Use NiMH batteries and be happy

[Soren Coughlin-Glaser]

If you have this camera, or are thinking about getting it, don't trash it until you use the NiMH batteries, digital cameras with an LCD take real strong batteries to make em work. I tried regular AA's and the camera won't work with the LCD screen on. But I just finished a 4 hour commercial shot with 120 pictures at two star mode and only one set of NiMH batteries, and it worked great. The manual does say it will work with AA's IFyou use a specific brad/type made for electronics and cameras. If any one has had luck with these let us know.

I am very happy with the camera, and now it has paid for itself.

Soren

 

[matt mercier]

Soren,

I used a fresh set of duarcell AA and it worked ok but very short life. LCD worked o.k. but only used it for 3-4 pics in low res mode. total was about 15 pics 2-3 with flash then d/l 5-6 to pc and batts dead.

If you have this camera, or are thinking about getting it, don't trash it
until you use the NiMH batteries, digital cameras with an LCD take real
strong batteries to make em work. I tried regular AA's and the camera
won't work with the LCD screen on. But I just finished a 4 hour
commercial shot with 120 pictures at two star mode and only one set of
NiMH batteries, and it worked great. The manual does say it will work
with AA's IFyou use a specific brad/type made for electronics and
cameras. If any one has had luck with these let us know.

I am very happy with the camera, and now it has paid for itself.

Soren

 

[Erik Ehudin]

Hello Soren,

First of all, thanks for all your excellent reporting on the camera. It certainly helped me make up my mind. As a matter of fact, mine arrived today. I'm reading the manual (I know, I'm a geek) and waiting for the batteries to charge. Several things disturb me, but it may just be that I've lived outside the wonderful, litiginous for too long, and this is just Epson's legal butt-covering. Anyhow, according to the user's guide:

1) I can not use non-Epson NiMH batteries in the charger or camera.

2) I can not use the included Epson NiMH batteries in anything but the camera (wasn't planning on that, anyway).

3) I can not use a non-Epson AC adapter with the camera.

If I'm careful to make sure the voltages and such are the same as the Epson products, can I disregard these restrictions? I'm about a million miles from anywhere that would sell Epson accessories, and don't want to have to wait for another mail order. Thanks again for your time.

If you have this camera, or are thinking about getting it, don't trash it
until you use the NiMH batteries, digital cameras with an LCD take real
strong batteries to make em work. I tried regular AA's and the camera
won't work with the LCD screen on. But I just finished a 4 hour
commercial shot with 120 pictures at two star mode and only one set of
NiMH batteries, and it worked great. The manual does say it will work
with AA's IFyou use a specific brad/type made for electronics and
cameras. If any one has had luck with these let us know.

I am very happy with the camera, and now it has paid for itself.

Soren

 

[Daniel Tonks]

Hello Soren,
First of all, thanks for all your excellent reporting on the camera. It
certainly helped me make up my mind. As a matter of fact, mine arrived
today. I'm reading the manual (I know, I'm a geek) and waiting for the
batteries to charge. Several things disturb me, but it may just be that
I've lived outside the wonderful, litiginous for too long, and this is
just Epson's legal butt-covering. Anyhow, according to the user's guide:

1) I can not use non-Epson NiMH batteries in the charger or camera.

Yes, you can. However Epson would REALLY prefer you buy theirs. Just take a look at a recipe card - do you really think you HAVE to buy Cow-Brand baking soda for the recipe to work?

2) I can not use the included Epson NiMH batteries in anything but the
camera (wasn't planning on that, anyway).

Well, they're just covering all bases here. These are plain, ordinary 1.2v AA batteries. Pretty good ones though -- I'd like to know who OEM'd them. 1500mAH isn't a widely-available size.

3) I can not use a non-Epson AC adapter with the camera.
If I'm careful to make sure the voltages and such are the same as the
Epson products, can I disregard these restrictions? I'm about a million
miles from anywhere that would sell Epson accessories, and don't want to
have to wait for another mail order. Thanks again for your time.

If you can find one that matches or beats the Epson's specs, sure. However my universal multi-voltage adapter would not do 7.0V -- only 7.5V. I'll have to look around further. You'd also have to make sure it can supply enough capacity (I have no idea where this number is published -- probably WITH the charger) and you'd also need to get the polarity right on the nib. It might be easier and cheaper just to buy the Epson charger. Honestly though, I'd just get a second pair of batteries.

• Daniel Tonks

 

[Erik Ehudin]

Thanks for the info. I figured as much. One more thing, though; what if I can only find 1250 mAH batteries. Would they work in the camera/charger? I'm sure they wouldn't work as well as 1500's, but I can get them around the corner. Okay, two more; what's capacity,and how is it measured and how can I make sure the polarity... on second thought, this is almost as much trouble as just ordering the adapter. I'll make do with the second set of batteries till it arrives. Gotta run. I think the second charge cycle is almost through.

