Okay, here's a battery recommendation...

Hi folks:

There have been countless posts across the various forums in regards to different types of rechargeable AA Nimh batteries. Many of the posts may have centered around the reality that even some of the most powerful ones do not last long in particular digicams (i.e. the A620).

Well, I have a variety of 2500 mAH batteries that I've used and quite frankly, many of them have not lasted long. This had me scratching my head and just bemoaning the fact that if the battery sits in a camera for even just a few days, it can be drained a bit.

So after having heard a variety of wonderful things about Sanyo's remarkable new Eneloop batteries by Sanyo (the things are only equivalent to around a 2000 mAH level), and how you can use 'em the moment you buy them (without charging first), my curiosity was peaked.

So I researched the web and found that RitzCamera.com had the best prices (plus no shipping chargers and no tax), so I ordered a bunch from them. Here's the link:

http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/142140193.htm

Okay, so what did I find? I was flabbergasted - but pleasantly so. These batteries last, and last, and last! They don't lose power just sitting around. After ordering from Ritz (free shipping) and them arriving just 2 days later (that was stunning in itself), I plopped in a set of 4 in my A620, expecting to eventually be disappointed - after all, these Eneloop batteries were only supposed to be around 2000 mAH (ancient by today's standards). Well, here it is...a friekin' month later and that one set is still going strong. I can't explain it other than the new technology that Sanyo has tapped into...really works!!!!!!

So I am strongly recommending this battery set. Think of it...you get it in the mail and you immediately throw them in your cameras and start firing away - unbelievable! And they are supposed to have an exceedingly strong shelf life. They say you can have them sitting for a year, and only a small amount of power may have been lost. And you recharge them using the standard rechargeable AA chargers on the market today.

Well, I ordered 10 packs of them (thus the free shipping). I'm glad I did as I was not disappointed.

Now be forewarned in that I normally get all of my batteries at Thomas Distributing, but in this particular case - the Eneloop batteries - Thomas was actually a few dollars more expensive per pack than Ritz was (go figure).

But Thomas Distributing has the new awesome 2700 mAH Sanyo Industrial grade rechargeable AA's using just about the same technology as the eneloop. Here's their direct link:

http://www.thomasdistributing.com/sanyo-2700-aa-rechargeable-batteries.htm

Have a great day!

Ben Herrmann said:

Many
of the posts may have centered around the reality that even some of
the most powerful ones do not last long in particular digicams
(i.e. the A620).

Click to expand...

Ben Herrmann said:

Well, I have a variety of 2500 mAH batteries that I've used and
quite frankly, many of them have not lasted long. This had me
scratching my head and just bemoaning the fact that if the battery
sits in a camera for even just a few days, it can be drained a bit.

Click to expand...

I think what folks are experiencing has more to do with the battery voltage than it has to do with battery capacity. While it's true that a higher capacity battery might not experience as much voltage reduction as quickly as a lower capacity battery will, the main problem with NiMH batteries in many devices is the fact that even a fully charged NiMH battery operates at a lower voltage than a standard Alkaline battery. Some devices have problems with this lower voltage and some don't.

Nonetheless, this does indeed sound like a very significant technological advance. Not only are these new batteries more resistant to self-discharge, they are also more resistant to voltage reduction as they discharge, which makes them last longer before their voltage drops below a devices low-voltage threshold.

--

Ben you got to let us know how they work in the real toughie- the SP-350.

Rolandg
live long and prosper

As I mentioned before, I still have the original CR-3V throw-away battery that Olympus included with the SP-350 and it's been going strong now for over 700 images.
--
Have a great day!

All in RAW I assume. Ben when you take pictures with the SP-350 at ISO 50 what flash are you using? I was taking some with mine ; ISO 50, f 2.8 - 3.6, 1/100 sec., EV +1 - +2 about 15 feet away using the FL-20. They all turned out rather dark, oh and shutter priority too.

Rolandg
live long and prosper

Remember, it's important to remind yourself that the FL-20 is nothing more than a small P&S type of flash. It faces forward with no bounce capabilities. It's nice for the limited capabilities that are built into it, but you really need to add more strength if you can. No matter what you try with the FL-20, you will most likely be disappointed if you are trying to cover huge scenarios. What I do with the SP-350/FL-20 combination (if forced to use that combo), is to set the camera on shutter priority (around 1/100 to 1/125 and let the camera pick the aperture - usually 2.8 to 3.5 depending on the focal length of the lens position). I keep it on ISO 50 because when you get to 100, although you may increase your light throw capabilities, you may also see some increased noise. Remember, that's 8 MP (quality MP's though) on a small sensor, so there are limitations. Plus in this scenario, the LCD stays bright.

