Shoot Once...Wait...

[Auminer]

This is the last place I wanted to post!

Ok, I shoot once then have to wait until it is read to the CF, the red light is on. While it is recording I see what is shown below with the exception that this symbol flashes in three stages from small to medium to this larger size (battery?) icon. This is NOT the regular battery icon normally shown in the viewer! This is also the only thing that shows while its recording.
Now that the shot is recorded, I have to either turn off and back on or partially depress the shutter to take another shot.
I have swapped the CF, lens, fresh and different NIMHs, I am not and haven't been using the CR 123's since the ones that came with the S2 run down. :)
Single or continous focus, single or multiple exposures, neither makes any difference.
I'm stuck! :help:

Ya I know, its a lousy shot!

Dave

[Tom Nolle]

That's what my S2 does if the batteries are low. If I were you I'd try putting some 123s in to see if that fixes the problem. Are you using a microdrive? They take more power while recording.

Tom

[Auminer]

Been using fully charged AA NIMH batteries, maybe the charger isn't giving a full charge? Says it is...hmmm. I don't have any of the CR's, guess I'll have to get some and try it. Are you using a microdrive? Nope just use the CF 512M cards.
Need to get to town now. :)

Any promises when you're getting the D2x?

Thanks Tom!
Dave

[Tom Nolle]

No, but I should be pretty high on the list; been there since September 17th!

Good luck with the 123s!

Tom

[easternherp]

Dave,

The flashing symbol on the back means that the AA batts are low. I have had that problem with freshly charged batts and found that one of the four wasn't charging properly when I invested in a different charger. Try some regular AA batts to see if it makes a difference.

[Jacqui Jay]

Re the d2X, Calumet have given me 25th February for arrival. Mind you, they also gave me 21st January!

[Tom Nolle]

Dave, I just found out that I'm number nine on the list, and that one of the earlier guys got Canon gear and is likely dropping out. Feb 25th is also what I'm hearing.

Tom

[Auminer]

The flashing symbol on the back means that the AA batts are low. I have had that problem with freshly charged batts and found that one of the four wasn't charging properly when I invested in a different charger. Try some regular AA batts to see if it makes a difference. Yup, tried regular AA's and no joy! I've never seen the flashing battery like this one previously. :(

I have the $60~ MAHA charger, but as said even regular AA's don't get it.

Just looked up my extended warranty, opened it up and says it must be registered within 30 days :eek: Guess I'm getting old and thinking when you buy something ya got it! Probably wasn't worth a darn anyway and they would have screwed me regardless.

Had it for 18 months which comes out to $3.70/day...wonder how the Canon lasts?

Guess you can tell, I'm not in the best of moods... :mad:

Thanks for all help, I'll get over it,
Dave

[Tom Nolle]

I've seen posts on other forums, and had my own experiences, that seem to indicate that without the 123s some S2s will show low-voltage symptoms when they write to the card. I had the problem mostly when it was cold, but a couple of times when I'd flashed a lot and drawn the 123s down, I noticed that I got a low-battery indicator when writing. Give it a shot; got to be cheaper than selling your soul to Canon!

Tom

[Auminer]

Give it a shot; got to be cheaper than selling your soul to Canon! :) No ones going to get my soul here on this earth...its already promised!! :righton: Since I haven't used the 123's at all and never had this problem, I don't see where putting a couple in would help, but I'll give it a try when I get where I can buy some.

I have been having problems with my sublimation printer and just now got it straightened out! :) When it rains it pours and since things happen, might as well get them all at the same time.

I read that a good contact cleaning might be the culprit any input on this? Must be meaning where the AA's slide into, can't think of any other place. Going to try hooking it up to AC and see if it works then, that will tell if it is batteries or not. I'll let you know...

Thanks Tom for your input,
Dave

[Sleeping Bear]

Sounds like battery contacts to me. I would try the AC just for grins and see what happens, though.

[Auminer]

Sounds like battery contacts to me. I would try the AC just for grins and see what happens, though.
Well, hooked up to AC...same thing!! Whats up with this d__ thing?
Is there a setting I may have changed and forgotten/overlooked?

Back to the drawing board.

