In love w/an unreleased camera?

[ktinkel]

I like to take pictures but I am more of an art director than a photographer. But I like to take snapshots and used our first digital camera a lot (ca 2000) — it was a true point-and-shoot, but with (at the time) decent zoom, so I could catch the shy birds that appear along the river as well as snapshots of people in the house.

Then in 2003 Jack got a 10X optical zoom camera with lots (I mean lots!) of controls. You need to rotate one dingus then push a bunch of different buttons just to go from shooting to viewing, for example. After five years, its main user still has to refer to the print-out documentation to do anything less common than that. Consequently, it drives me crazy, and I never try to use the thing. When I need a picture for my food site, I ask Jack to take it, even though I prefer to do it myself.

Well: Lately I have been seeing previews of the Olympus SP-590 UltraZoom, which is due out in March: Digital Camera Review (http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3852&review=olympus+sp-590+uz), Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0901/09010705olympussp590uz.asp), and DC Views (http://www.dcviews.com/press/olympus-sp-590uz.htm).

Its headline feature is 26X optical zoom — probably more than I would use — but it appears to do a good job with it (aside from need for hand support for the longer range shots). At least as interesting to me, it does a good job with macro shots as well (I am a little hazy on the means for that).

The best part for a photo noodnik like me, the camera has been redesigned, with an intelligible menu interface, big icons, and written labels. It has multiple modes, including a basic point-and-shoot, which sounds like my cup of tea. The other modes seem to offer as much control as any Type A camera buff could ask for without going to an SLR (maybe even with a DSLR).

The only memory card mentioned is a 2GB xD (said to support the Olympus panorama feature). I wonder what other cards would work, as 2GB doesn’t sound like much for as many pixels as this thing could potentially gobble up.

Amazon has its pre-order price at $450 (plus a card, not supplied).

Definitely on my wish list for now.

[terrie]

Looks pretty slick!

Terrie

[annc]

Over in Snarkish, Alan has been answering questions about which camera to buy, and one of the things he has against the Olympus cameras is the proprietary memory cards.

[ktinkel]

Over in Snarkish, Alan has been answering questions about which camera to buy, and one of the things he has against the Olympus cameras is the proprietary memory cards.We have two others, and haven’t had problems with the memory cards. In this case, though, I was concerned at the small capacity. They like to sell you packs of three of them, but one big one should be better.

I didn’t realize the Olympus card was proprietary.

[terrie]

kt: I didn’t realize the Olympus card was proprietary.It may be different now but when I had my Olympus C-4040, if you used the Olympus-branded memory card, you could do panoramas but if you used a 3rd party card (appropriate form factor), then you could not do panoramas but any other short of photo was fine...

Terrie

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

It may be different now but when I had my Olympus C-4040, if you used the Olympus-branded memory card, you could do panoramas but if you used a 3rd party card (appropriate form factor), then you could not do panoramas but any other short of photo was fine...

Terrie

That is still correct but since I have some Olympus cards and some Fuji and some SansDIsk (who make them all I believe) and have not yet tried panorama it doesn't bother me <g>

There's no real downside to using Olympus branded cards since I've not found that they are premium priced.

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

I like to take pictures but I am more of an art director than a photographer. But I like to take snapshots and used our first digital camera a lot (ca 2000) — it was a true point-and-shoot, but with (at the time) decent zoom, so I could catch the shy birds that appear along the river as well as snapshots of people in the house.

Then in 2003 Jack got a 10X optical zoom camera with lots (I mean lots!) of controls. You need to rotate one dingus then push a bunch of different buttons just to go from shooting to viewing, for example. After five years, its main user still has to refer to the print-out documentation to do anything less common than that. Consequently, it drives me crazy, and I never try to use the thing. When I need a picture for my food site, I ask Jack to take it, even though I prefer to do it myself.

Well: Lately I have been seeing previews of the Olympus SP-590 UltraZoom, which is due out in March: Digital Camera Review (http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3852&review=olympus+sp-590+uz), Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0901/09010705olympussp590uz.asp), and DC Views (http://www.dcviews.com/press/olympus-sp-590uz.htm).

Its headline feature is 26X optical zoom — probably more than I would use — but it appears to do a good job with it (aside from need for hand support for the longer range shots). At least as interesting to me, it does a good job with macro shots as well (I am a little hazy on the means for that).

