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Digital Concept 89379 Digital Camera Battery Drain

I have a Digital Concepts 3.1 Mega Pixels camera that I bought at Fry's on my last trip to L.A.
Besides the fact that it is practically useless on low light and that you have to keep the batteries out until you are going to use it or they will be drained, it works ok for the price I paid.
It reports itself as an Icatch IV and it says it is an SPCA533
It says on it that it is a 3.1 Mega Pixel Camera and under it there is a number 89379-Z
I use it with an SD flash media card of 256 MB corsair and it works ok for pictures or video as long as it has good batteries and there is enough light.
It came with cables and a Driver CD that of course I backed up before using.

Philip (not in the US, do not send spam)
Wed, 10 May 2006 17:51:07 -0700

I have the same camera. My biggest compalaint is the batteries always going dead. Seems like after 3 or 4 pictures I have to change the batteries. Your saying they are being drained even if the camera is off? I thought it was because the live screen on the back is always on when the camera is on, can't figure out how to shut it off.

David
Tue, 18 Jul 2006 10:34:55 -0700

Yeah, I have the same problem the camera just eats batteries, like crazy. I, also, have to keep them out until you are actually using the camera, but you can only do that if you are using a memory card because taking the batteries out whne not using a memory card will wipe all the pictures from the memory.

Elizabeth
Sat, 02 Sep 2006 18:47:34 -0700

I have the same problem with my camera, the digital concepts camera eats batteries even when its off,, ?? Whats up with that? lol Its a sorry excuse for a camera if you ask me, I wouldnt recomend it to anyone.

Rhonda
Mon, 04 Sep 2006 14:50:58 -0700

Youhave to use LITHUM AA batteries, theyare more expensive but last longer.

Lisa
Thu, 28 Sep 2006 20:17:43 -0700

I have a problem with a 3.1 MP digital camera.The batteries run out real quick and i don´t know what is the cause.

Yuliana
Mon, 13 Nov 2006 11:45:21 -0800

I have 2 of the 3.1 model and find that most of the problems are user generated.

Yes, they are cheap cameras, but for taking pictures for the eBay or just fun family snapshots, it does a decent job.

The first camera I got I thought was defective, so I called the company. They sent a replacement, no questions asked, and didn't even require I return the 'defective' one. After receiving the replacement and thoroughly reading the users manual, I tried the original camera out and it works perfectly.

Battery use is not a problem if you get some NIMH or NICAD rechargeable and they work great.

I have a $600.00 Sony that won't take good pictures in low light, especially indoors.

Oh yes, the two pic limit for the internal memory is if you have the camera set for extremely high resolution.
To solve that, invest in a 512 MB SDMCC card. I got two Kingston's and a reader for less than $25 bux from Newegg.com .

Bob
Mon, 27 Nov 2006 12:11:54 -0800

I have the same problem with the batteries. The batteries have the juice sucked out with it on and off. I have to take the batteriesout when I am done with the camera. It also doesn't take good pictures inside but outside pictures are great. I realize it didn't cost much in price but its like have a kiddy toy.

Diane Croad
Sun, 03 Dec 2006 10:54:30 -0800

Hi,

I would just like everyone to know that all digital cameras eat batteries. They all also seem to drain them when they are in the camera and not being used. I don't know why nobody has fixed this problem yet! I know many people who have very expensive cameras that have the same battery problem which includes me. I just thought I would let everyone know.

Optical zoom cameras area always much better than digital zoom cameras if your camera even has a zoom.

To All Users
Wed, 20 Dec 2006 07:56:51 -0800

I have had this camera for about a year, i actually got it as a xmas gift last year. It does eat batteries, I had regular ones in it at first and it took about 6 pics before dying...then i bought rechargable ones, and they drain in like 5 mins. THis cam is a POS! The ONLY thing I have used it for is a webcam since I got it. I have used it on yahoo and AOL with no problems...most of the time. You plug it in your usb, then turn it to normal mode, and turn on the power, then in yahoo click on webcam to send video to your friend, its rather simple, but it is VERY dark you have to have a lamp sitting on your head to see yourself. So yeah, i think the xmas its time for a new one... i lost all my files on my computer and had to do a system restore and now i have no idea where my cd is that came with this camera ...and it doesn't seem that anyone else has had any luck getting it to work... so yeah....

