My experience mirrors your with the Sony batteries. I have two for the DSC-S85, but one was included with the camera, so there was a need to purchase only one. I didn't shop around - just bought the second bat when and where I got the camera, and I may have paid about $50.00 - $55.00 for it - maybe less. Regardless, whatever I paid was worth. The bats are still going strong after almost three years, and there's no waste - no need to dispose of them when they are discharged. I've never run out of juice when shooting for a day with a fully charged bat, and since I usually go out with two fully charged (or close to it) bats, I feel safe to say that I'd be good for a weekend away without worrying about recharging them or not being able to use the camera.
I like the Pentax approach a little better only because, in a crisis situation, getting a handful of AA bats is simple and cheap. But, OTOH, there's never been a crisis situation with the Sony. BTW, the bats that came with the DS, Panasonic CR-3 Lithium, have been used for about 550 exposures thus far, and the indicator still reads full. Of course, the indicators accuracy may be less than precise, but still, from what I've read here, the bats should provide closer to 1000 exposures or so. I'll find out soon enuf. Shel > [Original Message] > From: Godfrey DiGiorgi > Kostas Kavoussanakis wrote: > >> Sony's done it best in their cameras with the InfoLithium >> cells ... each battery has logic in it that communicates with the >> camera to estimate how much time is left. I found the accuracy to >> be remarkable. > > > > Is the price equally remarkable? > > I don't know what you mean. > > A new battery from Sony for my F707 was $49, and aftermarket from > several vendors $34. A full charge in that camera nets 220-320 > exposures. After 3 years and 26,000 exposures, those two batteries > still perform like new (I don't have the camera anymore, but I gave > it to a friend who continues to use it). I consider that pretty cheap > power. > > I read all this pooh-poohing of custom form factor batteries and I > shake my head. Yes, they tend to cost more. BUT ... I have two > batteries for each of my other cameras (Canon 10D and KM A2). They're > Li-Ion custom form factor batteries. > > - Replacing the battery is "open door, drop out spent one, drop in > new one, close door". No fussing with two or four cells. > - In either camera, the exposures per charge runs into the 300-400 > exposure range. Higher, depending upon use. > - The shelf life is fantastic. I haven't taken many pictures with > either camera since I bought the Pentax DS and realized yesterday > that I should check the batteries and charge them. After six months, > in both cases, the one in the camera needed 20 minutes to bring to > full charge and the spare took 5 minutes. I love that kind of > maintenance. > > So pooh-pooh all you want. *I* see nothing wrong with batteries > tailored for a specific purpose. The Pentax approach has its plusses > and minuses, so do custom batteries. In the end, it's a toss up to me. > > Godfrey
