Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Shel Belinkoff
It seems that my shooting scenario may benefit from the use of rechargeable
batteries at times.  Although this has been discussed here before, I've not
paid a lot of attention as the use of disposable AA bats were satisfactory
for the then current situation.  So, what's the opinion/consensus of the
better rechargeable choices?

Shel




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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Godfrey DiGiorgi
I've been using a set of Power2000 2400mah AA rechargeable NiMH  
batteries since I bought the DS in January 2005. They come packaged  
from BH with a matching fast charger (with both AC and 12V power  
adapters) for about $30. Reliability has been very high, to the point  
that I added a second set some time ago for backup and for the flash  
unit.

I charge them once a week, whether they need it or not, and my  
average weekly shooting puts me in the neighborhood of 200-400  
exposures. I've never run out of power on normal usage. When shooting  
a heavy session, I've gotten as much as 700 exposures out of a  
charge. I've noticed that if I let them sit in a body for two weeks,  
I get a reasonable but small number of exposures before the camera  
warns me that they're about exhausted.

I bet there are less expensive alternatives and better chargers  
around, but this has done me well for over a year and a half. It's a  
good power solution when you're

(On travel, I pack five sets of AA Li disposables and eschew battery  
maintenance.)

Godfrey


On Oct 5, 2006, at 2:55 PM, Shel Belinkoff wrote:

 It seems that my shooting scenario may benefit from the use of  
 rechargeable
 batteries at times.  Although this has been discussed here before,  
 I've not
 paid a lot of attention as the use of disposable AA bats were  
 satisfactory
 for the then current situation.  So, what's the opinion/consensus  
 of the
 better rechargeable choices?


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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Mat Maessen
On 10/5/06, Shel Belinkoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 It seems that my shooting scenario may benefit from the use of rechargeable
 batteries at times.  Although this has been discussed here before, I've not
 paid a lot of attention as the use of disposable AA bats were satisfactory
 for the then current situation.  So, what's the opinion/consensus of the
 better rechargeable choices?

I picked up two sets of the Energizer 2500maH rechargeables at my
local Target after I bought my DS2. I think I paid $20 for the set
with the wall charger, and $10 for the additional set. So far they
seem to be working nicely, though I haven't done a full day's shooting
with them.
It seems that with the NiMH rechargeables, the battery indicator goes
from full charge down to empty very quickly when the batteries are
exhausted, so it's probably a good idea to keep a fully-charged spare
set in the bag with the camera. I'll probably pick up a third set of
batteries sometime soon to have in rotation.

-Mat

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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread John Celio
 It seems that my shooting scenario may benefit from the use of 
 rechargeable
 batteries at times.  Although this has been discussed here before, I've 
 not
 paid a lot of attention as the use of disposable AA bats were satisfactory
 for the then current situation.  So, what's the opinion/consensus of the
 better rechargeable choices?

The Promaster Xtra Power batteries I got at my old job are really good. 
They've got a variety of chargers, too, from overnight to less than an hour 
for a full charge.  You may want to take a look at those next time you're in 
Walnut Creek.

However, I primarily use single-use CRV-3 batteries in my D.  They tend to 
last months before giving up the ghost.

John Celio

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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Alan Chan
 It seems that my shooting scenario may benefit from the use of
rechargeable
 batteries at times.  Although this has been discussed here before, I've
not
 paid a lot of attention as the use of disposable AA bats were satisfactory
 for the then current situation.  So, what's the opinion/consensus of the
 better rechargeable choices?

 Shel

I have been using RCR-V3, Energizer 2500  Sanyo Eneloop NiMH. I prefer
RCR-V3 for the extra punch on AF performance, not a lot, but every bit helps
for an already deficient AF performance.

http://www.pbase.com/wlachan/image/59260475

Regards,
Alan Chan
http://www.pbase.com/wlachan



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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Brian Dunn

We've tried some NiMH with the DS, but found that they can cause sporatic 
momentary hesitation under heavy use such as full speed continuous shooting 
with autofocus engaged on a big lens.  They recover almost immediately 
though, and are also used in our flash units, changed out several times 
during a wedding.

We are currently using some rechargable CRV3 batteries, recently discontinued 
from the radio place national retailer.  2 in 10 were dead right out of the 
packaging, but the other 8 are doing a great job as main and backup sets of 
batteries for two DS units.  Some of these were purchased at the 70% off 
prices at a place which was being shut down, and others at a discontinuation 
discount price.  We do not use the on-camera flash, which supposedly might be 
damaged by the higher voltages in the R-CRV3 batteries.  One set per camera 
lasts a full gig of 800 photos each, with another set plus some regular AA 
lithiums plus the original CR-V3s which came with the cameras as backups.