Meghan
Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:34:26 -0800

I bought a digital concepts 3.1 mega pixels a year ago -- you cannot take more than two pictures before the battery dies. I have HP digital camera and intel and these teh battery last for a long time and can hold more than 100 pictures. I thought adding a memory in the Digital concepts -- Try that a Sandisk ultra II SD compatible -- it does not work

Helene
Sun, 24 Dec 2006 13:18:06 -0800

Hello everyone,

NEVER buy this camera! Trying to save a buck or two will leave you very unhappy if you make the mistake and buy it ( The Digital oncepts 3.1 mega pixel, with 89379-z on the bottom of the camera)! (Shame on Walmart) for offering such a lemon to the public under the guise that it is affordable. I usually never take the time to write reviews, But his is one that I have to make an exception on. Like so many other people I bought this camera for my 15 year old as a birthday gift, and I made the aweful error in trying to save a buck ( I was low on cash at the time ). When I first seen that the camera used Three AAA batteries, I thought that's not good - But kept it for her anyhow. She had fun with it for the first week, As we kept buying the most expensive Litheium batties - at about $6.00 a four pack, Then I tryed rechageble NiCad and then NI MH rechargeables - Which by the way both work pretty good in my HP photosmart camera as well as the Fugi camera that I just bought for the wife, But the other two camera's run on AA batteries - Not AAA like the Digital Concepts 3.1 tht I made the mistake of buying for my daughter for her birthday. Typically any AA battery will hold more power than any AAA battery - Especially in digital camera's, So the next time you shop for a decent digital camera, LOOK for one that use's AA batteries, You will be much more happy with your camera purchase! AAA batt's Hold Much less JUICE than AA's. Sad fact! But true! Also when you are buying batteries for any Digital camera - Look very carefully at the Mila amp hour rating as well as the voltage for the battery you are thinking about getting - There is a HUGE difference!!! Buy the Highest Mila amp hour batt's you can find! Even if it cost a bit more, You will be happy in the long run. Need I say, I am not happy with the Digital Concepts 3.1 Mega Pixal camera 89379-z. Nor is my daughter. I am still trying to figure out what to do with this junk camera. But one thing for sure is that, The bargain price was NO Bargain for us! I hope that she will forgive me for geting her Such an aweful present for her birthday. P.S. I will be buy her a good digital camera soon. I hope that by me taking of my time - No one else has to go through the same disappointment we have. SHAME on DIGITAL CONCEPTS - and SHAME ON WALMART Stores, for taking advantantage of the unsuspecting consumer. Sorry for any mis spelling, and bad grammer, But Like I said - I usually never take the time to write any review's, But this I thought had to be writen. Happy Holidays all!

Rex
Wed, 27 Dec 2006 09:21:42 -0800

I bought digital concepts camera 3.1, the problem is cause you need a lot of batteries, i just put it 3 AAA batteries and in a few minutes ( 4 or 5) and with only 5 photos taken the camera is displaying low battery.

this company sucks and continue cheating people through his products!!!!!!!!!!

i just wasted my money and time............

Fher
Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:30:41 -0700

I just place a small piece of cardboard in the battery compartment to cover the connection ends when not in use, remove when ready to take the pictures. The batteries then last quite a bit longer. Also, when plugging into a USB to use as a webcam, you don't need to use the batteries which is a nice feature. Biggest problems, 1) cannot use the flash, causes a VERY blurry picture and 2) cannot get drivers to load onto my new Vista machine.

I think it takes a pretty decent picture when outdoors or in very good lighting for a cheap camera.

Gabe
Mon, 14 May 2007 16:20:03 -0700

When I went to the fuji digital camera tech support page i found a "common question" link that went to an answer that said the compact memory card is the cause of battery drain, it uses battery power even when the camera is turned off. they recommend removing the memory card when not using the camera. I haven't had a chance to try this yet. The type of battery used made no difference with my fugi finepix, they all drained, even the rechargebles my daughter and sister-in-law have in their cameras. hope removing the memory card works for us.

bdkarl
Sun, 03 Jun 2007 21:21:58 -0700

I only have used it once: the weekend I was given the camera for my birthday.

