Video/battery Usage Question

[WALABOOM]

I have a few general questions on battery usage maybe someone can help me with. I have a new canon a540. I plan to us it for video clips as well as pictures. I will buy some 2gb cards, from what Ive been told you can get approximately 2 clips of time approximately 8-9 minutes each from a 2gb card. After the first 8-9 minutes of video the camera will stop! How do you start up again for the second 8-9 minute clip?? I was looking through the manual-maybe Im just not seeing it-how do you start a second clip of time?
If you have brand new AA, (non-rechargeable batteries) should they last for a whole 2gb card of video? Maybe a second 2gb card of video as well? Of course always keep extra batteries, etc. Any remarks welcomed. Thanks WALABOOM.:D

[David Metsky]

The camera will stop recording when the file size hits 1G (8-9 minutes). To start filming again, you just hit the record button and it'll start right up. It's just as if the camera hit the stop button for you. The camera doesn't shut off, it just finishes writing out the video clip and waits for your next instruction.

Why bother with non-rechargeable AA batteries? You'll need a set of NiMH AAs anyways. I have no idea if Alkaline AA's will last for 9 minutes of filming. Based on their performance shooting still images (lousy) I wouldn't expect them to last, but video and stills are very different, so it might work. I wouldn't count on them.

[cwat212]

Only use AA HD or Alk batts if needed.... You should buy a set of 4 AA rechargeables...2400-2700 mahs and they will last for a long, long time. You can find them with a charger for around $20.00.

Recording for 8-9 minutes straight is a long time. I think the most I have recorded at one time was 2 minutes. I have used a whole 2gb card with almost all video but it was 20 seconds to a minute at a time. So I had probably 25-30 avi files. You can take pictures, then video, then pics, back to video etc....

[WALABOOM]

Thanks again for the info. I didnt know there was a significant difference in the quality of pictures taken from a regular set of aa batteries and the rechargeables. I will get some rechargeables and a charger, I just saw one for
18.95 plus tax. One 1gb card for pictures and one 2gb card for video should last me for my first real event taking pictures at an airshow. The canon a540
is small but for me its exactly what I need. Hope to learn and improve on it
and in 2-3 years decide what next direction to take. Thanks again.WALABOOM

[David Metsky]

Thanks again for the info. I didnt know there was a significant difference in the quality of pictures taken from a regular set of aa batteries and the rechargeables.
Oops, perhaps I wasn't clear. There is no difference in image quality based on batteries. Alkaline batteries simply won't last very long shooting with a digital camera. You might get 15-20 shots on alkaline batteries versus 200 with NiMH rechargeable batteries. It's due to the difference in battery chemistry and their discharge curves.

So, you'll need NiMH to shoot at the airshow. I don't know if the power draw is different between shooting still images and shooting video. I keep NiMHs in my S3 and shoot a mix of still and video, and they hold up just fine.

I don't think you need to dedicate one card for video and one for still images. I just shoot until the card runs out and then swap. Unless you really are going to shoot 9 minutes in a single shot I wouldn't worry about swapping cards back and forth.

-dave-

[WALABOOM]

Thanks for the info, I definitely dont want to waste my supply of regular aa's
for the airshow. I have never had a reason to get rechargeables until know.
I was happily surprised that the price of a charger and batteries was reasonable. When I was mentioning 8-9 minutes in my post I did mean in 20-30 second clips, (panning the crowd, shots of the planes, etc). Definitely looking forward to it. One last question, as usual, can these rechargeables
be used for regular items? Devices like small flashlights, radios? I use a ton of
aa batteries with my portable radio. Thanks WALABOOM.

[David Metsky]

Yes, the NiMH will work in any application. I use mine for my headlamp, but not for any radios. Cameras tend to have spike usage, radios have extended steady draw, so the NiMH might not last as long. Still, it's much better then throwing out lots on dead alkalines.

A single set of NiMH 2800 mAh batteries should last you the whole day. You might need a second set near the end of the day. If you are shooting video in 20-30 second bursts you don't need to change the memory card or worry about anything related to the 1G size limit. That only is an issue if you shoot a single video of 8-9 minutes. For most folks, it's never an issue.

[cwat212]

I use my Nimh batts in my kids video games and they last for many hours....10-15plus. Alk last maybe 1-2hours.

So yes they last longer. The Nimh only produce 1.2volts and a typical alk produced 1.5 volts. It usually is not a problem though.

[WALABOOM]

Thanks again for all the great info! Experience and knowledge is a great thing!
As usual, more questions later. Thanks WALABOOM:D

[WALABOOM]

I was wondering if I may have got a lemon. I purchased a charger with 4 aa
batteries. I followed the instructions and charged them, then used them in my camera to practice, after just 2-3 shots it started saying change the batteries. I charged them again today. They charged in less then 30 minutes.
I only charged 2 of the batteries, as I did the first time. I put them in the proper channels, etc....I'll see what hapens.... On an unrelated question about formatting. My booklet says something about, "low level format". The wording doesn't seem to be completely clear. Do you have to use (LLF)?
Is there another format option? Do you only choose (LLF) if as it says, "you think the recording/reading level of your memory card speed has dropped".
I have a speed of 50, so its better than the standard card. Does it mean if
your shooting many photos, maybe in quick order a standard card will be slowed or delayed so use (LLF)? Since my card is 50 and not standard I don't
need that particular option, but use maybe a different one? Wondering since in a few weeks I go to an airshow and will take 200-300 photos?? Any comments welcomed. Thanks WALABOOM:eek:

[Visual Reality]

In the years I have used digital I have never done a low level format, let alone any type of format at all and never had a slowdown or any other problem. I just delete all and keep going.

