Nikon F6 eats batteries

quixotic · Dec 5, 2019

Henning Serger said:
I have one. It works perfectly. The power consumption is not higher compared to the situation before, when the internal clock battery was fine.
I also have the permanent direct comparison, because I am using two F6 parallel. The one with the dead internal clock battery, and one with a fine internal clock battery.
Both have exactly the same (low) power consumption.
I use both my F6 with a MB-40 vertical grip (each camera has its own). And in them Panasonic Eneloop rechargeable batteries. They work perfectly, I can highly recommend them (I am using them also in my F90X, F100, F4 and F5 and in all my flashes).
I get 35 - 55 (!) 36Exp. rolls with one charge, depending on the needed power (AF use, long exposures etc.).

The dead internal clock battery of the one body is a non-issue for me. Because it is really only needed for running the internal clock when no batteries are in the camera. This batterey has no other functions. So the only thing I have to do with this body is to set the correct time again after I have recharged the Eneloops and put them back into the MB-40. It is an effort of some seconds, really negligible.

And in general I recommend using the MB-40 with the F6: Much higher battery capacity, much better ergonomics (especially for vertical shots), max. frame rate (8fps).

Best regards,
Henning

That's really good to know. Thanks Henning.

Do you use the camera in cold weather at all? I read somewhere that rechargeable lithiums are terrible in the cold (and my experience with the typical bespoke, slab-type batteries has borne this out), but that the non-rechargeable lithiums are the best option for cold conditions.

Also, do you tend to use autofocus lenses? And do you manually re-wind the film? (those habits would affect battery life, I'm sure).

As for MB-40, that's not an option for me, due to touch of tennis elbow and the fact that I can order off the senior's menu.

drmoss_ca · Dec 7, 2019

Whenever the internal battery is flat (or on a new camera) it will suck most of the charge from a pair of CR123 batteries to get itself up to full charge. I've seen a new F6 get only a couple of films before the CR123s died because of this. Once the internal battery is charged, the CR123s should last for a dozen films at least. I'm now using rechargeable CR123s and they aren't as good, but still last for half a dozen films.

quixotic · Dec 7, 2019

drmoss_ca said:
Whenever the internal battery is flat (or on a new camera) it will suck most of the charge from a pair of CR123 batteries to get itself up to full charge. I've seen a new F6 get only a couple of films before the CR123s died because of this. Once the internal battery is charged, the CR123s should last for a dozen films at least. I'm now using rechargeable CR123s and they aren't as good, but still last for half a dozen films.

I guess I'm wondering if my internal battery is merely flat (and thus capable of being recharged), or whether it's totally kaput (and thus not). So far, I've gone through about 3 or 4 rolls, and I'm still being prompted to update the date/time whenever I turn the camera on.

Scott Micciche · Dec 7, 2019

quixotic said:
I guess I'm wondering if my internal battery is merely flat (and thus capable of being recharged), or whether it's totally kaput (and thus not). So far, I've gone through about 3 or 4 rolls, and I'm still being prompted to update the date/time whenever I turn the camera on.

This is a crazy thought, but have you eve done a soft reset by holding the Menu and Info buttons? I know the owner's manual doesn't specifically link the internal battery to this type of reset, but who knows.

quixotic · Dec 7, 2019

Scott Micciche said:
This is a crazy thought, but have you eve done a soft reset by holding the Menu and Info buttons? I know the owner's manual doesn't specifically link the internal battery to this type of reset, but who knows.

Yeah, I did that a while back, around about the first or second roll, but it didn't change anything. Thanks, though.

The good news is that the vendor refunded me a significant chunk of the purchase price, due to the issue.

Chan Tran · Dec 9, 2019

quixotic said:
Yeah, I did that a while back, around about the first or second roll, but it didn't change anything. Thanks, though.

The good news is that the vendor refunded me a significant chunk of the purchase price, due to the issue.