If we did not use the cameras so heavily then we would just use AA lithiums.  
The rechargables have paid for themselves, though, at the rate we use them.


Brian

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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Shel Belinkoff
Thanks Alan ... is there much difference between a 2400 and a 2500 battery?

Shel



 [Original Message]
 From: Alan Chan

 I have been using RCR-V3, Energizer 2500  Sanyo Eneloop NiMH. I prefer
 RCR-V3 for the extra punch on AF performance, not a lot, but every bit
helps
 for an already deficient AF performance



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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Shel Belinkoff
Thanks Brian ... your scenario is not at all an issue for me.

Shel



 [Original Message]
 From: Brian Dunn 

 We've tried some NiMH with the DS, but found that they can cause sporatic 
 momentary hesitation under heavy use such as full speed continuous
shooting 
 with autofocus engaged on a big lens.  


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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Shel Belinkoff
Ahhh  so 2400 whatevers (amps, volts, erggs) is the power needed.  Good
to know.  Thanks!

Shel



 [Original Message]
 From: Godfrey DiGiorgi 

 I've been using a set of Power2000 2400mah AA rechargeable NiMH  
 batteries since I bought the DS in January 2005. 



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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Shel Belinkoff
Thanks ... I'll be going past a Target later today and tomorrow.  Maybe
I'll drop in and see what they've got.

Shel



 [Original Message]
 From: Mat Maessen 

 I picked up two sets of the Energizer 2500maH rechargeables at my
 local Target after I bought my DS2. I think I paid $20 for the set
 with the wall charger, and $10 for the additional set. So far they
 seem to be working nicely, though I haven't done a full day's shooting
 with them.



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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Alan Chan
 Thanks Alan ... is there much difference between a 2400 and a 2500
battery?

 Shel

I only have 2100  2500. The latter seems to last much longer.

Regards,
Alan Chan
http://www.pbase.com/wlachan



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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Godfrey DiGiorgi
mah == milliamp-hours, a measure of battery energy capacity. ;-)

Godfrey

On Oct 5, 2006, at 10:42 PM, Shel Belinkoff wrote:

 Ahhh  so 2400 whatevers (amps, volts, erggs) is the power  
 needed.  Good
 to know.  Thanks!

 I've been using a set of Power2000 2400mah AA rechargeable NiMH
 batteries since I bought the DS in January 2005.


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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Kenneth Waller
I've been using 2300 mah Rayovacs in my *D for the last 2 and a half years. 
I bought 8 with their 15 minute charger  a cigarette lighter plug in. 
Normally take both sets with me  can generally shoot all day on one set. 
Haven't kept track of shots per charge but its in the several hundreds.

Kenneth Waller

- Original Message - 
From: Shel Belinkoff [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS


 It seems that my shooting scenario may benefit from the use of 
 rechargeable
 batteries at times.  Although this has been discussed here before, I've 
 not
 paid a lot of attention as the use of disposable AA bats were satisfactory
 for the then current situation.  So, what's the opinion/consensus of the
 better rechargeable choices?

 Shel




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 PDML@pdml.net
 http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net 


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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Shel Belinkoff
Super!  Thanks!

Shel



 [Original Message]
 From: Godfrey DiGiorgi 

 mah == milliamp-hours, a measure of battery energy capacity. ;-)



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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread P. J. Alling
Theoretically 100 mAh.

Shel Belinkoff wrote:

Thanks Alan ... is there much difference between a 2400 and a 2500 battery?

Shel



  

[Original Message]
From: Alan Chan



  

I have been using RCR-V3, Energizer 2500  Sanyo Eneloop NiMH. I prefer
RCR-V3 for the extra punch on AF performance, not a lot, but every bit


helps
  

for an already deficient AF performance





  



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Things should be made as simple as possible -- but no simpler.

--Albert Einstein



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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Alan Chan
In case you might look for cheap RCR-V3, the ebay seller from Taiwan
willbattery is selling the same RCR-V3  charger I am using. He is willing
to accept Paypal and shipping to Canada/US is reasonable.

Regards,
Alan Chan
http://www.pbase.com/wlachan



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Re: Rechargeable Bats for the istDS

2006-10-05 Thread Shel Belinkoff
Thanks, but I'll probably buy locally, or, failing to find what I want
around town, through a US mail order source like Thomas or Newegg.com,
places that I've done business with before.

Shel



 [Original Message]
 From: Alan Chan 

 In case you might look for cheap RCR-V3, the ebay seller from Taiwan
 willbattery is selling the same RCR-V3  charger I am using. He is
willing
 to accept Paypal and shipping to Canada/US is reasonable.



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