Best rehargeable batteries for a camera?

Uproar

Hi all!!! This is my first post on Boards.ie!!! YAY!!!

I'm going to be 40 next week so i'm getting a present of a new camera. I'm only starting to get into photography so i was thinking of starting off with a Fujifilm S4000. I'm not sure if i've picked the right camera? But from the research i've done it seems like a good starter camera, plus its on sale for €214 which seems like a good price, although TBH i'm not really sure? If anyone has any ideas of a better camera to start off with i'd love to hear your views. Up to now i have been using a Samsung PL201, which is a nice little camera, but i want to take the next step!

Anyway unlike my Samsung PL201 the new camera i want (Fujifilm SL4000) can't be plugged in & charged which is an awful shame! So i want to buy good & dependable rechargeable batteries & a charger, but i'm not sure which ones to get?

I heard that the Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries are great for cameras, but they seem hard to find in Ireland. (I don't have a credit card so i can't buy on-line) So does anyone know where i could buy these batteries & charger? Or has anyone got any better suggestions as to which batteries/charger i should get?

I know NOTHING about charges/rechargeable batteries (or cameras for that matter) so all advise would be welcomed! I see some batteries have stuff like 850 mHs or 2500mHs written on the box, what does that mean? & which ones are best for a digital bridge camera?

Thank-you for reading my post, as you an see i'm slightly confused to say the least so all advice will be hugely appreciated!! Thanx!!!

zero19

I use these, I find them really good. http://www.ebay.ie/itm/290418663649?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_3049wt_1163

Along with this charger http://www.mymemory.co.uk/Battery-Chargers/Hama/Hama-Delta-Plus-Battery-Charger-%2B-4-x-2100mAh-%27Ready-for-Power%27-AA-Batteries

The mAh rating means basically how much power the battery has, the higher the number the longer it will last.

As far as buying local, I'm not too sure but you could always get a 3V card to make your purchase online.

The higher the mAh, generally speaking, the longer your battery will last.

I like these;

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=112945

(and they also have a 1 hour charger on there somewhere, too). Good rechargeable batteries can seem expensive up-front, but they more than pay for themselves over time when you get to re-use them over and over.


That said, though, if I were you I'd consider getting a DSLR, instead of a bridge camera. Bridge cameras generally have more functionality than smaller compact cameras, but they're not as advanced as DSLRs for the most part, so if you're planning on getting into it seriously, I reckon you might outgrow the bridge camera very early on and end up a little frustrated.


If you keep your eyes peeled on adverts.ie for example, there are often decent deals to be had on there. I picked up a 20D with a basic lens (18-55) on there about a year and a half ago, for €230. I doubt it's gone up in value since, so if you waited for another 20D to appear you could be on to a winner.

Canon 20D is an old enough camera, having been released in 2006 I think, but I still have one that sees a small bit of use and I still think it's a fantastic camera, especially when you take into account the price. It's not cutting edge technology, but it's a hard little worker.


That said, ultimately it's your own choice. I'd see if you know someone with a bridge camera that may loan you one for a short while so you can see what you think of it. €214 isn't a bad price for a new bridge camera, but if you're gonna end up wanting to sell it to upgrade in a couple of weeks it's probably not as attractive a purchase.

Just something to think about.


EDIT: Also keep in mind the vast majority of DSLRs have their own dedicated battery and charger, which comes with the camera for the most part (if buying second hand, make sure to ask) so the cost of buying additional rechargeable batteries is negated).

hbr

Uproar wrote: »

Hi all!!! This is my first post on Boards.ie!!! YAY!!!

I'm going to be 40 next week so i'm getting a present of a new camera.

Welcome to the forum and Happy Birthday.

I'm only starting to get into photography so i was thinking of starting off with a Fujifilm S4000. I'm not sure if i've picked the right camera? But from the research i've done it seems like a good starter camera, plus its on sale for €214 which seems like a good price, although TBH i'm not really sure? If anyone has any ideas of a better camera to start off with i'd love to hear your views. Up to now i have been using a Samsung PL201, which is a nice little camera, but i want to take the next step!

The S4000 looks like a reasonably good bridge camera. There are a few
better ones like the Fujifilm HS30, Panasonic FZ150 and Canon SX40,
but they are at least twice the price.

You should consider carefully whether you really want to buy a
bridge camera. Most of them use the same small image sensor
that is used in compact cameras like your Samsung. This means
that image quality and low light performance will be about the same.
You will get the advantage of a longer zoom range and possibly a
more powerful flash and longer battery life, but you may not see a
real improvement in image quality.

I heard that the Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries are great for cameras, but they seem hard to find in Ireland.

The best battery type depends on how you use your camera. If you use
it frequently, then you should buy some high capacity Ni-MH rechargables.
These have a typical capacity of 2500-2700mAh.