I enter the problem in the Nikon USA website and they estimate $209 for the repair. If I were you I would send it to Nikon for repair. I can't see owning the latest Nikon and it doesn't work perfectly.

quixotic · Dec 9, 2019

Chan Tran said:
I enter the problem in the Nikon USA website and they estimate $209 for the repair. If I were you I would send it to Nikon for repair. I can't see owning the latest Nikon and it doesn't work perfectly.

I've heard that Nikon USA won't touch the grey market cameras (ie, those bought from Japan via ebay). However, Bellamy Hunt at Japan Camera Hunter will repair the internal battery. My main concern though, is if the kaput internal battery unduly affects the life of the CR123's...which I'll find out over the next few weeks of sporadic photography in cold weather. The clock/date feature is of very little consequence to me.

Chan Tran · Dec 9, 2019

quixotic said:
I've heard that Nikon USA won't touch the grey market cameras (ie, those bought from Japan via ebay). However, Bellamy Hunt at Japan Camera Hunter will repair the internal battery. My main concern though, is if the kaput internal battery unduly affects the life of the CR123's...which I'll find out over the next few weeks of sporadic photography in cold weather. The clock/date feature is of very little consequence to me.

Very likely is the bad battery is the problem. It could have other problems but a pair of CR123 only last a couple of rolls is definitely a problem. I personally wouldn't want to use a camera like that.

quixotic · Dec 9, 2019

Chan Tran said:
Very likely is the bad battery is the problem. It could have other problems but a pair of CR123 only last a couple of rolls is definitely a problem. I personally wouldn't want to use a camera like that.

It's not as bad as I thought initially. I wasn't too sure how old the first two sets of batteries were (though they gave me the full three bars initially, so I had a false sense of security). The third set was definitely brand new, and has powered at least two rolls, and also partly powered them in quite cold weather. And I'm still on 3 bars. On wednesday, I'll be on the third roll, and due for more cold weather, so I have my fingers crossed.

Henning Serger · Dec 10, 2019

quixotic said:
That's really good to know. Thanks Henning.

Do you use the camera in cold weather at all?

Yes, no problems so far.

quixotic said:
I read somewhere that rechargeable lithiums are terrible in the cold (and my experience with the typical bespoke, slab-type batteries has borne this out), but that the non-rechargeable lithiums are the best option for cold conditions.

The Panasonic Eneloops are not lithium based. I have used them at minus (-) 5°C, and they worked perfectly.
Non-rechargeable lithium batteries are indeed excellent at very low temperatures (up to - 20°C).

quixotic said:
Also, do you tend to use autofocus lenses? And do you manually re-wind the film? (those habits would affect battery life, I'm sure).

I am using both AF and MF lenses on my two F6s. And sometimes I also manually rewind my films. Sometimes just for fun , extremely seldom to save and prolong battery capacity.
I am using the 1900mAh version of the Eneloops. With lots of AF use and full automatic film rewind I get about 35-40 36exp. rolls of film with one charge.
With MF (manual focus) lenses and manual film rewind 55-60 rolls with one charge are possible.
In both cases, that is really more than enough.
And the Eneloops are very long lasting: I have still those in use which I have bought shortly after their introduction more than a decade ago! They were designed and introduced by Sanyo, which later was bought by Panasonic.

Best regards,
Henning

Henning Serger · Dec 10, 2019

quixotic said:
I guess I'm wondering if my internal battery is merely flat (and thus capable of being recharged), or whether it's totally kaput (and thus not). So far, I've gone through about 3 or 4 rolls, and I'm still being prompted to update the date/time whenever I turn the camera on.

When you have to update the clock every time you turn the camera on, then there is really a problem.
In my F6 with the dead internal battery I only have to update the clock when I change the batteries = when the camera is disconnected from the power supply.
Turning the camera off does not affect the internal clock at all, it continues running.

Best regards,
Henning

quixotic · Dec 14, 2019

Henning Serger said:
When you have to update the clock every time you turn the camera on, then there is really a problem.
In my F6 with the dead internal battery I only have to update the clock when I change the batteries = when the camera is disconnected from the power supply.
Turning the camera off does not affect the internal clock at all, it continues running.

