A tip regarding Nikon rechargeable batteries.

[GetCarter]

Many of you will know this, so skip on but...

When I got my first digital SLR (Nikon D1) I charged the battery and went out clicking.

WRONG!

When you charge your battery for the first time you actually only give it about a 70% charge. The battery then creates a kind of 'memory' (trust me, I'm not mad.) Future charges will ever only give you about 70-75% of the battery's capacity.

Thing to do is (but it's a real pain as you'll want to get out clicking) charge the battery - then (using the the de-charge button on the charger) fully drain the battery (this takes quite a few hours) then re-charge. If possible do two or three times. Your battery will give you 25% more charge for the rest of its life.

I assume that the D70 (et al) all come with the same charger as mine? (with the de-charge button).

If not then you've just wasted several minutes of your life reading this.

Steve

[pdV6]

What sort of battery is it?

[GetCarter]

Oh and whilst I'm here... The other blunder I used to make on winter track days was to pack a spare battery the night before into the car.

I'd arrive, drain the first battery and the backup lasted about 5 mins

Cold kills charge.

I suppose I'd better go do some work.

Steve

[GetCarter]

pdV6 said:

What sort of battery is it?

Ni MH (Nikon EN-4)

I learnt all this from the Nikon owners club BTW - a bit expensive to join, but some great info.

Steve

>> Edited by GetCarter on Friday 10th December 15:03

[Mrs Fish]

I learnt this to my detriment a few weeks ago too. Couldn't understand why new batteries were not lasting very long.

[pdV6]

GetCarter said:

pdV6 said: What sort of battery is it? Ni MH (Nikon EN-4) I learnt all this from the Nikon owners club BTW - a bit expensive to join, but some great info. Steve

Don't suppose they do a Li-Ion replacement?

[falcemob]

GetCarter said:

pdV6 said: What sort of battery is it? Ni MH (Nikon EN-4) I learnt all this from the Nikon owners club BTW - a bit expensive to join, but some great info. Steve >> Edited by GetCarter on Friday 10th December 15:03

I didn't think nickel metal hydride batteries had a memory, only Nicads, but you learn something new every day.
I have a D100, it has a Li-ion #EN EL3 and it seems to last ages. It'll easily do a couple of weekends shooting between charges and doesn't discharge if not used. I haven't charged it for a couple of months now and it still has plenty of life in it.
BTW, no de-charge button on my charger

>> Edited by falcemob on Friday 10th December 15:16

>> Edited by falcemob on Friday 10th December 15:31

[simpo two]

Yup, no mention of that with Li-Ion: the D70 uses EN-EL3 packs. What was it again? 'Turn round three times whilst singing...'