Dave

[Auminer]

Just for a quick update, chatted with a local service center (they send out for repair) and he mentioned that it sounds like it isn't writing to the buffer. Sounds like he hit it right on the head to me! Next is a call to Fuji in the morning...probably want $6-800 for a replacement board! They can consider me gone if thats the case!!!! I'll use the darn thing for target practice before that...now if I could catch my .44mag at impact, it might be worth it. :) Don't thing the wifes Fuji 550 could do it...

Dave

[HulaMike]

I understand your feelings Dave but what can you get to replace it for $800? Electronics fail. I guess your decision is one we all face at some point down the road. No DSLR will live as long as my F2's did. Had them for nearly 30 years.....

[Auminer]

I understand your feelings Dave but what can you get to replace it for $800? Electronics fail. I understand your point too, but there is also a point of no return. If your stock is falling do you throw more $$ at it hoping of recovery? Sometimes its better to cut your losses and invest in a newer company. Paying for a lame horse hoping for recovery? ie., throwing good $$ into older technology? You get the drift...

Just got off the phone with tech. and waiting for return call or email concerning a loaner so I can send this one back...while they check it out and work up an invoice to their advantage of course. Hope I'm prejudging them wrongly, but I feel I will be on the short end of the stick as its their call as to what it needs. Helpless feeling...

Electronics fail. Ya, after the warranty goes out. Actually electronics is one of the more stable and reliable parts of the whole (vs programing). Not withstanding abuse or misuse of course.

We'll see what happens...Thanks for stepping in Mike it all helpsl

Dave

[HulaMike]

keep us posted.

[Tom V]

Been using fully charged AA NIMH batteries, maybe the charger isn't giving a full charge? Says it is...hmmm. I don't have any of the CR's, guess I'll have to get some and try it. ....
Dave


Dave,

My S2 has been acting goofy too. Batteries would seemingly fail within a few shots. I suspected the batteries, then my charger (tossed it out). I bought new batteries and a new charger. The problem remained. I had the camera repaired, and the RX was "impact damage." Apparently something was broken inside. I had it repaired, and it is better, but not 100% right. Instead of getting low battery icons after 3 shots, I get it after 20. I don't think they found everything that was wrong.

[Auminer]

I had the camera repaired, and the RX was "impact damage." Apparently something was broken inside. I had it repaired, and it is better, but not 100% right. Instead of getting low battery icons after 3 shots, I get it after 20. I don't think they found everything that was wrong. Tom,
"Impact damage" eh...? Seems like it might be generic enough for a cover up. Had you in fact dropped or kicked it? I mean prior to problems :) If you don't mind I'm very curious as how much they charged for their services and what to expect. Maybe you had coverage. If it still isn't right, don't they cover their work for a limited amount of time?

Now that you have also had a similar problem, makes me wonder if there are any others? Hope they chime in here...I'd like to know.

Thanks Tom for sharing, maybe we can all find out whats going on.

Dave

[easternherp]

I have had the odd time when so called fresh batteries only gave me about 20-30 shots. Changed them then all ok. I found they deplete much quicker without the CR123's.
Mine isn't a permanent problem though like yours.

[Auminer]

I have had the odd time when so called fresh batteries only gave me about 20-30 shots. Changed them then all ok. I found they deplete much quicker without the CR123's. I remember that they did last longer the time I used the 123's too, but since I don't use the onboard flash I figured that I save $$ using the AA's. With the 2450 AA's I can shoot a full 512 card of RAW shots (38), probably not now tho.

Just finished reading where Fuji is replacing the CCD's (http://fmount.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10573) on out of warranty boxes. I was wondering why they ask me several times if I was having problems with the quality of pictures. Yes it is a sn32...something else to look foward to.

Thanks Andrew for the info, sounds like you and Tom might have similar problems?

Dave

[easternherp]

I remember that they did last longer the time I used the 123's too, but since I don't use the onboard flash I figured that I save $$ using the AA's. With the 2450 AA's I can shoot a full 512 card of RAW shots (38), probably not now tho.

Just finished reading where Fuji is replacing the CCD's (http://fmount.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10573) on out of warranty boxes. I was wondering why they ask me several times if I was having problems with the quality of pictures. Yes it is a sn32...something else to look foward to.

Thanks Andrew for the info, sounds like you and Tom might have similar problems?