[David Metsky]

I usually do a format on a new memory card, or if the card was last used in a different camera, but that's about it. It doesn't hurt, and can occasionally help if the file system is badly fragmented.

As to the batteries, did you only charge 2 of them? How come? You should always use 4 matched batteries in the camera, don't mix them with other capacity batteries.

[Visual Reality]

His camera only uses 2 AA batteries.

[cwat212]

look in your manual.

you probably have to change the battery selection from the camera menu...change it from Alk batts to NiMh batts. The voltage is lower for NiMh batts.

[David Metsky]

His camera only uses 2 AA batteries.
Argh, got this confused with an S3 thread, never mind.

[WALABOOM]

Thanks to all for the info. The second time I charged the batteries I got 30 shots before it said,"change the batteries". I will try it again. This time I will charge all 4 batteries that came with the charger, and see what happens.
Also, check my manual, I didnt recall that option about the batteries on prior
menus, wont be the first time I missed something. My camera came with a 16mb card to play with. Here's a trivia question, with the answer. How many seconds of video will a 16mb card shoot? (A) 8. For the camera itself, so far so good. Nice controls, easy to handle, very good picture quality.
Later, WALABOOM.

[David Metsky]

You should be getting far more then 30 shots on a fresh set of batteries. You may need to cycle these a few times (charge, discharge, repeat) or you may have a bad set of batteries.

[WALABOOM]

I think that is the answer. After the last charge its up to about 50-60 shots and still going. Charge, use and recharge, seems to be the answer. I need to cycle all my batteries to prepare for the, 'big show", later this month. Thanks,
WALABOOM.

[reppans]

I think you bought cheap NiMh's or cheap charger. I bought a few sets of "Power2000s" 2700s and 1.25v, and charger for my A710, also a 2 AA batt Canon. I couldn't get more than a half hour of video from any set of these batts, probably equiv of about 100 shots, which is what new alkalines will do in my camera. Returned all of them.... CRAP made in China batts.

Then I bought Sanyo 2700s and Eneloops. From the 2700s I got 3.5 hours of video which as about 15 gigs of recording (first charge by the way) that's got to be like 600+ pictures. The Eneloops, although 2000s, should do 400+ pics from 2 batts and they are much, much easier to maintain, with little to no self discharge problem.... I pretty much just use the Eneloops, unless I'm going to be taking tons of pics in a short period of time.

[Visual Reality]

My Energizers will pull 400 shots or fill a 4gb card with video twice before needing to be recharged...right out of the box, no "conditioning". And that's just guessing, because the camera doesn't actually tell me when they are low. They are still going when I pull them out.

[berniej]

I bought 2 sets of "digital" brand rechargeable ones from Wally World and a same brand 1 hr charger. The batteries would recharge for a few times but then would not hold a charge. Not sure if it is the batteries or the charger but anyway going to go with the eneloops and their charger. Not a fast charger but hopefully won't need to recharge so often.

[David Metsky]

Slower chargers (at least not the rapid ones) are better for battery life. Very fast charging tends to overheat the batteries and shorten their lifetime. Cheap chargers and cheap batteries aren't worth the few bucks you save at purchase time.

[WALABOOM]

Id like some feedback on a battery issue. I purchased a new charger with
4 aa batteries included. It charges fine. But I wish it came with some aaa
batteries as well. The brand is called Digital Concepts, I checked back at the store and they don't carry any aaa of DC. I"ll check and see if they have a website. I have seen, "hybrid", aaa batteries that would work. The packaging says will work with any charger, etc. Most companies always say," use only our batteries and equipment", and so on...Any comments welcomed. WALABOOM

[Visual Reality]

That is probably marketing. There is no reason only their batteries will work in their charger.

As far as that goes, I just use the Energizer 8hr charger with the 4 2500mah batteries it comes with, with great results. Check my thread about S3 battery life in the Canon forum to see what these things can do.

$20 for the pack in stores.

[David Metsky]

As long as they have the same chemistry, batteries are batteries. I charge all sorts of battery brands in my Maha charger.

-dave-

[WALABOOM]

Thanks again for the info! I did check out the S3 thread, good stuff. My concern was in the manual about, "use only our batteries with our charger or
fire/leakage could occur". Naturally nobody wants that. I guess if you can document even one in a million times that it really happens thats all you need. And the lawyers need to keep busy too! Also (Q) for David Metsky.
What do you mean when you say, "same chemistry?". Any comments welcomed. Also, the "rookie" used his new canon for the first time over Memorial Day at the Airshow, with better than expected results. A new shutterbug is born! More later. WALABOOM.

[David Metsky]

Same chemistry = Li-Ion, NiMH, or whatever. A charger that takes NiMH will take ALL NiMH batteries, but it probably won't take Li-Ion.

[WALABOOM]

Thanks again, thats the info I need. WALABOOM.