I along with several friends purchased V1's from B&H last month, taking advantage of the low price. I never bothered to look at the Battery Info in the menu, but a friend checked his to find that the Battery Life was indicating 1...a new battery should indicate 0. My battery that came with the V1 also indicated 1. I have 2 older batteries for my D7000 from 1010, tried both in the V1...they indicated 0...tried the new battery in in the D7000 to find it also indicated 1. I called Nikon, but the service Rep did not think it was an issue. I am bringing it to everyone's attention to check and see if you may have the same issue...Nikon my have a run of bad batteries out there that they are not aware of. I anyone finds the same issue please post it with the battery serial number. Also please contact Nikon if you have the issue. The more complaints Nikon gets, the better...so they will have to replace the batteries.
John

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Interesting. I got my V1 from B&H at about the same time, but my battery shows 0.

-- Jon
Wethersfield, CT, USA
Connecticut High School Sports Photos

You know, I had my battery show 1, too, in my V1 but it doesn't show but show 0 in my D800. Wonder if there is a firmware issue?

UPDATE

Was at B&H today and dropped by Customer Service...explained the issue, no questions asked they replaced the battery. New one reads 0. To show my appreciation, I treated myself to a D600!!!!




>You know, I had my battery show 1, too, in my V1 but it
>doesn't show but show 0 in my D800. Wonder if there is a
>firmware issue?

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That's quite an appreciation!

I'm glad I don't live close enough to walk into the store. Happy you got it sorted out. I have two of the batteries I use in my D7000 and after two plus years both still read an age of 0.

Dean
Phoenix, Arizona USA
Nikonians Team Member
Website: The Splendid Silence of Light

Recent Trips: Grand Canyon 2012 Glen Canyon 2012 West Clear Creek

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I double checked the menu in my new Nikon 1 V2, and surprisingly it does not have a battery condtion in the setup. The V1 obviously has this function, so why did Nikon leave this feature out of a supposed upgrade to the V1? I guess what one does not know cannot hurt!

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Charlie,
I'm with you. When I first read this post, I thought I had missed something on my newly acquired V2 so I went back to check the menus and documentation. No batter condiiton meter on the V2!. V1 owners get the battery condition meter and V2 owners get pixel mapping. Go figure.

Regards....JL

_________________________________________
43+ years of Nikon ownership and counting
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James,

I just received my V1 (283€ at Amazon.de - amazing discount) three days ago and at the same day Nikon has released new FW for V1.

I loaded V1 with the new FW and now I have both the battery condition meter AND the pixel mapping utility. Go figure

Maybe you would like to check the FW version of your V2 and see whether there is a new FW release available for it.

Kind regards,

Niko
-----------------------
Never underestimate!

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Niko,
There is no FW update for the V2, yet. Interesting the V1 has both features. Enjoy your new V1.

Regards...JL

_________________________________________
43+ years of Nikon ownership and counting
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You are right, James - no recent FW update for V2 is avaliable.
Anyway, hope for the best to get these features for your V2.

Kind regards,

Niko
-----------------------
Never underestimate!

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>... so why did Nikon leave
>this feature out of a supposed upgrade to the V1?

So they wouldn't need to respond to complaints about their batteries!

Got my V1 + spare battery in May 2012.

Batt Nikon EN-EL15 marked "SONY E-D" (on large label to right of "PSE" in circle above Nikon hologram), Serial 20120429JE0309 Condition = 2
Also does not seem to be holding its charge as it should.

Batt Nikon EN-EL15 marked "NIKON" (on large label to right of "PSE" in circle above Nikon hologram), Serial 20110824DC0750 Condition = 0

I rotate my batteries. When one needs recharging I put the other in while the first is being charged, so they both have about the same number of charges.

I checked here, and neither battery is part of the recall.

Fred
Maryland, USA

For what its worth, Sony makes all the EN-EL15 batteries. I had an inquiry to Nikon a few months ago and the spec sheet they sent was from Sony Battery.