Dave
Dave,

If fuji are asking if you are having image problems then I would say yes. They will most probably replace the ccd and give the camera the once over FOC.

[Auminer]

Andrew,

Hmmmm, tempting, but its just not true. I do have a lot of dead pixels and it does need a good cleaning, would that count? :) Gotta love that clone brush in CS!

Dave

[easternherp]

With a lot of dead pixels I would certainly say that the ccd needs looking at. I know it is not ethical but if you tell them the image quality is not good they won't bother checking it if the serial no. is from a dodgy batch, all they'll do is a straight replacement of the ccd as it is quicker and cheaper than testing the darn thing.
You get a good overhaul and new chip and your power problem sorted. If they don't find the power fault then you can get back to them and say that since the new ccd it isn't working properly and get them to fix a problem they seemingly caused.
Naughty but it gets your camera fixed free.

[Auminer]

With a lot of dead pixels I would certainly say that the ccd needs looking at.Hey Andrew...you are now my official agent!! Been needing one of those :D We'll see when they contact me, I did forget to mention the dead pixels, had my mind on the shoot once problem.

Dave

[easternherp]

I only said this as they were obviously worried that it might be a duff ccd from that line of cameras, so why not play to it if it will get done free. Look at the recent post where someone had it replaced FOC out of warranty and hit them with that.

[Auminer]

Got ya, I did see that post and it has caused me great concern! I'll let you know how it goes when they contact me, hopefully this A.M.

Dave

[Auminer]

Well, I have been contacted via email:
First, please be ABSOLUTELY certain that your batteries are fully charged and good.
Second, clean the battery contacts.
If the malfunction you described continues, then it could be a short in one of the circuit boards.
If we can repair the short, there would be only a labor, tax and shipping charge. Labor and shipping would be $118 and the tax would need to be calculated by our software, based upon zip code.
The source could be from potentially two different circuit boards with two totally different prices. If one of them needs to be replaced, their prices are under $100 and the other (the main circuit board) is between $400 and $500, not including labor, shipping ($118) and tax.
Unfortunately, all of our loaners are currently out

Ya right, ever see the deal where you got "lucky" and were charged the smaller amount?

I can see why all loaners are out...

What did the D2x pricing come in at...anyone heard?

BTW- just counted my dead pixels...exactly 20 of them! I think this is a disposal home consumer camera. It has served me well for learning, guess I'll write it off as an expense and move on.

Dave

[HulaMike]

$4800 will get you there Dave, sometime near spring hopefully. Nikon is famous for putting releases off and off... Or you can spend between $118-$618 to fix your trusty S2, I don't blame you for being PO'd but the S2 is still a pretty good camera. I'd think it over unless you have money to burn or a way to write a new one off.

[Wilm]

Dave,
a flashing battery-symbol is common for me and I have fixed that issue !

When using the S2 with a Microdrive in low temperatures the maximum current of any NiMh-batteries is less than the camera expects. CR123s can help in this moment but only when they are fresh and when they have a high-current-capability.

One of the major issues of a NiMh-battery is, that it don't loose the capacity as it is been done by NiCd's, they loose the maximum drain ( maximum amperes ).

Before spending a lot of money with the repairs, try the following :

Change, if possible the CF-card / Microdrive,
Install CR123s ( for example Duracell, which are very good )
Avoid letting the camera in cold conditions. I have a second battery tray for the S2 and thought this would help. I have tried it and there seems a temperature problem inside the S2 as well.

I am shure, you will find your power-issue and you will fix it without spending bucks for any technican.

:cheers:
Wilm

[photoworks]

Dave, I just happened to see this thread, a bit late am I?
I always get this particular warning message when CR123's are depleted no matter if the AA batteries are full charged or not.
My advice if I may, get a couple of Cr123's before getting a Canon :lol: :lol:

Billy

[Auminer]

I am shure, you will find your power-issue and you will fix it without spending bucks for any technican. Thanks Wilm for your input, but I really don't think its a power issue as I have tried without batteries and with AC only, still no joy.

Let me pass on what I have learnt from a service center (they send them out)...says you might want to try leaving it set without any batteries in it for 30 minutes...then try it. He says it resets itself, sometimes it works...sometimes not. Didn't work for me, but might for someone.

