Q. I've had two digital cameras, a Canon A85 And Canon A710IS. The A85 took four AA batteries and the A710IS takes two. I use good quality NiMH rechargeable batteries.
The battery life in the A710IS is bad and getting worse. I've had it for less than two years. The A85 has somewhat better life but doesn't have the features of the A710IS.
This problem seems to be an industry-wide problem, not just a Canon problem.
Are there any compact digital cameras out there with above-average battery life?
A. Your best bet may be to get a camera that includes a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery. They go for hundreds of shots per charge and the batteries are usually good for a couple of years. NiMH batteries tend to lose their ability to hold a charge after a year or so. Please note the fast chargers are hard on batteries and can reduce battery longevity. If you get an overnight charger you can get a longer lifespan from your NiMH rechargeables.
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Q. What is your position on adding a surge protection/line conditioning unit to a home theater system? If you support the addition of such a unit to a home theater system, do you have a favorite unit that you would recommend? I understand that there is a wide range in the price of these items. For anyone who may have invested $4,000 to $5,000 in a home theater system, how much more would be reasonable to spend to add this type of support? In short, what's the bang for the buck here, if any?
A. Surge protection is always a good idea. I recommend you plug your components into a surge protector with ample capacity for your system and enough insurance coverage to replace your gear if it is damaged by a surge. (Speaking of insurance, your homeowner's policy may also cover you against surges; check with your agent.) I tend to favor Belkin surge protectors for their quality and reasonable prices.
"Power conditioning" products are a typical example of creating the problem so you can sell the solution. Unless you have an existing problem, "power conditioning" is completely unnecessary. AC power from the wall tends to be clean and robust as it is and does not need "conditioning."
There are only two reasons these products are legitimately called for. One is if your system has audible and visual problems from line voltage fluctuations or other interference. This is most common in rural areas and if you have a problem, you will definitely know. If your system looks and sounds fine as it is, then as the saying goes "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" by adding a power conditioner.
Another legitimate reason to use such a component is to add battery backup capability. This will keep your system or DVR from shutting down improperly when power is interrupted. If you are going to add a unit to your system I would definitely get one with battery backup. Units with battery backup tend to sell for well over $500, but monoprice.com sells a nice unit that sells for under $180. Made by Powercom, it has a 2-year warranty and a $25,000 equipment protection policy.
(Read past columns and product reviews by Don Lindich at www.soundadviceblog.com , and contact him using the "submit question" link on that site.)
