MicrostockGroup

Microstock Photography Forum - General => Cameras / Lenses => Photography Equipment => Nikon => Topic started by: Phadrea on April 19, 2014, 09:47

Title: D200 battery instability
Post by: Phadrea on April 19, 2014, 09:47
I have this strange problem for a while with each D200 battery that is fully charged only showing one segment charged after briefly showing fully charged. 2 different batteries tested to be fully charged. It seems to be the camera that isn't picking up the power. Initially I had to put a small piece of paper between the battery and closing door to get a decent connection but now that no longer works. I have checked all the electrical points and they are all clean.

What could this be ?
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: Mantis on April 19, 2014, 12:18
I have this strange problem for a while with each D200 battery that is fully charged only showing one segment charged after briefly showing fully charged. 2 different batteries tested to be fully charged. It seems to be the camera that isn't picking up the power. Initially I had to put a small piece of paper between the battery and closing door to get a decent connection but now that no longer works. I have checked all the electrical points and they are all clean.

What could this be ?

are the terminals in the camera bent or pushed down? or have no "spring" left in them?
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: Phadrea on April 19, 2014, 13:02
I have this strange problem for a while with each D200 battery that is fully charged only showing one segment charged after briefly showing fully charged. 2 different batteries tested to be fully charged. It seems to be the camera that isn't picking up the power. Initially I had to put a small piece of paper between the battery and closing door to get a decent connection but now that no longer works. I have checked all the electrical points and they are all clean.

What could this be ?

are the terminals in the camera bent or pushed down? or have no "spring" left in them?

They seem fine.
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: bunhill on April 19, 2014, 13:47
The D200 battery info virtual meter item in the setup menu will tell you the condition of the battery. 4 positions on a scale from where zero is good (equivalent of new) and 4 (!) means time to send the battery to the recycling.
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: JPSDK on April 19, 2014, 14:34
I had an original nikon d 200 battery completely die from one day to another.
I think I charged it too much too often.
But batteries do that dont they? suddently become unreliable.

Batteries are a mystery.
I think they would sometimes benifit from you playing basic physics with them. I mean discharge them by shortcut and charge them with more voltage than they like.
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: Beppe Grillo on April 20, 2014, 01:50
Try to clean the electric contacts in the battery pod with a little of alcohol.
(Whisky or Vodka could work, but not beer or Lambrusco… And denatured alcohol is probably better)
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: Phadrea on April 20, 2014, 07:23
All points are clean but I did clean with alcohol as you advised just in case. It still shows one bar on the power and then starts flashing. Everytime I turn on the power it shows fully charged for about a second before dropping. Both batteries were working fine after being fully charged up until yesterday which puts the owness on the camera. Around 5 years ago I would say there was an intermittent power problem between almost no power and fully charged when i was out on location shooting in cold weather. If i pushed the battery further in and used a small piece of card behind the battery it seemed to cure it.

Again, the electrical pins inside the battery housing do not look out of place or bent and I haven't done anything to them. It's a mystery :-\
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: bunhill on April 20, 2014, 08:06
What does the battery condition meter say ?
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: Mantis on April 20, 2014, 08:41
The D200 battery info virtual meter item in the setup menu will tell you the condition of the battery. 4 positions on a scale from where zero is good (equivalent of new) and 4 (!) means time to send the battery to the recycling.

Right, forgot about that.  Good call, Bunhill.
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: Difydave on April 20, 2014, 10:55
Lots about D200 "dead battery syndrome" if you search online.
One thread here.
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/26537844 (http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/26537844)
With Li-ion batteries in particular I wouldn't try discharging them except in the camera, or charging them with anything except a charger designed for that battery.
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: Phadrea on April 20, 2014, 12:33
Lots about D200 "dead battery syndrome" if you search online.
One thread here.
[url]http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/26537844[/url] ([url]http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/26537844[/url])
With Li-ion batteries in particular I wouldn't try discharging them except in the camera, or charging them with anything except a charger designed for that battery.


Yes, did a bit of digging myself and found a can of worms. Time to invest in a new camera I think.
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: fritz on April 20, 2014, 17:17
I had the same problem with different camera! Using battery grip solve the problem.
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: microstockinsider on April 20, 2014, 21:29
Ive also had my share of D200 battery woes. (Incidentally I now use the same batteries with my D700 and they are fine)

1) full charged battery suddenly "marked" as flat then only needing a few minutes on the charger to be full again:

I tracked my problem down to dodgy battery to camera connection - not certain if it was dirty battery terminals or the terminals in the camera, cleaning both with a cotton stick and isopro (IMPORTANT note to clean the thin face of the metal contact on the battery not the larger face on the back - the D200 connects to the thin edge on the end of the battery)

2) fake batteries:- its better to buy original nikon batteries, then if pushed the cheap generic type. Whats to avoid is ebay fake nikon batteries, they will cause they no end of problems, and look IDENTICAL to the genuine Nikon ones, packaging holograms etc. if you bought you batteries somewhere 'cheap' online as 'genuine nikon' treat them as suspects.
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: Phadrea on April 21, 2014, 02:29
Yes, when this problem first started to rear up I just put paper in the force the battery closer to the terminals getting a better connection. This now doesn't work. Cleaned all points with alcohol on cotton bud but no avail. I don't think it is the batteries even though one may not be Nikon, the other def is Nikon (came with camera) and they both show dead. I can't even get enough power now to even work the menu so I can try and update the firmware. So frustrating ! It is obvious by all the many other users out there that it is happening to that this is a D200 problem. So now I can't even get power to fire up the data screen which renders the camera a piece of expensive junk.
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: shotupdave on April 21, 2014, 12:56
do you have the motor drive? If not see if you borrow one to see if that can drive the unit
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: Phadrea on April 21, 2014, 16:07
I don't sorry. Just the 2 batteries.
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: shotupdave on April 22, 2014, 06:39
after reading about the D200 all of different message boards, it seems that the D200 has suffered power problems from the very beginning. The paper between the door and the battery was a common thread. Maybe it is fate telling you it time to upgrade.
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: Phadrea on April 22, 2014, 07:47
Is there a Nikon slr body that would fit these lenses that you recommend ? Would be good to have HD video too.
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: shotupdave on April 22, 2014, 09:58
what lenses do you have?
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: bunhill on April 22, 2014, 10:17
Is there a Nikon slr body that would fit these lenses that you recommend ? Would be good to have HD video too.


Related thread here (http://www.microstockgroup.com/photography-equipment/slr-for-hd-video/) may be useful. Lots of useful answers to someone asking more or less the same question.

Oh. It was you.
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: Phadrea on April 25, 2014, 07:53
So I get to the Nikon support page and click to download the latest D200 firmware. Nothing happens. Nothing downloads. Can anyone else confirm the same problem ?

https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/25680
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: shotupdave on April 25, 2014, 11:57
no prob, PM your email address and I will send it to you
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: Phadrea on April 25, 2014, 13:08
no prob, PM your email address and I will send it to you

Thanks Dave but I managed to get it. Nikon said their server was down but just checked and it's up. Installed A and B firmware as it says on Nikon site it addresses issue of dead battery. All done and it's still the same  :(
Title: Re: D200 battery instability
Post by: shotupdave on April 25, 2014, 17:27
is the a camera shop nearby where you could try the motor drive? Also to yout question, the d90 of the d7000 would be a great upgrade from the d200 unless you need the weather sealing