How To Charge A Nikon Camera? [ 4 Ways ]
As a photographer, you know that having a Nikon camera is important.
And if you’re like most photographers, you want to make sure that your camera is always charged and ready to go.
We’re going to teach you how to charge a Nikon camera.
So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, read on for all the information you need!
How Do You Charge A Nikon Coolpix Camera If You Don’t Have A Charger
Nikon Coolpix cameras come in a variety of varieties, and some of them can be charged while the rechargeable batteries are inserted. In this state, the batteries are charged via a USB cable.
If you see the small green charge lamp on the camera is fully off instead of blinking while doing this, it means the batteries are not charging.
In such cases, you’ll need to find another way to charge the battery without relying on this charging technology. After reading this post, you will understand how to charge a Nikon Coolpix camera without a charger.
4 Ways to Charge the Nikon Coolpix Camera Without a Charger
1. Making Use of a USB Cable
To begin, open the battery door at the bottom of the camera, and then look inside for two metal battery connectors at the far end. Check that it is clean and bright. If not, clean the interior and the battery contact plate with a screwdriver and some cotton.
Insert the battery and securely close the battery door. Make sure to switch off the camera because it will not charge if it is turned on.
Lift the prongs on the supplied AC adapter upward and insert the little end of the USB cable into the camera’s bottom. Connect the other end to a computer’s USB port or an AC adaptor.
Plug the AC adapter into a power source and check the camera’s LCD for any changes. There will be a green battery blinking there, indicating that the camera is charging.
After around 3 hours, the charging will be finished, and the light will be switched off. Remove the camera’s power adapter and USB cable.
2. Making Use of Friction
It’s more of a ruse than a genuine charge of the camera’s battery. This procedure will not charge the battery sufficiently to power the camera for an extended amount of time, but it may be sufficient to kickstart the device for a brief period of time.
3. Making Use Of A Battery To Charge A Battery
This is an unusual strategy. This necessitates the acquisition of a car battery as well as connectors capable of transferring charges.
Remove the camera batteries and plug them into the connections. Some of the charge from the car battery could be transferred to your batteries this way.
4. Replace the battery
When nothing else works, the only option is to replace the batteries entirely. Each Nikon camera model has its own set of batteries. And the greatest part is that they come with a manufacturer’s warranty. You can speak with the supplier about exchanging the battery for a newer one. It will be the most effective solution. Original Nikon camera batteries can be found here.
You’re doing this by utilizing static energy generated by friction. Remove the battery and rub it against your shirt for a few seconds. Then replace the battery in the camera, which should give you a few extra minutes to shoot a few images.
Additional Methods: Investigate the device!
When you discover that their camera is not charging as it should, you can begin to solve the problem by troubleshooting it. To check whether they assist, try the following methods.
Make that you’re using a genuine Nikon battery.
Check sure power is coming from the PC or the main computer’s power source.
By disconnecting and reattaching the cable, you can ensure that it is properly inserted at both ends.
Check the ‘On’ option in the Camera Setup Menu > Charge by computer.
Remove the memory card from the camera, then charge the battery again before reinserting the card.
To isolate the problem, consider using a USB or new batteries.
Nikon D3400 Battery Charging Instructions
The Nikon D3400 battery cannot be charged by leaving the battery in the camera and connecting the camera to a USB power source. So, instead, here’s how you do it.
Here’s how to charge the battery in your Nikon D3400 DSLR camera.
Quick Facts
Model number of charger for Nikon D3400: MH-24
Model number of battery for Nikon D3400: EN-EL14a
Nikon D3400 Battery Charging Instructions
Many cameras nowadays allow you to charge the battery by plugging it into a USB power source. It’s one of several alternatives for charging the cameras’ batteries. And it’s especially helpful because it means the camera may also serve as a battery charger. It’s not necessarily the best approach, because it means your camera is out of commission while charging (as opposed to utilizing an external charger with a spare battery, for example), but it’s simple and takes little equipment.
The Nikon D3400, on the other hand, does not have that option. Nikon has determined that you can’t charge the battery while it’s in the D3400 or D3500 for reasons that aren’t totally clear to me. So you can’t just plug the camera into a USB power source and use it as a battery charger.
Instead, you must remove the battery from the camera, place it in an external charger, then connect the charger to a power source. The charger for the batteries in the D3400 is model MH-24. It’s an alternating current charger, which means it plugs into a wall outlet. It also serves as an auto-switching outlet. It will automatically handle both 110 and 240-volt power sources as long as you have the proper cable or plug (or are using a regular travel adapter).
