no power

[gkali]

After a couple weeks of flawless operation I now have a flaw. I put my sb28 on the s2 and took a shot of my cat (using autofocus). I was about to take another shot, the autofocus attempted for a second, then stopped, and the camera just wouldn't shoot. Absolutely nothing will show up on my camera. I changed the AA batteries and nothing. Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated, thanks!!
-gk

[gkali]

I should read other threads before I post my problems. I read geckophotos stuff and it worked!! I'm happier now.

[Tom V]

What did you do to solve the problem?

My guess is to change the CR123s or at least reseat them. The dual (triple, if you count AC) power sources for the S2 can create a lot of unexpected havoc if you rely simply on the LCD battery level indicators. I use them to indicate to me only if I had enough power on the last shot - I don't find that they are able to predict the future much, hardly even one shot into the future on most occasions. I do not rely on them, I rely on spare batteries. At the first hint of ERR or trouble, I change the batteries and continue.

[gkali]

Yeah, in fact all I needed to do was to take the CR123s out and the camera was back in business. I haven't replaced the CR's yet, I'll do that today. Is the only function of the cr123s to provide power for the flash? If so they have a short life span! see ya...
-gk

[Tom V]

Page 25 of my S2 manual states that the CR123s "Power functions such as auto focus, aperture, mirror and shutter operations and charge the flash."

The manual also states on page 25:
"When you have difficulty obtaining lithium batteries

You can take pictures using only the 4 AA-size Ni-MH [batteries]..., but the flash cannot be used. ...

The time for which the camera can be used is shorter, and as far as possible this should only be used as an emergency measure....

The camera cannot be used with just alkaline batteries."

This is consistent with the fact that the batteries in the grip power the "Nikon N80 camera parts" and the batteries in the base power the "Fuji digital guts." However, there is an apparent electrical intermeshing, because the camera's native circuits and the Fuji-designed digital circuitry can run off AA or AC power alone. This is also why you should remove the CR123s when you use the AC adapter, as the circuitry will slowly discharge the CR123s.