D7i battery problem!!!

[HarryW]

Just got my brand new 7i. I fully charged the original batteries in the box (4 Sanyo NI-MH 1850). However, after I took only 8 pictures (4 with flash), the camera low battery light went on. After 2 more shots, it stopped totally. I fully charged them again. The same thing happened after several shots.

I switched to 4 regular non-rechargeable batteries and this time the camera stopped after 3 pictures, again with flashing battery warning!

I checked with my battery gauge and all batteries (including the Sanyo) all have FULL level, yet my 7i would not work with them.

I read the manual. I wiped the batteries with clean dry cloth. No difference.

Did I get a "lemon"?

HELP!!!!

 

[Edward Hor]

wow, there is definately a problem there!
I just got my 7i yesterday and charged the sanyo's (took about 4hrs).

played around with the camera last night, a few flash shots and such but I definately took over 8 photos.

Have you tried the batteries in a different camera?

Just got my brand new 7i. I fully charged the original batteries
in the box (4 Sanyo NI-MH 1850). However, after I took only 8
pictures (4 with flash), the camera low battery light went on.
After 2 more shots, it stopped totally. I fully charged them
again. The same thing happened after several shots.

I switched to 4 regular non-rechargeable batteries and this time
the camera stopped after 3 pictures, again with flashing battery
warning!

I checked with my battery gauge and all batteries (including the
Sanyo) all have FULL level, yet my 7i would not work with them.

I read the manual. I wiped the batteries with clean dry cloth. No
difference.

Did I get a "lemon"?

HELP!!!!

 

[southernsun]

Have you tried the batteries in a different camera?

Just got my brand new 7i. I fully charged the original batteries
in the box (4 Sanyo NI-MH 1850). However, after I took only 8
pictures (4 with flash), the camera low battery light went on.
After 2 more shots, it stopped totally. I fully charged them
again. The same thing happened after several shots.

I switched to 4 regular non-rechargeable batteries and this time
the camera stopped after 3 pictures, again with flashing battery
warning!

I checked with my battery gauge and all batteries (including the
Sanyo) all have FULL level, yet my 7i would not work with them.

I read the manual. I wiped the batteries with clean dry cloth. No
difference.

Did I get a "lemon"?

HELP!!!!

I got the same sort of result when I first used the camera. To get the max out of the batteries you should charge and drain a few times before you use them. Even so I do not get much beyond 30 min continues shooting. I suggest an external pack as the only real solution.

Larry

 

[Tony Menz]

By the second charge everything should be fine. The battery "problem" everyone talks about is non-existent. I get a good 200 shots, some with flash, per set of 1850's, and a set of 1700's I have purchased give me the same. I shoot full res all the time. If the problem happens on the next charge, take the camera back.

Have you tried the batteries in a different camera?

Just got my brand new 7i. I fully charged the original batteries
in the box (4 Sanyo NI-MH 1850). However, after I took only 8
pictures (4 with flash), the camera low battery light went on.
After 2 more shots, it stopped totally. I fully charged them
again. The same thing happened after several shots.

I switched to 4 regular non-rechargeable batteries and this time
the camera stopped after 3 pictures, again with flashing battery
warning!

I checked with my battery gauge and all batteries (including the
Sanyo) all have FULL level, yet my 7i would not work with them.

I read the manual. I wiped the batteries with clean dry cloth. No
difference.

Did I get a "lemon"?

HELP!!!!

I got the same sort of result when I first used the camera. To get
the max out of the batteries you should charge and drain a few
times before you use them. Even so I do not get much beyond 30 min
continues shooting. I suggest an external pack as the only real
solution.

Larry

 

[Marko Björkroth]

I got the same sort of result when I first used the camera. To get
the max out of the batteries you should charge and drain a few
times before you use them. Even so I do not get much beyond 30 min
continues shooting. I suggest an external pack as the only real
solution.

No, no. 8 shots is totally out of the norm and so is 30 minutes. You should get over an hour even if you shoot continuously.

First, the Sanyo charger is not a very good one. It won't tell you if you have a problem with one battery (this is mostly likely your problem). Get yourself another set of batteries in order to see if that is the problem (BTW, you'll need a spare set anyway). Regular, non-rechargeable batteries won't work, don't even bother to try them.

If you are unlucky, you might have a faulty charger or camera instead of a bad battery. It's also possible that the battery contacs inside the camera are dirty. Try cleaning them. And get yourself a better charger, one that monitors each cell separately and is capable of conditioning the cells.

