My Panasonic Lumix (DC-ZS70) which I purchased for under $300 about five >years ago has suddenly stopped charging the battery (two of them,
approx. 6 months old). I love this camera but the newer models are
priced through the roof. Any recommendations for another easy to use
point & shoot camera with good zoom and auto-focus that won't cost an
arm and a leg?
Jill
On Mon, 29 Jan 2024 08:20:43 -0500
jmcquown <j_mcquown@comcast.net> wrote:
My Panasonic Lumix (DC-ZS70) which I purchased for under $300 about five
years ago has suddenly stopped charging the battery (two of them,
approx. 6 months old). I love this camera but the newer models are
priced through the roof. Any recommendations for another easy to use
point & shoot camera with good zoom and auto-focus that won't cost an
arm and a leg?
Jill
Found an online manual, that's a decent little camera👍
Are those batteries you're having trouble with originals?
Reason I ask
is a lot of the inexpensive ones you can get on say Amazon aren't very
good even though they may look great. I bought a Kastar for my Lumix
Video recorder from Amazon and never even got one use out of it.
Checked okay when I received it, but it was dead and won't even try to
charge anymore when I went to use it...
Do your batteries try to charge, indicator comes on and goes off later
on?
Haven't looked into cameras lately, still using my old ones so not in a position to recommend anything...
The indicator light says it's charging, then it goes off and the battery
is still not charged. I turn on the camera and it says "battery fail".
On Mon, 29 Jan 2024 11:40:23 -0500
jmcquown <j_mcquown@comcast.net> wrote:
<snip>
The indicator light says it's charging, then it goes off and the battery
is still not charged. I turn on the camera and it says "battery fail".
You can get a separate charger for these batteries, like this:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/880162-REG/watson_c_3635_compact_ac_dc_charger_for.html
I've become leery of Amazon nowadays but they sell separate chargers
too.
https://www.amazon.com/Watson-Compact-DMW-BLE9-DMW-BLG10-Panasonic/dp/B00G4L84TI/
Just guessing... the original batteries grew weak after 5 years? and
the BM batteries are not so good. A separate charger would probably
verify this.
The USB cable appears to be a Micro-B which is/was used by a lot of
phone chargers. So you could try a different cable+wall-wart to rule
that out. Most any standard Wall-wart with USB-A receptacle on it would
work too.
I would check it out for you but it's a pretty long drive and my Lear
Jet is in the shop😉
For grins and giggles I just put the two "official" Lumix batteries on
it again and plugged it into the USB port. The lights on the charger
are red and should switch to green if/when they charge. Time will tell.
I'm still suspecting I need a new camera. :(
On Tue, 30 Jan 2024 08:18:34 -0500
jmcquown <j_mcquown@comcast.net> wrote:
<snip>
For grins and giggles I just put the two "official" Lumix batteries on
it again and plugged it into the USB port. The lights on the charger
are red and should switch to green if/when they charge. Time will tell.
I'm still suspecting I need a new camera. :(
If your old ones do indeed charge for awhile (don't just finish
quickly in a few minutes) I suspect your camera will work but not
last well like when it was new...
I've investigated BM batteries before at Amazon, read through the
reviews. They don't last as long as originals and don't hold up well if
at all. See:
https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B01BFSF1EA/ref=cm_cr_unknown?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=four_star&reviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=1#reviews-filter-bar
There are a lot of subpar Lithium Batteries being sold nowadays, some
are counterfeit, even matching the original labeling. This is a bit
boring, technical but see:
https://etn.news/energy-storage/determining-authenticity-of-cells-batteries-in-the-global-market
On 2024-01-30 14:45:03 +0000, Leon Fisk said:
On Tue, 30 Jan 2024 08:18:34 -0500
jmcquown <j_mcquown@comcast.net> wrote:
<snip>
For grins and giggles I just put the two "official" Lumix batteries on
it again and plugged it into the USB port. The lights on the charger
are red and should switch to green if/when they charge. Time will tell. >>>
I'm still suspecting I need a new camera. :(
If your old ones do indeed charge for awhile (don't just finish
quickly in a few minutes) I suspect your camera will work but not
last well like when it was new...