Best regards,
Henning

You're correct. I don't necessarily have to update the clock every time I turn on the camera...though I'm still prompted to, since I didn't update the clock when I last took out the batteries. However, each time I take out the batteries for more than just a few minutes -- and if I have previously updated the clock -- the camera does lose the clock time, and I am prompted to update it.

netipikat · Aug 26, 2020

quixotic said:
You're correct. I don't necessarily have to update the clock every time I turn on the camera...though I'm still prompted to, since I didn't update the clock when I last took out the batteries. However, each time I take out the batteries for more than just a few minutes -- and if I have previously updated the clock -- the camera does lose the clock time, and I am prompted to update it.

Did your F6 problem fixed? I've same issue.

quixotic · Aug 26, 2020

Yes, it has been fine. My reply #34 said it all, I think. The kaput internal battery might suck a little juice, but I don't really notice it (however, I only go through about a roll per month or so, and I do the manual rewind, so that's a factor). I felt a bit guilty about the seller's partial refund, so I refunded back a partial refund on the refund. In a nutshell, I absolutely love the camera. It has definitely cured my decade-long GAS attack.

Huss · Aug 26, 2020

Way to test if it has a battery issue is to use a sacrificial roll of film, shoot it, reload, repeat until the batteries die.

When I bought my Watson rechargeable CR123s, they only lasted 3 rolls. I complained, Watson sent me replacements. Those did not quit after I fired 25 rolls (reloading the same test roll over and over again) - at that point I quit!

mshchem · Aug 26, 2020

Nikonusa will work on the camera if you pay them. It's the stuff from Abe's of Maine that goes kaput in the first year or two that gets refused, for obvious reasons. This is why I got rid of my F100s. Disposable Li batteries stink. I have rechargeable battery packs for my F5 that have been rebuilt, as long as you condition now and then no problems.

Tom Kershaw · Aug 27, 2020

mshchem said:
This is why I got rid of my F100s

The F100 works fine with standard rechargeable batteries.

Sirius Glass · Aug 27, 2020

Tom Kershaw said:
The F100 works fine with standard rechargeable batteries.

+1 My experience too.

Arthurwg · Oct 3, 2020

I use lithium batteries in my F100. Never a problem and they last a LONG time.

neilt3 · Oct 3, 2020

Sanyoo Eneloops in all my cameras that use AA's .
Never had a problem .
Including the F100 .
With or without grip .

Tom Kershaw · Oct 6, 2020

neilt3 said:
Sanyoo Eneloops in all my cameras that use AA's .
Never had a problem .
Including the F100 .
With or without grip .

The standard white eneloop batteries? I understand the Fujitsu product is very similar.

neilt3 · Oct 6, 2020

Mine are the standard white ones .
I've had about five sets for probably over five years .
The first set was probably quite a bit longer ago than that , they all still work well .
They hold their charge well while not in use , and keep working longer than any other rechargeable battery I've had .

Tom Kershaw · Oct 6, 2020

neilt3 said:
Mine are the standard white ones .
I've had about five sets for probably over five years .
The first set was probably quite a bit longer ago than that , they all still work well .
They hold their charge well while not in use , and keep working longer than any other rechargeable battery I've had .

I've read the standard versions last longer than the 'pro' black versions.

neilt3 · Oct 6, 2020

Tom Kershaw said:
I've read the standard versions last longer than the 'pro' black versions.

Where did you read that ?
I would have thought that being a newer design they would have held their power longer ?

I thought about getting some of the black ones thinking they would be a big improvement on my current ones .
After marking the sets with numbers and taking notice of the condition of my current ones , I decided they didn't need replacing .
There certainly a good battery .

Tom Kershaw · Oct 6, 2020

neilt3 said:
Where did you read that ?
I would have thought that being a newer design they would have held their power longer ?

Apparently the higher capacity batteries are able to be recharged fewer times. https://eneloop101.com/batteries/eneloop-pro/#eneloop-vs-eneloop-pro

Nikon F6 eats batteries

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