Battery life on Canon A series (esp A540), how well do they work?

[nerobanchee]

Wow! I am impressed. I am happy he puts up so many of his pics The A 620 is the camera I am thinking of getting when I have a little more money.

 

[alcina]

One note...the A620 uses four AA batteries and will (should) have a longer life. The A520/540s use only 2 AA batteries so I would say you will definitely have to change batteries between dives to be safe. I just picked up a 520 and will post info on battery life as soon as I got it. I bought the camera because I love the A series cameras and it was a total steal as I bought it in a bundle with a prnter I was going to buy anyway and there was a rebate...printer and camera for $179. Worked for me.

 

[SwimJim]

If you use rechargable batteries, they will last through two tanks pretty easy. The A520 will chew threw regular alkalines pretty fast though. Rechargeables will take you through about 250 shots with out replacement.

Jim

 

[alcina]

Thanks, Jim. I never use non-rechargeables so that's good info for me!

 

[nerobanchee]

Do you think that this camera's flash is efficient enough for lower visability? I am in Northern Calif. and the water here is a little... hard to see in.

 

[alcina]

The internal flash will only be effective for a few feet - I'd say roughly 5 as a maximum. The internal does great at 3-4 feet, more or less.

If your subject is farther away than that, you need 1) external strobe or 2) manual white balance.

 

[nerobanchee]

Well, thats good because thats about all I can see up here! I would be taking pics of small anenomes and nudibranchs mostly.

 

[jeraldjcook]

Well, thats good because thats about all I can see up here! I would be taking pics of small anenomes and nudibranchs mostly.

The internal flash works great for macro shots. Although if you get too close, less than 2", you get a shadow from the housing. The macro mode on the A620 is good out to a distance for 2' so in the poor vis water I dive in I never need to use the standard mode.