Batteries batteries batteries . . .

Greetings all,

I bet a lot of you know that using ordinary AA-batteries in your camera (mine uses two AA) results in a not great lifespan.

In fact, many "bargain" batteries don't even work at all! Now I know that using the supplied quality Ni-Mh battery and charger works well, but still there are times when popping in a couple of cheap store-bought batteries would be handy.

What one hopes, is for consistency. I want to put in a fresh set, and know that I can shoot until I fill my flash card (1G).

Does anyone know of a good camera that works well with cheap batteries?

Or what about this:

How about a battery replacement device - I'm thinking of something like a 'dummy' battery set that you install, and it is hooked to a box (with a short wire) where you have installed 6 or 8 D-cells. That way, you should be able to shoot all day with D-cells! And the other truth is, D-cells are not that much more expensive than AA-cells.

For that matter, does anyone know of a camera that uses D-cells?

Any comments or information appreciated.

Thanks guys,

• clickclick_stan

What do you mean by "cheap" and what do you mean by good (or bad) battery life?

I bet I know that I get excellent battery life with AA batteries in my Canon A640, about 400-500 shots with Eneloop NiMH, and my Pentax *istDS DSLR, about 1500 shots with lithium AA. I don't use alkalines, though.

Rick

You are looking for a camera to fit your "cheap" batteries?
--
JonathanF

So you're telling me that built-in custom rechargible batteries that some cameras come with hold a charge longer than standard batteries?

I never heard of that, but it does explain something I've wondered about, which is why even have cameras with those non-standard batteries at all. Yes, you can recharge them as long as you're in "civilization as you know it", but if you go to another country or stay out in the "wild" for too long, you can't recharge, which means replacing the batteries is all you can do. That seemed to make the advantage of standard batteries clear, so if they don't last as long as the ones some cameras have built in, then that explains why such cameras and their batteries are even worth making at all.

clickclick_stan said:

Greetings all,

I bet a lot of you know that using ordinary AA-batteries in your
camera (mine uses two AA) results in a not great lifespan.

Click to expand...

clickclick_stan said:

In fact, many "bargain" batteries don't even work at all! Now I
know that using the supplied quality Ni-Mh battery and charger
works well, but still there are times when popping in a couple of
cheap store-bought batteries would be handy.

Click to expand...

There are types of store bought batteries that are designed to last longer but they are still not even close to Nimh. What wouldbe more handy is to have extra Nimh charged and ready. My camera takes 4. I have 2 chargers (one bought for D cells and also charges AA) and 3 sets of AA batteries for my camera. I put fresh batteries in the camera and and extra set in my pack when I leave the house. I never run out of battery power.

clickclick_stan said:

What one hopes, is for consistency. I want to put in a fresh set,
and know that I can shoot until I fill my flash card (1G).

Click to expand...

clickclick_stan said:

Does anyone know of a good camera that works well with cheap
batteries?

Click to expand...

I doubt there are any that are outstanding from the rest. And you'll have to minimize use of the LCD screen too. Personally I would never use the type of battery in comparing cameras with the features I need and the IQ I desire. I would take what I get and then just be responsible with having enough batteries charged and ready with spares carried in my pack when I'm out with the camera.

clickclick_stan said:

Or what about this:
How about a battery replacement device - I'm thinking of something
like a 'dummy' battery set that you install, and it is hooked to a
box (with a short wire) where you have installed 6 or 8 D-cells.
That way, you should be able to shoot all day with D-cells! And the
other truth is, D-cells are not that much more expensive than
AA-cells.

Click to expand...

Carrying it and messing with wires would take away the convenience that batteries give you. An extra set of batteries in your pocket or a pack would be much more convenient.

clickclick_stan said:

For that matter, does anyone know of a camera that uses D-cells?

Click to expand...

A couple D cells would have a larger volume than some of the cameras out there. I don't think any manufacturer would consider this to be a good idea when designing a camera.

clickclick_stan said:

Any comments or information appreciated.

Click to expand...

