Stylus 1 - not remembering date/time - return it?

[GPSeascapeLandscape]

The new to me Stylus 1s lost the date and time when I was charging the battery last night. Reading posts it sounds like a common issue. Some capacitors need replacing, which is not going to happen.

So the big question is if I should return it?

I don't care about the date/time stamp.

But is there a way to turn off the camera bringing up the screen asking for it? That is annoying, even though it is quick to bypass.

And what other problems might these bad capacitors cause?

Thanks again.

 

[John McCormack]

The new to me Stylus 1s lost the date and time when I was charging the battery last night. Reading posts it sounds like a common issue. Some capacitors need replacing, which is not going to happen.

So the big question is if I should return it?

I don't care about the date/time stamp.

But is there a way to turn off the camera bringing up the screen asking for it? That is annoying, even though it is quick to bypass.

And what other problems might these bad capacitors cause?

Thanks again.

My old Stylus 1 has the same issue. I know of no easy fix for the date/time popup after removing the battery. I've learned to live with it because it's such a great cameras. I doubt it will cause any other problems. YMMV.

A recent image with the Stylus 1 from Santorini, Greece.

 

[Kerusker]

You can try a full factory reset - I think it won't fix the capacitor problem, but will be good to do anyhow.

After that you have to select the world's region for the camera and then set date and time.

The reset-info is from Ken Croft and others.

Here's How to do it.

Put in a fully loaded battery and leave it in the camera for this procedure.

1. Camera OFF (date and time must be set)

2. Hold down MENU button and turn ON the camera (better with Replay Button!)

3. Release MENU button (after cam has fully powered up) and press MENU again to get to Menus

4. Go to LCD Brightness Menu, that's in Spanner Menu and forth item down.

5. Press RIGHT to show screen adjusters

6. Press INFO and then press OK and on my Stylus 1 with firmware V2.0 this shows on screen ...

OLYMPUS
STYLUS1,1s
03 01 01 01

► Note: At this point a full and complete factory reset can be performed...
Hold MENU and OK together for several seconds
Eventually it will say “RESET OK” and prompt you to “PUSH OK” for the reset, and then instruct you to switch the power off afterwards.

Turn it on again, set region, date and time etc.

 

[JibePi]

The new to me Stylus 1s lost the date and time when I was charging the battery last night. Reading posts it sounds like a common issue. Some capacitors need replacing, which is not going to happen.

It's not a capacitor; it's a button-cell lithium battery. It can be replaced.

So the big question is if I should return it?

I don't care about the date/time stamp.

It will not affect anything else, and unless you can find a Stylus 1 that someone kept the main battery in all the time, for the past 11 years, charging it up every few months, or you can find one that someone opened up and replaced the clock battery on, every single Stylus 1 you could possibly buy will have a dead clock battery. That's just the name of the game when it comes to cameras that are over a decade old - clock batteries simply don't last that long.

But is there a way to turn off the camera bringing up the screen asking for it? That is annoying, even though it is quick to bypass.

Just set any random date and time and it won't ask again until you remove the main battery the next time.

And what other problems might these bad capacitors cause?

Not a capacitor, so no other problems. Capacitors are a myth spread by people who have never opened the cameras up and decided to present their wild guesses as if they were fact.

 

[Steve the amateur]

Nope, I'm not convinced yet it is a battery, and cannot find reference to such anywhere. Probably a capacitor that has enough juice to maintain the clock between battery exchanges. But I have another idea to test this. Stay tuned.

 

[Steve the amateur]

Nope, I'm not convinced yet it is a battery, and cannot find reference to such anywhere. Probably a capacitor that has enough juice to maintain the clock between battery exchanges. But I have another idea to test this. Stay tuned.

OK - here's the deal. I have two 1s; one essentially new (<500 shutters; backup for when my main one dies), and another which I use (main one). New camera had juice in battery and correct time (from last year); main one was dead from more recent last use. Put fresh recharged batteries in each. Set time in each (only the main one asked for it). Then took out batteries for 8 minutes and replaced. Main one maintained correct time. New camera did not. Then took out batteries for 1 minute and replaced. Both cameras maintained correct time. Then took batteries out for 2 minutes and replaced. Main camera maintained correct time, new camera did not. Then took batteries out of new camera for 90 seconds and replaced. New camera maintained correct time. Waited an hour. Took new batteries out of new camera for 2 minutes and replaced. New camera now maintains correct time.

