Rechargeable Battery Recommendation for PowerShot SX10 IS?

[beema]

Hello there,
This is my first post on your great forum, apologies if it's a bit verbose.
I did a few searches, but none turned up any threads that answered my questions satisfactorily.

I am about to buy the SX10 IS, but my previous experience is all with cameras that use rechargeable lithium batteries, so I don't know a whole lot about NiMh AA batteries. I probably would have already bought the camera if not for this issue actually.

I will be using the camera at day-long outdoor events, with limited or no ability to recharge batteries. I will be shooting both video and stills. If I had to guess, probably 30-minute periods of use, partitioned by hour or so periods of rest.
For obvious reasons, I'd rather not be toting around a huge sack full of AA batteries, rechargeable or otherwise, as backups for the ones in the camera.

I've noticed, while doing research online, that there are lots of rave reviews about Sanyo Eneloop, or similar "pre-charged" batteries.
However, these reviews have mostly been in the context of the batteries retaining a charge over extended periods of storage, which I do not particularly care about.
Initially I thought that the only thing I should be concerned about for my aforementioned usage was the mAh rating, but after reading further, I've heard many people say they got longer usage out of batteries with lower mAh ratings, so I'm a bit confused.

So...

...Are these "pre-charged" batteries what I should be looking for, or should I go with something like Duracell's which have a larger 2650mAh rating?

Additionally, I am interested in your experience with quick-chargers, mostly as they pertain to compatibility.

Since the few occasions I will have to recharge my batteries will be fairly short, I don't have the luxury of using something nice like the LaCrosse BC-900 (or similar).
I've looked into the 15-minute charger offerings from Energizer and Duracell, and they look like they will do the job for me.
I've read people speculating that they will degrade the life of the battery more rapidly over time than a slower charger, but this isn't something that concerns me too much.

Would one of these 15-minute chargers work with the "pre-charged" type batteries (if indeed that is what I should use), or would using them on it just be a waste of money?


Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to read this!

oh and ps: not as important, and unrelated, but will 16GB SDHC cards work ok in this model?

[pci2000]

I did the research already, and just bought my SX10 last week.

I highly recommend Sayno Eneloops (http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-Eneloop-Pre-Charged-Rechargable-Batteries/dp/B000IV0REA/). There's a great thread on it here:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=684058

Also, I have the Transcend 16GB SDHC Class 6 card (http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-Class-Memory-Reader-TS16GSDHC6-S5W/dp/B0010Z28XG) on my SX10. It works just fine.

I bought the batteries w/charger and the Transcend card on Amazon.

[Jon]

I'm using only Eneloops for my SX1, A630 and assorted flashes. The shelf life of regular NiMH dry cells isn't a factor only if you expect to "use up" the charge in less than a week.

I don't use quick chargers because heat is the enemy of batteries; using Eneloops, my spare batteries can sit around a while without going flat, so having several sets and using slow chargers isn't an issue.

Yes, it'll take 16 GB cards, but bear in mind that unless you're doing a lot of video, a 16 GB card is probably overkill. 4 GB is good for around 1/2 hr. of 640x480x30 fps video, and is the longest single clip the SX10 is capable of. If you're shooting Large Superfine stills, you can fit a little more than 200 images on 1 GB, so a 16 GB card will leave you with a huge collection of photos to sort through if you wait until it's filled to do anything; if you're emptying it regularly, you're probably not needing more than 1/4 that size.

[Veemac]

I just received my LaCrosse BC-900 and 4 sets of Eneloops yesterday, so I obviously can't speak to their long-term usage - but the BC-900 has 6 different charge rates, the fastest of which will charge a set in about 70 minutes. Given the scenario you laid out, that still sounds a little too slow for your intended usage. But given the fact that you'll get somewhere around 500-600 shots out of a set of batteries (less if you do a lot of chimping), you probably wouldn't need more than two sets of spares plus what's in the camera to get you through a day. Alternately, you could get something like the Maha C-204 (another excellent charger) with a car adapter, and have your spares charging in your car while you shoot.

