On Sep 30, 2005, at 3:56 AM, Cory Papenfuss wrote:
Right... a quick list of things I routinely use that can use
AA's in or around my camera (traveling, etc):
- External Flash
- MP3 player
- Active noise cancelling aviation headset
- Flashlight
Hmm. I looked at my carry abouts. Other than the camera:
- MP3 Player :: built in Li-Ion
- Flashlight :: Li-Ion
- Phone (Palm Treo) :: NiMH
- Epson P2000 :: Li-Ion
- External flash :: optional 510V battery pack, AAs internal
All of them came with their own chargers (both wall and automotive).
The MP3 player lives in the car connected with its charger most of
the time, the others run so long between needing battery maintenance
I hardly even think about it. (The phone just drops into its cradle
when I get home to sync data and charge up.) Only one I have spare
batteries for is the external flash. I rarely carry any of them
(other than the phone) with me much.
Also, I submit another argument. If the camera comes with a
proprietary battery, it would be extremely wise to purchase a
second battery immediately. If not, there will likely be that
"killer shot" that gets missed due to battery mismanagement (dead
at the wrong time). Charging that one battery isn't instantaneous
(even if power is available), so having a spare is a good idea.
For proprietary batteries, that adds $50 to the cost of the camera
body for off the bat. With NiMH, you can either use an emergency
lithium, AA, or an inexpensive second NiMH set of rechargables.
Cheap insurance.
The battery strategy I've used for the A2 and 10D (and Sonys before
them) is to have three batteries. That way you always have one in the
camera, one fully charged and ready to go, a third can be charging. I
have *never* exhausted more than two in a session ... that's around
700-1000 exposures minimum. The 10D battery is $40 from Canon, but
can be had from the aftermarket for $11. Similar for the A2 battery.
They're small, light, pack a lot of capacity, and are easy to change.
I'm not saying there aren't good reasons for when a standard form
factor battery is a good idea. I'm saying that there are actually
good reasons for why a custom form factor battery is a superior
choice in some circumstances, and to denigrate them purely because
they're not a standard form factor is foolish.
Godfrey