Conclusion: I think it is a capacitor, one which has enough juice to power the clock during a battery change (minutes), not a battery charge (3+ hours). As indicated by 2 minute retest, duration of capacitor charge increases the longer a new battery is in it. However, much longer duration of capacitor charge in older camera (8+ minutes, with initially long dead battery), suggests something else going on. Newer camera has similar, but later serial number (by about 5000). Perhaps Olympus changed capacitor specs in mid production run (if that's what it is, and in any case, not described in manual, assumed deep inside the assembled camera), and it varies.

In any case, I always keep two+ extra batteries with me and check the charge before I go out to film (do we use that word anymore?), so honestly, I've never noticed this clock issue.

 

[Steve the amateur]

Nope, I'm not convinced yet it is a battery, and cannot find reference to such anywhere. Probably a capacitor that has enough juice to maintain the clock between battery exchanges. But I have another idea to test this. Stay tuned.

OK - here's the deal. I have two 1s; one essentially new (<500 shutters; backup for when my main one dies), and another which I use (main one). New camera had juice in battery and correct time (from last year); main one was dead from more recent last use. Put fresh recharged batteries in each. Set time in each (only the main one asked for it). Then took out batteries for 8 minutes and replaced. Main one maintained correct time. New camera did not. Then took out batteries for 1 minute and replaced. Both cameras maintained correct time. Then took batteries out for 2 minutes and replaced. Main camera maintained correct time, new camera did not. Then took batteries out of new camera for 90 seconds and replaced. New camera maintained correct time. Waited an hour. Took new batteries out of new camera for 2 minutes and replaced. New camera now maintains correct time.

Conclusion: I think it is a capacitor, one which has enough juice to power the clock during a battery change (minutes), not a battery charge (3+ hours). As indicated by 2 minute retest, duration of capacitor charge increases the longer a new battery is in it. However, much longer duration of capacitor charge in older camera (8+ minutes, with initially long dead battery), suggests something else going on. Newer camera has similar, but later serial number (by about 5000). Perhaps Olympus changed capacitor specs in mid production run (if that's what it is, and in any case, not described in manual, assumed deep inside the assembled camera), and it varies.

In any case, I always keep two+ extra batteries with me and check the charge before I go out to film (do we use that word anymore?), so honestly, I've never noticed this clock issue.

And now, a third retest of the new camera clock time after having a new battery in it for 4 hours. Removed battery, left out for 4 minutes, put back in, and time is correct. So it appears this capacitor, which maintains time when the battery is out, requires a new battery to charge it up and it doesn't happen instantaneously. Involves a few hours. Not clear why the older 1s maintains time longer with battery out.

 

[GPSeascapeLandscape]

Your tests are interesting. It would be nice to figure out how to repair the camera. After making so many setting changes, I would hate to lose them.

 

[Steve the amateur]

Your tests are interesting. It would be nice to figure out how to repair the camera. After making so many setting changes, I would hate to lose them.

There's not a repair since this capacitor (or button battery, which I doubt it is), is soldered onto the motherboard inside the camera. If you've followed this website for the last decade, there are multiple posts on this topic, including one which has a new 1s repaired under warranty, and it came back doing nothing different. Taking apart a compact camera is highly specialized work, involving tools, clean rooms/hoods, and experience. And the parts aren't available anymore. And private repairers won't touch it. The best solution is to buy extra batteries and a multiple battery charger. Then just change batteries when they run low.I do think Olympus intended for the capacitor to run the clock for the 3+ hr battery charge cycle, otherwise, why would they design a camera without a charge cord, and a separate charger only? In any case the big fat battery for the 1s lasts much longer than other compact batteries (I've never run down 2 batteries in a day, even with some video). I will post another test result shortly.

 

[Steve the amateur]

Ok, left full charge batteries in both new backup 1s and main use 1s cameras overnight. Then removed batteries for one hour. Replaced batteries. Main use 1s camera kept time. New backup 1s did not keep time. Serial number of main use camera is V6CF03839. New backup camera, with the capacitor which won't charge well, is V6CF18927. I bet you a donut your serial number is close to the latter. If so, it suggests they had a batch of bad capacitors later in production. If not I have another theory to test. What's your serial number?

 

[GPSeascapeLandscape]

My camera serial is V6CF02102. The camera had only about 3,000 shutter clicks on it. And the body looked nearly unused. I suspect it was purchased, hardly used, and it sat around without a charged battery for a long time. And the internal battery/capacitor died for lack of use more than anything. Just a guess.

