I live in the Southern US where is is very hot outside and normal inside due to Air Conditioning and have problems with batteries all the time with D500 but not with D850. Not sure temperature has anything to do with it unless it is extremes.
-
Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
Nikon d500 battery drain
- Thread starter bowser2
- Start date
-
- Tags
- nikon d500
n057
Veteran Member
Flogging a dead horse?
Used is OK, but what do you mean by "secondary market"? Is that a euphemism for ... what?
JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers
Not sure what the point of a comment like this is? One can be helpful without being hurtful.
For someone who may have recently bought a D500, it is "new info". I was just on a photo group where two people with D500s had run down the battery in their camera and their spares during the course of the all day (ie. 12 hours) photographing out in the field. I have taken to carrying two spare batteries and using my D7200 as my backup camera to my D500, instead of carrying my two D500s. That way I can always use the "run down batteries" in my D7200. That is not to say that I don't love the D500, just that I have adjusted to its limitations.
Friedrich von Hrsten
Forum Enthusiast
I have just returned from safari in Kenya, where I spent 7 days in the bush with limited charging facilities.
I own a "used" D500 and "used" D7200.
I shot a lot, as usual with the 2 cameras.
Never had a problem running out of battery. Most mornings I didn't even change batteries from the previous day's shoot. I do keep 2 spare batteries on hand for our 3 cameras. They are not Nikon brand, but do very well.
One close shave was when the D500 closed down as I was taking shots in camp after sunset and a whole day in the field.
I don't use all the fancy features, don't bother with the touch screen much.
It is an amazing camera with superb AF ability.
So glad I got it.
Even latches onto insects in flight with my 300mm f4 PF easily...
NOT all D500 cameras are so useless, same as the Z7 stories about 300 shots per battery...
depends on how you use it.
For me it is a wonderful investment!
God bless,
Friedrich von Hörsten, South Africa
I own a "used" D500 and "used" D7200.
I shot a lot, as usual with the 2 cameras.
Never had a problem running out of battery. Most mornings I didn't even change batteries from the previous day's shoot. I do keep 2 spare batteries on hand for our 3 cameras. They are not Nikon brand, but do very well.
One close shave was when the D500 closed down as I was taking shots in camp after sunset and a whole day in the field.
I don't use all the fancy features, don't bother with the touch screen much.
It is an amazing camera with superb AF ability.
So glad I got it.
Even latches onto insects in flight with my 300mm f4 PF easily...
NOT all D500 cameras are so useless, same as the Z7 stories about 300 shots per battery...
depends on how you use it.
For me it is a wonderful investment!
God bless,
Friedrich von Hörsten, South Africa
Hello everyone,
I too have decided that as it is such a superb camera, I live with the limitations ( variations which may well be caused by the way each of us uses a camera) and just enjoy it. I don't take long bursts of shots and this may well have something to do with battery life of course.
However I am sad that on such a wonderful forum there have been dismissive comments about something that does cause some of us problems. I too have just returned from Africa and I didn't take the D500 because I would have been in serious bother with depleted batteries and limited charging opportunities. I started the thread because I hoped that perhaps some helpful advice might come my way so I am grateful to you all for the helpful replies. Not much further forward, battery on 45% and 172 shots, but there you go.
I too have decided that as it is such a superb camera, I live with the limitations ( variations which may well be caused by the way each of us uses a camera) and just enjoy it. I don't take long bursts of shots and this may well have something to do with battery life of course.
However I am sad that on such a wonderful forum there have been dismissive comments about something that does cause some of us problems. I too have just returned from Africa and I didn't take the D500 because I would have been in serious bother with depleted batteries and limited charging opportunities. I started the thread because I hoped that perhaps some helpful advice might come my way so I am grateful to you all for the helpful replies. Not much further forward, battery on 45% and 172 shots, but there you go.
Friedrich von Hrsten
Forum Enthusiast
Hi Bowser2
Thanks for starting this thread.
