Why do cameras wase power by driving the lens in when going to sleep?

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Luke Siemaszko - 21 May 2006 21:31 GMT

Fuji 7xxx - can't remember which model, and it's not here

..drives me mad, if I am out taking family snapshots on a day out and
take a couple of pics, then half an hour later another couple of pics -
I keep having to turn the camera off and on to wake it up. This really
wastes loads of battery power and it seems totally unnecesary. Surely
the camera can just go to sleep - turn all the electronics off - and
wake up at the touch of aa button withouthaing to drive the lens in and out.

Same issue with a little Nikon we have.

Battery life is very very poor with both of these.

By comparison the kids have a little cheap camera - the batteries last
for AGES. Perhaps because the lens is fixed....no power used driving
the lens in and out.

Am I missing somethign somewhere, or does it make sense for a camera to
be able to go to sleep and wake up without having to drive the lens in
and out?

Cheers

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Adrian Boliston - 21 May 2006 22:29 GMT

> Am I missing somethign somewhere, or does it make sense for a camera to be
> able to go to sleep and wake up without having to drive the lens in and
> out?

It's keeping the LCD display lit that's the main drain on the batteries. I
doubt retracting the lens would use much power.

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Doctor J. Frink - 22 May 2006 00:31 GMT

>> Am I missing somethign somewhere, or does it make sense for a camera to be
>> able to go to sleep and wake up without having to drive the lens in and
>> out?
>
>It's keeping the LCD display lit that's the main drain on the batteries. I
>doubt retracting the lens would use much power.

It does waste time though.

Frink

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Mike Cawood, HND BIT - 22 May 2006 10:26 GMT

> Fuji 7xxx - can't remember which model, and it's not here
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> Cheers

IMO a good idea that save the lens from damage.
Regards Mike.

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