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All rechargeable batteries undergo some degree of self-discharge just sitting idle in the
camera or in the original packaging. Lithium-ion power packs of this type typically lose
a few percent of their charge every few days, even when the camera isn’t turned on. The
small amount of juice used to provide the “shots remaining” figure on the top-panel
monochrome LCD when the D7000 is turned off isn’t the culprit; Li-ion cells lose their
power through a chemical reaction that continues when the camera is switched off. So,
it’s very likely that the battery purchased with your camera is at least partially pooped
out, so you’ll want to revive it before going out for some serious shooting.
Charging the Battery
When the battery is inserted into the MH-25 charger properly (it’s impossible to insert
it incorrectly), a Charge light begins flashing, and remains flashing until the status lamp
glows steadily indicating that charging is finished, in about 2.5 hours. You can use the
supplied connector cable (at left in Figure 1.3) or attach a handy plug adapter that allows
connecting the charger directly to a wall outlet (as shown at right in Figure 1.3). When
the battery is charged, flip the lever on the bottom of the camera and slide the battery
in, as shown in Figure 1.4. Check the Setup menu’s Battery Info entry as I recommended
earlier to make sure the battery is fully charged. If not, try putting it in the charger again.
One of three things may be the culprit: a.) the actual charging cycle sometimes takes
longer than you (or the charger) expected; b.) the battery is new and needs to be “sea-
soned” for a few charging cycles, after which it will accept a full charge and deliver more
shots; c.) you’ve got a defective battery. The last is fairly rare, but before you start count-
ing on getting a particular number of exposures from a battery, it’s best to make sure it’s
fully charged, seasoned, and ready to deliver.
Final Steps
Your Nikon D7000 is almost ready to fire up and shoot. You’ll need to select and mount
a lens, adjust the viewfinder for your vision, and insert a memory card. Each of these
steps is easy, and if you’ve used any Nikon before, you already know exactly what to do.
Chapter 1 ■ Nikon D7000: Thinking Outside of the Box 17
Figure 1.3 Charge the battery before use. Figure 1.4 Insert the battery in the camera; it only
fits one way.