity to original Fuji's that I don't have to test their capacities.

Midwest said:

But I don't want batteries as a hobby and I haven't spent even $33 on every spare battery I've bought for two Panasonic cameras, one Canon camera, and a spare charger for the Canon. Spending $33 for a gee whiz battery charger and then having to buy the batteries and have a battery hobby doesn't appeal to me.

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You do tend to hyperbole when it comes to the AA batteries that previous replies show you almost loathe. Your point here is about as valid as someone saying "I refuse to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches because I don't want to be a chef and have no interest in starting a food prep. hobby. Nobody says that you have to spend more than $10 or $15 to get a good, reliable and simple NiMH charger, and based on the number of shots most people take on average, they might have to charge a set of AA batteries once every 2 to 4 months, hardly a hobby that's all time-consuming. That amounts to between 3000 and 6000 photos per year. Many photographers don't even shoot that many, and some of them could get by on only one or two sets of alkaline batteries per year, and then they wouldn't even need a charger.

Midwest said:

Midwest said:

I have two sets of 4 each and I would love to put them in all my devices that take AAs (two weather stations, computerized telescope, cordless mouse and keyboard, various remotes, etc.)

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All fine places for AA batteries, but not in my cameras.

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Sounds like a tag line to me.

Midwest said:

I used to be a staunch insister on AA battery power but having moved beyond that there is no way I'm turning back to fumbling with AA's.

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You know what they say about the tolerance of reformed smokers . . . Some people are fumblers and bumblers. I don't happen to have that problem with my AA batteries unless I wear mittens. I think that maybe you should start a chapter of AAA (AA's Anonymous). <g> I know of at least one HS30 sale that Fuji lost because of the switch to Li-Ion batteries.

Fulcanelli said:

Does anybody know how long this type of battery would typically hold charge? What is the approximate amount of time it should be 'fresh' after charging.

This forum has fantastic technically minded members and I'm hoping someone can give me a general idea on this.

Thanks.

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I have purchased a Power 2000 for the HS30 and it has held at least 95% of its charge for 2 weeks. You simply got a bad one, it happens.

Larry Winters said:

Fulcanelli said:

Does anybody know how long this type of battery would typically hold charge? What is the approximate amount of time it should be 'fresh' after charging.

This forum has fantastic technically minded members and I'm hoping someone can give me a general idea on this.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

I have purchased a Power 2000 for the HS30 and it has held at least 95% of its charge for 2 weeks. You simply got a bad one, it happens.

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I will say the HS30 is the first camera out of dozens that I've owned where the battery could be installed reversed and still latch into place with the door closing as well.

(nt)

Hi Bill:

Billx08 said:

You know what they say about the tolerance of reformed smokers . . . Some people are fumblers and bumblers. I don't happen to have that problem with my AA batteries unless I wear mittens. I think that maybe you should start a chapter of AAA (AA's Anonymous). I know of at least one HS30 sale that Fuji lost because of the switch to Li-Ion batteries.

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To each their own, but personally I wouldn't let a Li-Ion vs. AA battery stop me from buying a quality camera like the HS30. With the current move to lighter and smaller all AA cams will be gone eventually, plus the greed factor of aftermarket sales will swallow the lone AA survivors. The AA's will always have a place somewhere, just not with digital cameras.

Billx08 said:

You didn't mention the Canon model, but Canon's batteries are usually well supported by clone battery manufacturers and their prices are pretty low. The same goes for old Fuji batteries that are used in many cameras (think NP-95, NP-50, etc.) But Fuji charges a lot more for the new battery used by the HS30, and it's a good bet that it won't be available for anything like $5 from the clone manufacturers.

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Good point - I assumed that the HS30 would use a battery like one that was already available and thus would probably be low-priced already.

Billx08 said:

You do tend to hyperbole when it comes to the AA batteries that previous replies show you almost loathe.

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Ehh, maybe not so much really. The OP stated that he loved his new AA charger which has 'all sorts of neat little options'. The lith ion chargers I've had all did one thing - you plugged the charger onto the wall outlet, stuck the battery in place, and when the light turned green the battery was charged. No options or modes or LCD readouts or buttons, no power bricks or cords, just a charged battery. That is what i mean about not having a battery hobby.

Billx08 said:

Nobody says that you have to spend more than $10 or $15 to get a good, reliable and simple NiMH charger, and based on the number of shots most people take on average, they might have to charge a set of AA batteries once every 2 to 4 months, hardly a hobby that's all time-consuming.

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But if you buy a camera that runs on lith ions it comes with a charger, which is nice.

Billx08 said:

That amounts to between 3000 and 6000 photos per year. Many photographers don't even shoot that many, and some of them could get by on only one or two sets of alkaline batteries per year, and then they wouldn't even need a charger.

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Very true. Just curious, don't alkalines have some issues regarding the ability to deliver current or steady voltage, something like that which makes them less than an ideal choice? I though I had heard something about that.

Billx08 said:

Billx08 said:

I used to be a staunch insister on AA battery power but having moved beyond that there is no way I'm turning back to fumbling with AA's.

Click to expand...

You know what they say about the tolerance of reformed smokers . . . Some people are fumblers and bumblers. I don't happen to have that problem with my AA batteries unless I wear mittens. I think that maybe you should start a chapter of AAA (AA's Anonymous). I know of at least one HS30 sale that Fuji lost because of the switch to Li-Ion batteries.

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Yeah - I'm a reformed smoker (about 12 years now) and and AA Anonymous member for about 5 1/2 years. I find it a lot easier to drop in one battery that latches itself in place than trying to determine which end is which if it's dark, for example.

I don't know whether Fuji has lost 1 or 1000 sales of HS30's due to the new battery but I would consider it now, if I were in the market for a bridge camera. With AA's, I wouldn't.

AA's have some very good uses, I'm not saying they don't, but I have enjoyed photography a lot better with a camera that runs on something else.

Larry Winters said:

To each their own, but personally I wouldn't let a Li-Ion vs. AA battery stop me from buying a quality camera like the HS30. With the current move to lighter and smaller all AA cams will be gone eventually, plus the greed factor of aftermarket sales will swallow the lone AA survivors. The AA's will always have a place somewhere, just not with digital cameras.

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I've got AA's in my remote temperature sensors, clocks, things like that, and I wouldn't dream of buying any of those devices if they had 'proprietary' batteries. AA's work well in such things where current draw is low and one or two alkaline batteries will last for months or a year or longer.

Thanks Bill! So these new eneloops are better than the first generation? 1500 charges?! These could easily last for 30 yrs! Im just going to use my LaCrosse charger. I got the HS20 specifically because it does RAW and uses AA batteries----- a combo hard to find! So all the major manufacturers make these hybrids now? Im on Long Island.
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http://Alex_the_GREAT.photoshop.com

I have that same battery you use with the C-8080 for the C-7070 and the E-520; that's the only Li-ion battery I can tolerate, because it's built like a tank and works across multiple cameras. But I also got an AA battery holder for the E-520 from eBay and an AC adapter for the C-7070 just in case something happens to the batteries (I have 4 of them!)
--
http://Alex_the_GREAT.photoshop.com