Before I bought my D500 I read many similar threads, and had serious doubts about buying the camera... most were so negative...
Now I am very glad I got it.
I don't think the fact that some of us don't have problems yet, means you are stupid etc at all.
Tomorrow it may be my turn to have the same problem!
If anybody seriously gets to the bottom of this, please share it, so we can all be wiser!
Thanks and God bless,
Friedrich von Hörsten
Thanks for starting this thread.
Before I bought my D500 I read many similar threads, and had serious doubts about buying the camera... most were so negative...
Now I am very glad I got it.
I don't think the fact that some of us don't have problems yet, means you are stupid etc at all.
Tomorrow it may be my turn to have the same problem!
If anybody seriously gets to the bottom of this, please share it, so we can all be wiser!
Thanks and God bless,
Friedrich von Hörsten
n057
Veteran Member
Glad you came back for a follow-up
I do sound rough because since the D500 came out, that subject comes back. Some of us tried to use our previously owned EN-EL15 batteries in teh camera, then got alarmed about not having the expected number of shots. That was a Nikon error not making sure people use the correct battery.
After numerous discussions, and numerous calls to Nikon, most found that they were either using the old EN-EL15, or not waiting long enough to "break-in", so to speak, their fresh-ou-of-the-box batteries. Granted, there have been a few cases where Nikon had a fix.
This subject shows up every once in a while because some read the title of the old threads and panic. Which is understandable. But then there is the out-of-nowere comment that "It is a well know problem, Nikon won't admit it and says "everything is fine" when they check the camera, "user error" is their party line." No mention of how he ran into the error, except a hint that he owns used and "off secondary market". What is off secondary market? The battery? How in blazes do you expect a manufacturer to fix a problem with a clone? Give you a free battery
JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers
TN Args
Forum Pro
What did Nikon say and do when you handed them the brand new camera 10 months ago?? And showed them the problem, with proof?
Ok, thanks for paying attention to my comment, if I can clarify maybe that will help.\Glad you came back for a follow-up
I do sound rough because since the D500 came out, that subject comes back. Some of us tried to use our previously owned EN-EL15 batteries in teh camera, then got alarmed about not having the expected number of shots. That was a Nikon error not making sure people use the correct battery.
After numerous discussions, and numerous calls to Nikon, most found that they were either using the old EN-EL15, or not waiting long enough to "break-in", so to speak, their fresh-ou-of-the-box batteries. Granted, there have been a few cases where Nikon had a fix.
This subject shows up every once in a while because some read the title of the old threads and panic. Which is understandable. But then there is the out-of-nowere comment that "It is a well know problem, Nikon won't admit it and says "everything is fine" when they check the camera, "user error" is their party line." No mention of how he ran into the error, except a hint that he owns used and "off secondary market". What is off secondary market? The battery? How in blazes do you expect a manufacturer to fix a problem with a clone? Give you a free battery
JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers
1. Well know problem means many other people said same thing on these forums.
2. I ran into the error on the first day of using it and tried different batteries and they all had the same "problem", the D500 runs them down fast and doesn't register the correct charge.
3. Secondary market is when you buy used equipment from people. Given that the camera is a few years old and I am not the original owner Nikon refused to touch it.
4. These are brand new batteries, some are from Nikon and some are third party. I don't buy used batteries, only new, so there is no problems there.
5. Did you read the part of my comment where I described swapping up batteries between the D850 and the D500 and the results? Doesn't sound like you did.
6. Here is a refresher. The D500 says battery reading is Zero and stops working. I pop the battery into the D850 and it says 31% and gives me over 400 more shots. Huh? Is that clear or is there some other confusing thing that I am "bringing out of nowhere" that justifies kind of dismissing my comment? To me that is an indication that the D500 is not working well with its battery.
