A LITTLE CAMERA HELP

Can You Charge an Old Digital Camera with USB?

It depends on the exact model. A USB socket can transfer photos without charging the battery. Check the camera’s charging instructions before buying a cable or charger.

Canon SD1000 / IXUS 70: use an external charger.

The Canon PowerShot SD1000 uses an NB-4L battery and a CB-2LV-family external charger. Remove the battery to charge it. Its Mini-USB / IFC-400PCU connection transfers photos; plugging it into a USB power source does not charge the battery.

Nikon S6900: USB charging with the documented adapter.

For the Nikon COOLPIX S6900, leave the EN-EL19 battery inside and use Nikon’s UC-E21 cable with the EH-71P charging adapter. An MH-66 can charge the battery separately. A model that supports USB charging still has specific cable and adapter requirements.

Sony W55: a data cable is a different accessory.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 uses an NP-BG1 battery and a BC-CSG-series external charger. Its model-specific USB / A/V cable transfers photos. Search by DSC-W55 when choosing that cable; a similar-looking connector is not enough to establish compatibility.

Charging inside the camera does not always mean USB.

The Fujifilm FinePix F30 illustrates this distinction. Its original AC-5VC charges through the DC IN socket; a BC-65N can charge the NP-95 battery separately. Ordinary computer / USB-cable charging is not documented in the references used here.

Check these three things before buying.

1. Read the full camera model on the body, including letters and suffixes.
2. Check the battery code and whether the manual specifies an external charger or an in-camera charging adapter.
3. Match the cable to the exact model. For photo transfer, it must support data as well as fit the socket.

Open your exact camera guide for its battery, charger and cable codes. If you only need to copy photos, the photo-transfer guide explains the card-reader route.

Manufacturer references

• Canon SD1000 camera user guide

  Package contents; battery charging; compatible memory cards; system map and optional accessories

• Canon SD1000 system map

  Battery, charger and interface cable

• Nikon COOLPIX S6900 reference manual

  Charge the Battery, pp. 11–12; Optional Accessories, p. 172

• Nikon COOLPIX S6900 memory card specifications

  Storage: SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards

• Sony DSC-W35 / W55 operating instructions

  Supplied accessories and Preparing the Battery Pack, pp. 9–10

• Fujifilm FinePix F30 Owner’s Manual

  Supplied accessories; charging; memory cards; USB computer connection; optional accessories; specifications (PDF retrieved and read).

• Fujifilm current FinePix battery and charger compatibility table

  F30 row: NP-95 / BC-65N