Help with digital camera power cord
Jul 11th, 2006, 05:22 PM
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Help with digital camera power cord
I just bought my first digital camera, a Nikon Coolpix S6 for my trip to Europe in October. Of course, I will need to recharge the battery, but have questions. The adapter is dual voltage, but the plug from the adapter to the wall is only 125 volts. (Why would one be dual voltage and not the other? Makes no sense to me. I'm not an electricity genius, obviously! I do, however, have the adapter for the wall socket for Europe) When I called Nikon's customer service line the rep said I can get a 240v plug in Europe. However, I don't want to spend my first day of vacation searching for a camera store. Can I get one here? Radioshack, camera store...? Also, the Nikon rep said the Lexar memory card I bought is not a Nikon tested/approved brand of memory and I should test it because it may not work. Is that true? Are some memory cards not compatible with some cameras? My final question-the battery is an EN-EL8 Li-on. Do I have to drain the battery before recharging? Will it hurt it to recharge every day?
Sorry for all the questions, but my photos are my favorite souvenirs from all my trips. And while I'll certainly play with and learn the camera before I go, I do not want to risk losing my pictures.
Sorry for all the questions, but my photos are my favorite souvenirs from all my trips. And while I'll certainly play with and learn the camera before I go, I do not want to risk losing my pictures.
Jul 11th, 2006, 05:42 PM
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1. Don't worry about the cord. The charger takes very low current, so any cord will do. Just get a plug adapter for European use.
2. SD cards are very robust. Basically most brands will work. Of course after you buy one, you should try it in the camera to make sure it works before heading for a European trip.
3. While newer batteries claim they have no "memory", I still suggest charging only after it's done. It's best to buy an extra battery and only charge one when it's exhausted.
2. SD cards are very robust. Basically most brands will work. Of course after you buy one, you should try it in the camera to make sure it works before heading for a European trip.
3. While newer batteries claim they have no "memory", I still suggest charging only after it's done. It's best to buy an extra battery and only charge one when it's exhausted.
Jul 12th, 2006, 05:29 AM
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Memory cards: use photo shop services and download daily pics to CD.
Battery back up: AA batteries ?
Camera gear: Carry all of it in one zip-lock bag. Don't forget the instruction book.
Battery charger: Plug is for USA power outlet. It is also able to carry 120/240 volt current. You need a local outlet adapter.
Talk with your camera shop.
Battery back up: AA batteries ?
Camera gear: Carry all of it in one zip-lock bag. Don't forget the instruction book.
Battery charger: Plug is for USA power outlet. It is also able to carry 120/240 volt current. You need a local outlet adapter.
Talk with your camera shop.
Jul 12th, 2006, 07:39 AM
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Two things to add:
Not all cards are the same speed. If you shoot fast sequences, get the faster card.
You need not worry about voltage - you said your charger is dual-voltage. You only need an adapter piece because the prongs on US plugs do not physically match up with the holes in European wall outlets. Every K-Mart and Target has these little adapters these days. You can see what they look like at www.magellans.com
WK
Not all cards are the same speed. If you shoot fast sequences, get the faster card.
You need not worry about voltage - you said your charger is dual-voltage. You only need an adapter piece because the prongs on US plugs do not physically match up with the holes in European wall outlets. Every K-Mart and Target has these little adapters these days. You can see what they look like at www.magellans.com
WK
Jul 12th, 2006, 07:52 AM
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I have had several Lexmar memory cards and they are fine. Of course Nikon wants you to buy their brand so they get the $$. Be sure you have plenty of memory cards. This is a bit of an outlay at the beginning, but you will be able to just shoot pictures and not worry about downloading them/backing them up. It's actually a lot cheaper than film/processing costs.
Radio Shack has plug adapters as well, if one's near you.
Always carry a spare rechargeable battery. This is a bit of an expense, but necessary. In a typical day of touring/shooting pictures I will exhaust one battery and need the backup. At night I charge both batteries and I'm set for another day. (I'm assuming your camera doesn't take standard batteries such as AA. If it does, make sure you have plenty of those as well)
Radio Shack has plug adapters as well, if one's near you.
