Canon AC adapters - can they get any less convenient?

I just purchased a Canon SX260 HS, and I've been researching AC adapters for it (Canon's model ACK-DC40, or equivalent, to be specific). It appears (confirmed by a lengthy discussion with Canon tech support), that the camera battery must be removed and replaced with the DC coupler included in the AC adapter kit. This is the only way that you can actually plug the power supply into the camera - there's actually no input plug on the camera itself. It also appears that this is Canon's preferred method for many (if not all) of their camera models.

I find this extremely inconvenient. It means that when I transfer images to my computer, or view them with my TV (things I would prefer to do without depleting the battery), I lose the ability to set my camera upright on a flat surface, or on some tripods. Not to mention unnecessary wear and tear on the flimsy battery door and rubber cover.

I like the camera, but I doubt that I would have purchased it had I known this (yeah, I know, my fault for not researching the AC adapter in advance, but who does that?). I own Olympus and Panasonic digital cameras (along with their associated AC adapters), and they do not require removal of the battery (although I wish they would allow in-camera battery charging).

Is it just me, or do others question the rationale for this design? I'd have returned the camera by now (it's still within the store's return period) but for the fact that after many weeks of looking at reviews and reading specs, I haven't found a replacement that performs as well.

OK, end of rant. Sorry to have taken your time.

This is why we use memory card readers and things like DVD/Blu-Ray/Video Game Consoles to handle things like that with our memory cards. Not only are they faster than the internal camera reader, they dont rely on battery power. Even high end DSLR cameras work as you described, so its not something youre going to get away from easily.

I can count on the thumbs of one hand the number of times I've needed to run my DSLRs on AC power, and I haven't encountered any occasions when I wished I could plug any of my PowerShots into mains power. Like Ben says, using a card reader's faster and easier. I certainly haven't noticed any problems with wear on the doors over the card slots on any of them.

Thats normal. I have not seen any camera in years that has had an external power jack. Running it on mains/external power is typically only used for long timelapses and things like that. Is that why you want mains power?

For transferring pictures off the card, any card reader is WAY faster.

The DC couplers are great when you're shooting tethered, but I see no reason to ever connect a camera to a PC for the purpose of transferring images, solely.

A much faster and cheaper alternative to a DC coupler would be a CF or SD card reader.

^^^^^^ What they said.

thedge, your statement "I have not seen any camera in years that has had an external power jack" confuses me. As I mentioned in my original post, my Olympus (several years old) and my Panasonic (brand new) can be operated via an external power jack (I have the AC adapters and I've done it).

As for those who see no need to run a camera on an external power adapter, I agree that the memory card reader will transfer pictures to the computer more quickly. But my preference for actually showing the pictures is via my HDTV, using an HDMI cable from the camera. A slide show, for example, might take longer than an hour, ample reason to run the camera from an AC adapter. My TV does not accept SD cards directly.

Sorry, ben, I have no intention of purchasing things like DVD/Blu-Ray/Video Game Consoles for viewing/showing my pictures. I purchased a camera with those capabilities (particularly the HDMI output), and I would like to use it for that purpose.

And just to clarify, I'm not expecting to use the adapter to charge the battery - can't be done, anyway.