On Feb 25, 2006, at 11:41 AM, Mark Roberts wrote:
"K.Takeshita" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I was repelled by the idea that users are forced to buy proprietary
batteries with different form factors. If they are standardized at
least to some extent, it would serve the consumers much better.
One of the things I really like about the ist-D is the use of AA
batteries. You may have missed my long post last week but here's a
snippet of a longer tale: Last summer I was bicycling through the
Loire
Valley in France. Out in the rural countryside somewhere my camera
went
dead because I hadn't recharges the NiMH AA batteries the night
before.
Even though I was out in the middle of nowhere I was easily able to
find
a little shop with AA lithium batteries and be on my way with a
freshly
powered camera and little loss of time.
How important this kind of thing is to you depends greatly on what
kind
of shooting you do. For me, getting off the beaten track is my
favorite
way of going out shooting. I can see this kind of scenario
happening to
me again in the future, no matter how good my pre-planning might be :)
For my trip to the UK last year, I carried five sets of CRV3/AA
Lithium disposables. In three weeks and 3500 exposures, I consumed
three sets. With the size and weight of these batteries, even on a
bicycle tour it should be possible to carry enough spares to never
run out of power, and the price is pretty reasonable ($8-10 per set
when purchased in quantities of 3-4 sets).
My camera bag *always* has one spare set of CRV3s in it, so even when
the heavy (and maintenance heavy) NiMH batteries go bust, I have
power for 1000-1200 more exposures available. That's about two weeks
of shooting at my normal rates.
With the Sony battery, that amount of shooting would represent
carrying three batteries each recharged twice. That takes up the size
and weight of two sets of the CRV3/AA Lithium disposables (including
a compact travel charger) and is more environmentally friendly, but
does require some time with access to a power outlet (about 6 hours
to recharge all three batteries fully).
Godfrey