The best part for a photo noodnik like me, the camera has been redesigned, with an intelligible menu interface, big icons, and written labels. It has multiple modes, including a basic point-and-shoot, which sounds like my cup of tea. The other modes seem to offer as much control as any Type A camera buff could ask for without going to an SLR (maybe even with a DSLR).

The only memory card mentioned is a 2GB xD (said to support the Olympus panorama feature). I wonder what other cards would work, as 2GB doesn’t sound like much for as many pixels as this thing could potentially gobble up.

Amazon has its pre-order price at $450 (plus a card, not supplied).

Definitely on my wish list for now.

I have the SP560 (successor to the SP550) after an Olympus 5060 which did not have an EVF viewfinder but did have a superb tilt and swivel LCD panel on the back which made low, high and round the cornere photos easy <g> Alas neither the SP 560, 565, 570 or now 590 have introduced that although it is or was on one similar Sony UltraZoom.

My SP560 has a 18x Optical Zoom but for me the critical is the Wide Angle of 26mm equiv since that is great for indoor or "touristic" photos although recently I have been using the extreme zoom more. I got a wonderful head and shoulders portrait of my daughter in law on a river bank shot from halfway across a bridge across the river!

Things to watch for on UltraZooms are:

-- the delay between pressing the shutter release button and taking a picture which can be as long as nearly a second on the worse cameras unless you prefocus manually or by pressing the shutter release down partway but even then it can be long enough to make action pictures chancy.

-- poor/slow focussing in low light

-- slow/erratic zoom -- on my SP560 which is lever controlled on the body it is almost impossible to accurately frame a picture since it overshoots. The SP570 went to classic zoom ring on the lens but I've seen unfavorable reports on that on Steve's Digicam and in dpreview forums. (I think dpreview is nowadays better than Steve despite now belonging to Google)

One absolutely must have hands on experience with cameras like these and not buy them mailorder untried.

I see B&H list it but with no delivery yet but priced at $450 .... but they do have a 15 day return period (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/HelpCenter/ReturnExchange.jsp)and they are superb to deal with.

[Steve Rindsberg]

Hm. I was thinking of picking up a few big ones for a trip to Japan but after a bit more thought, I jumped at a chance to pick up a stack of 512mb cards from a friend.

In practice, it worked out well. No card holds more than than will fit on a CD, so I can copy the card to the laptop that travels with me, burn a CD or two and I'm safe. I leave the images on the lappie as well. Then I reformat the card.

It also seem to make it easier to segregate the images by place/subject. Leaving the flea market and going to visit a church or temple? Swap in a new card. Wastes a bit of CD space, but who cares at today's prices.

Another way of looking at it, y'know?

[ktinkel]

Thanks for the rundown.

I think shutter delay is one of the things they improved with this one (based on the preview articles). But the proof is in the pudding, isn’t it? (It will almost certainly be an improvement over our C-740 UZ.)

One of the articles mentioned slow focusing in low light, but said it did a good job with ordinary in-door (low-light) photos. Haven’t reconciled those two statements yet.

We used to go to B&H when we lived in NYC — they have always had a good reputation. Glad to hear it’s holding up.

[ktinkel]

True enough. Makes sense to me.

[Mike]

Zooms are certainly improving. This is a hand-held photo I took the other night with my Canon SX100IS. The picture's not perfect but it seems to me pretty good for a camera that only cost £150 (about $225).

The picture is straight out of the camera but downsampled to allow posting - the original is 3264 x 2448 pixels.

[Howard Allen]

There's also the consideration of not keeping all your eggs in one basket. I've never had a card fail, and I don't know how likely it is, but if you go on a trip with one big card and that card goes kaflooey...I kinda prefer to have a few smaller cards with me just for that reason.

[Steve Rindsberg]

There's also the consideration of not keeping all your eggs in one basket. I've never had a card fail, and I don't know how likely it is, but if you go on a trip with one big card and that card goes kaflooey...I kinda prefer to have a few smaller cards with me just for that reason.
Thanks for catching that one, Howard. I meant to add that caveat as well.

[ktinkel]

Zooms are certainly improving. This is a hand-held photo I took the other night with my Canon SX100IS. The picture's not perfect but it seems to me pretty good for a camera that only cost £150 (about $225).

The picture is straight out of the camera but downsampled to allow posting - the original is 3264 x 2448 pixels.Nice! Were you using a tripod?

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

If you get one I certainly look forward to hearing about it!

I agree about multiple cards.

On batteries -- does it use AA cells? If so and you have not done so already invest in a couple of sets of NiMH Hybrid AA cells and a multivoltage charger. They are absolutely wonderful in the way they hold their charge when not in use, in or out of the camera.