I've used several different brands of 15-minute chargers and batteries - the chargers definitely do get the batteries cookin' hot, but even so I've always gotten at least a year (or more) of life out of battery sets. I'd still use one in a pinch if I had to, but I'd prefer to plan ahead and just carry an extra set or two of spares instead.

As far as the SDHC card goes, I have a freshly formatted 8GB card in my SX10is and it shows 1768 frames remaining (Large, Superfine). If you're planning on shooting more than that, or a lot of video, the 16GB card may suit your needs better. I carry the 8GB in the camera and a spare 4GB card, but I can't imagine shooting >2500 images in a day.

[beema]

using Eneloops, my spare batteries can sit around a while without going flat, so having several sets and using slow chargers isn't an issue.

I hadn't thought about it that way.
So since Eneloops don't lose a charge very easily I guess I could just charge 1-2 backup sets and keep them in my bag and not have to worry about recharging any until I was actually able to use a slower charger.

So the only question remaining for me is, would the amount of time I'd be able to use the Eneloops for be significantly less than the Duracell 2650mAh's (since the Eneloops are 2100mAh I think)?

As for the sdhc card:
http://dealnews.com/Kingston-16-GB-SDHC-Secure-Digital-Class-4-Card-for-32-free-shipping/292706.html
with a deal like that (being the same price as 2x8gb cards), I figure I might as well just get a 16gb so I have less cards floating around to worry about keeping track of.

[pci2000]

As for the sdhc card:
http://dealnews.com/Kingston-16-GB-SDHC-Secure-Digital-Class-4-Card-for-32-free-shipping/292706.html
with a deal like that (being the same price as 2x8gb cards), I figure I might as well just get a 16gb so I have less cards floating around to worry about keeping track of.

First off, sorry to be off-topic on this.

The website you have shows a Class 4 card. From what I've been reading, it's recommended to get a Class 6 for faster speed. Also, if you decide to go SLR in the future (or decide to get an SX1), you can use the Class 6 card, and probably not be able to use the class 4. All in all, both classes cost about the same.

Here's a Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Digital_card) article explaining the SDHC and class differences.

In my previous response, I had a link to the card with a card reader. It's just under $40 and shipped directly through Amazon.

[Jon]

You'd be able to use the Class 4 in any SDHC device. It may not be as fast as the Class 6, but it'll still work. You might see the difference in shooting HD video, or if you fill the camera's buffer. You probably will if downloading with a card reader.

[skid00skid00]

I've recorded a bunch of full HD videos to my Sandisk class 4 cards, with no stutters. YMMV.

I also got an 8-cell Maha charger, and 8 Powerex 2700 mAh cells. These are getting longer-lasting after the first few charge/discharge cycles in camera, and are lasting thru several hours of constant-on shooting sessions. I got them from Thomas Distributing, who have been a great battery/charger resource on the web for at least the last 10 years. I'm a happy customer, with no business or other links to them :).

[hawaiiboy]

We have been using the Rayovac Hybrid rechargables in our
cameras for over a year now and I have been using them in the SX10
since buying it at Christmas and we have been very happy with
their performance.
From what I have read they are very similar to the Eneloops.

[beema]

Here's a Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Digital_card) article explaining the SDHC and class differences.

In my previous response, I had a link to the card with a card reader. It's just under $40 and shipped directly through Amazon.

Thanks, I'll look into it

We have been using the Rayovac Hybrid rechargables in our
cameras for over a year now and I have been using them in the SX10
since buying it at Christmas and we have been very happy with
their performance.
From what I have read they are very similar to the Eneloops.

I've heard that the Rayovac Hybrid batteries ONLY work with the Rayovac hybrid charger, and vice-versa. If this is true I'm not going to even bother looking at them.

So can anyone speak to my question:
...would the amount of time I'd be able to use the Eneloops for be significantly less than the Duracell 2650mAh's (since the Eneloops are 2100mAh I think)?
This goes for any "hybrid" battery vs that with a high mAh rating.
Can someone clear this up for me?

ALso, does anyone have a link to this Maha charger?

[Veemac]

...ALso, does anyone have a link to this Maha charger?
It's here:

http://www.thomas-distributing.com/maha-powerex-mh-c204w-nimh-battery-charger.htm