 

[Ken Croft]

The new to me Stylus 1s lost the date and time when I was charging the battery last night. Reading posts it sounds like a common issue. Some capacitors need replacing, which is not going to happen.

It's not a capacitor; it's a button-cell lithium battery. It can be replaced.

So the big question is if I should return it?

I don't care about the date/time stamp.

It will not affect anything else, and unless you can find a Stylus 1 that someone kept the main battery in all the time, for the past 11 years, charging it up every few months, or you can find one that someone opened up and replaced the clock battery on, every single Stylus 1 you could possibly buy will have a dead clock battery. That's just the name of the game when it comes to cameras that are over a decade old - clock batteries simply don't last that long.

But is there a way to turn off the camera bringing up the screen asking for it? That is annoying, even though it is quick to bypass.

Just set any random date and time and it won't ask again until you remove the main battery the next time.

And what other problems might these bad capacitors cause?

Not a capacitor, so no other problems. Capacitors are a myth spread by people who have never opened the cameras up and decided to present their wild guesses as if they were fact.

I have completely stripped 2 Stylus1 cameras, and I have not found a button cell anywhere. I have 2 working, a 1 and a 1s, and neither of them suffer from loss of time and date. I do have other aged cameras that use a button cell, and one of them, a Canon A710is, I think it is, has a user-replaceable button cell. At one time, I think this was not uncommon.

 

[Steve the amateur]

My camera serial is V6CF02102. The camera had only about 3,000 shutter clicks on it. And the body looked nearly unused. I suspect it was purchased, hardly used, and it sat around without a charged battery for a long time. And the internal battery/capacitor died for lack of use more than anything. Just a guess.

...the serial number of yours with the failed capacitor that won't maintain clock time with battery removed is very close to the 1s of mine whose capacitor works, and far from the number of the other 1s of mine that doesn't. I will say the party who sold me the one which works used multiple batteries. I have another theory or two...stand by again.

 

[Steve the amateur]

Since I knew the owners of the lower serial number camera liked to download through the data cord ( same as power cord in other models, but not this one), I hypothesized that might charge this clock capacitor. It didn't. Now. I've matched all the settings between the two cameras; see if that will cause the weak capacitor to charge. Check tomorrow.

 

[Vohasam]

Nope, I'm not convinced yet it is a battery, and cannot find reference to such anywhere. Probably a capacitor that has enough juice to maintain the clock between battery exchanges. But I have another idea to test this. Stay tuned.

OK - here's the deal. I have two 1s; one essentially new (<500 shutters; backup for when my main one dies), and another which I use (main one). New camera had juice in battery and correct time (from last year); main one was dead from more recent last use. Put fresh recharged batteries in each. Set time in each (only the main one asked for it). Then took out batteries for 8 minutes and replaced. Main one maintained correct time. New camera did not. Then took out batteries for 1 minute and replaced. Both cameras maintained correct time. Then took batteries out for 2 minutes and replaced. Main camera maintained correct time, new camera did not. Then took batteries out of new camera for 90 seconds and replaced. New camera maintained correct time. Waited an hour. Took new batteries out of new camera for 2 minutes and replaced. New camera now maintains correct time.

Conclusion: I think it is a capacitor, one which has enough juice to power the clock during a battery change (minutes), not a battery charge (3+ hours). As indicated by 2 minute retest, duration of capacitor charge increases the longer a new battery is in it. However, much longer duration of capacitor charge in older camera (8+ minutes, with initially long dead battery), suggests something else going on. Newer camera has similar, but later serial number (by about 5000). Perhaps Olympus changed capacitor specs in mid production run (if that's what it is, and in any case, not described in manual, assumed deep inside the assembled camera), and it varies.

In any case, I always keep two+ extra batteries with me and check the charge before I go out to film (do we use that word anymore?), so honestly, I've never noticed this clock issue.

It is a battery, because you can disassemble the camera and see that it's a battery. It's a rechargeable lithium button cell. When truly new, not a decade old, a camera's clock battery can maintain a charge for a week or even several weeks. A capacitor can't do that.

I doubt you are willing to open your Stylus 1 to check, and it doesn't look like anyone else has done and published photos online, but they have for the E-PL1, and I can assure you, Olympus doesn't use a battery in all their other cameras but a capacitor in just the Stylus 1. Ignore the person who said it was a capacitor (this is why the myth persists) and pay attention to the people after that who correctly identify it as a battery, and also just look for yourself and see that it is a battery.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4484152

To show that it is not just Olympus that does this, here's a Panasonic Lumix GM5:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4690001

And the GX85, where someone has helpfully screenshotted the factory service manual that explicitly states it is a lithium battery:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4250589

You can download all of the Lumix factory service manuals and see that they all mention the lithium battery, if you wish.