Delkin AA 2300 mAh Low Discharge Rechargeable Batteries (http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/delkin-2300-mah-aa-low-discharge-rechargeable-batteriesbr4-battery-packbrfree-4-cell-battery-holder-p-1247.html?SP_id=75)

SANYO AA ENELOOP BATTERIES (http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/-sanyo-eneloop-aa-2000-mah-4-battery-pack-in-sanyo-casebrultra-low-discharge-nimhbr1-free-extra-4-cell-battery-case-p-287.html?SP_id=50)

Eneloop were one of the originals and I see they are using Low Discharge and UltraLow Discharge rather than NiMH Hybrid in the names.

They don't have the same discharge rate -- 2100 -2300 compared with 2900mAH -- but they stay charged whereas I always carried a set of non-rechargeable LiIon cells for when the batteries died and I'm on the beach!

Thomas (http://www.thomas-distributing.com/index.htm) are a good source and do packages of charger/batteries.

[Mike]

Nice! Were you using a tripod?

Nope - just hand-held. It's the Canon's stabilising system doing the steadying.

Next time here's a clear night I must have a go with a tripod.

[terrie]

hugh: That is still correct but since I have some Olympus cards and some Fuji and some SansDIsk (who make them all I believe) and have not yet tried panorama it doesn't bother me <g>Didn't bother me either as I wasn't intending to work with panoramas...


>>There's no real downside to using Olympus branded cards since I've not found that they are premium priced.

It's been too long since I had my C-4040 for me to be sure but as I remember, the Olympus-branded cards were more expensive so I went with another compatible brand...

Terrie

[iamback]

Over in Snarkish, Alan has been answering questions about which camera to buy, and one of the things he has against the Olympus cameras is the proprietary memory cards.They're not exactly "proprietary" but a common development of Olympus and Fuji (my Fuji F30 uses them, too); there are supposedly special "panorama" ones but it's not clear to me what that means (if anything) technically. Other flash card makers besides those two make the cards as well, and there are other products using them. Main problem as far as I'm concerned is that they don't come in very large sizes (which can get a problem as photo files are getting larger with higher numbers of pixels).

[iamback]

Never one card; I have two - and I also have three batteries!

[ktinkel]

I’ll pass your advice along. We do have rechargeable NiMH and a charger, but have no idea about the details.

Thanks.

[dthomsen8]

Here are the Wikipedia links for the XD and SD memory cards:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XD-Picture_Card

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sd_memory_card

The XD card is proprietary, but licensed to Fujifilm, Olympus and Toshiba, and just used in digital cameras. The SD card is used by a variety of devices, including digital cameras by many manufacturers.

My experience is that the XD card is more expensive than the same sized SD card. Perhaps that is not only because it is proprietary, but also because it is not used in such a variety of devices, and hence the volume is not nearly as large. I have a Fujifilm camera that uses the XD card.

There is a lot to know about digital camera memory chips, including compatibility issues with larger capacity chips, speed issues, and other details. That is why I provided the Wikipedia links.

[iamback]

Here are the Wikipedia links for the XD and SD memory cards:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XD-Picture_Card

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sd_memory_card

The XD card is proprietary, but licensed to Fujifilm, Olympus and Toshiba, and just used in digital cameras. The SD card is used by a variety of devices, including digital cameras by many manufacturers.Interesting - but I'm pretty sure I've seen mention of XD cards being used for other types of devices than just cameras - memo recorders or something.

Wait... that's exactly what the Wikipedia article says (so I remembered correctly):xD cards are used in Olympus and Fujifilm digital cameras and Olympus digital voice recorders; Fujifilm also made an MP3 player (xD-MP3) that used the cards.

This makes sense, of course since my (Fuji) camera is also capable of recording a voice note to accompany a picture, and of course video with sound.

[Mike]

Just a thought about batteries. There's an advantage in a camera that uses standard batteries - if you find yourself without any charged batteries then it's generally easy to find some standard batteries.

[ktinkel]

Just a thought about batteries. There's an advantage in a camera that uses standard batteries - if you find yourself without any charged batteries then it's generally easy to find some standard batteries.Oh, yes — and I believe this one, like the two older Olympus models we already have, will work with regular batteries.