I've investigated BM batteries before at Amazon, read through the
reviews. They don't last as long as originals and don't hold up well if
at all. See:
https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B01BFSF1EA/ref=cm_cr_unknown?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=four_star&reviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=1#reviews-filter-bar
There are a lot of subpar Lithium Batteries being sold nowadays, some
are counterfeit, even matching the original labeling. This is a bit
boring, technical but see:
https://etn.news/energy-storage/determining-authenticity-of-cells-batteries-in-the-global-market
I have this old Canon PowerShot I use just to get pics on the computer.
I have the original Canon battery and a generic one I bought for when
the other one is used up.
The last time I tried to charge the generic one the charger indicated it
was fully charged, but the camera said it was dead. I charged the
original Canon battery and it worked fine.
So the point is you should make sure you're using the Panasonic brand batteries with your camera (if Panasonic is still making them, if not
try to get a brand name).
BTW I had a similar problem with a Canon laserjet printer I own, the
generic ink refills don't work very well but the original Canon refills
work fine!
Thanks guys! Just for grins I tried charging the two "official" Lumix >batteries using the dual USB charger that came with the BM batteries.
This time it worked just fine; the camera fired right up and indicates a >full charge. So I now have two fully charged Lumix batteries. (Note:
the Panasonic manual says ONLY use the charger that came with the
camera, which was a bit of misdirection on their part.) I'm so glad I
don't have try to find another camera. Now I just need some birds to
show up. :)
On Tue, 30 Jan 2024 17:11:18 -0500
jmcquown <j_mcquown@comcast.net> wrote:
<snip>
Thanks guys! Just for grins I tried charging the two "official" Lumix
batteries using the dual USB charger that came with the BM batteries.
This time it worked just fine; the camera fired right up and indicates a
full charge. So I now have two fully charged Lumix batteries. (Note:
the Panasonic manual says ONLY use the charger that came with the
camera, which was a bit of misdirection on their part.) I'm so glad I
don't have try to find another camera. Now I just need some birds to
show up. :)
That's great and you're welcome👍
I see ALL your pictures here, I just don't always reply🙄
Hopefully you like them. :) We have a cork-board in the break room at
work. I print and post wildlife pics there. People seem to get a kick
out of them. One woman asked me if I go out and look for birds. Nope,
I'm lazy. I sit at my desk in the corner of the living room. There's a >window in front of with a view of the hummingbird feeder. A window to
my left where I can see the patio with the the seed feeder, suet cage
and the small bird bath. All I have to do is grab the camera, turn,
focus, click! I do have to wash the windows occasionally. :)
When this whole camera battery thing started I saw a bright yellow bird
on the patio and I couldn't get a picture of it! It's too early in the
year for goldfinches; I still have no idea what it was. It hasn't been >back.
On Tue, 30 Jan 2024 17:49:58 -0500
jmcquown <j_mcquown@comcast.net> wrote:
Hopefully you like them. :) We have a cork-board in the break room at
work. I print and post wildlife pics there. People seem to get a kick
out of them. One woman asked me if I go out and look for birds. Nope,
I'm lazy. I sit at my desk in the corner of the living room. There's a
window in front of with a view of the hummingbird feeder. A window to
my left where I can see the patio with the the seed feeder, suet cage
and the small bird bath. All I have to do is grab the camera, turn,
focus, click! I do have to wash the windows occasionally. :)
When this whole camera battery thing started I saw a bright yellow bird
on the patio and I couldn't get a picture of it! It's too early in the
year for goldfinches; I still have no idea what it was. It hasn't been
back.