My advice if I may, get a couple of Cr123's before getting a Canon :lol: :lol: Billy, you did mean my 44 mag type cannon didn't ya? :rolleyes: :lol: I haven't used the 123's since the two that came with the camera died on me...don't have a call for the onboard flash...and I'm cheap :D let me go on...

Update: The darn thing started working! Shot a few fog shots this AM with rays of the sun coming through, one at a time. Cleared up and the sun came out, thought I...why not slap on the 50-500mm and take a ride to the mail box? (always good for something) Caught a Hawk, took a shot...took another, another...Hey this things got over it! :rockon: :righton: :D Snuck up on a couple geese, they are leary this time of year :rolleyes: and took several shots of them walking on water and getting airborne. Blue heron, darn squirrel and home. Happy camper am I...

BUT, I ain't that happy 'cause I don't know when its going to happen again. Need that D2x!!! It'll happen, just don't know when, but I'll figure out something. I can't put up with this, maybe it will...maybe not.

BTW, I didn't do anything different, used the same charged up NIMH 2450's, same 512 CF cards, the only thing different is I slapped the old trusty 50-500 on it. I'm beginning to think they got something going and that wouldn't be a bad thing either. :rolleyes:

Any thoughts, theorys, guesstimates, ideas as to why it just came back to life?

Dave

[photoworks]

No, no of course not Dave, a 357 can do the work fine :lol:
Glad to read your camera is working again, maybe she ( yes cameras are like women) needs a day off :)

Billy

[Auminer]

Glad to read your camera is working again, maybe she ( yes cameras are like women) needs a day off :lol: Thanks Billy, that explains it then, I've got a She2 :rolleyes: :rofl:

Dave

[photoworks]

Thanks Billy, that explains it then, I've got a She2 :rolleyes: :rofl:

Dave

Then, as we say here "You have to be with the hand in the wallet",you'll always have to pay for this lady, oh...bad wishes :rolleyes:

Billy

[Tom V]

Tom,
"Impact damage" eh...? .... Had you in fact dropped or kicked it? ... Dave

Well, 2 years ago, my 5 year old daughter dropped it on compacted gravel from a height of 2 feet. I don't think that caused any significant damage, as the camera worked fine for another year.

Now that I think about it, sometime last fall, my stinking no-good whinning sawed-off thigh-high snot-nosed picky-eater 3-year-old neice knocked my HD Gitzo tripod over, with the S2 attached (via RRS plate). The vertical riser of the tripod landed against the metal edge of a light table hard enough to gouge the tripod. I did not think anything was damaged in the camera, since the camera itself didn't hit anything. It certainly was jarred by the violent stop. It might be about the time the camera started acting goofy! I don't know why I never put the two events together. I am going to take this runt off my Xmas gift list for about 10 years!

One of its symptoms (unrealized until after the repair) was that it worked pretty well when hand-held, but when mounted on a tripod, it would act funny. I don't know if having it in a vertical vs horizontal postion made any difference.

If your camera ever acts up, see if it makes a diffence how the camera is held. The torque on the camera body is different on tripod vs in hand, and vertical vs. horizontal.

[Auminer]

I am going to take this runt off my Xmas gift list for about 10 years! At $200/yr, That will just about make up for it. :)
If your camera ever acts up, see if it makes a difference how the camera is held. I remember you telling about working by hand and not with the tripod. That thought was on my mind when this darn thing started working today after I put that heavy 50-500 on it. With that in mind, I put the 24-120 back on it and fired off a few shots...still working good. I'm definitely going to keep an eye on it and think through every instance of use looking for a reason.
Darn these things shouldn't be so finicky! Gosh, maybe its because we only paid two grand for them, I mean what should we expect for a lousy two thousand dollars? (tongue firmly placed in cheek)

Thanks for the heads up Tom,
Dave

[Sleeping Bear]

One of its symptoms (unrealized until after the repair) was that it worked pretty well when hand-held, but when mounted on a tripod, it would act funny. I don't know if having it in a vertical vs horizontal postion made any difference.



It's obvious to me that the S2 is sufferingTTTTT (Tripod Tipping Trauma Through Toddler), which is very common. Simply put; the S2 remembers the horror of the sudden jarring and how it's innocent internal organs crashed against one another and now simply refuses to work when placed back on the tripod. I suggest counseling for the S2. Call me for my rate card.

