Digital cameras - I'm confused

[Woolly One]

Hi, I know there have been other threads asking for advice on digital cameras, but I can't find my answer in there.

We are looking to replace our old Trust 910Z, as it appears to be eating batteries now - even brand new AA's. It's the battery type and life that gets me. Am currently looking at the one :-
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/st...s=samsung+l600

It has a Li-lon battery, so how does it charge? thru the USB or would there be a seperate charger? And how long would a charge last? I've tried Uncle Google but cannot find a review of this one, to see if it's any good.

Even if we don't go for this one, can I please have some help on digital camera batteries, and what I should be looking for with our Apprx £100 budget.

Thanks in advance

[Paul K]

If it's anything like the L700 the battery charged inside the camera via a lead you plug into the mains or through a USB style lead to the PC.

[fireman328]

I have an Olympus D-380, Quite old, and that takes 4 X AA re-chargeable batteries. The batteries. Or it can be charged by using a lead which has a standard mains plug at 1 end and a small USB plug at the other, or it will take disposable AA if no others are available

[altis]

You may also be interested in the Fujifilm Finepix F20 which is (was) available in Tesco stores for £67. This has a much better sensor than the Samsung to give nicer colour tone and lower noise in low-light shots.

Some details here:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...hread=25417102

To find out the battery life of a camera you'll have to do quite a bit of digging. Check out the information available on some of these site:
http://www.dpreview.com/
http://www.steves-digicams.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/
http://www.dcresource.com/
and, in particular:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/best_cameras.html

May I suggest you first ask yourself what sort of camera you want: compact, bridge, SLR or any shade in between. Then think about other considerations like: does it need to be weatherproof; will you be spending a long time (days) away from the mains; do you have any existing flash cards that you want to use; do you want full manual control; might you want to use an external flash; might you want to use a cable release? If you think you're going to want to take any photos indoors then have a good read of this article:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/compactcamerahighiso/
You'll see that Fuji makes some excellent sensors. But beware, not all of their cameras use their own sensors!

You can get a Fuji S6500fd (known as S6000fd in USA) from around £140 (PC World). This has the same sensor as the F31fd mentioned in the article but with a manual zoon lens on the front. Why on earth the manufacturers thought we needed motorised zooms I shall never understand! I'd avoid the S5700 as this has a poor, non-Fuji, sensor.

And don't forget to factor in the cost of spare batteries, flash cards and, if appropriate, skylight filter and tripod.

IMHO, it's a good idea to get a camera that uses standard AA cells rather than some proprietary (expensive) battery. If you choose a camera with AAs then definately get some Sanyo Eneloop cells and a NiMh charger. These are the Mutt's Nuts.

Note that I've have a Fujifilm S9500 so I get to hear more info about their cameras so I'm biased!

[Nanook]

If you don't mind having a largish camera I'd stretch my budget a little & go for one of these...(I have the old 5600) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fuji-FinePix-S5700-Digital-Camera/dp/B000PH5IWI/ref=sr_1_1/202-8811475-1327804?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1194095994&sr=1-1

& one of these...(not that fast but is quite flexible)
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/prod...ucts_id=101271

& a couple of sets of these...(I think they're about the highest capacity rechargable AAs I've found)
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/prod...ucts_id=101842

Don't be put off rechargable AAs, this camera takes 4 of them & they last for AGES if propperly charged.

[Halcyon]

Most camera's with rechargable battery packs should allow you to pop the battery out and charge it in a charger that comes with it.

[peanut]

I remember my first Fuji finepix, it took 4 AA batteries (swapped with rechargables), I was lucky to get 30 shots before all 4 went flat. At least that's all changed now (I think), but with my D40x I can now get about 500 shots, then recharge the battery in about 45 minutes. I find the battery life was one of the main factors for me in choosing the camera I have now.

[Woolly One]

Originally Posted by peanutkp

I find the battery life was one of the main factors for me in choosing the camera I have now.

Thanks all for the replies - The battery life is also my main concern. I will look into all the suggestiions given, and go from there.

p.s. peanut, might bump into you @ Christchurch Park tonight !

[Jon T]

Originally Posted by peanutkp

I remember my first Fuji finepix, it took 4 AA batteries (swapped with rechargables), I was lucky to get 30 shots before all 4 went flat. At least that's all changed now (I think), but with my D40x I can now get about 500 shots, then recharge the battery in about 45 minutes. I find the battery life was one of the main factors for me in choosing the camera I have now.

Yeah, it's changed quite a lot, I get at least 250-300 pictures with my finepix s6500.

Wooly One: if your considering a camera with a battery pack as opposed to one that takes normal AA batteries, remember that a spare battery pack will probably cost more than just buying a 4/8 AA's.

[altis]

To throw in yet another suggestion - how about the Canon A95. It's an end-of-line model now but is still a crackin' camera. Although the low-light performance of the Fujifilm cameras will be better.
Only £85 from eBuyer with a free delivery option too.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/73074
Mint examples are going for more than this on eBay!

Some more info:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona95/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/A95/A95A.HTM
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/a95.html
and a little out of date:
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/26...al-camera.html

And it takes AA cells and CF cards too!!!

[SMHarman]

I had an A80, the predecessor to the A95, also a fantastic camera. As the dp review site says, A95 an improved A80.

[Matth]

With no charger mentioned (for the first one) it is USB charging - looking at the Samsung site, it appears that a Samsung charger for phones or media players can also be used, but no charger is supplied.

Personally, I would be reluctant to consider anything that does not run on NiMH AA, due to the far lower cost of of a considerable amount of reserve power in that format. Equally, I'd prefer generic SD card capability, to more exotic formats that cost more. Some camera makers seem to be looking enviously at the Inkjet printer makers attempted stranglehold on supplies.

[SMHarman]

And the Canon running on AA batteries CF cards meets both your demands for generic products. Though I am happy they did not try to run my EOS 300D on AA batteries.

I know what you mean though it annoys the crap out of me that the only way to charge my iPod shuffle is by USB with 500W of computer PSU turned on.

Note - the ebuyer link trys to sell you the camera with an SD card. That be aware that card will not work in that camera.

[altis]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

I know what you mean though it annoys the crap out of me that the only way to charge my iPod shuffle is by USB with 500W of computer PSU turned on.

You can buy separate plug-top chargers with a USB output, eg this one:
http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/search/pr...sp?SKU=CS13109

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by altis

You can buy separate plug-top chargers with a USB output, eg this one:
http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/search/pr...sp?SKU=CS13109

Thanks 9 quid , $18 plus shipping, well that is about $25 which is about 2 weeks of my leccy bill and being as it only needs charging every 12 hours or every couple of weeks. I only wear it when I am running, my classic iPod and K800i are my usual on the go music players.
I'll manage, it just annoys me if it is flat and I am not using the computer as also the fan is sufficiently noisy so I have to turn up the volume on the TV.