Eric Bowles
Nikonians Team
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Thank you for the clarification, Eric. I wonder why some are labelled "Nikon," and others, "Sony." Maybe the "Nikon" ones come with the camera, and the Sony ones are sold separately? I don't know which of mine came with the camera, and which I bought as a back-up.

Any clues as to what the serial numbers mean, especially the letters? They were critical in the recall.

Fred
Maryland, USA

There are a lot of reports of people with Sony labeled batteries. I don't know of any problem or issue.

The leading series of numbers is a date. The trailing series are production or batch related numbers.

Sony is a huge battery maker. They are the pioneers in Li-ion batteries and have been making them since 1991. And they have had problems from time to time - remember the laptop battery recall in 2006?

Eric Bowles
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Hi Eric,

Perhaps you can provide some additional insight here. I researched this a bit, but did not find much info. Here is my understanding, based on what what I have gleaned from my research (and it is pretty basic, but I hope correct). At least newer Nikon batteries are "coded" (3rd party batteries may or may not be coded).* What this means is that there is circuitry (the "code") built into the battery that provides information on the age of the batteries' cells (presumably based on the number of charges and not chronology) beyond merely the charge remaining. This would be the 0's, 1's, 2's, etc.

My questions, for clarification, and if my understanding is correct, are:

1. Is this all that the circuitry or "code" does - provide feedback on battery age?

2. Does the circuitry in any way control the functioning or performance of the battery?

It seems to me that there are now two primary electrical components of the batteries - the charge cell(s) and the code. If the answers to the above questions are Yes & No, respectively, then either of these components could independently become defective.

If what I and others are seeing as premature aging of some Nikon batteries (age status other than 0 in little-used batteries), it could it be that the batteries themselves (the cells) actually have a 0 condition, and are falsely being reported as being condition 1 or higher because of faulty code. The batteries should otherwise be expected to perform nominally over their normally expected life-time; the cells have not prematurely aged.

A final thought, then: Is there any way of verifying the proper functioning of a battery's "code?"

*I came across this terminology in an Amazon ad for "Fully Coded" 3rd party batteries.

Fred
Maryland, USA

Fred

What you described makes sense. My take is the battery is more sophisticated than you describe. There certainly could be software or sensor errors.

One of the big issues in lithium ion batteries is that life depends a little on how the battery is used. Draining a battery fully reduces life more than draining it halfway twice.

Chargers work better with smart batteries and smart chargers that prevent excessive temperature during charging and prevent over charging.

The batteries are getting more sophisticated. But I don't have enough specifics to really know what problems are creating the problem with battery life.

I would contact Nikon for replacement if a new battery shows premature age.

Eric Bowles
Nikonians Team
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Nikon will replace the E and F series of EN-EL15 batteries as stated in their buletin.

In Sweden many have also discovered that the K-series show degenerated status.
After only a couple of charges they show 1 or 2 on the 0-4 scale where other series show 0 as new condition.

Nikon is looking into it but no action taken yet.

Petter
-Ever wondered where gadgets go when they die?

I had a odd thing happen, my battery read 0, but after a charge it now reads 3. I don't know if there is a way to check except to wait.

Jack Jimerson
Nikonian in Far West Texas

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Which series or serial do the battery have?

Petter
-Ever wondered where gadgets go when they die?

I also purchased a new Nikon V1 from Adorama ordered 10-2-2012. I was surprised to find the battery information indicates an old "3" battery. The new but old battery serial number is 20120415GC1377.
JB

Hi JB,

Is your battery marked "SONY E-D" or "NIKON" or something else? Two batteries wouldn't make for a pattern, but I notice the mfg. date on our prematurely aging batteries is about 2 weeks apart (see Eric's post #23 - the leading series of numbers is a date.