Always carry a spare rechargeable battery. This is a bit of an expense, but necessary. In a typical day of touring/shooting pictures I will exhaust one battery and need the backup. At night I charge both batteries and I'm set for another day. (I'm assuming your camera doesn't take standard batteries such as AA. If it does, make sure you have plenty of those as well)
Jul 12th, 2006, 08:01 AM
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Memory card prices are at the point where paying to download them to CDs is more expensive (not to mention time-wasting) than buying enough gb for your trip. For example,
http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=291528
http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=291528
Jul 12th, 2006, 08:03 AM
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A "faster" card may or may not matter to the OP. First, some people never shoot multiple shots. Second, the Nikon S6 also has internal memory of 23MB, so maybe one can save into that memory, which is supposed to be "faster" when shooting sequences.
Jul 12th, 2006, 08:29 AM
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lithium ion batteries have no "memory" (as stated above) however, they do have a maximum number of charges that they will accept before they die out. don't know offhand but it is typically in the low 100's i believe.
always have two batteries at least. that way you probably will never be caught out....and, this prevents the need to recharge daily, allowing you to run one down completely before replacing it with the fresh one.
always try your memory card through a few picture taking/download cycles. i had a brand new card fail after a single picture taking/download cycle. luckily, the card failed right after the first download of a trip to asia (300 pics). if they are bad, they often fail within the first few uses. if they survive this, then they will usually work until they are worn out from too much use.
i agree with others...just use a plug adapter and don't worry about the card's brand compatibility.
always have two batteries at least. that way you probably will never be caught out....and, this prevents the need to recharge daily, allowing you to run one down completely before replacing it with the fresh one.
always try your memory card through a few picture taking/download cycles. i had a brand new card fail after a single picture taking/download cycle. luckily, the card failed right after the first download of a trip to asia (300 pics). if they are bad, they often fail within the first few uses. if they survive this, then they will usually work until they are worn out from too much use.
i agree with others...just use a plug adapter and don't worry about the card's brand compatibility.
Jul 12th, 2006, 08:44 AM
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I took the Nikon Coolpix 6 on my lsst trip and absolutely loved it! (I, who always carried an SLR with 28-300 zoom) It was small enough to fit in my pocket, but with the 10x optical zoom was able to take the sort of pics I like. For a three week trip I had a card of one gigabyte and a 512MB. filled the first and about half of the second. (I just blew up some shots to 8x10 and am very happy with the ressults as well)
I did have trouble with the battery charger that was supposed to be dual current but fizzed at the first plug in Slovenia. Fortunately I had spare AA's with me. Found a camera shop across the street from the hotel and bought a local charger. It was about the same price I would have paid for the one at home and I will use it on future trips.
If you are renting a car, the replacement charger I bought for home also had acord that connects to the cig. lighter in the car, so you might want to invest in that sort to take. The one I got overseas also had a cig. lighter cord.
Take a few AAs for back up and they are always available in shops in Ireland if worse comes to worse. Maybe the Irish plugs will not give you the same sort of trouble that Slovenia's did.
Enjoy!
I did have trouble with the battery charger that was supposed to be dual current but fizzed at the first plug in Slovenia. Fortunately I had spare AA's with me. Found a camera shop across the street from the hotel and bought a local charger. It was about the same price I would have paid for the one at home and I will use it on future trips.
If you are renting a car, the replacement charger I bought for home also had acord that connects to the cig. lighter in the car, so you might want to invest in that sort to take. The one I got overseas also had a cig. lighter cord.
Take a few AAs for back up and they are always available in shops in Ireland if worse comes to worse. Maybe the Irish plugs will not give you the same sort of trouble that Slovenia's did.
Enjoy!
Jul 12th, 2006, 03:59 PM
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Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate the replies. I already have an adapter for the wall socket (I plug in my phone, hairdryer,etc) I was talking about the cord from the ac adapter to the wall. But as some of have said I shouldn't worry about it. I have 2 memory cards and will get a 2nd battery. (it doesn't take AA unfortunately.) And maybe I'll ask at my hotel where a nearby camera shop is just in case......
