V550 Battery, KLIC-7001, Number of pictures per charge

[Vic2005]

Just purchased the V550 and really do like it. I was surprised, however, to find that the fully charged battery only provided about 50 pictures before it had to be recharged. Most of these were taken without the need for flash. I noticed the manual indicated one should expect about 120 shots per charge. Since my experience was less than half that number, I am wondering if the battery is defective? I used the LDC instead of the view finder when taking all the pictures. Does that 120 number only occur when you use the viewfinder instead of the LCD to frame your shots?

I would like to know if 50 is the normal output number for this battery or is this a problem. Thank you.
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Vic2005

 

[tcool]

I haven't had mine long enough yet to notice how many shots. But the battery definitely is tiny.

One thing I noticed is that Kodaks retail price for the battery is $20, yet many places are selling the battery for more than that, which is stupid. I saw one place that wanted $59 for it.

 

[mike051051]

Vic,

Yeah, the CIPA test cycle for # shots per charge is done without the LCD on IF the camera has an optical viewfinder. It's also run with Flash on half the shots and some specified amount of review. But other than recharging the flash, the biggest drain on a battery in a digicam is the LCD. That's largely because it remains on for so long a time when you're actively shooting and using the LCD as the viewfinder.

The problem with the V550 is that big, beautiful LCD screen is SOOOO good, that you just want to use it all the time......8^) If you can control your need to use the screen, the battery life will improve noticeably. Using the LCD for liveview and doing a lot of reviewing of images and leaving the LCD on when shooting videos will all run down the battery sooner (as they will with any digicam). Practice makes perfect, especially as far as getting the most out of the battery goes.

Oh, also, using the LCD as the viewfinder may not get you as sharp a shot as using the optical viewfinder. Holding the camera out far enough so you can clearly see the LCD puts the camera in a position where the majority of people can't hold it as steady as they could if they were using the optical viewer with the camera against their face...that's nothing personal Vic - just the physics of the situation.

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Mike O'Brien
Eastman Kodak Company

 

[Ken Mosinski]

I'm interested in buying this camera, but how do you charge the battery?

From Kodak's website, the battery is charged with the KODAK EASYSHARE Photo Frame Dock 2. I've checked their site but can't find another charger that's suitable with the camera's klic 7001 Li-Ion battery.

Is there an aftermarket quick-charger for this battery? I can't see having to carry around that dock when you travel.

 

[c0mrade]

I have the same camera. I've been using it heavily for almost a month. Last weekend I had 2 shows out of state (I'm a DJ), and took around 150 pics on single charge using LCD, and even then battery didn't die, the light just came on after 150 shots, which means you got at least 1/3 of it left still. So I don't quite know if I'm lucky, or someone else there isn't? The thing about this camera is that without using LCD it runs way above the middle of the pack in battery life. Awesome, bright and beautiful LCD is what takes that much battery. My next experiment is to take pics without LCD until battery dies, I'll let you know of the results.

 

[mike051051]

I'm interested in buying this camera, but how do you charge the
battery?

From Kodak's website, the battery is charged with the KODAK
EASYSHARE Photo Frame Dock 2. I've checked their site but can't
find another charger that's suitable with the camera's klic 7001
Li-Ion battery.

Ken,

Right now, there's no separate battery charger available but not to worry, you can just take the AC adapter with you because the battery charging control takes place within the camera itself, not the dock. Both the V550 and V530 work this way.

You just plug the AC adapter that you use on the dock into the DC 5V in port on the camera and the blue icon LEDs on top of the camera are the charge indicators. When all four go steady blue, then the charge is complete. (each one blinks in successtion during the charge).

This takes the same amount of time as it does to charge it on the dock - about 3 hours with a completely drained battery, less if it's not fully drained.

Hope this info is helpful
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Mike O'Brien
Eastman Kodak Company

 

[convem24]

Just to let ya know the battery charges in the camera if you don't take the docking station. The charge time is about a couple of hours. And BTW if you live in the States the KLIC 7001 battery for $19.99. That battery is a bargin. I have the camera and love it. I will post some pictures when I have some time.

 

[Ken Mosinski]

That answers my question, thanks.

 

[Vic2005]

Thanks, Mike, for the answer to my question about the # of shots per charge. Yes, you are right about that big, beautiful screen on the V550. You just want to use it all the time. So you have to get an extra battery. But the problem is that there is no external charger for the battery which must be charged in the camera. Tha means after your 100 shots (50 per battery), you cannot take any more pictures for about 3 hours until one of the batteries has time to be recharged.

Is Kodak intending to make an external charger available for this battery in the future or is one available now from anyone? I would definitely purchase one!
--
Vic2005

 

[reball]

Sounds like the simple answer is to buy a second battery from Kodak, and in the future always keep both charged. Take both cells with you oneach photoshootl
****

 

[Vic2005]

I understand that there is no external charger available for the V550 Battery.

Does anyone know how long this battery (Kodak KLIC-7001) will hold its charge if it is not used? This is important when traveling or camping when you may not have access to an electrical wall outlet for 3 hours to recharge. Does the charge last a week or two? Anyone have any experience with this?

Thank you very much.
--
Vic2005

 

[mike051051]

Vic,

In my experience, a week is ok to let a charged Li-Ion battery sit without using it. My usual technique in this type of situation where the external battery charger isn't available yet (and please don't ask me any more about that for another......hmmmm...........maybe 3 months.....) is that I charge up one battery in the camera late in the day when I know I won't be shooting any more and then when that one is done, put the other one in the camera to charge when I go to bed. That way in the morning I have two charged batteries ready to go. If I exhaust one the next day, I'll switch batteries and then charge up the drained one at night or as soon as it's practical. That way I either have at least one, or both charged and ready.
--
Mike O'Brien
Eastman Kodak Company

 

[Vic2005]

Thanks, Mike. It really is nice to get support like this from Kodak. I appreciate your willingness to answer questions in the forum.
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Vic2005