I wanna digital camera that runs on batteries

loulou2702

My son is off to Cambodia/hailand for a month and has asked for a didigtal camera that he can use- he wont has acess to electricity and so says you can get digital cameras run on ordinary batteries...is this true?
Can anyone suggest any. Thanks in advance, other that that , he's getting a one use/throw away one !

roddydogs

Most cheap digitals run on AAs available anywhere

loulou2702

thanks - I just thought they were type that had to be recharged. feel silly now!
Thanks a lot for the quick reply. will look into it.

Browntoa

this sort of thing would recharge the batteries if rechargeables

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=10438&&source=14&doy=7m3

Universal Solar-Powered Battery Charger



• Universal battery charger will accept the most popular battery sizes AAA, AA, C and D
• Will charge 2 of the same size and type simultaneously
• On a good sunny day, 2 AA batteries will be charged in 3-4 hours
• Built-in blocking diode protects the solar cells during poor lighting conditions
• Adjustable stand to help position the charger for optimum charging
• Dimensions: 170 x 76 x 56mm

This universal battery charger will accept the most popular battery sizes, AAA, AA, C and D, and charge two of the same size and type simultaneously. On a good sunny day, two AA batteries will be charged in about three to four hours. There is a built-in blocking diode to protect the solar cells during poor lighting conditions. On the base, there is an adjustable stand to help position the charger for optimum charging.

Amba_Gambla

Browntoa wrote: »

this sort of thing would recharge the batteries if rechargeables

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=10438&&source=14&doy=7m3

Universal Solar-Powered Battery Charger



• Universal battery charger will accept the most popular battery sizes AAA, AA, C and D
• Will charge 2 of the same size and type simultaneously
• On a good sunny day, 2 AA batteries will be charged in 3-4 hours
• Built-in blocking diode protects the solar cells during poor lighting conditions
• Adjustable stand to help position the charger for optimum charging
• Dimensions: 170 x 76 x 56mm

This universal battery charger will accept the most popular battery sizes, AAA, AA, C and D, and charge two of the same size and type simultaneously. On a good sunny day, two AA batteries will be charged in about three to four hours. There is a built-in blocking diode to protect the solar cells during poor lighting conditions. On the base, there is an adjustable stand to help position the charger for optimum charging.

I bought one of those when I was doing my dissertation in 2002 and spent 5 weeks without electricity in Norway - it's crap and not worth the space in your bag - use the space this thing would fill to pack batteries. I recommend Duracell M3 Power

unrich

Canon A570IS (£110ish) or the cheaper A550(£85ish) both have very good reviews and run on 2 AA batteries. you can use rechargeables. 7dayshop link. Both of these have small viewfinders which will be handy in bright conditions. They also allow some manual control over the camera.

Fuji S5700 (£110ish) for something with better zoom 10X . Amazon link. Again manual controls and a small screen shaded in the viewfinder. Runs on 4AAs

Don't forget memory cards. A 7Mpixel picture in best jpeg format will take up about 3-4MB of memory. So that's between 250-300 on a 1GB card.
I recently bought a 2GB Sandisk Extreme III (it reads and writes fast) card for £12.99 from 7day shop. This will hold 500-600 images. I'd probably buy 3 or 4 of these and review my images and delete any duffers as I go along.

If you get access to a PC you may also be able to transfer the memory card contents to a USB flash drive. So perhaps take a couple of 4GB USB key flashdrives too. If he gets to an internet cafe he might want some web space or a virtual drive to upload his piccies to and back them up.

Flash memory is NOT a permanent record and can suffer failure. Especially hot conditions may be a problem but you'll have to find out about that.


7 Mpixel will be good for A4 printing and will stretch bigger at a push.

Other things: A good case (not too flashy perhaps it can fit in a cheap shoulder bag) The cameras above are not huge. Spare batteries, battery carrier (safe case from 7dayshop). Memory card storage. mini tripod or gorilla pod. A cheap teach yourself photography book to read before he goes. Tom Ang was very good on the TV series and the BBC has some information too.

Have a look here for best prices.

Don't forget that you may get ripped off and the kit stolen. Keep filled memory cards separate/USB backup separate from the camera.

You might want to scan your documents and keep copies on the USB drive too.

Finally, one damned thing you find everywhere in the world are cars and12volts. How about taking one of these 12V chargers. Small cheap and he can give it away as a present when he comes home.

Batteries if NiMH should be 2500mAh or more. OR 2100mAh if enloop like "instant" power NiMH.

One final final thing. If you really want to roll out the experience the Fuji allows filters to be attached. It has a 46mm thread. In bright sunny conditions (we hope) you often benefit from a UV filter or a polarising filter. Kit from ebay for a few quid. And these ND filters to make waterfalls all smoky.

I'd get the Fuji S5700. Only downside I can see is that it needs 4 AAs.

£95.98 delivered from Fuji refurbished shop.

Morty_007

Tesco have a small digital camera for about £9.99 at the moment. Would be worth buying a few if he is unable to download the camera because they only have internal non-removable memory but a cute buy I thought!
Here it is. search digital camera on Tesco.com and then list them in order of price low to high....
Praktica Micro Pix Digital Camera
Catalogue number: 100-1375

cowbutt

loulou2702 wrote: »

My son is off to Cambodia/hailand for a month and has asked for a didigtal camera that he can use- he wont has acess to electricity and so says you can get digital cameras run on ordinary batteries...is this true?
Can anyone suggest any. Thanks in advance, other that that , he's getting a one use/throw away one !

Note that digital cameras draw high currents and will ruin Alkaline AAs fairly quickly. They'll do if your batteries are flat and you come across a MUST HAVE image, but you won't get the normal 200+ shots from a single set.

You could try Lithium AAs; they may last longer - I've never tried.

Alternatively, carry a few sets of rechargeable NiMH cells and recharge them whenever possible, either from mains when available, or using some kind of solar arrangement.

Amba_Gambla

I use duracell M3 power, and they are by far the best batteries I've used. Last for hundreds of shots (using the screen and flash too)

loulou2702

Should add that my son will be 16 years old and maybe a SLR camera is bit too advanced - and expensive to take away for a month to Thailand?Cambodia and not get lost/stolen/wet!
He was looking at this one and I will try and find some reviews for it....
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vivitar-Digital-Camera-8xDigital-Waterproof/dp/B000PIVNQM/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1K6TUITY2KAHC&colid=2UAJ5JIXNUNK5

Amba_Gambla

if you're worried about getting wet/ broken, get a camera like mine....
It's completely ambla proof!
Freeze proof (to -10 degrees)
Crush Proof
Drop proof (from 5ft)
Waterproof (to 10m)

Olympus Stylus 770sw