File :-(, x, )
Project !dashI8UpO.
Class starts in 4 hours and I haven't slept in 16. Fuck it. Had an impulse to get this done after the idea came to me.

Plan: Power a Nikon F60 which uses two CR123 cells with four AA cells. (CR123 = 3V, AA = 1.5V)

I had this plan for a while now but what held me back is "Where am I going to keep the batteries?". I put off the project until I can scrounge up receptacle of some sort until I remembered that the battery case of my old Canon A-1's motor drive/battery grip would do fine as a temporary holder.

Pictured are two drained CR123 cells, the motor drive and its battery case with 4 AA's loaded. The wires are just stuck between the contacts.
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Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D80Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS3 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern782Focal Length (35mm Equiv)42 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution240 dpiVertical Resolution240 dpiImage Created2008:09:16 04:26:25Exposure Time1/160 secF-Numberf/3.5Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating400Lens Aperturef/3.5Exposure Bias0.7 EVMetering ModeCenter Weighted AverageLight SourceUnknownFlashNo FlashFocal Length28.00 mmCommentProject_DashColor Space InformationUncalibratedImage Width640Image Height580RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlLow Gain UpContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknown
>> Project !dashI8UpO.
     File :-(, x)
And here's the other end of the wire. Those are actually stacks of 5 sentimo coins held together with duct tape. Their diameter is close to that off the CR123 cells and they have a hole in the middle. I bent a paperclip and inserted it through. Connected the wires to one end and used stripped twisty wire on the other end to make a wider contact.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D80Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS3 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/5.7Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern782Focal Length (35mm Equiv)120 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution240 dpiVertical Resolution240 dpiImage Created2008:09:16 04:28:22Exposure Time1/160 secF-Numberf/8.0Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/8.0Exposure Bias0.7 EVMetering ModeCenter Weighted AverageLight SourceUnknownFlashNo FlashFocal Length80.00 mmCommentProject_DashColor Space InformationUncalibratedImage Width640Image Height428RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknown
>> Anonymous
so whats the result?
>> Project !dashI8UpO.
     File :-(, x)
Now, the hard part. Getting the compartment door to close while still having the wire get out. Instead of just doing it as pictured, I straightened another pair of paperclips and hooked one end to the contact and I was able to close the door with the paperclips snugged tightly by the small gaps on each side of the hinge. Then I just had to attach the wires back up. I just realized it was a completely solderless hack.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D80Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS3 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/5.7Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern782Focal Length (35mm Equiv)120 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution240 dpiVertical Resolution240 dpiImage Created2008:09:16 04:32:40Exposure Time1/160 secF-Numberf/8.0Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/8.0Exposure Bias0.7 EVMetering ModeCenter Weighted AverageLight SourceUnknownFlashNo FlashFocal Length80.00 mmCommentProject_DashColor Space InformationUncalibratedImage Width640Image Height428RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknown
>> Project !dashI8UpO.
     File :-(, x)
SUCCESS!! Powers on properly. Hit the shutter a few times, worked just as it should.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D80Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS3 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/5.7Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern782Focal Length (35mm Equiv)120 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution240 dpiVertical Resolution240 dpiImage Created2008:09:16 04:38:40Exposure Time1/60 secF-Numberf/5.6Exposure ProgramAperture PriorityISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/5.6Exposure Bias0.7 EVMetering ModeCenter Weighted AverageLight SourceUnknownFlashFlash, Auto, Return DetectedFocal Length80.00 mmCommentProject_DashColor Space InformationUncalibratedImage Width640Image Height428RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknown
>> Project !dashI8UpO.
     File :-(, x)
Here's the whole ugly system. I still need to find a better compartment for the batteries. Original plan was to make a vertical grip to house it but this will do for now. I can just have the battery pack in my pocket. I also tested with NiMH rechargeables and it worked fine. I don't have to worry about buying expensive CR123 batteries anymore. The AA's will last me even longer too because of more milliamps.

Another problem is that I only have one Nikon lens at the moment. The F60's kit 28-80 f/3.5-5.6 which means I can't use this and my D80 at the same time. Oh well.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D80Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS3 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern782Focal Length (35mm Equiv)42 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution240 dpiVertical Resolution240 dpiImage Created2008:09:16 04:41:44Exposure Time1/60 secF-Numberf/5.6Exposure ProgramAperture PriorityISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/5.6Exposure Bias0.7 EVMetering ModeCenter Weighted AverageLight SourceUnknownFlashFlash, Auto, Return DetectedFocal Length28.00 mmCommentProject_DashColor Space InformationUncalibratedImage Width640Image Height560RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknown
>> Project !dashI8UpO.
Okay, I ended up going to sleep and missed all my morning classes. Sigh.

bump
>> Anonymous
Does it meter correctly?
>> Project !dashI8UpO.
>>255148
Oh wow, you're right. These are just their nominal voltages and it could be under and over by a few and it might affect the metering. NiMH batts are actually 1.2 which means the system will be under by 1.2V. I doubt it would though but have to test that soon. I'm gonna waste a roll of fujicolor 100 on it later.
>> Anonymous
Wow, pretty cool.

Also, woah, an F60. I just dug up my old N60 (Same Camera), same color and all, the other day. First brand-new camera I ever bought.
>> Anonymous
>>255148
F60 is a fairly recent camera, so the metering system is most likely digital and doesn't use battery voltage in the equation. (Btw, F80 is from the same generation and it can use both alkalines and rechargeables out of the box)

>>254923
Buy a separate 4xAA battery holder in some DIY shop and macgyver it to the bottom of your camera. You can probably drill a couple holes there, just watch out for light leaks.
>> Anonymous
Pretty cool. I like seeing people come up with DIY projects.
>> Anonymous
>>255492
IMO, It'd be better to try to attach it to the tripod socket than trying to drill into the camera. Maybe put a bolt through the battery box, and then glue/JB-weld some thin metal or plastic to the box which would sorta wrap around the bottom of the camera and keep it from wobbling around.
>> Project !dashI8UpO.
Dammit, I'm actually having a few problems with this now. The camera would constantly Err, which in the manual means the film was improperly advanced. So I've been taking it out and rewinding it in darkness then taking shots in manual with f/32 and 1/2000 in darkness to advance it. Now this is probably a voltage thing with the motor. Gonna have to get my hands on a tester now.