7. I am not dismissing or criticizing other aspects of its performance, they are great, I love it for that. But I hate that the battery problem is there and it can't be fixed and Nikon has adamantly refused to acknowledge that problem. Shame on them.
TN Args
Forum Pro
My point exactly!
You should have had this camera fixed long ago. Having a D500 and not taking it to Africa (presumably for wildlife opportunities) because of battery issues, is somewhat of a disaster, yet you had at least 8 months to get it fixed beforehand. And didn't.
If the implication, that this thread seems to want to veer toward, is that it is a generic limitation of the D500 and the D500 is not a fit camera for African wildlife photography, which would be a major fail in relation to one of the camera's core purposes, then I think the people saying so need to chill a bit, until we hear their stories of returning the cameras to Nikon with proof that their cameras deplete genuine batteries to the point of camera shut-down within 200-ish shots with wifi turned off, and having Nikon confirm that depleting batteries that way is correct behaviour for the D500, and no repair is possible.
I mean, 10 months ago you reported that it was user error and all fixed now, but now you are saying you couldn't risk taking it to Africa.
Like I said in my quote above, are you waiting for the warranty to expire?
P.S. I presume you are already aware of this Nikon product notice, link.
P.P.S. I presume you are also aware of "D500 Batterygate", link, but that seems to show the meter saying empty when about 25% is left, which should only reduce life from 1200-ish to 900-ish shots. Not your 200-ish. What it does show, however, is that the D500 meter shows more battery consumption than that same battery shows when in other cameras. So it will always 'look scary' when the level indicator drops rapidly, but that doesn't mean the same on the D500 as other cameras, so the real test is how many shots taken when the camera shuts itself down?
cheers
Last edited:
n057
Veteran Member
Some are from Nikon: which incarnation of the EN-EL15 did you use? You have probably paid attention that you can't just use the earlier incarnations. And you also probably have paid attention when you read that not all third party batteries are compatible.Ok, thanks for paying attention to my comment, if I can clarify maybe that will help.\Glad you came back for a follow-up
I do sound rough because since the D500 came out, that subject comes back. Some of us tried to use our previously owned EN-EL15 batteries in teh camera, then got alarmed about not having the expected number of shots. That was a Nikon error not making sure people use the correct battery.
After numerous discussions, and numerous calls to Nikon, most found that they were either using the old EN-EL15, or not waiting long enough to "break-in", so to speak, their fresh-ou-of-the-box batteries. Granted, there have been a few cases where Nikon had a fix.
This subject shows up every once in a while because some read the title of the old threads and panic. Which is understandable. But then there is the out-of-nowere comment that "It is a well know problem, Nikon won't admit it and says "everything is fine" when they check the camera, "user error" is their party line." No mention of how he ran into the error, except a hint that he owns used and "off secondary market". What is off secondary market? The battery? How in blazes do you expect a manufacturer to fix a problem with a clone? Give you a free battery
JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers
1. Well know problem means many other people said same thing on these forums.
2. I ran into the error on the first day of using it and tried different batteries and they all had the same "problem", the D500 runs them down fast and doesn't register the correct charge.
3. Secondary market is when you buy used equipment from people. Given that the camera is a few years old and I am not the original owner Nikon refused to touch it.
4. These are brand new batteries, some are from Nikon and some are third party. I don't buy used batteries, only new, so there is no problems there.
5. Did you read the part of my comment where I described swapping up batteries between the D850 and the D500 and the results? Doesn't sound like you did.
6. Here is a refresher. The D500 says battery reading is Zero and stops working. I pop the battery into the D850 and it says 31% and gives me over 400 more shots. Huh? Is that clear or is there some other confusing thing that I am "bringing out of nowhere" that justifies kind of dismissing my comment? To me that is an indication that the D500 is not working well with its battery.
7. I am not dismissing or criticizing other aspects of its performance, they are great, I love it for that. But I hate that the battery problem is there and it can't be fixed and Nikon has adamantly refused to acknowledge that problem. Shame on them.
JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers
Hello again
i am obviously grateful for your input - what I had hoped to be able to understand is how different strategies for using the camera affect battery usage and so to understand how I use the camera in comparison with how others use theirs. Then I could return the camera to Nikon with some sensible comment as to the battery usage. Don't shout at me for not returning it - I would do this and even happily pay for it when I have the information I need to understand what is going on and to understand if it is me or the camera that needs help!
the camera is a wonderful one, but perhaps the way I use it - taking single shots mostly - isn't the way to get the most shots from the battery charge.
i am obviously grateful for your input - what I had hoped to be able to understand is how different strategies for using the camera affect battery usage and so to understand how I use the camera in comparison with how others use theirs. Then I could return the camera to Nikon with some sensible comment as to the battery usage. Don't shout at me for not returning it - I would do this and even happily pay for it when I have the information I need to understand what is going on and to understand if it is me or the camera that needs help!
the camera is a wonderful one, but perhaps the way I use it - taking single shots mostly - isn't the way to get the most shots from the battery charge.
Leonard Shepherd
Forum Pro
Is it well known?
In my experience, OK only based on 5 D500 owners, no.
When I use LiveView a lot on my D850 (for focus shift) the battery capacity goes down (relative to the number of shots) by over 80%.
If the battery reads good in the menu and a Nikon check shows no unexpected power consumption then the chances of it being a Nikon problem seem low.
Friedrich von Hrsten
Forum Enthusiast
Hi Bowser2
In the bush I leave my camera on from 6:00 untill 7:00pm -- 13 hours. I never switch it off since I may need it any moment. I shoot single, short bursts of 2-3 shots, and now and then, maybe 10 shots in a burst. I check a few shots every now and then for exposure, sharpness, otherwise don't bother till I get back in camp.
Do you not perhaps use liveview etc. a lot?
Hope you get it right!
God bless,
Friedrich von Hörsten
In the bush I leave my camera on from 6:00 untill 7:00pm -- 13 hours. I never switch it off since I may need it any moment. I shoot single, short bursts of 2-3 shots, and now and then, maybe 10 shots in a burst. I check a few shots every now and then for exposure, sharpness, otherwise don't bother till I get back in camp.
Do you not perhaps use liveview etc. a lot?
Hope you get it right!
God bless,
Friedrich von Hörsten
Thanks for the helpful reply - I never use live view or any of the Bluetooth, Wi-fi things. I am wondering if I am using back button focus wrongly and over using the continuous focus availability... I will continue experimenting.
Thank you so much again.
Thank you so much again.
Not to give you a hard time, but doesn't this count as a problem of running out of battery (if something that you wanted to photograph was going on when you attempted to use the camera and it had shut down you would have missed the shot)? Did you happen to notice before your camera shut down what the reading on top of your camera showed in terms of battery life left? I had the experience of trying to shoot with my D500 when I was pretty sure there were at least two bars showing for battery use when I had last used it and the camera had shut down (and there was something I wanted to photograph). Now I swap out the battery as soon as it gets to 2 bars.
Last edited:
Friedrich von Hrsten
Forum Enthusiast
Hi Ricardo00,
i knew the battery was low, but was too lazy to change for charged one
when I see great potential or go on morning game viewing drive, I always check fo at least 70% power and take spare batteries for D7200 and D600 too...
i knew the battery was low, but was too lazy to change for charged one
when I see great potential or go on morning game viewing drive, I always check fo at least 70% power and take spare batteries for D7200 and D600 too...n057
Veteran Member
That will not completely explain why your experience with your D500 is different from mine, but an article on Nikon Rumors led me to this link to a Nikon article "EN-EL15 and EN-EL15a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery compatibility ".
The article on Nikon rumor also has some additional info regarding the EN-EL15b
JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers
Similar threads
- Question
Keyboard shortcuts
- f
- Forum