It eats AAA batteries like they were going out of style, 3 at a time. I took some photos, transferred them to my PC, and then two days later, the batteries were dead. I had left the display off, too. I put new batteries in it, left the camera off, and three days later those batteries were dead.

It appears that the internal memory requires constant power to maintain its state, so the idea is obviously to put batteries in the camera only when you plan to use it, and to transfer photos to your computer ASAP. I don't have a memory card, but I believe memory cards don't require memory, so you could remove your batteries whenever you are not using it if you have a memory card. Another possible power saver is to turn the display off and to use the optical viewfinder to take photos.

I wanted to purchase rechargeable lithium batteries for it, but they are only 1.2 volts. I don't know if the camera will operate on 3.6 volts--it asks for three AAA batteries, which have 1.5volts, total 4.5 volts,

Overally, the camera was worth exactly what I paid for it ($0.00). I am planning to purchase a Kodak C533 from Office Depot.

Fafhrd
Sat, 17 Nov 2007 17:15:35 +0000

I have a pink digital concept camera and it does the same thing!
I have to change the batteries every time I take less than 10 pics.
Then when i take video, there is no sound on it. How gay is that!
Good thing my cell can do whatever the camera can't. I got the camera on
christmas and I only used it for a couple of months and now its just sitting
there. My camera didnt even come with a cd rom! I dont recomend it to anyone!

Michelle
Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:13:42 +0000

agree to all.. i'm sick of this crap.

megan
Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:56:22 +0000

I purchased this digital concepts 89379-z (P.O.S.) about 2 years ago from wally world for my girlfriend for christmas $79.00,used it 3 times went through batteries like the energ@!er bunny on crack figured must be doing something wrong,havent touched it in 2 years till recently,bought better batteries,still eating them like a drag car eats gas at the strip,thinking about getting a sd memory card,$79.00 man i got ripped is this thing really this big of a piece o s#%t !Im never buying a digital concpts product again!!!!!!!

strbyz1
Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:19:05 +0000

When i got the camera I took alot of valuable pics and when I turned it off for a sec then i turned it back they all were all gone!!!!!!

Bob
Thu, 25 Dec 2008 23:54:24 +0000

I bought this camera about a year and a half ago and used it recently for paranormal investigation pictures. When I went to put the program in my computer and view my evidence, there was nothing there. It does eat batteries like they're going out of style...when the camera is on or off. By the way, I keep getting a message on the screen that says " Directory Index Full". What the heck does that mean? It is not mentioned in the book at all.

Carol
Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:48:33 +0000

Of course your photos of paranormal activity weren't there... they're ghosts...
Seriously though... make sure the photos aren't on your internal memory. Easiest way to check is to remove your memory card, then review your pics on your camera, you may find that they've been there the whole time. Transfer to your computer, then delete from your camera and your full index problem will likely disappear. Not certain that this is your problem specifically, but I thought we had lost some photos, but they appeared once the memory card was removed. Good luck.

As far as eating batteries... the best hack I've seen that addresses this problem is to go buy a c or d cell battery pack, rig a plug that plugs into your external power jack on your camera... AA batteries lack the ampre/hour capacity to be of much use in a digital camera... even the rechargeable AAs are ridiculously ineffective in digital photography applications.

DE
Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:09:10 +0000

my digital concepts 6.1 megapixel camera drains the batteries also.i have to take them out. and they still don't last very long.

missdebbie61
Sat, 19 Jun 2010 21:44:08 +0000

Thank ya'll for enlightening me about the FACT that digital cameras go through batteries faster than crack heads go through lighters. It's unreal actually, how fast the batteries run out with a diggy camera. I thought they had a plug in to use when near electrical outlets...no? I brought two fully charged batteries to my friend's place to take a FEW PICTURES for Kijiji. After taking about four photos, they re-chargable batts ran out!!! I went to the store and bought 2 copper tops for $5. Those were useless after seven more pictures!!! Freaking ridiculous; I'm thinking that Duracell/Energizer have many shares in Hewlett-Packard, Fuji, Kodak, etc. Only makes sense, because four batteries per dozen photos? Come on man, that's way way beyond ridiculous ain't it. What are we going to do about this? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is what eh? Thank you for your time in listening to me whine.

Gerry Cummings
Sun, 25 Sep 2011 12:59:01 +0000

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