Dave...glad to hear your S2 is eating well again. :righton:

[mmaathuis]

Hi Dave,

I was just about to post a question for the same problem it think you are having,
I'm recently having the same problem that when I take a picture, the camera gives a bleep (I don't know if that is the same with you) and I can't take another picture until it is written to the CF.

However it seems that I only have this problem when using my 70-200 AF-s VR, and not with every shot either, right now it seems to be random. I'm using 2300ma AA's in the tray and replaced the 123's for a MB16 with 2300ma AA's, my CF is a microdrive and currently it is cold in the Netherlands.

So my conclusion is that if I add it all up (AF-s + VR + 8x 1,2volt + Microdrive + cold??) the S2 sometimes runs low on juice???

However my camera has dropped over a year ago and is reaching its third year of active duty without service, or maybe the S2 just isn't up for VR???

I'm going to do some more testing and see if I can create the conditions in which my S2 is faulty so I can eliminate the randomness

[big_ben_blue]

Hi Dave,

I was just about to post a question for the same problem it think you are having,
...

However it seems that I only have this problem when using my 70-200 AF-s VR, and not with every shot either, right now it seems to be random. I'm using 2300ma AA's in the tray and replaced the 123's for a MB16 with 2300ma AA's, my CF is a microdrive and currently it is cold in the Netherlands.

So my conclusion is that if I add it all up (AF-s + VR + 8x 1,2volt + Microdrive + cold??) the S2 sometimes runs low on juice???
...

I'm going to do some more testing and see if I can create the conditions in which my S2 is faulty so I can eliminate the randomness

Hi,
you might want to try it WITHOUT the MB16 attached. Don't forget, that your S2 expects CR123's in there (6v total), whereas the 4 rechargeables in the MB16 will only give you 4.8v (4x 1.2v). You would have to try it with the MB16 taken off, as it tripps a microswitch inside the CR123 compartment. Yes, the S2 is sometimes a tad finicky with its power requirements. The symptoms you mentioned would make sense with a VR lens. As far as I know (cloudy memory ;) ), AF operations are powered foremost via the CR123 and are supplemented with the regular batt. tray power.

I had allmost the same issues last weekend (here in rather cold Canada). The cold seems to be one of the multitude of possible issues. Went through 5 sets of rechargeables for a handful of shots; got nothing but low power warnings after every single shot (and therefor no instant review on the LCD screen) and endless ERR messages. I was THAT close to throw the cam into the river :mad:

Good luck,
Chris

[Tom Nolle]

That was my experience in Yellowstone, Chris, which is why I ended up buying a Quantum 2x2 to use when the temperature was low. Things have worked fine with the 2x2 and no 123s.

Tom

[Auminer]

Hi Dave,

I was just about to post a question for the same problem it think you are having,
I'm recently having the same problem that when I take a picture, the camera gives a bleep (I don't know if that is the same with you) and I can't take another picture until it is written to the CF Hi,
Yup sounds just like what I'm experiencing. Although mine started working, but now I'm having the same problems all over again. At least I now know it doesn't seem to be something that needs to be sent back to Fuji.
At first it was doing it all the time, now it seems to work once in a while, which draws me to believe what all these good folks are trying to tell me...power/battery issues!
Between what I've seen and what I have read (elsewhere or here?) that the rechargeables have a drop in performance over time, don't remember if it is the storage capacity or amperage. I really need to get some new ones and fresh AA's to confirm this to myself. I'm using 2450 rechargables if that makes any difference.
Toms solution with the Quantum 2x2 sounds like the way to go especially in colder weather! Need to kick out the bucks I guess.
you might want to try it WITHOUT the MB16 attached. Don't forget, that your S2 expects CR123's in there (6v total), whereas the 4 rechargeables in the MB16 will only give you 4.8v (4x 1.2v). You would have to try it with the MB16 taken off, as it tripps a microswitch inside the CR123 compartment. Yes, the S2 is sometimes a tad finicky with its power requirements. The symptoms you mentioned would make sense with a VR lens. As far as I know (cloudy memory ), AF operations are powered foremost via the CR123 and are supplemented with the regular batt. tray power.
Good info Chris :righton: I don't use the MB16, but the power info is good to know!

Dave