F 80 left ON for about two weeks

[gejza_cepela]

Hello,

I don't think anybody of us likes to leave the camera ON for

extended period of time but that's exactly what happened to me.I just

opened my camera bag and noticed that somehow I either forgot the

switch the camera off or I had to unintentionaly move the round

button ON when placing the camera inside the bag.I wonder whether any

damage can be caused by leaving the F 80 turned on.The meter system

is I guess quite sensitive.Has anybody of you done any damage to your

equipment by leaving it ON for few days non stop?Thanks.

[carl smith]

It should be fine. If the N80 is like any other camera it should go to sleep after a period of time where it hasn't been used (particularly if you dont touch the shutter button). I haven't used an N80 in a while, but my N90s and both my EOS cameras do this.

[joseph_mcdonald]

In addition to Carl's comment, the lead tech at NIKON Torrance, CA told me the batteries in my F4s may last a year or longer if the camera is left on, in the "sleep" mode.

 

Joe McDonald

[cham_saranasuriya]

Have done that for weeks without problems with my F5 and also with F90X, F100 etc when I used to own them.

 

Cheers,

Cham

[aardvarko]

The meter turns off after an interval, set via a CSM.

[david_h._hartman]

In the unlikely event that the shutter release button was

depress half way activating the CPU your batteries are dead. If

not youre cool.<br>

<br>

The purpose of the On/Off switch is to lock the shutter release.

It would be very unpleasant to put your camera into a bag or

backpack and hear a full roll run through the camera in seconds.

Ive never done exactly that but I have accidentally locked

an MC-12A remote release and blow a full 36 frames in about 6

seconds. I only did this once. I disabled the lock on my MC-12A

and Ive been happy every since. <br>

<br>

The draw on the batteries is essentially the same whether the

camera is Off or asleep. Look at the display when the camera is

asleep then turn it off. A few characters and symbols will go out.

Thats the difference in battery draw. Now consider how long

a low cost digital watch will runs on its very tiny batteries.<br>

<br>

Just try to remember to use the lock as you could loose part or

all of your roll of film.<br>

<br>

I just remembered...</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p><strong>F100 Power Consumption Measurements (Ken Rockwell)</strong><br>

<br>

<strong>OFF:</strong> 41.5 uA (something has to keep the

exposure counter on!)<br>

<strong>ON:</strong> (meter not on, just sitting there) 41.5

uA (exactly the same as OFF. The OFF position is really just

a lock against inadvertent operation)<br>

<strong>Meter ON:</strong> 250 mA (any time the viewfinder

display is lit or the top LCD indicates exposure values)<br>

<strong>Shutter Open:</strong> 250 mA (during BULB or any

other exposure)<br>

<strong>DOF preview</strong> pressed and held: 315 ma<br>

<strong>AF Operating:</strong> 550 ma (Similar for all

conventional mechanical AF, AF-I and AF-S lenses)<br>

<strong>Film advance</strong> (without film): 815-900mA while

film advance motor is running<br>

<br>

The top panel illuminator only draws a negligible 11mA. Use

it all you want without fear of running down your batteries.</p>

</blockquote>

 

<p>Here are a couple of links...<br>

<br>

<a href="http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/n80.htm" target="_new"><u>http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/n80.htm</u></a>

<br>

<br>

<a href="http://www.kenrockwell.com" target="_new"><u>http://www.kenrockwell.com</u></a><br>

<br>

Regards,<br>

<br>

Dave.

[plattro]

As David Hartman wrote, leaving the camera on or off makes very little difference as to battery life. It just protects against taking a whole roll of photos of the inside of your camera bag, or of your feet while walking around.

 

The only equipment I can think of that can get damaged if left on is some older or special stuff. I think my MD12 will kill my FM2n's battery if left on (The meter never shuts off). But I think that most cameras and accessories today are pretty well behaved in that regard.

[david_h._hartman]

It was the MD-11 that ran batteries dead. The camera meter will timeout when an MD-12 is installed and turned on provided that a remote release is not installed. There is a switch in the remote control socket of the MD-12 that will turn on the camera�s meter and it will remain on until the remote release is removed. I�m not sure this hold true for early FM(s). I never owned an FM.

[gaetano catelli]

it's no more damaging than leaving your digital wristwatch "on".

[michael erlich]

I rarely turn my D100 OFF unless I am changing lenses or CF cards. Wear and tear on

the on-off switch can cause it to fail in time.

[erin_____grasshopper__rice]

Gejza- I'm glad you asked that because I keep leaving (or inadvertently turning) my F80 on; and I was terribly concerned about the battery life. (Also was not happy about taking pictures of the inside of my car when leaning over my camera to lock the door.)

 

Glad to hear I'm ok. Now I check the camera obsessively to make sure it's off.

 

And we have avoided the dreaded "same question asked two days apart" scandal that keeps rocking the site.