*ist DS NiMH battery performance and camera terminal

[VRoberts]

I'm using new Energizer 2500ma cells from Thomas Distributing. Energizer should be a good brand. I would still try some new batteries.

Which brand battery?

 

[HF Cheung]

Looks like it could have been bad battery after all. Just bought a set of new Sanyo 2300mAH AA and charged using the same MH-C204F charger. Batteries went depleted in ten shots. Recharged overnight. This time, the batteries are still holding for at lease half day now and after filling a 256M SD card four times ( 75 shots each time) over using continous drive and sports shooting modes.

Two things I noticed.
1. The Sanyo batteries clearly stated not only 2300mAH but also 2100mAH minimum.

2. This new set stayed cool to touch after second charge. All the previous sets were hot after recharge.

Will update whether this holds.

I could put in a set of newly charged battery in and the battery
would go dead after twenty or thirty test pictures. The battery
would also die after leaving in the camera for two days. I use the
2100mA Engerizer NiMH which according the test at another web site
should be the top brand.

 

[JensR]

Hi Mr. Cheung!

Thanks very much for the update.

I really hope that your problems are now solved.
Looking forward to your next update.

Cheers
Jens

 

[gus62]

I purchased the Energizer 2500mAh at Sams Club. It is a set of 8 AAs plus a charger for $20. The charger is for 4 at a time. I think this is a great value for those who don't have a charger already.

Gus L.

So the brand definitely matters--at least in my experience!

That said, I bought 4 2500MAH Energizer batts at Target for $10
(the BEST price to be found on these--it's a national price!) for
my DS camera.

Bottom line is the Energizer give great results! I was able to
take 500+ pictures with EXTENSIVE LCD use, some flash and
downloading the pics to the computer over the course of 2 weeks! I
didn't need my recharger as the batts held up throughout the whole
trip. :=D

Stick with Energizer or Kodak as they seem to consistently have the
best performance stats and deserved reputation. Plus at Target's
$10 price, the Energizers are a no-brainer.

I have my DS for almost a month now but have not have a chance to
take it out for long photo shoot. However, so far the NiMH battery
performance has been disappointing. Yet, I see a lot of people are
happily clicking away great pictures.

I could put in a set of newly charged battery in and the battery
would go dead after twenty or thirty test pictures. The battery
would also die after leaving in the camera for two days. I use the
2100mA Engerizer NiMH which according the test at another web site
should be the top brand.

Looking at the battery terminals in the camera. The negative
terminals on the battery compartment door have a hole in the middle
of the terminal. Could it be the terminal not having good contact
with the batteries?

Alternatively, may be other brands of NiMH are better?

Would appreciate any tips that you might have. I hesitate to take
the camera out shooting pictures for fear of the battery will die.

 

[spazzo]

I've got 2500mAh from target as well. They hold up well but in burst mode, the juice drains quick. I have to power off, and power on very quickly to fix this.

So the brand definitely matters--at least in my experience!

That said, I bought 4 2500MAH Energizer batts at Target for $10
(the BEST price to be found on these--it's a national price!) for
my DS camera.

Bottom line is the Energizer give great results! I was able to
take 500+ pictures with EXTENSIVE LCD use, some flash and
downloading the pics to the computer over the course of 2 weeks! I
didn't need my recharger as the batts held up throughout the whole
trip. :=D

Stick with Energizer or Kodak as they seem to consistently have the
best performance stats and deserved reputation. Plus at Target's
$10 price, the Energizers are a no-brainer.

I have my DS for almost a month now but have not have a chance to
take it out for long photo shoot. However, so far the NiMH battery
performance has been disappointing. Yet, I see a lot of people are
happily clicking away great pictures.

I could put in a set of newly charged battery in and the battery
would go dead after twenty or thirty test pictures. The battery
would also die after leaving in the camera for two days. I use the
2100mA Engerizer NiMH which according the test at another web site
should be the top brand.

Looking at the battery terminals in the camera. The negative
terminals on the battery compartment door have a hole in the middle
of the terminal. Could it be the terminal not having good contact
with the batteries?

Alternatively, may be other brands of NiMH are better?

Would appreciate any tips that you might have. I hesitate to take
the camera out shooting pictures for fear of the battery will die.

 

[JensR]

Hi Spazzo!

I've got 2500mAh from target as well. They hold up well but in
burst mode, the juice drains quick. I have to power off, and power
on very quickly to fix this.

Same here. (Panasonic 2000) But this only occured after a few hundred shots. Did it occur immediately for you?
(I am using manual focus lenses only, so that saves energy surely.)

