The review of the Fuji MX-1700 1'5 megapixel mentions that the mains adaptor "also acts as a battery charger", and states "..more on this later...", but nothing more is mentioned!

Question: Does the mains adaptor provided with the camera charge the battery while it is inside the camera? (I bought second hand and have no user's manual).

It seems odd that the charger is twice the price of the mains adaptor when the adaptor looks as if it may do both jobs anyway. So please confirm that the mains adaptor is safe as a battery charger while the battery (lithium iron NP 80) is in the cam. Also give instructions as to the charging procedure.

Thanks

J Tate UK

-- john Tate (jaytee_777@yahoo.com), August 10, 2000

Answers

Most digicams that come with a proprietary rechargeable battery like the newer Fuji's or Toshiba models also come with an adaptor/charger "walwart" transformer. You just install the battery in the camera and plug in the adaptor. On the Toshiba models I have, the power light comes on in the viewfinder just as if the camera were turned on and indicates the status of the charge.(red charging, green done...)

The reason the separate chargers for these models are more expensive is usually that the separate charger is a Fast Charger! Usually they'll recharge a drained battery in 60-70 minutes. The adaptor powering the in-camera charger usually takes 5 or more hours. That seems to be the general time period anyhow.(C/5 Capacity/5hours is a standard rate) Some older models may take overnight.

Considering that fast chargers aren't really too difficult to design these days with one chip solutions, perhaps profit is a better explanation for why they cost so much... ;-) That said, I also have a digital camera that takes NiMHs. If I forget to charge a set or neglect to keep them on trickle, I'm out of luck for around 6 hours, since I only have a moderate charger and a trickle unit for the NiMHs. With the new Li-Ions and a fast charger I'm going in an hour.

-- Gerald M. Payne (gmp@surferz.net), August 10, 2000.