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Apple QuickTake 100 General Maintenance

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A QuickTake 150 with its travel case, grip, serial cable and battery booster pack. The 100 and 150 share the same case (photo: moparx, CC BY-SA 2.0).

Cleaning, batteries, external power, storage and opening notes for the Apple QuickTake 100 and the Apple QuickTake 150. The two cameras use the same hardware: Apple turned a 100 into a "QuickTake 100 Plus" with the 150's abilities by a firmware change alone, and Colin Leroy-Mira, who has worked on both, describes them as the same hardware with different firmware.[1][2] Apple's Service Sources for both models contain specifications and a parts list only, with no take-apart procedure.[3][4]

Before opening the camera

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Warning: the flash circuit stores a lethal charge. The 100 and 150 have a built-in electronic flash.[5] Samuel Goldwasser's strobe repair FAQ gives the energy storage capacitor in even a small pocket-camera flash as typically 100 to 400 µF rated at 330 V, storing 5 to 20 joules, "enough to kill you under the right (wrong?) conditions". He warns that battery-powered flashes are often designed not to bleed the capacitor so that the next shot is ready, and that firing the flash does not reliably empty it.[6] Apple publishes no value for the QuickTake's flash capacitor.[3][4]

  1. Remove the three AA cells and disconnect the AC adapter or battery booster pack.
  2. Treat the flash capacitor as fully charged, whatever the state of the batteries.
  3. When the capacitor's leads are exposed, discharge it through a resistor on insulated leads. Goldwasser suggests about 5 to 50 Ω per volt of working voltage; his example for a 400 µF, 350 V capacitor is a 2 kΩ, 25 W resistor, which empties it in about four seconds.[6]
  4. Measure across the capacitor with a meter and confirm it reads close to zero before touching the board. Check again after a while: a discharged capacitor can recover part of its charge.[6]

The camera is built from at least five circuit boards linked by flat flexible cables, ribbon cables, loose wires and board-to-board connectors. The serial port is on a small I/O board that plugs into the large bottom board through two surface-mount connectors; the bottom board joins the top board through one flat cable, one ribbon cable and three wires, and the LCD board through a right-angle connector. Colin Leroy-Mira calls it hard to take apart and harder to put back together.[2] The picture memory is a surface-mounted flash EPROM soldered to the board.[7]

Cleaning

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Apple's instructions for the outside of the camera:[5][8]

  • Keep the camera away from moisture and excessive heat.
  • Wipe dust off with a clean, dry cloth. Do not use harsh or abrasive cleaners.
  • Keep the sliding lens cover closed when the camera is not in use.
  • Clean the light sensors above and below the viewfinder lens with a soft, dry cloth. Dirty or covered sensors give overexposed pictures.
  • For the lens, blow away loose dust first, breathe on the lens to mist it and wipe the mist off gently with a soft, lint-free cloth or lens tissue. Never wipe a dry lens and do not press hard. Use only cleaning fluids made for camera lenses, and not chemically treated tissues made for spectacles. The QuickTake 150 guide recommends a camera lens cleaning kit for the lens and the close-up lens.

Batteries

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Battery types in Apple's documents
Model Supplied Also accepted Apple's advice
QuickTake 100 Three AA NiCad cells and a charger; a full charge takes five hours[5] Three non-rechargeable AA cells[5] Alkaline cells have an extremely short life in the 100; use lithium first, NiCad second[9]
QuickTake 150 Three AA lithium cells[8] Three AA NiCad cells[8] Do not use alkaline cells; they may not work correctly[8]

Apple's support note on battery life gives about 50 pictures from alkaline cells and about 100 from NiCads (Eveready CH15), each with half the pictures using the flash and including the transfer to a computer.[10] The QuickTake 150 data sheet quotes over 200 pictures from lithium cells, half with flash, including downloading and erasing.[11]

