F6 Battery Drain Issue

NortheastPhotographic

Advertiser
Joined
Mar 3, 2011
Messages
1,513
Location
Maine!
Format
Medium Format
My F6 is showing that it's down one notch after only a few days and a single roll. The batteries are new and in-date. I've seen another thread on this issue but I couldn't see if it was resolved in any way other than a trip to Nikon USA.

Frankly, I just got my camera back from Nikon USA so I'm reluctant to part with it again, but if I need to do it maybe I can get the fix covered under their service warranty...

Opinions please!
 

ic-racer

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
16,546
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
I just checked mine and, oops, I left it ON. It is empty and I don't recall when I took the film out of it. Maybe a month ago. But the battery indicator still reads "FULL."
 
OP
OP

NortheastPhotographic

Advertiser
Joined
Mar 3, 2011
Messages
1,513
Location
Maine!
Format
Medium Format
It's tough. I think it's related to the internal battery. My understanding is that the camera tries to recharge a dead internal clock battery but can't, so it just drains the CR123As...
 

Chan Tran

Subscriber
Joined
May 10, 2006
Messages
6,817
Location
Sachse, TX
Format
35mm
That makes me think it's better not to have the clock unless the clock battery is user replaceable.
 
OP
OP

NortheastPhotographic

Advertiser
Joined
Mar 3, 2011
Messages
1,513
Location
Maine!
Format
Medium Format
Chan Tran said:
That makes me think it's better not to have the clock unless the clock battery is user replaceable.
Click to expand...

But that also makes me think that this can't possibly be the reality. Why would Nikon brick their flagship F6 by baking in a battery drain issue that can't be avoided every 4-5 years? Doesn't make sense...
 

Chan Tran

Subscriber
Joined
May 10, 2006
Messages
6,817
Location
Sachse, TX
Format
35mm
NortheastPhotographic said:
But that also makes me think that this can't possibly be the reality. Why would Nikon brick their flagship F6 by baking in a battery drain issue that can't be avoided every 4-5 years? Doesn't make sense...
Click to expand...
But on the DSLR lines only the single digit bodies have replaceable clock battery. Others would have the same problem as the F6. So I guess they don't care.
 

pentaxuser

Member
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
19,960
Location
Daventry, No
Format
35mm
I'd try the likes of the Nikonians forum to see what the real "low-down" is on the clock battery draining the main batteries. If there is an internal battery that eventually fails and cannot be easily replaced but drains the main batteries without these being able to charge the main batteries then isn't this close to a car manufacturer ensuring that after a few years the owner can only change a tyre by taking it back to the dealer at great expense

Sounds unlikely to be sensible behaviour by Nikon but I know nothing of Nikons. Someone or bodies on a dedicated Nikon user forum might

Good luck and let us know if and when you find the answer

Thanks

pentaxuser
 

toyoboyo

Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2019
Messages
74
Location
IL, US
Format
Hybrid
I remember reading that an empty internal battery can be recharged by one pair of CR123s and it should be fine after that.
That said, I had the same experience with my F6 at first and sent it back to the factory. They assumed there might have been some issue with the power switch that caused constant power drain even when "off"
 

Chan Tran

Subscriber
Joined
May 10, 2006
Messages
6,817
Location
Sachse, TX
Format
35mm

Do you notice that the smart phone battery is no longer replaceable by the user?
 

Chan Tran

Subscriber
Joined
May 10, 2006
Messages
6,817
Location
Sachse, TX
Format
35mm
pentaxuser said:
Thanks can you expand on this for me with reference to the F6?

pentaxuser
Click to expand...
Many devices now are made so that the battery isn't replaceable by the user. When it's dead you have to send it in for service just like your Iphone and your Samsung Galaxy.
 

pentaxuser

Member
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
19,960
Location
Daventry, No
Format
35mm
Chan Tran said:
Many devices now are made so that the battery isn't replaceable by the user. When it's dead you have to send it in for service just like your Iphone and your Samsung Galaxy.
Click to expand...

Thanks I thought this was probably the reference but it's best to be sure. So you are saying the clock battery can be replaced but only by Nikon and/or an authorised repairer? Or can any repairer who is experienced in F6 repairs do the job?

Are you saying that F6's have a limited life and any extension of that life involves a Nikon authorised repair or a professional repair ( depending I appreciate on your answer above ) Can you say how long the clock battery lasts? Does Nikon say or even mention it in the user book and does it go on to say that once the battery goes it cannot be replaced by other than a professional repairer/ an authorised Nikon repairer/ the Nikon Service dept itself?

What if anything can you say about the idea already expressed that new main batteries can recharge the clock battery?

Thanks

pentaxuser
 

reddesert

Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2019
Messages
2,406
Location
SAZ
Format
Hybrid
The clock battery may also supply power to hold memory that holds your settings. Most modern devices have some kind of internal battery like this (there's one on most computer motherboards I've looked at). Just omitting the "clock battery" (properly a CMOS-maintaining battery, I think) is probably not a realistic option. I'm skeptical that trying to recharge such a battery could drain a pair of CR123s overnight, though. I have some digital cameras where the internal battery is dead and they don't kill the main battery, so it would be something specific to the F6.