Hi Jill,
Oh I like seeing what other people are seeing, so yes indeed. Always
nice to have some sharing of one's hobbies at the office. Makes for a
much more pleasant place to work🙂
I used to go out purposely to look for birds with binocs and such.
Nowadays I just see what's about while doing my daily walks. On a
rather nasty day a week or so ago I could have used the binocs.
Rather think it was a group of Redpolls but just guessing. They weren't
any of the usual birds I come across and not close enough for any good detail... I'd read that the Redpolls were about this year in our area
but have not seen any. My little feeder doesn't work for them, not their style of eatery. It's right by the window, so easy to take pics if I
feel ambitious. Put a couple here with a Downy and a Titmouse. Old
style plate glass window, so not the best to shoot through for pics...
https://postimg.cc/gallery/nnzHyyG
Yesterday I was watching my seed and suet feeders from the window,<snip>
about 30 feet farther in the woods I spotted a pileated woodpecker
pecking away on a dead tree that had fallen a few years ago, he must
have been scrounging for insects in the log. I ran for my binoculars
so I could get a better view. Unfortunately he didn't come to the suet
feeder so I could get a better look, they're so shy I doubt they ever
come to the feeders close to a house.
Looked fine to me.
On Tue, 30 Jan 2024 17:49:58 -0500
jmcquown <j_mcquown@comcast.net> wrote:
Hopefully you like them. :) We have a cork-board in the break room at
work. I print and post wildlife pics there. People seem to get a kick
out of them. One woman asked me if I go out and look for birds. Nope,
I'm lazy. I sit at my desk in the corner of the living room. There's a
window in front of with a view of the hummingbird feeder. A window to
my left where I can see the patio with the the seed feeder, suet cage
and the small bird bath. All I have to do is grab the camera, turn,
focus, click! I do have to wash the windows occasionally. :)
When this whole camera battery thing started I saw a bright yellow bird
on the patio and I couldn't get a picture of it! It's too early in the
year for goldfinches; I still have no idea what it was. It hasn't been
back.
Hi Jill,
Oh I like seeing what other people are seeing, so yes indeed. Always
nice to have some sharing of one's hobbies at the office. Makes for a
much more pleasant place to work🙂
I used to go out purposely to look for birds with binocs and such.
Nowadays I just see what's about while doing my daily walks. On a
rather nasty day a week or so ago I could have used the binocs.
Rather think it was a group of Redpolls but just guessing. They weren't
any of the usual birds I come across and not close enough for any good detail... I'd read that the Redpolls were about this year in our area
but have not seen any. My little feeder doesn't work for them, not their style of eatery. It's right by the window, so easy to take pics if I
feel ambitious. Put a couple here with a Downy and a Titmouse. Old
style plate glass window, so not the best to shoot through for pics...
https://postimg.cc/gallery/nnzHyyG
Yesterday I was watching my seed and suet feeders from the window, about
30 feet farther in the woods I spotted a pileated woodpecker pecking
away on a dead tree that had fallen a few years ago, he must have been scrounging for insects in the log. I ran for my binoculars so I could
get a better view. Unfortunately he didn't come to the suet feeder so I
could get a better look, they're so shy I doubt they ever come to the
feeders close to a house.
I used to have my pole seed feeder in the back yard for many years but
late last year I moved it about 10 feet from the suet feeder (which
hangs from a maple tree) so I could watch it better. I couldn't watch it
from any window in the back of the house. It's really good for winter
weather when I'm not outside that much.
On Wed, 31 Jan 2024 18:23:28 -0500
jmcquown <j_mcquown@comcast.net> wrote:
<snip>
Carolina chickadees, too, which
bear a striking resemblence to their Northern black-capped chickadee
cousins.
Took a picture of the Black-capped Chickadee for you🙂
https://postimg.cc/Czwr7Wqm
Carolina chickadees, too, which
bear a striking resemblence to their Northern black-capped chickadee >cousins.
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