Marko

 

[Hans59567]

If you want to clean the contacts: Use contact cleaner (every store for electronics has and uses it themselves) or at least cleaning alcohol and clean also (moisty eartip) the camera contacts. Do the same with the contacts of the loader. Three till 5 pictures with a fresh set of alkalines sounds very normal.
Hans.

 

[Cranapple]

If you want to clean the contacts: Use contact cleaner (every store
for electronics has and uses it themselves) or at least cleaning
alcohol and clean also (moisty eartip) the camera contacts. Do the
same with the contacts of the loader. Three till 5 pictures with a
fresh set of alkalines sounds very normal.
Hans.

When I first got my camera, it took each new charge extended the life of the batteries. saturday I took 70 pictures at a family reunion and then downloaded them to my camera by plugging in the camera and still used the same batteries. (I picked up the card reader yesterday.) So, they worked for several hours, off and on. Keep trying.

 

[Russell Whyman]

Just got my brand new 7i. I fully charged the original batteries
in the box (4 Sanyo NI-MH 1850). However, after I took only 8
pictures (4 with flash), the camera low battery light went on.
After 2 more shots, it stopped totally. I fully charged them
again. The same thing happened after several shots.

I switched to 4 regular non-rechargeable batteries and this time
the camera stopped after 3 pictures, again with flashing battery
warning!

I checked with my battery gauge and all batteries (including the
Sanyo) all have FULL level, yet my 7i would not work with them.

I read the manual. I wiped the batteries with clean dry cloth. No
difference.

Did I get a "lemon"?

HELP!!!!

Hi Harry

There's certainly a problem the question is is it the 7i or the batteries. My batteries lasted for a good 40-50 shots on the first charge (using the Sanyo charger, which I don't think is a bad charger despite the comments of several owners). I can't comment on the alkalines as I've never used them but I understand they don't last long at all in the 7i.

I suggest getting another set of NiMH batteries 1800's if possible and trying those. Even if it is the camera they'll come in handy when you get the replacement.

Good luck and don't worry you made the right choice the 7i is a great camera.

--
Russell
D5 http://homepage.ntlworld.com/russell.whyman1
D7i http://www.russellwhyman.co.uk

 

[casey81696]

Actually guys you have no problem. What you have to do is condition the batterys. Which means....clear the batteries of any charge they have then recharge them. Do this a couple times tell you break them in.

 

[Kevin McPeake]

Hey Harry,

Since my reply email to you earlier today, I thought some more about this.

If you got 3-5 shots with normal alkaline batteries - I believe this to be a sign that your camera is probably okay - and that your problem lies in the possibility that your batteries didn't have quite the full charge you think they may have.

The reason I say this, is that getting 3-5 shots using Alkaline batteries is rather "normal" for this camera. NiMH batteries have sig different output characteristics than Alkaline ones. Thus, any 7i will stop after 3-5 shots with Alkalines - that's standard for anyone with a 7i.

That's why I think your camera is okay.

The problem, I suspect, is with your batteries. I know you said you tested the batteries, but I'm very curious how you tested them & with what equipment. If you use one of these little 4-LED Radio Shack testers that you pick up for 9.98, that could be decieving you, because they aren't equipped to deal with the characteristics of a NiMH battery.

How long did you charge your batteries?

I don't know if the Sanyo charger that came with the 7i is really a good charger. I used it a couple of times, and I thought I noticed less that desirable results with it, but that was my OPINION. I never found a qualified statement as to the quality of this charger, so I packed it in a spare pocket of my Lowepro Nova-mini camera bag & decided that it would be used as a "last ditch emergency" charger for when I was on the road & needed it. Otherwise, I use two other NiMH chargers which I purchased specifically after reading reviews about them (which I told you in my email).

Note: I have no grips about the Sanyo batteries themselves - they seem to be solid performers for me. My question remains really with the Sanyo battery charger. Since I cannot trust it & I cannot "not trust" it - until I find time to actually test it, I figured I'd use something else.

I suggest you do the same, considering your current problems.

Feel free to pass any comments back to me & let me know if your successful or not. Keep your patience too! Once you get it working, I know you will enjoy the camera.

Good luck.

--
Kevin McPeake

 

[Thomas Aletter]

Actually guys you have no problem. What you have to do is condition
the batterys. Which means....clear the batteries of any charge they
have then recharge them. Do this a couple times tell you break them
in.

What is the easiest way to condition the batteries?

Thomas

 

[newsposter]

Get a good charger that has a conditioning capability, search this forum for exact details, plenty of posts on the subject over the past year or more.

Actually guys you have no problem. What you have to do is condition
the batterys. Which means....clear the batteries of any charge they
have then recharge them. Do this a couple times tell you break them
in.