But what I've done is to use the FL-36 - not on camera - but on the Olympus flash bracket (see images below), along with the off camera flash chord setup. This puts the FL-36 to the side and doesn't make it top heavy. I then set the camera to manual, ISO 50 at 1/125 and f3.5, tilting the FL-36 upwards in the bounce mode (leave it on TTL) mode. If the ceilings aren't ideal (meaning very high celings, orrrrr...having tons of junk hangin' down like chandeliers, ceiling fans, massive lights, etc., which will interfere with the bounce throw), then I'll attach the Stofen Omnibounce cap, which then becomes ideal. I then experiment, dialing in flash exposure compensation (FEC) as appropriate. Some scenarios will have you keeping your FEC on just 0, while others will find you going up to 1.0 FEC. Each room is different. The bottom line is that you will become good after awhile and you will swear by this method. The only negative to all of this is the fact that the SP-350 when used in manual mode for flash scenarios (as I've just explained), will cause your LCD screen to become quite dark. I hate this part of it because other cameras maintain a bright screen as opposed to actually stopping down.

Here's two good investments to have, plus they make handling your camera in flash scenarios much easier and comfortable:





--
Have a great day!

prices on the Eneloop batteries. A few weeks ago they had the 4 packs listed at $13.97 (thus my recommendation to go to Ritz). But now they've lowered the price to $11 something - in line with the Ritz price. Now it's even better!!!!!
--
Have a great day!

Ben Herrmann said:

prices on the Eneloop batteries. A few weeks ago they had the 4
packs listed at $13.97 (thus my recommendation to go to Ritz). But
now they've lowered the price to $11 something - in line with the
Ritz price. Now it's even better!!!!!

Click to expand...

I noticed that earlier today when I first saw your post. I had been meaning to order some NiMH D cells for quite some time, so I thought now would be a good time, especially if I wanted to try some of your new-fangled batteries. But -- and maybe I made a mistake, I don't know -- I ordered those higher capacity "Industrial Grade" Sanyo's instead because they were about the same price. I'm not clear on whether or not they use the same technology, but it sounds like they might use some of it. I guess I'll find out soon.

--

I e-mailed some family members about the new low-discharge NiMh batteries, since they are planning to buy some rechargeables. I'll be sure to get the new low-discharge batteries next time I need some new rechargeables, because my batteries are often just sitting around for a long time, and I have to charge them before using them again. To bad I have so many sets of the older types.

Fortunately I have a few DPS-9000 battery packs for my UZI, which don't have a self-discharge issue, but these new batteries sound like they might do a good job too, and I could use them for a lot of other things that wouldn't normally be good for the old style NiMh batteries.
--

• Eric, http://www.InvisibleRobot.com/

Ben Herrmann said:

But Thomas Distributing has the new awesome 2700 mAH Sanyo
Industrial grade rechargeable AA's using just about the same
technology as the eneloop.

Click to expand...

Hi Ben,

I bought 3 packs of 8 Eneloop AAs and closely looked into the characteristics of two series connected devices. The charge from the shelf was 1490 mA. After discharging and slow recharging at 200mA for 12 hours the capacity was 1947 mA, which is almost the exact average of the specified capacity (2000mA typical, 1900mA guaranteed). Discharge current was 250mA, threshold was 1V/cell.

Eneloops make sense for medium to high current requirement and at least a few charge cycles per year. For low current devices like watches etc. cheap alkalines are more economical.

I found no indication that the Sanyo 2700mA NiMHs have a technology similar to the Eneloops. If yes, why would anybody want Eneloops?
Herbert

http://www.pbase.com/herbRD
Sony S600, Sony H1, WCON-07, TCON-17,

Dang it, Ben. You just made me spend 50 bucks. Had to buy one of them wunnerful MAHA chargers too.

There is a kind dumb-battery of D size that you can stuff AA size in to mock as D size battery. This way, you don't have to keep so many battery in different size.

Now that some of you have been using a set of the Sanyo batteries for awhile, how many pics have you gotten before having to recharge the batteries?

I really like the non-rechargeable Energizer Lithium AA batteries I have been using - that have a shelf life of 15 years and get close to 2000 pics/movies with a set of batteries - but the Sanyo rechargeable batteries with the long shelf life sound interesting and I will mention them to friends/family that prefer rechargeable batteries.
--



Debbie
Canon S3/S2 IS/A-520 2-Olympus C-2100's/E-100/C-2020/C-700

I have a variety of cameras and I don't always use the same one constantly. I will tell you this, that even when you don't use a camera for awhile, the rechargeable AA's often just get drained while sitting in the camera. I can say that mine have been in that Canon A620 (which usually eats AA's alive) for weeks now. I've taken around a 100 shots with it, but it's been sitting there without being used. And the batteries are still going strong. In the past, if the camera sat there after a few weeks and then when I'd go to turn it on, they would have been drained. That's not the case anymore. The eneloops just keep their charge for quite a long time.
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Have a great day!

I have been using Eneloop batteries for 3 month now in 3 different cameras. Without exactly counting the pictures I can say that the batteries seemed to last forever. I used the batteries always as couples of two. The voltages of the two cells stay extremely similar, which gives you a sense of precision. Of course, within the three month period period there was not the slightest sign of self-discharge.

I am overly satisfied. For the first time, there are affordable high capacity AA batteries with the discharge characteristics of good lithium ion cells.

Herbert
--
http://www.pbase.com/herbRD
Sony S600, Olympus C-2020 (IR),Sony H1, WCON-07, TCON-17,