Aftermarket versions from other manufacturers are also available. Some of them, in my experience, are extremely nice, but it’s also possible to stumble across ones from no-name manufacturers that don’t work as well. When feasible, I like to buy from larger brands such as Wasabi Power, Anker, Smatree, RAVPower, and Watson.
There are two more advantages to using aftermarket versions. For one thing, they are frequently less expensive than the original. For example, they frequently include functions that the Nikon original does not. Some, for example, can charge many batteries at the same time. Others may be charged using a USB power source, which is useful when you need a more portable choice, such as when traveling and wish to be able to use a car charger or a USB power brick to charge your device.
Nikon D3400 Replacement Batteries
The Nikon D3400 battery is model number EN-EL14a. It’s a 7.2 V / 1230mAh / 8.9Wh lithium-ion battery pack.
The Nikon-branded version is the most secure alternative. This increases the likelihood that it is — and will remain — compatible.
What I mean by that second part—that it will remain—is that camera manufacturers have the technical capability of issuing a firmware update that restricts the camera to using only batteries manufactured by the manufacturer, so that it no longer works with batteries manufactured by other manufacturers. It could be due to a compatibility issue—camera manufacturers are naturally hesitant to spend support resources dealing with difficulties caused by accessories manufactured by other manufacturers. It’s unusual for a camera company to go to such lengths, although it has happened (see at you, GoPro).
Having said that, I’ve also had extremely positive experiences with some of the more well-known aftermarket producers. Watson, Wasabi Power, and Smatree are all excellent examples.
I’ve used numerous batteries for many cameras made by those companies and found them to be nearly identical to the originals. And they are frequently far less expensive. They can be a really good option as long as you use them with your eyes open to the potential drawbacks.
They will all use the original Nikon model number and will be marketed as EN-EL14a replacement batteries.
Nikon D3400 Add-Ons
Here are some of the most important Nikon D3400 accessories, as well as their official part numbers.
Nikon D3400 Battery and Charger
If you need a replacement or spare battery for your Nikon D3400, the model EN-EL14a is what you’re looking for. It’s a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which is also found in many other Nikon DSLRs (7.2V, 1230mAh). There are also extremely good aftermarket versions available, such as this one from Watson or these from PowerExtra, which provide more cost-effective options.
Model MH-24 is the battery charger. It’s an alternating current (AC) rapid charger that plugs directly into a wall outlet. Unlike many other cameras, the Nikon D3400’s battery cannot be charged in the camera. Some aftermarket batteries include a dock charger, which can be a less expensive solution to the problem.
Memory Stick
A memory card, like a battery, is a must-have item for your D3400. However, unlike the battery, it is not included with the D3400.
There are no approved SD cards for the D3400, but some make more sense than others. Some older graphics cards are too slow. Furthermore, some newer, faster (and more expensive) SD cards will operate in the D3400 but exceed what the camera can use, so you’d be paying for SD card performance that the camera can’t use.
I’ve compiled a more extensive list of SD card suggestions for the Nikon D3400. But here’s the quick version. Any of the following would be a solid alternative and are fairly priced:
SanDisk Extreme V30
Lexar 633x U1
Elite Performance V30 by PNY
Nikon D3400 USB Cable
A USB cable is required to connect a Nikon D3400 to a computer in order to download photos and videos. If you misplaced the one that came with the camera, replacements are inexpensive and easy to find. If you prefer the Nikon original, the model number you’re looking for is [UC-E20](https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/eu/BV article?articleNo=000005024&configured=1&lang=en GB), which you can purchase at camera stores like B&H Photo.
However, there is no reason why you should stick with the Nikon-branded one. There are also a plethora of aftermarket micro-USB cables that will work well. However, there is one caveat: not all micro-USB cables will support the data transfer required by the D3400.
Try any other cameras you have lying around to see if the camera will mount to your computer—it won’t hurt. If it does not mount, you can get alternative data transfer cables, such as this aftermarket version or this one.
Also, please keep in mind that this is exclusively for data transfer. While the battery is in the D3400, it cannot be charged. The MH-24 charger or comparable is required for charging (see above).
Strap for the Nikon D3400 camera
There’s no necessity to utilize the official Nikon strap with the D3400—any camera strap will do. However, if you wish to replace the original (the black one with gold/yellow Nikon branding), the model number is AN-DC3.
There are also a plethora of additional viable options. My personal favorites are the Peak Design ones, which come in useful if you’re switching between various cameras because they have a quick-release system. They’re also incredibly powerful.
Nikon D3400 Remote Shutter Release
There are several methods for remotely activating your D3400 (unlike the D3500, where this functionality was removed).
The ML-L3 wireless remote from Nikon is the first stage. It’s really simple—just a single button with no intervalometer or other features—and its range is restricted to around 16 feet or less with an infrared signal. However, it is affordable and was created by Nikon for use with their cameras.