[iamback]

I'm in love with another camera - one that's been just released (presented on the Photokina late last year): the Panasonic DMC-G1 (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08091202panasonic_DMC_G1.asp) - the link is to a preview at dpreview.com, the site I like best for detailed camera reviews. But all teh reviews are good, and the owner of "my" photo shop agrees it's a really nice camera though he hadn't been abl;e to play with it yet (only briefly had it in his hands at Photokina). Compactness and light weight are major factors for me (essential for travel, especially when total weight of you luggage cannot be mor ethan 15KG!), as well as a decent pixel count (good enough to be able to try my hand at selling photos online) and a wide range of manual options. And the color :D - I want a red one! it's very likely by now I'll bite (and maybe trade in my old (analog) Canon EOS which I know I'll hardly touch any more once I have a camera like this).

[ktinkel]

Ah — a real, grownup camera (at a grownup price — and then you get to buy lots of lenses)!

Does look interesting. Jack would probably like it. I want a camera for idiots. Or at least I think I do. When I see all the keystone and other defects I may change my mind, but for now, I am mooning over that unavailable camera.

I do like the colored body on the Panasonic. The blue is lovely.

[iamback]

Ah — a real, grownup camera (at a grownup price — and then you get to buy lots of lenses)!Yes, grown up - but at a size and weight of a compact: that's the little (r)evolution here! Not many lenses yet, but they'll come. For now, I'll do with the kit lenses, which seem to be quite good, although there's a Leica variant of the 14-45 already (which at EUR 700 I simply cannot afford right now!), and maybe another.

It feels like when I bought my first Canon EOS back in 1988: that type of electronic autofocus camera was quite new then and they started with only two models and two lenses - lots of lenses (including from other manufacturers) came later. That was the Canon EOS 620 which I traded in for a Canon EOS 5 - which I'll now (probably) trade in for the Panasonic. Not that it'll pay for it, but it will help. :-/

EDIT: Oh, I see dpreview.com has a real hands-on review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcg1/) now! That wasn't there yet when I started researching it.

[ktinkel]

That was the Canon EOS 620 which I traded in for a Canon EOS 5 - which I'll now (probably) trade in for the Panasonic. Not that it'll pay for it, but it will help. :-/Every little bit helps, especially if you don’t expect to use the older camera. Someone else can adopt it.

Do I detect a bit of restlessness? You must be planning a trip. :)

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

Lucky you -- 3in swing and tilt LCD .....

I really don't have time for interchangeable lenses though .....

[iamback]

Do I detect a bit of restlessness? You must be planning a trip. :)Planning? No, dear, I booked!! In fact, just yesterday I made the down payment on it. Such a relief, and excitement, after we both (my friend and I) could not travel at all last year.

We're joining a 35-day trip through Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. We were both immediately hooked when we saw this trip. Another friend of Carla is also coming, and we've started weekly hikes to get into shape (there will be hiking at least in Tajikistan). For such a trip, I simply must have a good camera (it's not as though you can go back "next week" for a better picture) - but luggage weight is limited to 15KG be cause of unavoidable internal flights; so: no lead bags full of film any more.

[Steve Rindsberg]

Planning? No, dear, I booked!! In fact, just yesterday I made the down payment on it. Such a relief, and excitement, after we both (my friend and I) could not travel at all last year.

We're joining a 35-day trip through Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. We were both immediately hooked when we saw this trip. Another friend of Carla is also coming, and we've started weekly hikes to get into shape (there will be hiking at least in Tajikistan). For such a trip, I simply must have a good camera (it's not as though you can go back "next week" for a better picture) - but luggage weight is limited to 15KG be cause of unavoidable internal flights; so: no lead bags full of film any more.
No lead bags, but lots of zip-lock plastic bags, no?

Keeps the bits organized inside, keeps the dust and water outside.

They also work well as compression sacks; put t-shirts and such in them, roll them up nice and tight, get all the air out and zip them up. Keeps everything much more compact (and they weigh next to nothing).

[ktinkel]

Sounds incredible, though arduous.

Do take good notes on the food, please. (And pictures!)

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

How are you planning to deal with batteries for the camera? Lithium or rechargeable, or does it use proprietary which would restrict you to recharging.

Solar Cell?

[ktinkel]

Lucky you -- 3in swing and tilt LCD .....

I really don't have time for interchangeable lenses though .....Me, neither. But I am not a real photographer — just a snap-shooter.

If you have looked at Marjolein’s photos, though, she has ambition, stamina, and a great eye. So this camera looks right for her, and it does seem like a good value.

[iamback]

No lead bags, but lots of zip-lock plastic bags, no?

Keeps the bits organized inside, keeps the dust and water outside.