What is the easiest way to condition the batteries?

Thomas

 

[Scotsman]

My Sanyo charger is flakey also, I can plug it into one outlet and it will work fine, another place in the house it won't work, even though my Oly charger will. I didn't have to condition the Sanyo batteries. They worked way over an hour the first time I used them. Maybe the chargers are just garbage.

Hey Harry,

Since my reply email to you earlier today, I thought some more
about this.

If you got 3-5 shots with normal alkaline batteries - I believe
this to be a sign that your camera is probably okay - and that your
problem lies in the possibility that your batteries didn't have
quite the full charge you think they may have.

The reason I say this, is that getting 3-5 shots using Alkaline
batteries is rather "normal" for this camera. NiMH batteries have
sig different output characteristics than Alkaline ones. Thus, any
7i will stop after 3-5 shots with Alkalines - that's standard for
anyone with a 7i.

That's why I think your camera is okay.

The problem, I suspect, is with your batteries. I know you said
you tested the batteries, but I'm very curious how you tested them
& with what equipment. If you use one of these little 4-LED Radio
Shack testers that you pick up for 9.98, that could be decieving
you, because they aren't equipped to deal with the characteristics
of a NiMH battery.

How long did you charge your batteries?

I don't know if the Sanyo charger that came with the 7i is really a
good charger. I used it a couple of times, and I thought I noticed
less that desirable results with it, but that was my OPINION. I
never found a qualified statement as to the quality of this
charger, so I packed it in a spare pocket of my Lowepro Nova-mini
camera bag & decided that it would be used as a "last ditch
emergency" charger for when I was on the road & needed it.
Otherwise, I use two other NiMH chargers which I purchased
specifically after reading reviews about them (which I told you in
my email).

Note: I have no grips about the Sanyo batteries themselves - they
seem to be solid performers for me. My question remains really
with the Sanyo battery charger. Since I cannot trust it & I cannot
"not trust" it - until I find time to actually test it, I figured
I'd use something else.

I suggest you do the same, considering your current problems.

Feel free to pass any comments back to me & let me know if your
successful or not. Keep your patience too! Once you get it
working, I know you will enjoy the camera.

Good luck.

--
Kevin McPeake

 

[Jean Montambeault]

Just got my brand new 7i. I fully charged the original batteries
in the box (4 Sanyo NI-MH 1850). However, after I took only 8
pictures (4 with flash), the camera low battery light went on.
After 2 more shots, it stopped totally. I fully charged them
again. The same thing happened after several shots.

Funny you should mention it : I just experienced a similar problem. Since I had read this thread alreaddy, I suspected a contact problem and... simply swapped aroud the batteries. I was able to go on for another 60 shots at fine and max resolution.

 

[Sam2nd]

I have been owner of the 7i, two weeks ago, I´m very very happy with her. I have had only 350 shots, nearly all in the Zoo with very good result.

But i have one problem with batteries, for 324 shots in the zoo, four set of batteries, the sanyo set included with the camera, charger second time, and the other, chargers one time.

What do you think about this?

I was read, that for an optimal performance of the batteries, best charger 6 or 7 times before used it. This is true?

Other thing; between the shots, in the Zoo, I put the camera in off, later in on, off, on, off, on, but I think that is not good system for to take photos, what can I do, if I must to take several photos in shorts intervals of time?
Thanks for your help
Sorry for my bad English

 

[John Stavick]

My 2 cents worth...personally I think the Sanyo charger is junk. I have a MAHA 204, a Quest Q2, and this piece of Junk. I can charge in the MAHA and the Q2 and get much more mileage out of the batteries compared to the Sanyo.

Duh...has anyone ever wondered why Minolta included a Sanyo charger with their camera when they distribute their own line of Quest chargers?
Humm...could it be that they are looking for some additional revenue?

 

[HarryW]

Kev,

Thanks for your input. I am beginning to believe that the Sanyo charger is the problem because I am getting very inconsistent performance of the batteries. I am going to get one of the chargers you recommended in your email. Also, I am going to get another set of batteries.

BTW, what is the best way to discharge the batteries in order to "condition" them?

Thanks.

Harry

Hey Harry,

Since my reply email to you earlier today, I thought some more
about this.

If you got 3-5 shots with normal alkaline batteries - I believe
this to be a sign that your camera is probably okay - and that your
problem lies in the possibility that your batteries didn't have
quite the full charge you think they may have.

