Originally posted by fejker Compatibility ... I need my batteries for my camera I don't carry an RC car with me to a photo shoot. Flash you say ... wouldn't that render your camera useless (taking the batteries out of the camera and putting them in your flash)
Yes, but in an emergency I can take the batteries
out of my flash (which I use much less) and put them
in my camera. How did you not think of that option? In a pinch I would much rather have a camera and no flash than no camera and a working flash.
Originally posted by fejker Easier to manage ... hmmm, so you're saying managing 4 bits is easier than managing one bit ... that's odd.
No, read what I actually said: "you need only one charger, not a different one for every device. And only one pool of batteries (AA), not new ones all the time." Whether there are four units or one makes no difference to me.
Originally posted by fejker More environmentally friendly ... I won't argue, because I honestly don't know which battery is environmentally more friendly and I actually don't give a damn because the "environmentally friendly" is just a trend these days.
Ignorance is bliss. But it's never a sound argument.
Originally posted by fejker And what's with all the "AAs are available everywhere" ... I'm yet to have that urge to just buy a set of proprietary batteries when I'm on the go - they usually just work and last longer than I need them to.
Well, then you have more limited needs than others. Fine. But this is not a counter-argument for those who might be shooting in the Amazon basin or the middle of the Congo. Or even if you are downtown and find an unexpected political demonstration worth shooting for an hour. Batteries get low? Pop into a variety store and you are sorted. You can always find AA batteries, all ready for use. But you may not be able to find a place to plug in your Pentax charger. And you might not be able to afford the time.
Originally posted by fejker Cheaper products ... nonsense Eneloop batteries cost 15 EUR (a pack of 4) and are rated for 1000 cycles, the LI50 costs 35 EUR and you can probably get it cheaper and let me see ... four years of charging and discharging and it's still working great.
If you are going to compare, please stick to the same criteria. What is the duty cycle of the LI50? Are those "cheaper" versions of the proprietary batteries as good? I know they aren't since I use them.
Maybe you have a crappy charger and are basing your statements on that. Buy one nice reconditioning charger and it will handle all your batteries forever, extending their life in the bargain. Whoops! Not the proprietary ones though!
As for cheaper, you are not factoring in the price of different rechargers. If you buy a new body that comes with one, you are paying the hidden price.
Originally posted by fejker LI50 or LI90 for that matter rock even more. And the best thing, I only need two proprietary batteries for each camera.
Plus the proprietary chargers, proprietary cables and all sorts of other rubbish. My AAs run in my digital recorders (two models), MP3 player, K-x, flash, etc. etc. all without needing to keep track of which recharger does what and which type of batteries I have where. Just throw a handful of spare AAs in the bag before a trip. Or one charger. That's the wonder of standardisation.
Meanwhile, even over the course of a few years one needs different chargers for K10D, K-7 and whatever comes next. Not to mention all the other devices. That's just silly.
Conclusion: I recognise there are arguments for and against AA batteries and don't get too hung up on which I have. But I know what I prefer and I'm glad Pentax recognises this with the K-r.
Though the fact that the adapter is not included rather ruins the whole feature.