>I also purchased a new Nikon V1 from Adorama ordered
>10-2-2012. I was surprised to find the battery information
>indicates an old "3" battery. The new but old
>battery serial number is 20120415GC1377.
>JB

My 2 batteries and their condition (repeated from my first post here):

Batt Nikon EN-EL15 marked "SONY E-D" (on large label to right of "PSE" in circle above Nikon hologram), Serial 20120429JE0309 Condition = 2
Also does not seem to be holding its charge as it should.

Batt Nikon EN-EL15 marked "NIKON" (on large label to right of "PSE" in circle above Nikon hologram), Serial 20110824DC0750 Condition = 0

Fred
Maryland, USA

Having discovered through Nikonians that my new 3 of 4 battery was not a unique problem. I decided to call Nikon Service this morning. I spoke with Augusto F. I explained purchase of a Nikon 1 v 1 camera with a dysfunctional battery. He read from the V1 manual p. 160 pointing out the various ways I may have induced the problem. He seemed quite enamored of the idea I had charged the battery below 41 degrees F. I reminded him the problem dated from camera receipt. I noted I charged the battery in my home at room temperature, not below 41 degrees. He was not dissuaded from his stand. He ended the conversation stating Nikon did not warranty batteries.
JB

I have or had a V1, D7000, D600, and D800 and bought several extra batteries.
All of them still read 0.

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I have the same issue with the battery of my recently aquired V1. After 1 recharge it shows now "1".

I have buyed it in Spain in a discounted offer. The people i have spoken with (here in Spain) that have aquired a discounted V1 have same problem.
Instead of "G" my battery has the "J" letter. I not remember full serial number. This afternoon at home I will see.

I hope the "offer" does not include a malfunctional battery.

S/N of my battery: 20120510JC0999

Bought V1 last August with 2 batteries. Both read "0" until recently, but now one of the batteries reads "2", even after a re-charge. Always charged at room temperature...no Nikon I don't leave them outside to charge

Ken

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Several people in sweden who have had batteries that showed rapid deterioration have all received a replacement battery from Nikon Sweden.

Petter
-Ever wondered where gadgets go when they die?

I have a D800 with two batteries that show zero in the life indicator, despite good usage since June of 2012. I bought a V1 from B&H in January of 2013, and the life indicator shows 2 despite low usage and room-temp charging. I contacted Nikon's "customer service," and was told that I probably screwed it up by over charging or some other egregious malfeasance, and that batteries aren't guaranteed anyway. I got quite curt with him, reminding him that I've owned a D70, a D200 and now a D800, and NONE of their batteries ever gave me a problem. I apparently shamed them into "examining" the problem. They want me to send in the battery AND the camera, and they will "consider" replacing the battery. They seem to go to almost any length to make it difficult to resolve issues.

I now have to ask myself whether the problem is the battery condition or only a readout issue. Do I want to spend $20 to send the camera, lens, SD card and battery back to Nikon in the hope that they will replace the possibly defective battery? They are probably hoping I won't. Nikon must be taking its business operating cues from all the lousy American companies that have a "piss on the customer" attitude. I have spent a lot of money on Nikon gear over the years, especially on pro glass, and their reaction to my concerns is disappointing, to say the least. I will certainly think twice about tossing more money their way. My next lens might very well say Tokina or Sigma on it instead of Nikkor like all my current glass. Wake up, Nikon!!!

Creating images the new-fashioned way!

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Nikon's customer support is definitely hit and miss. I haven't had any issue with them, but the stuff I did was clearly broken and needed repair. I have one EL15 battery showing a 1 and it was not in the bad batch. It was the battery that came with the V1, too. I decided I won't worry about it right now. Maybe get a knockoff one to replace it.

The curious thing is that I can't think of any camera supplier that has a good reputation for customer service. You'd think that if one of the bigger companies decided to be outstanding there that they would quickly gain market share -- even if their product was not the absolute best.

last month i sent my malfunctional battery to nikon spain (finicon) and yesterday arrived a new battery with no charge for me (i only payed for the sending package to finicon). it marks 0 in battery life (ok). after some recharges i will post its status. i hope this will be ok.

in this case the sat gave me a great service.