Reliable S2 power?

[Maisiemouse]

After my S2 died yet again today (it was fully charged 3 days ago, then sat in my camera bag) I'm getting really fed up with this camera's battery usage. So I'm looking for a reliable battery. The way I see it, there are 3 options:

1) Quantum batteries (particularly the compact model)

2) Ansmann power pack (3000mA rating)

3) Modified F80 battery grip

Does anyone have experience of any of the above? I'm getting paranoid about using the S2, particularly when my D70 seems to never need charging, despite being in almost constant use.

Sean

[MikePL]

What kind of batteries and charger are you using now? Maybe a change of one of these might be helpful. I changed chargers and bought new batts some time ago and I greatly improved battery life (on my D200). When I had the S2 I could get up to 350-400 photos per charge (without the lithiums in the camera and with 2000mAh batts) and this was good enough in my opinion. If you get worse results then something's wrong but if you have similar results then maybe you are too demanding.

[Maisiemouse]

I'm using Ansmann 2600mA batteries (supposedly very good) and a 'non-branded' charger that I've had for about 3 years. I'm getting about 200 shots per charge (with the lithiums fitted) as long as I use the camera immediately after charging the batteries. If I leave it unused for a day or two after charging, I get 30-40 shots before it powers down (today I got none!).

So it could be the charger then? Now we're getting somewhere - thanks!

Sean

[NZDoug]

Rechargeables crap out after a year or two.
I spent 11 Kiwi or $7.50ish U.S. on a Digitech QM-1500 electrical meter.
I numbered my batteries, 1,2,3, and 4,and found out one battery would lose juice overnight and it screwed up the rest.
I have 3 sets of rechargeable batteries and this cheapo meter separates the wheat from the chaff, and I recommend you either
1) get a new set of rechargeables
or
2) get a meter and find out which is the weakest link and then replace individual batteries. :)

[Maisiemouse]

Great info - thanks. I've got a cheapo meter so I'll check the voltages and see what's going on.

Thanks again for your help

Sean

[Wichita Wayne]

If you get better service from Copper Tops then you either need a new charger or new batteries. If the batteries get hot while they charge then you need a new charger and to go alomg with that get new batteries, because the old ones are probably cooked. To me the best thing to use is a Quantum battery, but it is expensive and clunky. Next would be commercial batteries that are not rechargeable, like Copper Tops or Energizers. Last are the re chargers. I use all three at one time or other and have never experienced too much trouble. By the way if the Copper Tops do not give you any better service then you may need to have the camera checked out. And lastly, I usually always use the 123's in my S2Pro. It just runs better to me. Maybe I am nuts for thinking that, but then again I am pretty much a lunatic all the time.

[Steve Wynn]

I concur with the previous solutions. I replace my AA's (Maha PowerEx) about every year due to the heavy use. The older set of batteries go to other uses around the house. I try and use the most powerful ones available to the public. I can't afford to trust any weak or questionable batteries when I'm out to make money.

I also have a battery tester that I use to check out for any weak batteries. Rechargable NiMH batteries are very sensitive to being dropped. Unfortunately I do it once or twice a year, I mark which one's I drop and find that those are the ones that go bad.

I use a smart charger also available from www.thomas-distributing.com which has a "soft" charge mode which.

Hope this helps.

Steve

[MikePL]

Yes, all the people above are right.

1. If your batteries are 1 or 1,5 years old (and have been used regularly) then they must be changed and simply used somewhere around the house.
2. If your charger is 3 years old then I also recommend a change. A lot has changed in the battery industry over three years and very often chargers do not 'recognize' properly new, high capacity batteries. I've got a charger that cost me around $20 and it has an LCD that informs me about the status of every battery and about errors or problems while charging.

[Maisiemouse]

To everyone who replied - thanks :righton:

Looks like a trip to the camera shop for new batteries & a new charger.

Cheers

Sean

[killians913]

Sean,

You also might want to check this out as well:

http://www.digitalcamerabattery.com/

Lockett

[Maisiemouse]

Thanks - good looking products, but the prices - ouch!

I think the batteries cost more than my S2 is worth :)

Sean

[Maisiemouse]

Problem now solved following the purchase of an Ansmann Digi Charger Plus (£35). It has overload protection, top-up charging, bad cell detection etc etc and runs on mains or 12v car power. It's even got an adapter so I can charge my D70 battery. Looks like a great piece of kit :)

Sean

[pauly99]

Very good choice. I made the mistake of plugging in a high capacity/quick charger recently (would charge batteries in 30 minutes to 1 hour) in to my Chevy Malibu. It nearly bubbled the batteries and caused harm to the cars computer.
Now, when you start the car, the radio doesn't come on, the automatic windows won't work, the sunroof does not move... for about 5-30 seconds. Arghhh