Hello Soren,
First of all, thanks for all your excellent reporting on the camera. It
certainly helped me make up my mind. As a matter of fact, mine arrived
today. I'm reading the manual (I know, I'm a geek) and waiting for the
batteries to charge. Several things disturb me, but it may just be that
I've lived outside the wonderful, litiginous for too long, and this is
just Epson's legal butt-covering. Anyhow, according to the user's guide:

1) I can not use non-Epson NiMH batteries in the charger or camera.

Yes, you can. However Epson would REALLY prefer you buy theirs. Just take
a look at a recipe card - do you really think you HAVE to buy Cow-Brand
baking soda for the recipe to work?

2) I can not use the included Epson NiMH batteries in anything but the
camera (wasn't planning on that, anyway).

Well, they're just covering all bases here. These are plain, ordinary
1.2v AA batteries. Pretty good ones though -- I'd like to know who OEM'd
them. 1500mAH isn't a widely-available size.

3) I can not use a non-Epson AC adapter with the camera.
If I'm careful to make sure the voltages and such are the same as the
Epson products, can I disregard these restrictions? I'm about a million
miles from anywhere that would sell Epson accessories, and don't want to
have to wait for another mail order. Thanks again for your time.

If you can find one that matches or beats the Epson's specs, sure.
However my universal multi-voltage adapter would not do 7.0V -- only
7.5V. I'll have to look around further. You'd also have to make sure it
can supply enough capacity (I have no idea where this number is published
-- probably WITH the charger) and you'd also need to get the polarity
right on the nib. It might be easier and cheaper just to buy the Epson
charger. Honestly though, I'd just get a second pair of batteries.

• Daniel Tonks

 

[Daniel Tonks]

Thanks for the info. I figured as much. One more thing, though; what if
I can only find 1250 mAH batteries. Would they work in the
camera/charger? I'm sure they wouldn't work as well as 1500's, but I
can get them around the corner. Okay, two more; what's capacity,and how
is it measured and how can I make sure the polarity... on second thought,
this is almost as much trouble as just ordering the adapter. I'll make
do with the second set of batteries till it arrives. Gotta run. I think
the second charge cycle is almost through.

Yes, you can use 1250mAH batteries, they just won't last as long. But much longer than alkaline. As far as I know they should also work in the charger (as long as they are NiMH).

In relation to the adapter, capacity is how much power it can output. The specifictions described in the user manual is 7.0 volts, 2.0 amps. 2.0 amps is very high - my universal will only put out 700mA. Does the camera need the whole 2.0 amps? I don't know. I'm not saying either way. However using an underpowered adapter could damage your camera or cause your adapter to overheat (fire hazard).

You also need proper polarity -- the plug that goes into the camera needs the "+" in the right place and the "-" in the right place. For the camera it's "+" in the center and "-" on the outside. This is standard, but on most universals the tip can be changed and you may get it backwards (a VERY bad thing).

If you want to use an AC adapter I suggest ordering Epson's. It seems to be a hard one to duplicate. For batteries, just get whatever NiMH ones you want.

• Daniel Tonks

 

[matt mercier]

Daniel,

A further problem develops with universal adaptors. The majority of them anr not very well regulated or have excessive ripple ( from ac being converted to dc) which can cause more damage than undervoltage. Being basicaly a computer, the camera needs the 'cleanest' power you can give it. Chances are the 2 amps is overkill (I'm not totaly sure I have yet to check it) but the extra headroom may be to ensure the power is clean. I personaly would get the correct one - $30 is cheap insurance for a $600+ digicam.
Matt

In relation to the adapter, capacity is how much power it can output. The
specifictions described in the user manual is 7.0 volts, 2.0 amps. 2.0
amps is very high - my universal will only put out 700mA. Does the camera
need the whole 2.0 amps? I don't know. I'm not saying either way. However
using an underpowered adapter could damage your camera or cause your
adapter to overheat (fire hazard).

 

[Erik Ehudin]

Thanks a lot, guys. I've bought a nice set of 2.0v, 1500mAH batteries, and have an Epson AC adapter on order. The camera is just great, although I'm still not getting very sharp results. Then again, I've been shooting in pretty low light without the flash. The pictures look great w/r/t color, but either I'm not very steady or it's that Epson "softness" that everyone gripes about. Most likely it's me. I appreciate your taking the time to lend a hand.

In relation to the adapter, capacity is how much power it can output. The
specifictions described in the user manual is 7.0 volts, 2.0 amps. 2.0
amps is very high - my universal will only put out 700mA. Does the camera
need the whole 2.0 amps? I don't know. I'm not saying either way. However
using an underpowered adapter could damage your camera or cause your
adapter to overheat (fire hazard).

 

[Daniel Tonks]

Thanks a lot, guys. I've bought a nice set of 2.0v, 1500mAH batteries,
and have an Epson AC adapter on order. The camera is just great,
although I'm still not getting very sharp results. Then again, I've been
shooting in pretty low light without the flash. The pictures look great
w/r/t color, but either I'm not very steady or it's that Epson "softness"
that everyone gripes about. Most likely it's me. I appreciate your
taking the time to lend a hand.

Hey, no problem. I run a large web site unrelated to photography, and user community is very important. No question should go unanswered! I help where I can, and others do the same.

• Daniel Tonks