I have a genuine EN-EL14 Nikon battery in my Neewer Battery Grip attached to my D5100. Everything works great, but when I switch to live view on the LCD screen, the battery image drops from full (which the battery is, charged twice for 5 hours to make sure), to red with one battery "bar" after I focus. It then stays at green with one battery bar for the duration. Any thoughts? Thanks!
D5100 displays wrong battery life
- Thread starter nenser
- Start date
D12345678
Senior Member
If you know it's charged i wouldn't worry about it too much. The charger that came with my D5100 never stops blinking to indicate the battery is fully charged and i was going to try and exchange it at first, but it does charge the battery to full so i just put up with the problem. I know that's not the same problem you've got, but it's a bit similar.
madcapmagishion
Banned
It seems like nothing sucks a batteries power like using Live View or an after market battery grip, I have to take my battery (also an EN-EL-14) out of my Neewer battery grip between shooting sessions or the battery grip will suck it dry. I found that if I take the grip off of my D3100 it doesn't drain the battery, but I find just taking the battery out and leaving the grip hooked up on the body easier for me.
RockyNH_RIP
Senior Member
I was aware that live view ate batteries... not sure how the grip eats them if the camera is powered off though?? do you know why?
Pat in NH
Pat in NH
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Without the grip it works fine, the battery indicator never changes when switching to live view. When using the grip and changing to live view, the indicator goes all the way down to red instantly. However then I can turn the camera off and move the battery to the other slot and it will read full again, until I switch back to live view again. Yes I know the battery is charged, but its just annoying to not know the real level.
madcapmagishion
Banned
I have read a couple of (Neewer batttery grip) customer reviews on Amazon, that said that they heard a small buzzzing noise coming from the grip, even with the camera turned off, which I don't hear in mine. But then my hearing isn't what it used to be before the Army and battle noises ruined my hearing. Other than that I have no clue, I just remove the battery from the grip and no worries, it takes all of 5 seconds. But then I only use 1 battery in the grip at a time, I keep the shutter release cable in the 2nd battery compartment of the grip. I got the grip to make my D3100 fit my large hands better not to use 2 batteries.
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silvercreek
Senior Member
Mine also did that. I though I was see things when I know I had just pulled the battery out of the charger the day before after only a half a dozen shots.
Silvercreek, unfortunate but glad to know somebody else has that issue. Ready for the kicker? I ordered two generic brand EN-EL14 batteries (2 for $12.something) off amazon. After the battery grip trick with inserting the genuine battery first, I have both generics in and the battery life is accurate with live view, focusing and recording. Go figure. Maybe it was dropping to red because only one battery was inserted before, although that shouldn't happen.