Originally posted by Rahul
what exactly do you mean by videoout?
Projecting (outputing) what you see on your LCD onto the TV.
Your TV acts as the "larger version" of your LCD, in simple terms. If you've recorded short video clips, you can p/review them on the television - it's also a lot better when you're going through your images, watching a slideshow, or similar on the television, in comparison to the "tiny" LCD (I have a 1.8" - don't take out that out context
).
how are XD cards in comparison to SD, in terms of performance/use and price?
I've never actually used/seen an XD card in real life, but SD and MMC (SD's being 'superior' in that they have a security 'lock' on them). MMC cards are less expensive, compared to SDs. I wouldn't know about XDs - but kimmeh has an Olympus camera and uses XDs, you might like to talk to her instead about pricing -
although she did import/buy hers overseas.
"The majority of imported goods come from overseas"
- G.W. Bush
would you know rough prices for NiMH battries + charger?
NiMH - 4 batteries, 1800mAh retails for about $25 to $28 dollars. Don't pay anymore than $30 for them. Go to Tandy, Dick Smith or any other camera store and you'll be able to buy them. I've got 8 rechargeable batteries (I make use of the LCD instead, when I'm taking photos, as opposed to the view finder which I find fiddley and 'too small' to use, it's much easier taking and framing subjects with the LCD than it is with the view finder/tiny window).
The charger, depending on the type, goes for about $30 to upwards of $80 or more.
I sugest you buy a rapid charger, but they will be more expensive (less than a hundred, some even come with spare batteries, which is a nice bonus). I myself have a "normal" NiMH charger, which I got from Tandy for about $20. It takes about 22 hours to charge (from 0 to 100%) a completely drained battery, but I do 4 at a time and I've always got 4 "full" batteries - two in the camera and two spare.
The rapid chargers will charge from 0 to 75% or so in about 3 hours, but they usually charge to 100% in about 4-5 hours. I would recommend the rapid charger if you don't have patience (or a limited number of batteries), but always make sure you have a spare pair of batteries - in case your camera runs out and you need to take shots ASAP.
There's nothing wrong with standard chargers, I leave them overnight and charge 'em - at the moment I've got 6 full batteries (2 are dead, I'll have to charge them soon).