The reason I say this, is that getting 3-5 shots using Alkaline
batteries is rather "normal" for this camera. NiMH batteries have
sig different output characteristics than Alkaline ones. Thus, any
7i will stop after 3-5 shots with Alkalines - that's standard for
anyone with a 7i.

That's why I think your camera is okay.

The problem, I suspect, is with your batteries. I know you said
you tested the batteries, but I'm very curious how you tested them
& with what equipment. If you use one of these little 4-LED Radio
Shack testers that you pick up for 9.98, that could be decieving
you, because they aren't equipped to deal with the characteristics
of a NiMH battery.

How long did you charge your batteries?

I don't know if the Sanyo charger that came with the 7i is really a
good charger. I used it a couple of times, and I thought I noticed
less that desirable results with it, but that was my OPINION. I
never found a qualified statement as to the quality of this
charger, so I packed it in a spare pocket of my Lowepro Nova-mini
camera bag & decided that it would be used as a "last ditch
emergency" charger for when I was on the road & needed it.
Otherwise, I use two other NiMH chargers which I purchased
specifically after reading reviews about them (which I told you in
my email).

Note: I have no grips about the Sanyo batteries themselves - they
seem to be solid performers for me. My question remains really
with the Sanyo battery charger. Since I cannot trust it & I cannot
"not trust" it - until I find time to actually test it, I figured
I'd use something else.

I suggest you do the same, considering your current problems.

Feel free to pass any comments back to me & let me know if your
successful or not. Keep your patience too! Once you get it
working, I know you will enjoy the camera.

Good luck.

--
Kevin McPeake

 

[John B.]

From what I have read a good way to clean battery / contacts is to use a pencil eraser - - then blow out the residue.

--
E - 100 RS
http://www.pbase.com/ajpix
JB

 

[Gerhard Winkler]

Harry,

I had a similar experience as you when I charged and used the Sanyo batteries the first time. I thought they were junk. Then I realized I needed to condition them.

I don't know if that's possible with the Sanyo charger that came with the camera. But I also own a a MAHA 204 charger - it's not the fastest (takes about 8 hours to condition, 2 to charge after that), but reliable. That's what I used to condition the batteries, and then they worked fine. To condition the batteries, I inserted the batteries, then pushed the buttons on the charger and that's all it took to start the process.

I suggest you invest into a good charger, maybe 1-2 sets of additional batteries. Even the fastest charger takes about 30 minutes. Try this link - they are one of the best: http://nimhbattery.com/batteries.htm

I got 2 additional sets of batteries: the Powerex 1800 and the Kodak 1850 - all are very good. Now I rotate them, so I have one set in the camera, one in the charger, and one spare. That arrangement works great for me.

Also remember that having the LCD on all the time will drain the batteries fast, even if they are conditioned and fully charged. I now use the auto-switch feature where the display switches from LCD to EVF whenever I look into the EVF.

Good luck!

Kev,

Thanks for your input. I am beginning to believe that the Sanyo
charger is the problem because I am getting very inconsistent
performance of the batteries. I am going to get one of the
chargers you recommended in your email. Also, I am going to get
another set of batteries.

BTW, what is the best way to discharge the batteries in order to
"condition" them?

Thanks.

Harry

 

[Gerhard Winkler]

Harry,

I had a similar experience as you when I charged and used the Sanyo batteries the first time. I thought they were junk. Then I realized I needed to condition them.

I don't know if that's possible with the Sanyo charger that came with the camera. But I also own a a MAHA 204 charger - it's not the fastest (takes about 8 hours to condition, 2 to charge after that), but reliable. That's what I used to condition the batteries, and then they worked fine. To condition the batteries, I inserted the batteries, then pushed the buttons on the charger and that's all it took to start the process.

I suggest you invest into a good charger, maybe 1-2 sets of additional batteries. Even the fastest charger takes about 30 minutes. Try this link - they are one of the best: http://nimhbattery.com/batteries.htm

I got 2 additional sets of batteries: the Powerex 1800 and the Kodak 1850 - all are very good. Now I rotate them, so I have one set in the camera, one in the charger, and one spare. That arrangement works great for me.

Also remember that having the LCD on all the time will drain the batteries fast, even if they are conditioned and fully charged. I now use the auto-switch feature where the display switches from LCD to EVF whenever I look into the EVF.

Good luck!

Kev,

Thanks for your input. I am beginning to believe that the Sanyo
charger is the problem because I am getting very inconsistent
performance of the batteries. I am going to get one of the
chargers you recommended in your email. Also, I am going to get
another set of batteries.

BTW, what is the best way to discharge the batteries in order to
"condition" them?

Thanks.

Harry