Sometimes these CMOS batteries last for decades and sometimes you only get 5 years or so out of them. I have an 1980s synthesizer that loses the internal settings and doesn't work or make sound once the CR2032 CMOS battery dies. I had to unsolder it from the motherboard, and soldered in a holder for a CR2032, so in another 10-20 years I can replace it without the soldering iron.
 

Chan Tran

Subscriber
Joined
May 10, 2006
Messages
6,817
Location
Sachse, TX
Format
35mm

On cameras that the clock battery can't be replaced they are rechargeable so normally the main battery will charge it and it's fine. However, when it goes bad you can charge and charge it and it never gets the charge thus draining the main battery. I do not know how long the battery will last but letting it goes dead can shorten life like you don't use it often and don't have the main battery installed. The battery isn't needed for settings because those can be stored in flash memory now so there is no need for power. Power is needed for the clock because it's continuously updating.
 

mshchem

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Messages
14,662
Location
Iowa City, Iowa USA
Format
Medium Format
https://f6project.com/resources/nikon-f6-batteries/
 

nalu1212

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 8, 2012
Messages
65
Location
Orlando, FL
Format
Medium Format
There is a firmware update for f6's below serial # 18754 resolving the battery drain issue. Unfortunately, it's not a user serviceable option. Have to send it off.
 
OP
OP

NortheastPhotographic

Advertiser
Joined
Mar 3, 2011
Messages
1,513
Location
Maine!
Format
Medium Format
MartinCrabtree said:
So make it an F5? Seems like a stop gap remedy that negates the "size advantage" over the F5.
Click to expand...

I don't think that specifically states you need to use a grip-battery to charge the internal clock battery. My current CR123's have been in the F6 for well over 48 hours and the clock still resets every time I pull it out.

However, it also now reads a full charge again...
 

pentaxuser

Member
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
19,960
Location
Daventry, No
Format
35mm
Thanks to all those who supplied info. So the normal batteries in the F6 are not enough to recharge the internal battery but an additional battery pack can be attached as in the link and this will do the recharge in 48 hours. I take it that this will work for all F6's?

Alternatively those F6s below the specified serial number can be returned to Nikon for a firmware upgrade. Is this free as it appears that Nikon has recognised a fault or is there a charge and what is it?

Finally unless I have not understood how batteries work then presumably the normal set of F6 batteries will perform the charge but it may involve sacrificing a set or two of batteries to do it

If that is the case then depending on whether there is a charge for the firmware update the cheapest solution might be to keep replacing the normal set of batteries until the internal one is charged. Presumably two sets of rechargeable batteries with one set on charge while the other
set is charging the internal battery is in the longer run the cheapest option?

pentaxuser
 

Huss

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2016
Messages
9,058
Location
Hermosa Beach, CA
Format
Multi Format

No, if it is working correctly it recharges the internal battery with any of the available power sources. You don't have to use a battery pack.
 

Henning Serger

Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2006
Messages
2,193
Format
Multi Format
Hello Mark,

NortheastPhotographic said:
My F6 is showing that it's down one notch after only a few days and a single roll. The batteries are new and in-date.
Click to expand...

nevertheless it can be the battery being the reason. And despite displaying one notch less it can be that you can use these batteries for much films as usual. I have one set of Eneloop rechargeable batteries here, quite new ones, which from time to time also show one notch less than full just after 2-3 exposed films. But I get as much films from them as normally from the whole charge.
Independent from the camera I use them in. So it is certainly a battery-, and not a camera issue.

NortheastPhotographic said:
However, it also now reads a full charge again...
Click to expand...

QED. Looks like an issue with the battery samples.


I am using two F6 for years, both with MB-40 vertical grip and Eneloops. No problems.
There was a battery / battery indicator issue with earlier F6 units until serial number 0018754 as correctly said above. This can be fixed by Nikon service. All the later produced cameras are fine in this respect.
And the internal clock battery has nothing to do with it. This battery is only needed and used by the camera to keep the time / clock for the internal data back when no batteries are in the camera.
Even if this internal battery is completely dead / broken, the functionality of the F6 is almost not affected at all. The only thing which is different with a broken/dead internal clock battery is when changing to new, full normal batteries after a normal battery change, is that you have to reset the internal clock manually to the correct time, if you want the correct time to be recorded with your film data.
That is all. If you are not interested in the correct time, you can simply ignore it. All functions of the camera are working properly.
A dead/broken internal clock battery can be changed by the Nikon service. But it is absolutely not necessary to change it. The internal clock batterey just offers a little bit more convenience.

Best regards,
Henning
 

Arthurwg

Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2005
Messages
2,681
Location
Taos NM
Format
Medium Format
Consider sending it back to Japan for service. Japan Camera Hunter could have it done for you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…