Minolta 7i users, help please!! - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

09/05/2003 04:49:37 PM · #1

I too have the 7i and find often (esp. in low light) my camera has a very hard time focusing and ofen just shuts off, I am wondering if it is something I am doing wrong or if it this camera. Any ideas or feedback greatly appreciated.

Incarlight

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

09/05/2003 05:07:15 PM · #2

I had a problem like that a few days ago when I was shooting a concert. It managed to focus most of the time, but sometimes the focus was way off, and after a while it stopped focusing at all. It didn't respond to anything I did. Even turning it off was impossible, so I had to remove the batteries. I think it might've overheated, since it was pretty hot inside and the camera gets hot as well.

muckpond

Nikon D200

09/05/2003 05:31:56 PM · #3

as far as the heat goes, make sure you're only using NIMH batteries. i get TONS of heat when i use just plain alkaline batteries in the camera, so i only do that in emergency situations (like, say, last weekend when i had 2nd row seats to see Martina Navratilova play tennis and my rechargeables were dead -- i bought some regular batteries for the event and the camera was TOASTY).

for the low-light situation, I've never had the camera just shut-off on my before. have you installed the latest firmware update from the website? i just did it a few weeks ago and it was really easy to do. that might help out.

rob

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

09/05/2003 06:08:10 PM · #4

Yes I have similar 'heating' problems, with the nimh batteries too. Seems to me both the heating and inability to focus properly are fairly serious problems, what to do to fix it...hmmm...
and no I haven't done firmware update, I have a mac and not sure if need to, my last attempt at software update proved futile.

muckpond

Nikon D200

09/05/2003 06:28:04 PM · #5

the update is for the firmware in the camera, not for the software on the mac.

what you do is download the file onto your compactflash card, put the card in the camera, and then follow a series of steps to "launch" the updater on your camera. it sounds more difficult than it really was. took me about 10 minutes to do.

i strongly recommend you try that first before you do anything else. i've not noticed a big performance difference, but the first thing i tell everyone to do at work is to make sure they've got all of the patches in place. :)

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

09/05/2003 07:33:47 PM · #6

thanks muckpond that sounds helpful, i dont think i have any of the patches, I guess I should go check it out.
I am at the site and don't see any firmware links, any clues rob?

nver mind found it!!! : ) thanks

Message edited by author 2003-09-05 19:40:24.

muckpond

Nikon D200

09/05/2003 09:12:39 PM · #7

it's easy to put on the camera. let me know if you have questions, as i just did it about a month ago. :)

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

09/05/2003 09:19:29 PM · #8

well, i tried unsuccessfully, I downloaded the files but then didn't quite get how to get it from there to the camera, I am not one who follows the kinds of instructions given on the site very well.

OneSweetSin

Nikon D3000

09/05/2003 09:50:35 PM · #9

I did have trouble for a while with the camera shutting off when doing indoor photos and I found out one big issue was the the batteries. Not all rechargeables are the same. The 7i comes with 4 Sanyo Ni-MH 1850mah rechargeable batteries. There is a reason for the 1850 and not 1800, it is overall performance. I found out that the 1800 batteries do not work nearly as well as the 1850s and the camera will shut off frequenly and faster with the 1800s.

Also another thing that does help is if you are trying to shoot without the flash you got two more options that will make a difference with the camera. First make sure you adjust your white balance properly for the type of lighting (don't use auto white balance in low indoor lighting) and second if you aren't using the flash make the camera think it is relying on the flash. You can either deflect the flash with a shield or you can use anything from a gray card to your finger to block the flash. But the camera will recognize your flash and work as if the extra lighting is there for it.

drydoc

Canon EOS-7D

09/05/2003 10:17:47 PM · #10

ellemay, what was the status of your batteries at the time the focus did not work? I often run into this problem as well. I have found that if the battery power is low, the DiMage 7i's response time is slow. . . sometimes exceedingly slow. At other times, I found myself anxious to get it working and try to force another operation. This only compounds the waiting time. . . sometimes so much so that the computer (camera's) seems to lock up. I always carry three sets of freshly charged batteries in my bag while out shooting. At the slightest slow response, I change to newly charged batteries. Just saw OneSweetSins response posted just before mine. I also pop up the flash and cover it with a hanky (clean of course). It is troblesome but works. I also change the white balance as well. One more point: battery heat was a rap on the Minolta from the day I researched the reviews before purchasing mine. They have improved reducing it. But even with the rechargable batteries, if left on long enough, the camera will get very warm!

09/05/2003 10:19:26 PM · #11

Flash, now there is a feature I have tried to turn on and haven't found the right menu option, that would of been a great idea for low light today. I did try to adjust the white balance, but I dont think I did it effectively. And I do use the 1850 batteries.
I sometimes find there are so many options, that I use one for a bit and then forget it when move on to another, I definately need to remember to intergrate them ALL.
Thanks everyone for the tips -- it is VERY helpful.
lynn

Message edited by author 2003-09-05 22:20:35.