  • Replace all three cells at once and do not mix types. Apple warns that mixing types may cause a fire or a small explosion.[5]
  • Clean the battery contacts with a clean pencil eraser or a cloth.[10]
  • The QuickTake 100 charger is for NiCad cells only and for indoor use. Do not plug it into an extension cord.[5] The charger sold with US cameras works on 110 V, 60 Hz only; Apple's service list has separate chargers for Japan (J922-0661), Europe (Z922-0661), Australia (X922-0661) and the UK (B922-0661) alongside the US part 922-0661.[12][3]
  • Do not leave NiCads unused for more than six months without recharging them. If a set no longer lasts as long as it did, Apple's advice is to discharge it completely before recharging.[5]
  • Damaged NiCad cells can leak potassium hydroxide, which burns skin and eyes. If you touch a leaking cell, rinse with water for at least five minutes and do not use soap.[5] For cleaning a corroded compartment, see Battery Explosion, Capacitor or Corrosion Damage.
  • The battery compartment door is Apple service part 922-0673 on both models.[3][4]

Storing the camera

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Take the batteries out if the camera will not be used for a long time.[5] Pictures are held in flash memory, which needs no power, and Apple quotes a storage time of up to one year.[7][11] The clock stops as soon as the batteries are out; set the date and time again from the computer after refitting them.[5] Apple's storage limits are −40 to 47 °C for up to six months and −40 to 65 °C for up to 72 hours in transit; the camera is specified to operate at 0 to 40 °C and 20 to 95 per cent humidity, non-condensing.[5]

External power

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Apple gives the external supply range for both cameras as 4.5 V DC at 1.75 A to 8.0 V DC at 1.0 A.[13] The camera's base label gives a rating of 7.5 V DC, 2.0 A.[14]

  • Apple's own adapter is the QuickTake AC Adapter, M2851LL/A; the service part is the 17 W power adapter 922-0043.[5][3]
  • Any PowerBook 100-series adapter works. Apple lists models M5140, M5651, M5652, M4662 and APS-17adp.[13]
  • The adapter runs the camera; it does not charge cells left in it.[5]
  • The battery booster pack delivers 6 V nominal. On its plug the centre terminal is positive and the shell negative.[15]
  • Apple recommends running the camera from the adapter or the booster pack whenever it is connected to a computer.[16]

The adapters and the booster pack are described on Apple QuickTake accessories. The troubleshooting steps for power and communication faults are on Apple QuickTake 100 Troubleshooting Guide.