CU
Jens

 

[Dave Lewis]

In my mind the biggest weakness of the *istD and Ds cameras is the AA batteries. I have had too many cameras that use AA batteries and always find they are in some state of discharge. They start to go down hill as soon as you remove them from the charger whether they are in your camera or in your pocket. When you use your camera just every week or so in the winter like I do, you find the batteries always dead. I have several other cameras that use Lion batteries. They sit dormant for months in the winter and when I go to use them the batteries are always fresh. Why Pentax didn't go with a nice small Lion battery like the Canons use is beyond me. The new XT uses a battery that is even smaller than the BP511's that my 10d and Rebel D used yet produces more shots on one charge. Lots of folks are reporting over 1500 shots per charge. It looks like it isn't even necessary to have an extra battery, it is so good. I get literally weeks of charge out of the three point and shoot cameras I have that all use small Lion batteries. I take literally thousands of pictures over the summer and those cameras and the Canons are always charged and ready to go. If I want to use the Pentax, I'd better have two sets of batteries hot when I leave in the morning or I will be disappointed before the day is out. I find they are only dependable within a day or two of leaving the charger.

Those batteries are far and away the weakest point of the Pentax and folks jump up and down in their defense because they claim you can use alkalines in a pinch. Well, with good Lions you never find yourself in a pinch. I find myself in a pinch with AA's every few days. They are the pits.
--
Dave Lewis

 

[Douglas Film]

You have the option of rechargable li-ion batteris or disoposable li-ion batteries or AA nicads or AA disposable. I fell this is one of my cameras best features. We all must find our own battery solution.

In my mind the biggest weakness of the *istD and Ds cameras is the
AA batteries. I have had too many cameras that use AA batteries and
always find they are in some state of discharge. They start to go
down hill as soon as you remove them from the charger whether they
are in your camera or in your pocket. When you use your camera just
every week or so in the winter like I do, you find the batteries
always dead. I have several other cameras that use Lion batteries.
They sit dormant for months in the winter and when I go to use them
the batteries are always fresh. Why Pentax didn't go with a nice
small Lion battery like the Canons use is beyond me. The new XT
uses a battery that is even smaller than the BP511's that my 10d
and Rebel D used yet produces more shots on one charge. Lots of
folks are reporting over 1500 shots per charge. It looks like it
isn't even necessary to have an extra battery, it is so good. I get
literally weeks of charge out of the three point and shoot cameras
I have that all use small Lion batteries. I take literally
thousands of pictures over the summer and those cameras and the
Canons are always charged and ready to go. If I want to use the
Pentax, I'd better have two sets of batteries hot when I leave in
the morning or I will be disappointed before the day is out. I find
they are only dependable within a day or two of leaving the charger.

Those batteries are far and away the weakest point of the Pentax
and folks jump up and down in their defense because they claim you
can use alkalines in a pinch. Well, with good Lions you never find
yourself in a pinch. I find myself in a pinch with AA's every few
days. They are the pits.
--
Dave Lewis

 

[JensR]

Hi Dave!

I can see your points, but unless manufacturers decide on one standard, the price drops by 50% and the chargers go into 12V DC car sockets, I am very willing to carry two sets of AAs.
I would not have bought the DS, would she use LiIons.
But we've had this debate numerous times, here and in probably every forum.

Let's hope the original poster has solved the problem for good.

CU
Jens

 

[VRoberts]

In my mind the biggest weakness of the *istD and Ds cameras is the
AA batteries.

[snip]

To me, the fact that the *ist Ds used AA betteries was one of its strongest points. Proprietary batteries are far too expensive - and devices with batteries that cannot be easily replaced by the user are definitely out in my opinion. AA cells give the user a number of options that are unavailable when using proprietary batteries.

Vic Roberts

 

[VRoberts]

You have the option of rechargable li-ion batteris or disoposable
li-ion batteries or AA nicads or AA disposable. I fell this is one
of my cameras best features. We all must find our own battery
solution.

As stated in a message I just posted, I am a big fan of AA cells, however, rechargable LiIon cells in AA format that operate at 1.5 or 3.0 volts? Where? The rechargable replacements for the Lithium double-cell betteris are really NiMH chemistry.

Vic Roberts

 

[VRoberts]

Looks like it could have been bad battery after all. Just bought a
set of new Sanyo 2300mAH AA and charged using the same MH-C204F
charger. Batteries went depleted in ten shots. Recharged overnight.
This time, the batteries are still holding for at lease half day
now and after filling a 256M SD card four times ( 75 shots each
time) over using continous drive and sports shooting modes.

Two things I noticed.
1. The Sanyo batteries clearly stated not only 2300mAH but also
2100mAH minimum.
2. This new set stayed cool to touch after second charge. All the
previous sets were hot after recharge.

Will update whether this holds.

Congratulations!

I purchased a bunch oif new AA NIMH cells - two different brabds. One brabnd, Energizers were great from the first charge. The second brand was terrible after the first charge but great after the second. It is common for NiMH batteries to need 4 to 5 cycles before they reach full capacity. However, I was surprised by the terrible performnace of Brand #2 after only one charge.

Vic Roberts

 

[HF Cheung]

I too wondered why one manufacturer decides one battery format over another. However, bear in mind that if anything should happen to the battery in the camera, you can practically walk into any store and get your pick of Li-Ion AA or CRV3 with reasonable price level. Try that with a proprietary battery.

In my mind the biggest weakness of the *istD and Ds cameras is the
AA batteries.