High capacity Ni-MH cells tend to lose their charge over a period of
a few weeks. If you won't be using your camera very often, a set of
low-self-discharge cells like the Sanyo Eneloop will probably give
better performance.

If you really must have Sanyo Eneloop, you can buy them in your
local Tesco. Duracell Stay Charged AAs which are marked
"Made in Japan" are rebadged Sanyo Eneloop. Be warned! you
will pay quite a lot for them. Last time I looked, they were €19.50.

I have found that Panasonic Infinium (recently rebranded as Evolta Rechargable)
are at least as good as or slightly better than than Sanyo Eneloop.
These are more widely available.

I have also found that Tesco own brand "Ready To Use Rechargeable AA"
perform very well compared to the more expensive branded cells.
http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=270684104

cnocbui

I would echo what HBR said about sensor size. Really, the S4000 has a very small sensor and I wouldn't class it as being the next step.

That to me would be something more like an Olympus XZ-1 which has a bigger sensor and a faster and better lens. It is about €350.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-XZ-1-Digital-Camera-i-Zuiko/dp/B004G8QSTY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1334337084&sr=8-2



The Panasonic LX5 and Canon S95 would also be worth considering.

A 30x optical zoom is too ambitious. 4 - 5x seems to be the sweet point after which image quality tends to decline. Funnily enough, the XZ-1 has a 4x zoom.

Effects

You can usually get eneloops at a decent price from 7 day shop
http://www.7dayshop.com

cnocbui

How do you do that without a credit card?

Uproar: You can get a Visa Debit card from O2.

https://www.o2online.ie/o2/o2-money/

The currency conversion fee is a bit steep so it's best to stick to shops that charge in €.

Uproar

Hi all!!! Thank-you so so much for all the really helpful replies!!! I am overwhelmed by everyones kindness!!!

Yous have all given me great advice, i'm gonna write down all of the cameras that everyone suggested & check them all out! My Mum is buying me the camera for my Birthday, i just hope that she hasn't bought it yet!!! Coz you have all given me really good knowable advice about cameras! I'm thinking now that the fujifilm SL400 isn't such a good choice! You see i really don't have a clue!!!

Also thank-you for all the advice on batteries! With all the advice everyone has given me i feel confident that i'll choose good reliable rechargeable batteries!

& yes, I think that i will deffo invest in a debt card from O2! Thank you for suggesting it! I see so many things on the internet that i want to buy, the debt card is deffo the one to go for!!!

I'm so SO glad that i joined Boards.ie! You are all so sound & so helpful! Its great to talk to people with such good knowledge on photography! I'm going to make a list of all your suggestions & do some research! I'm so excited now that i have got such good advice, at least i have a better idea of what i'm looking for now!!! YAY!!!

Thank-you SO MUCH too everyone who replied! I'll probably have all your heads wrecked when i get the camera, i be asking 'How do you do this?' How do you do that?' 'Whats this button for?' Tee~hee!!! I can't wait to get started with a camera!!!

dinorebel

I just got the HS20 for £216 from Jessops in Derry if you're able to get one from the North it's a great deal.

niallco

Uproar wrote: »

Hi all!!! This is my first post on Boards.ie!!! YAY!!!

I'm going to be 40 next week so i'm getting a present of a new camera. I'm only starting to get into photography so i was thinking of starting off with a Fujifilm S4000. I'm not sure if i've picked the right camera? But from the research i've done it seems like a good starter camera, plus its on sale for €214 which seems like a good price, although TBH i'm not really sure? If anyone has any ideas of a better camera to start off with i'd love to hear your views. Up to now i have been using a Samsung PL201, which is a nice little camera, but i want to take the next step!

Anyway unlike my Samsung PL201 the new camera i want (Fujifilm SL4000) can't be plugged in & charged which is an awful shame! So i want to buy good & dependable rechargeable batteries & a charger, but i'm not sure which ones to get?

I heard that the Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries are great for cameras, but they seem hard to find in Ireland. (I don't have a credit card so i can't buy on-line) So does anyone know where i could buy these batteries & charger? Or has anyone got any better suggestions as to which batteries/charger i should get?

I know NOTHING about charges/rechargeable batteries (or cameras for that matter) so all advise would be welcomed! I see some batteries have stuff like 850 mHs or 2500mHs written on the box, what does that mean? & which ones are best for a digital bridge camera?

Thank-you for reading my post, as you an see i'm slightly confused to say the least so all advice will be hugely appreciated!! Thanx!!!

Good camera, that s4000. And a new version coming out in the coming weeks.

I would recommend Hahnel Synergy Rechargabel batteries. Good thing about them is they are powerful, but more importantly they differ from regular rechargeable batteries in that even if you leave them aside for a few months, they still retain their charge. Much better to have power in your batteries if you have not used your camera in a few weeks eh?

Can get them for €17 in many camera shops, we stock them in Fujifilm | Shop Street and get good feedback from customers.

Griotar

Try this http://www.duracelldirect.ie/