Nikon N80 may be dying

[Tim Stapp]

When loaded with fresh batteries and firing the shutter, the film advances fine. The battery indicator flashes and the camera won't operate again unless powered down and back on. Any ideas, or just replace?

 

[John Koehrer]

It never hurts to give it a whack.
Clean the contacts, both on the battery and internal.
I've seen cameras that would do as you describe with new batteries but turned out the
new cells weren't up to snuff.
VM's don't always give an accurate reading, the cell needs to have a load on it or you're only reading surface voltage.

 

[Tim Stapp]

Well, it seems it doesn't like Sanyo/Panasonic rechargeables in the battery grip. Additionally, I got a pack of suspect AA's from the store. El cheapos from the Dollar Store and it works. Who'd have thought...

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Happy to hear that your N80 survives.

For a long time my preference for batteries (in any device) was Duracell and I disliked Energizer and Ray-O-Vac the most. However, after my own testing, I found them all to be equally good.

I keep hearing about Eneloop, but haven't investigated them.

 

[Tim Stapp]

I utilize the Eneloop batteries in my flash units. I usually swap them out after ceremony/formals prior to the reception. I was second shooter recently and the primary shooter had his die during first dance. I handed him my flash and swapped my first set in his. He finished the night with out issue.

 

[shutterfinger]

I suspect your Sanyo/Panasonic rechargeables are either not holding a sufficient charge or their mAh rating is too low.

 

[Tim Stapp]

See my post above. I suspect that the voltage is not the same as the disposables are. I'm not going to take the time to do an in depth analysis, I'm just thankful that it works

 

[shutterfinger]

The mAh rating of your rechargeable batteries should be stated on each battery. http://www.powerstream.com/AA-tests.htm shows standard AA Alkaline to have 200-220mAh at 100ma discharge; 130mAh at 500ma discharge.
Takes less than 5 minutes to determine if the batteries have enough to do the job. This won't be the first time that rechargeable batteries were too weak to run the camera even when fully charged.

 

[benjiboy]

Quality AA and AAA Alkaline batteries are so cheap from Amazon these days I see no need to use rechargeable ones that are lower in voltage and amperage.

 

[mweintraub]

For my flashes I use Eenloops, but my old F5 had problems with the lower voltages of the rechargeable.

 

[skorpiius]

Well, it seems it doesn't like Sanyo/Panasonic rechargeables in the battery grip. Additionally, I got a pack of suspect AA's from the store. El cheapos from the Dollar Store and it works. Who'd have thought...

NiMH AAs tend to be 1.2v rather than 1.5v like disposables, so certain devices won't like them.