Re: thoughts on new Canon compacts?

On Mon, 13 Mar 2006 07:31:38 -0800, the SMShill wrote:

Plus which, if you carry three or four camera-specific battery packs,
and use them up in a day, you'll be serial-charging for a while, just to
get ready for the next day's activity. That takes time and attention
better spent in other activities. If your supply of AAs works for a
similar period, and they'll all fit in one charger at the same time,
you're ahead of the game.

Two mighty big ifs, unless you're carrying an AA charger that
does more than four cells at a time.

As many new cameras are exceedingly efficient, there's no need to
take more than 4 spare AA cells, as it's very unlikely that serial
charging would ever be needed. Most people would be hard pressed to
deplete one set of batteries in a week or two, let alone in a small
fraction of one day. Surely you're aware (from hearing it multiple
times) that depending on how it's used, Canon's A610/A620 can get
from 500 to over 2000 shots per charge. And a fast 15 minute
charger wouldn't be needed. It's hard to imagine someone running
through the second set of batteries, taking another batch of 1000 or
so pictures before a small, inexpensive 2-hour charger has finished
charging the first set of batteries.


On my D-SLR with the vertical grip, the exact opposite is the case. I
have to serial charge the AA cells (or use two chargers), which with six
of them last a little less time than a single Li-Ion pack (despite the
fact that the six Li-Ion batteries should technically last a little
longer). I can fumble with twelve AA cells, or two Li-Ion packs, and the
Li-Ion packs cost $11.50 each, versus six 2500 mAH cells costing about
$12. Swap time on the Li-Ion is about five seconds, on the six AA cells
about 60 seconds.

Is "six Li-Ion batteries" correct? I think that you meant six
NiMH AA cells. Yes/No? But methinks you're again being deviously
deceptive. How many shots do you get per charge? Would you really
need more than one Li-Ion and 6 NiMH AA cells per day? (or two
Li-Ion packs or 12 AA cells). Once again you're misrepresenting the
real-life costs of Li-Ion batteries. And making such a mountain out
of the molehill incurred by replacing the six AA cells is truly
pathetic.


Another annoying thing with the AA batteries is that you don't have an
accurate indication of their charge level.

Hmmm. My camera gives me ample advance warning that the batteries
are getting low. But I rarely see it, because even during periods
when I'm actively taking pictures I swap the batteries with a fresh
set every couple of days, even when it's not needed. But then I,
like most people, have never found myself in a situation where I
needed to take more than one or two thousand shots per day. When
I'm taking a larger number of shots than usual, the number per day
is usually somewhere between 250 and 500 shots. Be honest. You
don't really find it annoying that cameras don't give an accurate
indication of their AA battery charge levels. You find it annoying
that AA batteries aren't prohibited from being sold. :)

.

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