NZ 90 Problem with my camera Flash

[vlp]

I am taking a lot of pictures indoors and I use very often the flash option but sporadicly the flash doesn't go on and my pictures are dark.

I would like to know if somebody experienced the same problem ??

Why the Flash doesn't work ALL THE TIME when I need it !!!

[zoppe]

Hello Vlp,

When I first tried to use the flah with the camera, I found out that just after 4-5 pics, the flash is automatically disabled due to lack of battery.

I read on this forum, somewhere, from someone, that you can drastically increase the usage of your battery if you drain it out completely (up to the point that your lover -nz90- won't even turn on) and then do a complete charge.

Indeed, it worked. After it, I could take much more pics with the flash than before.

However, if the next time you do not do the same procedure (draining out completely the battery), you will get again to initial situation (just a very few flash pics before running out of power).

In my case, (I am an absolut screen lover) I always have on the backlight. What I do now, if I want to use the camera with flash, first I turn off the backlight, giving me much more pics (check also to have turned off the bluethooth, and infrared-beam- receiver, which also uses some battery), and then I make a trial without flash just playinh with the options of Scene (try using Twilight or twilight portrait), and EV. You'll find out that even with poor light conditions, playing with these parameters, you can get reasonable good pictures without the flash.

Another way to save a little bit your battery, would be not to use the option red eyes, since it drains even more your battery as it uses the flash in 2 sec periods twice.

I hope all this little tricks will help you have longer your flash available.


If any other one has some suggestions for this purpouse, I'm sure we will all be happy to hear.

Greetz,

[Bo_]

Wow. that was comprehensive.

Only one suggestion, if you need the flash on all the time, simply tap on the flash ikon until it shows a flash on the screen, that way you know for sure it will fire. Though it IS hard on the batteries.

Bo

www.bophoto.com/clie

[zoppe]

I agree Bo...but when the battery starts getting short, the camera will automatically disabled the flash (at least in my baby), so I can not use the flash even if I want to. Trying then to activate the flash again, will prompt me out a message stating that my battery level is not high enough to use the flash, and therefore will be de-activated.

Sorry for the comprehensive (long I guess) post.

Greetz,

Jose

[Bo_]

Nooo. don't be sorry it was GREAT...! Lots of people need to know what you wrote, it is not something most people will think about by them selves. It was a great post.!


Bo

www.bophoto.com/clie

[zoppe]

Ok, thanks.
Hopes it useful for some people.

Btw, nice pics in your site.... Pitty I can't still use my baby to surf the web.... I'm willing to see how your page looks like (I've heard looks great!)

Greetz,

[mesch]

If you take that many pics I would be using a digital camera.NZ-90 just won't handle it.

[n2ifp]

How much of a recycle time is required for the flash to recharge? You may have to wait a few before taking the next shot.

[the_iceman]

check the huge amount of posts regarding battery life and camera/flash ..... I'm to a point ... I can easily take 90+ pics between charges (from a full charge down to 30%) .... with over 50 using the flash.

Like training the battery. Suggestions here are good .... just might want to check out some of the older posts here in ClieSource! :)

[dorianne]

Originally posted by the_iceman
check the huge amount of posts regarding battery life and camera/flash ..... I'm to a point ... I can easily take 90+ pics between charges (from a full charge down to 30%) .... with over 50 using the flash.

Like training the battery. Suggestions here are good .... just might want to check out some of the older posts here in ClieSource! :) I am soooooo jealous! I have 2 batteries, and cannot get anywhere near that with either one. My battery was at 85% the other day, and I had to really coax it to get a few flash pictures.

[zoppe]

I agree with Dorianne,

I have read (I can tell you for sure) MANY of the post in this and other forums regarding battery tricks to increase the performance...

As I explained above, I use several tricks to make it last longer... and still I can NOT get even close to 90 pictures.... and less 50 with Flash...

I really want to know how can you do that!?

Please explain (not repeating what is already said here) or give us a link if you are so kind, so we can instruct ourselves...


Greetz,

Jose

[YTTAN]

Actually we can increase the number of shots by lower down the resolution from 1600x1200 to 800x600 as the quality of the photo is still maintain very well. It's just good enough to print a decent 4R size print.(4"x6").

I do agree that if we do not do the same procedure (draining out completely the battery), you will get the initial situation (just a very few flash pics before running out of power).

[Bo_]

But Yttan, the camera still consumes about the same amount of juice regardless of the resolution. (I think)

I do not get 90 images in a day but about 40 seems to be regular fare.

Bo

www.bophoto.com/clie

[zoppe]

... I agree about your figures... althought, I guess you are talking about pics with and w/o flash...

But 50 pics with flash....
"check the huge amount of posts regarding battery life and camera/flash ..... I'm to a point ... I can easily take 90+ pics between charges (from a full charge down to 30%) .... with over 50 using the flash. "

I checked almost everything regarding flash, and battery in this and other forums. I have heard before of some people with those figures...

Sorry, but if I do not see it, I do not believe it. Indeed, there is not any decent explanation on how they can take more than 90 pics, and 50 with flash.... (and still keep 30 % of your battery, pffff) come on! You'll be lucky if during the whole day you can take 30 with flash w/o recharging your pda....
I agree if you let to rest your pda between shots, you can get more than if you try to shoot all of them on a roll (since the average remaining battery is calculated based on the current aplication that you are running, while you are with the camera taking pics it can go easily to 40%, and when it rest get back to 80%). Hey, I think I tried quite a few ways.....Ok, whatever tricks you want to use... I have to see 50 pics taken with flash and a single battery to believe it.


Anyway, If I am wrong, please let us know what is the secret!

Greetz,

Jose

[Bo_]

You are right, though I do believe it, after I installed the updated camera application, and did the gymnastics with the battery, I DID photograph a series of almost 80 images, about half of them with flash in my living room, and there were still power left in the battery. However I am not motivated enough to spend that much time massaging my battery everyday. (smile)

Regardless, my Clie have done wonderfully for me while driving across America on my motorcycle and it have done what I purchased it for. take pictures and get e-mail.. I will be home in 3 weeks and am sure it will contiue to work great for me the next couple of weeks.


Bo

www.bophoto.com/clie

[warstar71]

Just a question, has anyone ever used the "PEGA-BC10" to try and get more shots?
http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/imagesProducts/180x180/PEGABC10.jpg

[zoppe]

Mmmmmm, interesting.

I haven't update my soft yet, since I've got my clie just a couple of weeks ago... and I did not know it was an update for the camara soft.

I'll try to update, and "massage" my battery again...

Anyway, as someone pointed out, if you really want a camera, buy one. This is a PDA with added functionality (camera, mp3 play..etc) and not the other way around. For my purpouses (I'm not a professional photographer) the camera, and it's short battery life cover my needs, so the clie is exactly fulfilling my expectations. I can take several pic's when I want...but I hardly will have to shot 80 pics in the same afternoon :)

...and if I need, hey, we always have the option to change the battery for a fresh one (pitty that sony just provides one with the package), or use the PEGA-BC10

Greetz,

P.S. Mmmmmmm, driving across America in a motorbike...that sounds good... You'll have to update your page with new pics ;)
Have a nice ride!