Here's the Pentax Q7, lithium clock battery is on the far left.

 

[Vohasam]

So it appears this capacitor, which maintains time when the battery is out, requires a new battery to charge it up and it doesn't happen instantaneously. Involves a few hours.

Given all of the experiences you've had with capacitors, for something like a flash, and with batteries, for, well, the main camera battery, your cell phone, everything else... which one of those charges in a few seconds, and which one takes a few hours to charge?

 

[Vohasam]

Your tests are interesting. It would be nice to figure out how to repair the camera. After making so many setting changes, I would hate to lose them.

You just change the internal battery. For some reason most Olympus users on this forum mistakenly believe their cameras use capacitors, but Olympus users on other forums are aware they use batteries and have changed them, and users of other cameras on DPreview, including Panasonic and especially the GM1 and GM5, are aware that they are batteries and have changed them. You can find lots of advice on how to do it, including how to deal with the batteries being spot welded in.

You will not lose settings with a dead clock battery - it will just forget the date and time.

 

[Vohasam]

Your tests are interesting. It would be nice to figure out how to repair the camera. After making so many setting changes, I would hate to lose them.

There's not a repair since this capacitor (or button battery, which I doubt it is),

It is a button battery. I have changed several of them.

is soldered onto the motherboard inside the camera.

It's spot welded. It can be removed and replaced. Even things that are soldered can be desoldered.

If you've followed this website for the last decade, there are multiple posts on this topic, including one which has a new 1s repaired under warranty, and it came back doing nothing different.

And there are multiple posts on clock batteries in cameras other than the Stylus 1 being replaced.

Taking apart a compact camera is highly specialized work, involving tools, clean rooms/hoods, and experience.

It involves a single screwdriver, pliers or cutters, and a soldering iron to do the job properly but it can be done without one. A clean room or hood is not at all required.

And the parts aren't available anymore.

It uses a standard lithium battery that can be easily sourced online.

And private repairers won't touch it.

Many private repairers will. It's just a question of whether it's worth the cost to you just to save the time of resetting the clock when you change the main battery.

The best solution is to buy extra batteries and a multiple battery charger. Then just change batteries when they run low.I do think Olympus intended for the capacitor to run the clock for the 3+ hr battery charge cycle, otherwise, why would they design a camera without a charge cord, and a separate charger only?

They designed the camera with a battery that will run the clock for weeks when brand new, but after a decade, especially if it was allowed to fully discharge and stay like that for months or years when the camera was unused, it won't hold much of a charge anymore.

 

[Vohasam]

I have completely stripped 2 Stylus1 cameras, and I have not found a button cell anywhere.

Did you remove the main circuit board (the one on the right, looking at the back of the camera) and flip it over?

 

[Steve the amateur]

Those are all somewhat larger ICL cameras, not compacts - and - Ken Croft has been on this forum long enough for me to believe him if he says he has stripped 2 of these cameras and not seen a button battery. Your reference to the Olympus which has a thread about a battery in the motherboard is also an ICL camera, and the lone thread for Olympus that refers to that kind of battery in that brand. All that said, If anyone wants to disassemble or look at the motherboard of a dead Olympus Stylus 1/1s and take a picture - I will accept that as the final answer. For practical purposes most compacts wouldn't need days of clock battery function because the main battery can be charged in the camera (the stylus 1/1s can't). I imagine there's the case of people without extra batteries or don't carry extras. But the camera is plugged in the same day typically. Which is why a capacitor might suffice, if that helps explain where the "myth" as others call it or perhaps "truth" came from.

And now, the latest test result: in which I matched the settings precisely between my two Stylus 1s (one that maintains time for an hour+ without the main battery; the second which does it for 10 minutes), and allowed them to sit overnight with a freshly charged main battery. Does the second one now maintain time for an hour+? Nope. Now I'm plumb out of theories, so I'll end with this:

"They all don't do that"

In any case - as to the OP's question: should he return the camera based on this function? I say no. Rather, I recommend buy some aftermarket extra batteries and a multi-battery charger. It takes less than a minute to change batteries and hopefully that is enough so your camera doesn't lose time. Even if it isn't, resetting time every battery exchange wouldn't bother me. Especially with the very long battery life of it's battery.