Digital cameras and touring

We run a 12/240v inverter that charges everything we have (cameras, phones, torches, etc) off 240v just like at home.

Some cameras do have the facility for 12v charging with a lithium battery as the charger itself is capable of universal voltage. I have just a bought a Nikon 7900 with 512mb SD card for $481.00. 7.1 megapixel with the added bonus of video recording in various formats. It also has the capability of utilising both the lithium and AA battery.

cheers

Hi,
As yet I am still to get an inverter to charge the camera, laptop, etc, etc, but I bought a digital with lithium batteries to steer away from AAs. They chew through them very quickly. I have three lithium batteries for the cammera. I have the cannon S45 compact digital VERY good camera, they are up to the S70 now. I am now looking to upgrade to the EOS 350 for use on the big trip.
Cheers
Shawn

Our Fuji has Lithium rechargeable AA battaries which we recharge using the 12v socket in the car using an adaptor.

Everything electrical we have runs off 12V; laptop, phones, camera, lights, fridge.
(We are in toruble if the engine alternator breaks down, must get it in for a check before the next trip!)

Ando,

probably not the case due to the size of the smaller compact cameras, but my Pentax *istD uses 2 x CR-V3 lithiums, but will also accept 4 x AA, which I have used when I have used up the CR-V3 and didn't have any spares. So there may be one or two of the more compact cameras that are able to accept both. But an Inverter is a handy tool to have. If it just for recharging batteries, then you would only need a small one (150W)

cheers,
Sam.

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I did not even think of an inverter - duh! Simple answer to the problem.

Ando

I went through the exercise recently with same requirements, though without as much travelling perhaps. I bought a Canon A520 from Teds, camera, 512MB, case, 4xAA rechargeable batteries and charger for $430.

I wanted a slim design like the Li batteries provide, but went AA instead. With Li batteries, yes an inverter will charge it on the move, but the whole camera has to go on and is out of action for the recharge period. AA batteries you can just swap out in 10sec, and then re charge those whenever. Or, just go to any shop and pick some up in an emergency.

My inverter has charge my phone, UHF, and other simple items no probs I've noticed.

We went with a camera canon s1 Is which takes aa batteries. mainly for convinence. We have a number of aa nmh batteries and are used for all sorts of things torches protable cd/ radio using aa-c size converter etc. It means we only carry one battery charger a Duracell 1hr quick charge.

other advantages include you can always use aa alkline if stuck.

also check out canon s2 is. is a bit dearer but lots of punch for the buck.

Include in your budget a spare battery for the camers..We all know they only go flat when we want to take "that" photo,the special,once in a lifetime..Just that one photo is worth the cost..Another thing to get/carry,no reflection on age as anyone should carry one..A monopod..Like a tripod,but only one leg..Don't get them from camera shop..Buy a telescopic tent pole from Camping shop..Cheap.Solid.Lite..Even adjust a snake's life-style if you have to,with it,while walking in long grass..Just file/grind the top pin to a bevel to fit in the 1/4" BSW socket under your camera..Don't use the thread though..Will slow you down and give you warped horizons..Climbing hills is safer with a monopod also..Can save falls..I used to spend $1000 to $2000 a year on Slide films/postage..Now,nil..But,with digital,we take better pix,as we kill the trash straight away and learn from them..Sorry My Kodak !..Good for enviorn..No processing chemicals..

The other item you really need if going bush for any time is mass storage device for images, especially if you get a camera that has big files for better quality or if you intend taking lots of shots.. I would recommend an Xdrive11, but there are others arround. Mine stores 20 gig of images. Much cheaper than buying lots of memory cards. Can be recharged from your ciggie lighter.

I use a charger available from Dick Smith. It can be used by plugging into mains or 12 volt outlet in car. The charger has a sw for Cadmium or NiFe batteries and can charge AAA or AA size cells. The converter (Note they are NOT inverters but everyone seems to call them that) are the best way to go as you can charger things like mp3 players and shavers etc. or power them direct.

I use a Fuji S7000 camera that uses 4 AAs, and takes CF card.
I use rechargable NiMH 2300maH batteries that last for a long, long time. I only recharge them once oftwice a week, and I take lots of photos. Seem to last a lot longer than the Li battery on my previous digital camera. Four batteries only cost $20.

Everything else is take away uses AAs as well (torches, GPS, handheld UHF etc).
I run a AA recharger from the inverter, but theres plenty around that run straight off 12 volts.

And I have a CF card reader on the laptop to download/backup photos and run the maps.

Cheers
phil

Ando,

I have a Fuji s5500 with a 256 card.

I use 2500mAh Ni-MH that I bought from eBay or the 2100 Ni-MH that came with the camera and the Fuji charger via an invertor, like everyone else seems to. Last for ages with heavy use.

The slightly different thing I do is to use an iPod instead of a laptop to store the photo's when the card gets full. I use a Belkin Digital Camera link to upload from the camera. The iPod holds 30Gb - which is pretty adequate for the odd day trip or fifty!

The other advantage of the iPod is that it has 2000+ songs on it - some seven days worth. A Belkin Road Trip charges the iPod and transmits the signal to the FM radio so you can play it though the car - or nearby portable FM radio at the campsite.

Worked fine on my recent 24 night trip through the deserts.

I use the 2500mAh AA batteries for all torches/headlamps/game boys etc so everything is swappable. I'd put a flat set of batteries in the charger at the start of the days journey and they'd be charged by the end of it.

Regards
Tim

hi, we too had this problem, we just bought a fuji digital camera, we ended up buying a large xd card for it and 4 AA rechargable digital nickel metal hydrates cost $20, and then noticed that Neds (a cheapy shop) has the chargers with 4 digital nickel metal hydrates batteries included the charger works on 240 volt power and off the car plug aswell the cost was $39, the same is available from the post office aswell. good luck and happy snapping.