They also work well as compression sacks; put t-shirts and such in them, roll them up nice and tight, get all the air out and zip them up. Keeps everything much more compact (and they weigh next to nothing).There's a thought... I usually just re-use plastic carrier bags (keep sturdy ones apart for the purpose), roll up my clothes and then roll them in a bag. But I might try out your idea. Of course on really "wet" trips I use canoe bags but that won't be needed.

The real problem will be clothes for both hot and cold weather plus a good sleeping bag, and keeping it still under 15KG - I'm getting better at traveling light but I'm still not very good :(

[iamback]

Sounds incredible, though arduous.

Do take good notes on the food, please. (And pictures!)Following Carla's example, I've started taking pictures of hotel rooms (I always forget them almost immediately) but rarely take pictures of food - good idea!

[iamback]

How are you planning to deal with batteries for the camera? Lithium or rechargeable, or does it use proprietary which would restrict you to recharging.

Solar Cell?The camera comes with a new specially designed rechargeable battery that's supposed to last really long - and a separate charger (which is great: that allows you to use the camera while the battery is recharging, something I cannot do with my Fuji F30); I'll need at least one spare one, but probably two (that's what I got with my Fuji and didn't regret it). Until Tajikistan there really won't be a problem recharging, but once out of Dushanbe I really have no idea - I may have to be able to go one week without recharging. Will need the camera in time to test how long one charge lasts!

Going without recharging also means I'll need extra memory cards - enough to last before I can offload them on my image tank which of course also needs recharging!

[Steve Rindsberg]

Before our last trip, I found these great t-shirts made of some material that's comfortable, wicks moisture away well, and dries very quickly. Wash 'em in the sink, roll in a towel, hang and wear in the morning. They're also a good bottom layer in the cold.

I always toss in a few heavy-duty jumbo garbage bags. They don't take up much room and you never know when you might need them. I ended up making a rain-condom for my backpack on the last trip ... cut a few slits for the straps and you're good to go.

[Steve Rindsberg]

Here you go:

http://www.mattshaver.com/bikegen/index.htm

Recharging and transportation problems solved in one go.

Weight < 15kg ... we'll have to work on that a bit.

[iamback]

http://www.mattshaver.com/bikegen/index.htm

Recharging and transportation problems solved in one go.Brilliant! Easy to take along on the plane and ideal in those old Russian Jeeps we'll use in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Weight < 15kg ... we'll have to work on that a bit.Nah...

[iamback]

Before our last trip, I found these great t-shirts made of some material that's comfortable, wicks moisture away well, and dries very quickly. Wash 'em in the sink, roll in a towel, hang and wear in the morning. They're also a good bottom layer in the cold.Yes, I know what you mean - but that stuff is expensive. I'll take microfiber underwear (same washing properties), my shalwar kameez (very thin cotton that will also dry overnight provided you can make a little breeze or open a window), a few synthetic floppy trousers (same), and one or two long-sleeved cotton shirts. In Iran I'll just wear a camisole + floppy trousers under my thin overcoat, in the other (all muslim but not as strict) the shalwar kameez will be ideal when it's hot, a thin long-sleeved shirt over trousers when not, and appropriate clothing (even if t-shirts may be acceptable). I have plenty of old t-shirts I could take as well, but I'll probably need only one. And for Tajikistan I'll need warm clothes, too! (think layers of fleece, sturdy jeans, wind/rain jacket); and a "very good" sleeping bag (which will mean upgrading my current one with extra down or buying a new one - still have to explore that). But no camping, so that simplifies things a bit again.

I always toss in a few heavy-duty jumbo garbage bags.Me, too!

One weight-saving trick I picked up on a travel forum once: bring (just) a bottle of baby shampoo: you can wash your hair with it, shower with it, and wash your clothes with it! And where we stay in a hotel that provides soap (only part of the trip!), I use that to shower with, to save on the baby shampoo. :)

[ktinkel]

Following Carla's example, I've started taking pictures of hotel rooms (I always forget them almost immediately) but rarely take pictures of food - good idea!Oh, good. Maybe get the recipes too. ;)

[Steve Rindsberg]

>> One weight-saving trick I picked up on a travel forum once: bring (just) a bottle of baby shampoo: you can wash your hair with it, shower with it, and wash your clothes with it! And where we stay in a hotel that provides soap (only part of the trip!), I use that to shower with, to save on the baby shampoo.

