newbie digital camera owner

19 years ago

Hi, everyone. This is my first post on this forum. I am very new to digital photography, and I'm hoping someone can help me. I have a Sony Cybershot DSC-H5/B. I bought it because it's the same camera that some family members have and I always love the quality of their pictures. After reading reviews that said the Sony batteries that come with the camera lose their charge quickly, I bought a Duracell charger and 4 Duracell batteries. But I've found that these lose the charge very quickly...like after maybe 20 minutes of shooting and then viewing the pictures. I'm thinking I might have the camera on the wrong setting(s). Could someone tell me what image size is good just for taking pics of my kids around the house? Any other ideas? By the way, I have yet to try the Sony batteries that came with the camera, but I have them charged and I'm going to give them a shot tonight. Thanks!

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Comments (12)

country_bumpkin_al
19 years ago
Welcome to the world of digital photography and the forum!! I have the Sony DSC H1 and it uses the AA batteries also. I bought (and really like) the Duracell 2659mAh rechargeable batteries and a 1 Hour charger. My batteries stay charged and useable for over 2 hours. I just recently heard that if you're outside and it's the batteries don't last long at all.
mandogirl
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks, c.b. al. I have the 15-minute Duracell charger and Duracell NM Hi batteries. The Sony charger that came with the camera is a 6-hour charger. I confess I really don't know much about my camera, and the manual is less than informative as far as explaining the different settings. What would affect the charge-drainage time? Would altering the image size give me more shooting time per charge? I'm sorry if my question is dumb...I really have a lot to learn. Thank you!
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zitro_joe
19 years ago
I dont have that camera but here is some advice so have a longer charge.

1) Use the optical view finder(OVF) vs. the electronic view finder(EVF). The EVF consumes about 70% of the charge if left onthe entire time you use it.

2) When buying re-chargable batteries, compare the 'mAh' The best way I can describe to you is the mAh measures how long the battery stays charged. Ie, 1700mAh will run out of juice faster than 2100mAh.

3) When using NM Hi batteries and is better to recharge them have been totally purged of there charge. They will last longer

4) I would use the 6hour charger to charge the batteries, unless pressed for time. If you feel the charger getting really hot, unplug it.

Joe
mandogirl
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank you, Joe! I will try these tips.
clairdo2
19 years ago
I have the Energizer charger for batteries for my camere and I love it. The batteries are also ENERGIZERS and I can take many pictures before I have to recharge.
rockinc_peg
19 years ago
For indepth information on how to use your Sony H-5, please see "The White Paper," written by A.A. Katz, a photographer (actually for H-1 but also applies to H-5). His opening paragraph states: "This White Paper is designed to answer many of the questions you have about Sony's terrific digital camera, the DSC-H1 - and digital photography in general. If it works as intended, it will help you optimize your experience with the camera and improve the pictures you produce with it."

Here is a link that might be useful: White Paper
country_bumpkin_al
19 years ago
One of the members here,JoanMN has that camera. Maybe she'll be along later and can answer your questions about the batteries. Until then, readreadread the "White Paper" that RockinC linked above. There is a wealth of information there! *S*
JoanMN
19 years ago
The battery indicator does not work correctly on the H5, it says the batteries are low, and yet you can keep on shooting.
I use a 15 minute charger, also. The more you use the flash and the lcd screen, the more it drains the batteries. But you should get quite a few pics from them before needing a recharge.
Are you battereis going dead or is the camera telling you that?
JoanMN
mandogirl
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank you, everyone! I will study the White Paper, RockinC. Thanks so much for that.
Joanmn, thanks so much for chiming in...so nice to hear from someone who has the same camera I do. What has happened is that the camera shuts itself off (i.e., the batteries die). I had charged the batteries one day, used the camera for maybe 10 or 15 minutes, shut the camera off, and then the next day or two days later I can only take a couple shots before the camera shuts itself off when I try to shoot again. Can this be right? Maybe I have the camera set up improperly somehow.
zitro_joe
19 years ago
The batteries should last longer than that. For some reason, not all of the cells are being charged. I assume that you used the 15min charger the first time you used the batteries? One idea might be the charger is, for some reason, not reconizing all the cells in the battery. If was to gues I would say maybe just 1/4 of battery is being charged. That would mean that as soon as those few cells are charged, the charger shuts off and shows full.
Try putting them in the long charger today and see if the last any longer, when they run dry put them in the quick charger. Maybe the slow charger will activate more cells and they will be available the next time. If you see no change after this, take them back. There is something wrong. You should never have this much trouble with new stuff. It should work the first time when new. I actually would just take them back anyway though.

Joe
mandogirl
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks, Joe. I'm relieved to hear that you think the problem is probably with the batteries/charger, and not with the camera that I just dropped a not-so-small (for me) fortune on! I will try the long charger and see how that goes.
JoanMN
19 years ago
Also, with recharables, you need to "top them off" right before you take them out to shoot. If your charger holds only 2 batteries, put 2 in there, and some in the fast charger. I always leave my batteries in the charger until I'm ready to take pics.
JoanMN

newbie digital camera owner

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