Dimage 7i power consumption and LCD light levels

[weatherman]

My question is about the type of power source you guys use with your 7i.

My 7i had to be reset as it paid a visit to KM service and had its CCD

replaced. All is fine now but I encountered a startup probem when I

first inserted Minolta's own Ni-MH batteries which were fully charged.

Basically battery low symbol came up and camera didn't start. Then I

used my 6V camera adaptor and it started up ok. I did all custom

settings and I remember I've set EVF and display ligth to minimum(as I

did 3 years ago) then I gave the batteries another go and all was fine

then!!! This monster seems to need lots of power when display light is

set to maximum. Why did this NOT happen the day I bought the camera.

Display light was set to maximum back then as default factory setting?

Can the circuitry get used to perfect 6V adaptor use by time instead

of poor 4.8V Ni-MH gives? (I've heard a qualified friend saying

"circuitry gets old" before)

I don't think this will be a major issue anyway but has anyone

experienced same thing?

Thanks

[matt hedgecoe]

To put it another way...

 

New battery + high current load = OK

 

3 year old battery + high current load = Not OK

 

I would check that the battery contacts are clean and haven't become tarnished over time, but the most like cause is probably nothing more sinister than your battery is getting old and tired and needs replacing.

 

Matt

[weatherman]

Matt,

When the camera failed to start with original batteries, I also have tried with my brand new and fully charged Sony Ni-Mh batteries which are the heavy duty ones. Same result, no start up!

They were/are all fine when display light is at minimum level.

[weatherman]

I have cleaned all batteries and camera contacts with pure alcohol. Now it works like the first day I bought it :)

So it was just about bad contacts after all..

Cheers,

Ersagun