I do more or less the same thing, but use the soap for everything. Hair. Hands. Whatever. ;-)

[Michael Rowley]

Marjolein:

One weight-saving trick I picked up on a travel forum once: bring (just) a bottle of baby shampooYou're not intending to travel by air then.

[terrie]

michael: You're not intending to travel by air then.My guess is that Marjolein will pack it in her checked luggage and she might have a smaller (regulation) sized bottle in her carry-on luggage...

Terrie

[Michael Rowley]

Terrie:

My guess is that Marjolein will pack it in her checked luggage and she might have a smaller (regulation) sized bottle in her carry-on luggageIf the tales given by people writing to the papers about the variety of solids and liquids* taken from them at various airports are true, even a small volume of baby shampoo, whose appearance is not so different from glycerol trinitrate (a rather viscous liquid, colourless when pure but possibly yellowish), is rather apt to cause grave suspicion.

*including camembert and several other types of soft cheese.

[Steve Rindsberg]

Terrie:

If the tales given by people writing to the papers about the variety of solids and liquids* taken from them at various airports are true, even a small volume of baby shampoo, whose appearance is not so different from glycerol trinitrate (a rather viscous liquid, colourless when pure but possibly yellowish), is rather apt to cause grave suspicion.

*including camembert and several other types of soft cheese.
There are also tales of people being held up for bribes or deprived of their batteries at some customs points. I'm still going to bring money and AA cells with me. Maybe I won't be one of the few unlucky ones! <g>

[iamback]

Oh, good. Maybe get the recipes too. ;)Now that will be a lot harder!

BTW, I've just pledged I'll take pictures of keyboards in Internet cafes as well - I'm going to be busy!

[iamback]

You're not intending to travel by air then.Of course I am - that doesn't need to go in my hand luggage!

[sky4forums]

I've just pledged I'll take pictures of keyboards in Internet cafes as well
Why does somebody want pictures of keyboards? Seems pretty strange to me.

[iamback]

Why does somebody want pictures of keyboards? Seems pretty strange to me.I came up with the idea and immediately got a reaction that it would be interesting.

Why? Ever seen a Turkish keyboard? If you haven't it's hard to understand why typing English on a Turkish keyboard (if you're not used to it) is very hard. I kick myself now that I didn't think to take a picture at the time. Ever seen an Arabic keyboard? Do you think typing on one would be hard? What kind of keyboard would you expect in Uzbekistan? In Tajikistan?

[ktinkel]

I'm going to be busy!Sounds like it. But you will probably have a great time with it!

BTW: I was joking about the recipes. :)

[Steve Rindsberg]

<g>

The ones in Japanistan are usually roman characters but some of them are in just different-enough places to make touch-typing maddening.

And it can be a little startling to type something at the command prompt and see your backslashes turn into Yen characters. Even odder: it works anyhow.

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

There are also tales of people being held up for bribes or deprived of their batteries at some customs points. I'm still going to bring money and AA cells with me. Maybe I won't be one of the few unlucky ones! <g>

There is a ban on more than one laptop battery I believe because the fire problem with LiIons (and confusion with the Fedex fire/crash but that involved stillages of them). And they need to be packed in a way that the contacts can't short against anything.

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

<< The camera comes with a new specially designed rechargeable battery that's supposed to last really long >>

Those sound as though they may be the NiMH Hybrids which have very low leakage and once charged hold their useable charge for weeks and weeks? I use them in the AA format in my Olympus SP560 and but Dottie in her Canon Coolpix uses a couple of Lithium non rechargeable AA's since she doesn't take many photos and the Lithium ones hold their charge for years.

Does your camera take a standard size like AA or is it a dedicated for one camera battery? If it takes AA then I'd take a set of Lithium non rechargeables for if all else fails use. I used to do that with the ordinary NiMH cells which would promise to fail when on the beach or a snorkel boat .....

I don't remember if you said what the camera model actually is?

[ktinkel]

She said it was the Panasonic DMC-G1. She linked to a preview at DP Review.

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

Thanks -- I remember now. I'll look it up.

I see it's a dedicated LiIon cell, not AA's

[Steve Rindsberg]

There is a ban on more than one laptop battery I believe because the fire problem with LiIons (and confusion with the Fedex fire/crash but that involved stillages of them). And they need to be packed in a way that the contacts can't short against anything.
There's that too. I was thinking of a situation where the customs inspectors in a police state gave a photographer/writer all kinds of trouble at the border; he finally worked out that they wanted, of all things, the AA cells he was carrying to power his flash units, tape recorder and so on.