Camera and lens hire/leasing has been available for years especially for AV. Possibly one of the 1st leasing markets along with photocopiers.

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One of the better charger manufactures did a recall about 8 years ago...

http://www.shawnlam.ca/2009/battery-charger-meltdown/

That charger was supposed to be an upgrade fixing problems with the previous model

So you need to be careful about what you buy.

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Cheap knock-off!!! Read what it says on the Batterylogic site....

** It is said that imitation is the highest form of flattery and
although often copied the BL700N is never equaled **

Please be aware that there are now many clones of the BL700 based on older firmware which lack the refinement and safety features found on the Technoline BL700N. These low quality copies have no association with Technoline whatsoever.

There have been problems with clones bursting into flames. 700mA max seems as high as these chargers can go and remain safe. 700mA is too high for most AA's the bateries do get quite hot. Cool at either 200mA or 500mA... 200mA gets the most power in the batteries and prolongs their life. 200mA is also the recommended rate for 2000mA batteries.

This is one similar charger that gives problems...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd7rUdTkIq0

The latest version will charge 0V batteries (completely flat). Mine is the earlier version and although it's rare to have a 0V battery I have to start them off in a cheap bog standard no-brain charger to get the voltage up to about 0.1V and then transfer them over.

I bought mine from Amazon 7 years ago. Still going strong.
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This charger is absolutely brilliant for AA & AAA's

http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/technoline/technoline-BL700.asp

The batteries you use are fine.
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Not having a Leica is the only thing that stops me
from being a good photographer


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Ricoh have been in a similar position before. When film sales had dropped off around 1996 they realized that cheap cameras had no future and brought out a high price.... high quality camera the GR1 which sold profitably to the pros and keen enthusiasts. It won the TIPA award that year.

https://petapixel.com/2013/05/19/return-of-the-legend-hands-on-with-the-ricoh-gr...

Even today they go for high prices like this mint GR1v in Japan for £1,140.


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SRS list 54 Nikon and ONLY 22 Canon so moans about the shortage of Pentax lenses is a moan about nothing. We just have to accept that people like a good old moan

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They think they don't pay, but there's no such thing as a free lunch

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But you'll gladly pay £679 for a bloody phone

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Rollex is just one brand. Nearly all Swiss watches are priced very high.

The mass market no longer exists. In a few years high spec cameras will be mostly for the pro market.

Pentax have already tried to attract the yoof with multi-coloured and cartoon cameras..... Small Q's .... Flashing lights etc. Maybe they need a Gangsta cam

Cameras are far too complicated anyway due to users comparing tick lists and moaning this hasn't got this hasn't got that etc. I bought a K-1 three months ago and it's too complicated to use. The K-5 is much easier and from what I've seen better also available for £200 on the SH market.

In the 60's and 70's very few bought top marque cameras as their 1st SLR. They bought the cheaper brands and traded up. I went Aries Reflex...... Praktica.... Pentax.

Photography even when cheap is always perceived as expensive.... so you can forget about cheap. Even D&P in the film days was regarded as very expensive so you can't win on price.

Does anyone take into account that you no longer have to buy film? So the camera actually costs nothing when you look at the savings on film.
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