There are also a variety of alternative wireless receiver/transmitter packages that may be set up to function, some of which are rather sophisticated and expensive.
Nikon D3400 Lenses
One of the best things about DSLRs, especially those that employ a long-standing mounting system like Nikon’s F-mount, is the wide range of lenses available. As a result, there is no “correct” lens to use.
However, for the D3400, you should look for lenses with Nikon’s F-mount system and that are meant for DX camera bodies (the D3400 has a reduced sensor size). And you’ll most likely want one with autofocus. None of these items are required; there are other methods to use adapters or older manual-focus lenses; nevertheless, keeping to the essentials will make things easier if you’re trying to increase your lens collection.
If you want to go beyond the kit lens that comes with the camera (typically a basic 18-55mm zoom lens), I’ve put together some recommendations on wide-angle lenses for the Nikon D3400.
And here are a few more ideas that are reasonably priced and significantly broaden your options:
AF-S DX 18-300mm /3.5-6.3G ED VR zoom lens from Nikon. If you could only bring one lens with you on your trip, this is a wonderful option. It has an extremely broad zoom range. Its 18mm focal length (equivalent to 27mm on a full-frame camera) is ideal for interiors or landscapes. With a focal length of 300mm (equivalent to 450mm on a full-frame camera), there’s plenty of reach for wildlife, sports, and breathtaking sunsets. It reduces vibration, is remarkably tiny and light, and is reasonably priced. Sigma also makes an excellent variant that is little less expensive but still of high quality.
AF-S 50mm /1.8G lens from Nikon. A 50mm prime lens is hard to beat for versatility, pleasure, and learning photography. They’re quick, which means they’re good in low-light situations and can produce a wonderful fuzzy backdrop while keeping the subject crisp. They are reasonably priced. They’re frequently razor-sharp. They’re also compact and lightweight. This is the version /1.8. Nikon also offers a B&H Photofaster /1.4 version, but it costs nearly twice as much. Because the D3400 has a cropped DX sensor, the 50mm lens will be slightly telephoto, equivalent to a 75mm lens on a full-frame camera (i.e., 35mm equivalent). As a result, whether you’re capturing formal portraits or candids of your family, it’s an excellent portrait lens. If you like a more classic “genuine” 50mm viewpoint, use the 35mm/1.8G on the D3400 instead.
Body Cap for Nikon D3400
If you’re moving or storing your D3400 camera body without a lens attached, you should put a body cap over the lens opening. This keeps dust and moisture from entering and wreaking havoc (and pesky dust bunnies on your photos).
One is included with the camera, however they are often misplaced. The replacement part’s model number is BF-1B. This is the same cap that is used on all Nikon F-mount camera bodies. And there is an excellent opportunity to save money by using an aftermarket version. They’re frequently marketed in conjunction with a rear lens cap, as both are required when removing a lens.
Rubber Eyecup for Nikon D3400
If the rubber eyecup is knocked off while removing the camera from its bag, the replacement part model number is DK-25. There are also slightly less expensive aftermarket models available, such as those made by Vello or JJC.
Nikon D3400 Battery Dummy
A battery dummy is used to provide longer-term power to the camera. They’re particularly excellent for time-lapse photography, astrophotography, and using your D3400 as a webcam.
It’s an add-on that slots into the battery compartment of your camera. It does not supply power on its own, but it is connected to a wire that may be connected to other power sources such as AC power or a larger battery pack.
The official Nikon model is the EP-5A. Aftermarket versions are also available. Some merely provide the dummy battery, while others include AC adapters.
OUR FINAL THOUGHTS
Now that you know how to charge your Nikon camera, go out and take some pictures!
The last thing I want is for my readers to be frustrated with their new purchase. Go on – get out there and make the world a prettier place one photo at a time
FREQUENTLY ASK QUESTIONS
Is it possible to charge a Nikon camera without a battery charger?
Even if you don’t have a charger, you can charge the camera battery in an emergency.
Is it possible to charge a Nikon camera battery via USB?
Image for how to charge a Nikon camera
Many cameras nowadays allow you to charge the battery by plugging it into a USB power source. Instead, you must remove the battery from the camera, place it in an external charger, then connect the charger to a power source. The charger for the batteries in the D3400 is model MH-24.
What is the best way to see if my Nikon camera is charging?
Charging begins when the camera is linked to an electrical outlet while the battery is installed, as illustrated. While the battery is charging, the power-on lamp progressively glows green. When the charging is finished, the power-on lamp turns off.
Originally posted on February 10, 2022 @ 8:42 pm