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References

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  1. ↑ Apple Computer, "QuickTake 100: Upgrade to QuickTake 100 Plus (Discontinued)", Tech Info Library article 18091 (TA34002), in the archive.org collection Apple's Technical Information Library Articles, https://archive.org/details/APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES, file TA30000-TA39999. Source for: the upgrade being firmware only, with no change to the housing.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Colin Leroy-Mira, "Fixing a Quicktake 150 serial connector", colino.net, 21 June 2026, https://www.colino.net/wordpress/archives/2026/06/21/fixing-a-quicktake-150-serial-connector/ (retrieved 2026-10-02). Community repair report. Source for: at least five PCBs joined by flat flexible cables, ribbon cables, bare wires and board-to-board connectors, and difficult to take apart and reassemble; the small I/O board with the serial port and its two SMT connectors to the large bottom board; the bottom board joined to the top board by one FFC, one ribbon cable and three wires, and to the LCD board by a right-angle connector; the same hardware in the QuickTake 100.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Apple Computer, QuickTake 100 Service Source, from the Apple Service Source 2.0 CD (1996), hosted as File:Apple QuickTake 100 Service Source.pdf. Specifications pp. 1-4; Parts 1-15, including battery rechargers 922-0661 (US 110 V; J, Z, X and B prefixes for Japan 100 V, Europe 230 V, Australia 240 V and UK 240 V), battery cover 922-0673, battery booster pack 922-0751, and the 17 W power adapter 922-0043, which replaced 699-0517.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Apple Computer, QuickTake 150 Service Source, from the Apple Service Source 2.0 CD (1996), hosted as File:Apple QuickTake 150 Service Source.pdf. Specifications pp. 1-4; Parts 1-20, including the same battery rechargers, battery cover 922-0673 and booster pack 922-0751 as the 100, close-up lens 922-1371, and power adapters 922-0043 (17 W), X922-0043 (Australia), B922-0043 (UK), Z922-0043 (Europe) and 922-0376 (US and Japan).
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 Apple Computer, Apple QuickTake 100 User's Guide for Macintosh, 1994, part number 030-6161-A, hosted as File:Apple QuickTake 100 Users Guide for Macintosh 1994.pdf. Built-in flash p. 3; charging p. 4; installing batteries p. 5; flash recharge and green light p. 11 and p. 52; clock stopping without batteries p. 36; power adapter p. 39; caring for the camera p. 51-52; specifications p. 55-56; battery charger safety, battery care and the potassium hydroxide warning p. 57-59.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Samuel M. Goldwasser, Notes on the Troubleshooting and Repair of Electronic Flash Units and Strobe Lights (Sam's Strobe FAQ), sections "Xenon Strobe Safety" and "Safe Discharging of Capacitors in Electronic Flash Units", https://www.repairfaq.org/sam/strbfaq.htm (retrieved 2026-10-02). Source for: pocket-camera storage capacitors of 100 to 400 µF at 330 V (5 to 20 W-s); the lethal hazard; capacitors that are not bled when the unit is off; firing the flash not guaranteeing discharge; discharging through a resistor of about 5 to 50 ohms per volt of working voltage and confirming with a meter; capacitors recovering some charge.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Apple Computer, "QuickTake 100: Information Stored on Flash EPROM", Tech Info Library article 16881 (TA33034), APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999. Source for: non-volatile flash EPROM storage; erasure by overwriting with FF and a hard failure if that fails; the EPROM soldered to the circuit board.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Apple Computer, Apple QuickTake 150 User's Guide for Macintosh, 1995, hosted as File:Apple QuickTake 150 Users Guide for Macintosh 1995.pdf. Batteries p. 7; close-up lens p. 12-13; power adapter p. 19; care of the camera and close-up lens p. 43-44; solving problems p. 44-47; specifications p. 49-50; battery information p. 51-52.
  9. ↑ Apple Computer, "QuickTake 100: Use NiCad not Alkaline Batteries (5/96)", Tech Info Library article 15423 (TA31756), APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Apple Computer, "QuickTake Camera: Battery Life Improvement Hints (6/96)", Tech Info Library article 19381 (TA35102), APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999. Source for: about 50 images from alkaline and about 100 from NiCad (Eveready CH15) batteries with 50 per cent flash and transfer included; lithium as the best choice; replacing all cells together; cleaning contacts with a pencil eraser or cloth.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Apple Computer, Apple QuickTake 150 data sheet, March 1995, L00578B, hosted as File:Apple QuickTake 150 Data Sheet 1995.pdf. Battery life over 200 images (100 flash, 100 no flash, with download and erase); three 1.5 V AA, R6P, LR-6 or SUM-3 NiCad or lithium cells; flash cycle time 7 seconds; optional AC adapter.
  12. ↑ Apple Computer, "QuickTake 100: Battery Charger Not 220V Compatible (12/94)", Tech Info Library article 16898 (TA33046), APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999. Source for: the US charger being designed for 110 V/60 Hz only; buying a local charger or a universal NiCad charger for use abroad.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Apple Computer, "QuickTake: Can Use PowerBook 100 Series AC Adaptor (12/96)", Tech Info Library article 16700 (TA32872), APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999. Source for: the external supply range 4.5 V DC/1.75 A to 8.0 V DC/1 A for the 100 and 150; the PowerBook 100-series adapters that work (M5140, M5651, M5652, M4662, APS-17adp).
  14. ↑ Photograph of a QuickTake 100 base label, File:Apple QuickTake 100 Plus label.jpg. Model No. M2613, Rated 7.5V 2.0A.
  15. ↑ Apple Computer, "Apple QuickTake Cameras: External Power Q&A (10/96)", Tech Info Library article 20491 (TA36067), APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999. Source for: external power requirement 4.5 V DC/1.75 A to 8.0 V DC/1.0 A; battery booster pack output 6 V nominal; connector polarity centre positive, shell negative.
  16. ↑ Apple Computer, Apple QuickTake 150 User's Guide for Windows, 1995, hosted as File:Apple QuickTake 150 Users Guide for Windows 1995.pdf. Booster pack p. 20; connecting to the computer and the 9-to-25-pin adapter p. 22-23; recommendation to use the AC adapter or booster pack while connected p. 23.


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