Battery Chargers!!

[Phased]

Maybe I just haven't found it on the site, but there doesn't seem to be any extensive reviewing/disussion regarding Nimh batteries and especially CHARGERS. I've found a reasonable discussion at

http://www.steves-digicams.com/nimh_batteries.html#chargers

but it's a bit out dated. I'd almost prefer a ranking of chargers. Any charger I look at seems to have reviews with 2300 mAh batteries or older. There are currently 2700 mAh batteries "available". So obviously it's a fast moving market. I figure a forum like this one would be a good place to keep a running ranking going...

I'd love to hear about your experiences.

Phased

[TampaJim]

Easy ... go to Wal-Mart and buy the Energizer set that includes Four (4) AA NiMH 2500MAh batteries and a wall charger - total $18.

[Fred]

I'm happy with the Maha charger (can't remember the model #) I got from Thomas Distributing. They are a good place to buy batteries and chargers, although I must admit that I usually get my rechargeable batts from Wal-Mart.

[Montana]

I use the Energizer 15 minute charger with 2500 nihms. I have no problems at all with my S2.

[Phased]

I had the 18$ Walmart, Duracell charger. Gave it to my brother. Thought I'd move up in the charging game...

Some of the "better" models (15min, half hour, one hour, etc.) can handle both NiCd and NiMh (though I have no intentions of deviating from the NiMh's). They also have the ability (allegedly) to "refresh" a "dead" battery, etc. Anybody try that out? I wonder what "refreshing" really is.

There is a Sony that has some sort of LCD and some other fancy functions.

Anyone with any feedback on that or the Maha's or any other brand?

Thanks,

Phased

[thrpy]

Have to agreed with "Fred" on the MaHa, I have the MH-C204. It's 110/220. Check out at

http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM

Go thru that site and you get 10% off. It does the best job I can find, without burning up the battteries. I hate getting some batteries and using the 15 minute carger a few times and having them not charge properly.
The MaHa unit does what it says.

[HDvidGuy]

My Sanyo 2300 Mah NiMH batteries don't last long in my S2. 10-15 mins or about 15 shots. If I leave them in the camera for a few days and turn on the camera, the S2 indicates to "Change Batteries".

I'm using a one year old Panasonic charger which came with 2100 Mah NiMH batts. I've tried discharging the batts a few times. All batts are used in a 4 pak set which I never change. I have 2 (4 paks sets) that have the same problem. Up until a month ago, they worked perfectly fine. The batteries are only 9 months old.

I have not tried another 4 pak to see if it is the batteries/charger.

Funny thing, when I put the batteries into a flashlight, it's very bright, which makes me think it might be the camera.

Anyone else have this problem?

[cspratt]

My Sanyo 2300 Mah NiMH batteries don't last long in my S2. 10-15 mins or about 15 shots. If I leave them in the camera for a few days and turn on the camera, the S2 indicates to "Change Batteries".

I'm using a one year old Panasonic charger which came with 2100 Mah NiMH batts. I've tried discharging the batts a few times. All batts are used in a 4 pak set which I never change. I have 2 (4 paks sets) that have the same problem. Up until a month ago, they worked perfectly fine. The batteries are only 9 months old.

I have not tried another 4 pak to see if it is the batteries/charger.

Funny thing, when I put the batteries into a flashlight, it's very bright, which makes me think it might be the camera.

Anyone else have this problem?

I don't think it is the camera per say but the fault lies in the "crappy" batteries flooding the market. It seems that most of the "brand" batteries are actually made in the same factory (in mainland China). Thus, there are lots of cheap "false-brand" products from the same factory out there. These are batteries that don't meet the so-called "specifications" of the brand name manufacturer but are "too good" (for those twits) to dump. Hence they are re-branded and sold as #1 batteries when in fact they are third or fourth rate. The technology does exist to make an affordable battery that will last more than 1500 shots per charge but that would defeat the purpose of off-loading an inferior product on us.

What it boils down to is:

"You pays your moneys and takes your choice."

My S2 came with crappy alkaline batteries branded Panosonic. Go figure! Canon can't make batteries? Of course they can but why bother. We just go out and spend a fortune on crappy batteries until we find some that actually last more than 25 shots or so. This is from a company that is too cheap to give you an SD card larger than 16mb. As for chargers the same caveat applies.

Chris. Spratt
Victoria, BC

[HDvidGuy]

I don't think it is the camera per say but the fault lies in the "crappy" batteries flooding the market. It seems that most of the "brand" batteries are actually made in the same factory (in mainland China). Thus, there are lots of cheap "false-brand" products from the same factory out there. These are batteries that don't meet the so-called "specifications" of the brand name manufacturer but are "too good" (for those twits) to dump. Hence they are re-branded and sold as #1 batteries when in fact they are third or fourth rate. The technology does exist to make an affordable battery that will last more than 1500 shots per charge but that would defeat the purpose of off-loading an inferior product on us.


Chris,
Not sure I understand your logic, is this is true all battries would be a crap shoot no matter what the brand. If you purchase through a rep. dealer I don't think you get re-branded bad batteries.

Leaning more towards needing to properly discharge the batteries to get full use of them again.