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The praise is truly deserved.
First, let me cover the most important point: Does it work? Yes. The praise that most users express for this item is well merited. I purchased this because, like everyone else, normal batteries just did not last. Ten or fifteen photos in, especially if you used flash, and they'd be ready for a change; even the so-called "Heavy Duty" or those marketed as "Digital Camera" didn't make a difference. Well, both of those terms should be reserved for these power cells; they really are less like a battery and more like a power pack. On my first charge up, which took only 3 hours and 6 minutes - I timed it - I wanted to actually test how many photos one could get. On my smaller camera, a 3MP Fujifilm Finepix S3100, I got 52 photos, some with flash, most without. Not random snaps to see how many it could record, but actually taking the time to frame them, select composition, etc. The camera stayed on the entire time using the full LCD rather than viewfinder, took all photos on highest-resolution setting, transferred between auto, manual, and situational modes, charged full flash about 8 times, and went into preview mode. Three hours, 47 minutes later, I got a "low battery" warning - not depleted - low. I stopped then, sure that I had not overpaid. **Note: These power cells will likely last much longer than 3h47m. Lower resolution may result in more photos. These numbers simply represent an unscientific but strenuous personal test to see what the product would do. Other notes about the product: - All parts except for door are made of hard, impact resistant plastic. - Fold away plug in back makes charger easier to store. - Red and Green LEDs are very bright, no mistake between charge and full mode. - Has two "channels", A and B. Seems to charge sets of batteries best; this may have been an issue with another reviewer who reported issues with using one battery at a time. - Black (body back), silver (body front) and blue (door) looks nice. I have one complaint, though perhaps it's only one founded in pure puzzlement. The door flips open...to the right. When holding the unit in your hand, with the Monster logo at the top and the LED at the bottom, the door flips open to the right. My guess is that this decision was made so that the door didn't close on your hand when loading, because most people will tilt it in their left hand so that it's facing away from them at about 45 degrees; I know I do. My final review: 5 out of 5. Nice Solid Product Monster is a little pricey, as everyone knows, but it's good stuff. This unit is attractive, works well and is nicely designed. Only one very small drawback: unless you have small pointy fingers, the first battery is a little hard to remove. I use a little plastic relay tool to lever it out, which I store right in the charger. But I stayed with 5 stars for this one. DON'T BUY: doesn't work right, replacement doesn't either The charger unit or the batteries (or both) don't work right: I use the batteries one at a time, in rotation to power my Zen MP3 player. Sometimes I put discharged batteries in the charger, plug it in, the light blinks red, then goes off. Only supposed to show either red (discharged, charging) or green (fully charged.) This morning 3 batteries show fully charged, I take one out, it is discharged. All these problems happened with a first unit, I returned it to Monster and after they took their sweet time, got a replacement which works just as erratically. Monster's stuff looks good, but it is the last time I am going to buy their brand. Still charging after a full charge After reading the reviews, just bought the charger. The first charge took about 3 hours, then the led turned green. I accidentally disconnected the power, when I plug it again, the led turns orange, and start charging again. Will this hurt the battery? Nice Charger Compact Design....bought it since 2002.....still going strong...went to soo many trips wit me...and easily fit in ur luggage.... now i use that for my Travel only and use Powerex MH-C204 F for my daily use... can take at least 2 hours of pics wit my Minolta Z2 | |
