F100 owners: your strategy in extending battery life?

[kxl]

First of all, let me say that I love my F100. However, the one thing that has always bugged me is battery performance.

I will usually only get 6-8 rolls of 36exp film from 4 2700 Mah NiMH batteries. Yes, I try to max out the battery charges with trickle charges, soft charges, drain-charge cycles, etc... (using a Maha C-801D charger).

I would prefer not to spend more money by buying disposable AA Lithium batteries, and I'd prefer not to add to the size of the F100 by attaching the 6-battery grip.

I do not think there is anything wrong with my F100, nor the batteries that I am using.

So, for all of you F100 owners, any battery-life extending tips, techniques or strategies?

 

[RF-Addict]

Something is either wrong with your batteries or your camera. I know for sure that I get way more than 8 rolls of film out of one battery cycle in the F100. Why don;t you remove the batteries when the camera is not in use - that way you'll know if it is the camera that is somehow draining them.

 

[markwatts]

In my small experience your performance is about par for the course. But is it so bad to swap out 4 AA batteries after 7 rolls of film? BTW I don't think it makes much difference if you leave the camera on between shots, I do.

 

[arunrajmohan]

I put new normal duracell alkaline batteries in my F100 in Jan 2010 and I changed them last week. My notebook says I ran 14, 36 exposure rolls mostly efke 25, velvia 50, reala 100 and a few arista prm 400 and TMY2. Only the last month or so, I have been using non autofocus lenses. Otherwise, I think matrix metering and autofocus on F100 is amazing.

If the camera is in a tight bag and switched on and something is pressing on the shutter release button, it could drain the batteries. Otherwise I cannot see why yours should drain so fast.
In fact I've had the camera on for weeks together and I believe it does not matter with F100.
Arun

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I use the AA lithium batteries. Higher initial cost, but they go for a long time.

 

[kdemas]

Don't depend on the sleep mode, turn it off when not in use. As said above the shutter could get nicked in a bag and turn on the meter, draining the batteries.

On the battery sucking front nothing approaches my Contax N1 and NX. The NX in particular is good for about 5 rolls.

The F100 is a terrific camera, enjoy.

 

[barnwulf]

Batteries tend to go down even when you don't use the camera. Yours may be discharging a little fast. I always turned the camera off except when shooting. Even with the camera on the OFF position there will be a drain on the batteries. When I am not shooting I removed the battery holder when the camera if I wasn't going to use the camera for several days. I would also suggest lithium batteries since they last about 3 - 4 times longer than alkaline batteries do. - jim

 

[Mablo]

I'm using whatever old ex-flash reloadable AA batteries I can find in my drawer and I still get umpteenth amount of rolls. Someone told me that the rewinding sound is a good diagnostic for the battery condition. When I hear fluctuation in the whirr it tells me it's time to reload batteries.

 

[leica M2 fan]

After a full charge of my battery it will last at least 4 months and I leave it on the camera all that time. I tried lithiums in the holder and they only lasted 4 DAYS!!!

 

[photogdave]

I remember how poor the battery life seemed on my new F100 compared to my old F-801. Your usage seems on par with what I was getting off old rechargeable NiCads when my F100 was brand new.

 

[MRohlfing]

Look here: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/f100PWR.htm

If you do not want to recharge your batteries every time before using your camera, be sure to use the latest generation of NiMH cells, like Eneloop or similar. They have nominally less power (2000 mAh or so), but hold the charge much better.

 

[PKR]

I don't know where you live, but cold weather will decrease battery life. I think Nikon published a chart on temp. vs. battery life. Also, those using non AF lenses will have much greater battery life. If the AF is running every time you look through the camera, even though you aren't exposing a frame, you should take this into consideration. I could run a set of AAs down without ever taking a picture..

 

[kxl]

It's not really in-between events that I notie the battery drain, since I re-charge before each use. It's during use, when I would shoot a lot of rolls to cover an event, for example. Now that I think about it, though, I think the drain has a lot to do with the lens I use, since the drain is more noticeable wihen using AFS and VR lenses, especially VR lenses. That's probalby the biggest culprint.

 

[jaredangle]

I put in 4 standard energizer lithiums when I got my F100 about 8 months ago, and have shot 20-25 rolls and am still on the same batteries. Can't say the same thing for my D700...