I think you should spend the money to have enough spare rechargeable batteries to carry with you. Less than 5 charges and they will pay for themselves compared to buying store bought batteries. Get into the habit of having battereis charged and ready when you need them. Buy an extra charger if you need to. It's just like doing the dishes or laundry or cleaning the bathrooom or paying your bills. These things suck but that's life. If you don't do them regularly life sucks even more. Carrying around a big pack of D batteries and fighting with wires when there is a much easier alternative, that would really suck. And you would still have to exercise some responsibility to charge the D batteries. You wouldn't want to buy new ones. Because I use them regularly, I've saved a few hundred dollars this year on D cells, even thought the intial outlay for rechargeable D cells and a charger is fairly steep.

So using D cells for a camera is just a really inconvenient way of doing what you should already be doing with much more convenient AA. And while the D cells supply more power, it doesn't necessarily mean they will supply that power for much longer than a smaller battery supplying less power.

Your idea of using a pack of D cells and a wire may work for some applications but for camera use, it would be more of a hindrance than the convenience batteries are meant to give you. And using bigger more powerful batteries than what he camera was designed for may not be good for the camera.

Here is some useful information about batteries and why you should use rechargeable batteries instead of alkalines ...

The only "cheap" batteries you will ever find are rechargeable batteries. The higher price is quickly amortisized by the longer run times and lifespans.

Invest a little more in a good charger and speedy charger (15 minute charger from energzer for instance - but there are other brands too), high(er) amp batteries and an adapter/converter for foreign travels and you will hardly ever run into "juice" problems.

cheers
becksi

clickclick_stan said:

Greetings all,

I bet a lot of you know that using ordinary AA-batteries in your
camera (mine uses two AA) results in a not great lifespan.

In fact, many "bargain" batteries don't even work at all! Now I
know that using the supplied quality Ni-Mh battery and charger
works well, but still there are times when popping in a couple of
cheap store-bought batteries would be handy.

What one hopes, is for consistency. I want to put in a fresh set,
and know that I can shoot until I fill my flash card (1G).

Does anyone know of a good camera that works well with cheap
batteries?

Or what about this:
How about a battery replacement device - I'm thinking of something
like a 'dummy' battery set that you install, and it is hooked to a
box (with a short wire) where you have installed 6 or 8 D-cells.
That way, you should be able to shoot all day with D-cells! And the
other truth is, D-cells are not that much more expensive than
AA-cells.

For that matter, does anyone know of a camera that uses D-cells?

Any comments or information appreciated.

Thanks guys,

• clickclick_stan

Click to expand...

whopps ... forgot the link ... here you go ...

http://www.dansdata.com/cambattery.htm

becksi said:

Invest a little more in a good charger and speedy charger (15
minute charger from energzer for instance - but there are other
brands too), high(er) amp batteries and an adapter/converter for
foreign travels and you will hardly ever run into "juice" problems.

cheers
becksi

clickclick_stan said:

Greetings all,

I bet a lot of you know that using ordinary AA-batteries in your
camera (mine uses two AA) results in a not great lifespan.

In fact, many "bargain" batteries don't even work at all! Now I
know that using the supplied quality Ni-Mh battery and charger
works well, but still there are times when popping in a couple of
cheap store-bought batteries would be handy.

What one hopes, is for consistency. I want to put in a fresh set,
and know that I can shoot until I fill my flash card (1G).

Does anyone know of a good camera that works well with cheap
batteries?

Or what about this:
How about a battery replacement device - I'm thinking of something
like a 'dummy' battery set that you install, and it is hooked to a
box (with a short wire) where you have installed 6 or 8 D-cells.
That way, you should be able to shoot all day with D-cells! And the
other truth is, D-cells are not that much more expensive than
AA-cells.

For that matter, does anyone know of a camera that uses D-cells?

Any comments or information appreciated.

Thanks guys,

• clickclick_stan

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

but if you haven't done so, do try a pack of Sanyo Eneloop before you buy or trash anything.
--
Alan Chan
http://www.pbase.com/wlachan

most modern cameras using proprietary batteries (that are still darn cheap on eBay or other places) which seem to last forever, why mess with carrying around chargers and AAs. I thought that those days were gone.

There are some camera out there which still perform well with the old, "drug store" batteries (someone mentioned the Olympus dSLR) and that's nice...but...c'mon...choose the camera first.