Digital Camera Battery Question

[homer]

Hey camera experts!!

I have a basic 4 Megapixel HP camera that takes pretty decent pictures for my purposes. The problem is the damn batteries. I bought rechargeable energizers but they just don't seem to last, and the camera seems to take forever to power the flash etc. I've been thinking about getting a new one anyway, around the 7 MP range. Someone told me to get the ones with the Li batteries as they last much longer between charges. Is this true, or will I be throwing away more money for something of little benefit? I would really appreciate your input!
Thanks

Homer

 

[smiley1437]

If it takes AA batteries, you should be using NiMH rechargeables. They work much better than alkalines in digital cameras because of their discharge pattern.

Sanyo arguably makes the best rechargeable NiMH batteries. Costco has them with charger for around $30 IIRC

 

[nokiap2]

that's funny, i have 2500MaH Energizers and it's all i can do to kill em off lol, and i'm running a 5MP camera which is constantly powered up and down.
PErhaps your batteries aren't accepting a full charge? or mayb eu need to upgrade like the last comment said, get the most powerful batteries u can, as i said i run 2500 MaH ones and i think u can get right up to 3500 but they can be pricey.

 

[WoodPeckr]

that's funny, i have 2500MaH Energizers and it's all i can do to kill em off lol, and i'm running a 5MP camera which is constantly powered up and down.

Funny because I use them same 2500MaH Energizers, on a 3.2MP HP camera and they don't really last that long.
I believe HP is a high drain camera for any battery you use.
I avoid the using the electronic image display screen and flash if possible and still it eats up those batteries. Alkalines have an even a shorter life. Also those rechargeable NiMH batteries lose charge after a month, so you always have to recharge them.
There was a report about cameras awhile back rating the ones that are high drain and eat up batteries and the cameras that are low drain. Believe it was in Consumers Reports but there are probably other reports on this elsewhere.

 

[l69norm]

.... Someone told me to get the ones with the Li batteries as they last much longer between charges. Is this true, or will I be throwing away more money for something of little benefit?..

Cameras with li-ion batter packs tend to be smaller. I found that the li-ion batteries last about the same length of time or maybe a bit shorter than NiMH AAs. While li-ion has more power per weight, the manufacturers want smaller cameras so they make the li-ion battery packs smaller too.

The big problem is when you want an extra li-ion battery pack or when the old one wears out. Each camera company has it's own battery pack size, so extra battery packs are very pricey.

A camera that takes AA batteries is going to be a bit bigger in size. If you need extra batteries or replacement AAs, it's a lot cheaper.

Funny because I use them same 2500MaH Energizers, on a 3.2MP HP camera and they don't really last that long...

Are these new NiMH batteries? They seem to me to be very sensitive to abuse, charging patterns and fast chargers. They'll work fairly well for about the first 1-2 years, then start dropping off. You can get new 6 pack of 2500MaH for about $15.

Try the non-rechargeable lithium AA cells to see if it's any better. I think it's about $10 for a 2 pack. The special oxy-alkaline batteries for digital camera are OK when used for occasional snapshots.

Regular alkaline batteries don't work well in digital cameras.

 

[tboy]

Another point to consider is many digital cameras are really sensitive to the charge of the battery. For eg: if the battery is half drained then the camera will read it as "dead" yet it will last for months in your tv remote. I know my canon says the batteries are dead and yet work fine in anything else.

I guess that follows with the comment about the rechargeables not taking a full charge......

 

[antlerman]

As I have several cameras and work with batteries alot.......here are some points to be taken

- Alkalines have more power at the start but do tend to drain quickly if used alot for flashes......great to keep some extras in the camera bag or pocket....and they are readily available where ever you go

- NiMH are great and can maintain a better discharge over time ratio.....but do not have the burst of power that Alkalines do at the start....again if they die off you can buy Alkalines for quick start up....but they do have memory problems when charging.....have a life of 3 to 5 years with proper charging

- LiIon are smaller and hold a great discharge over time ratio....more power for longer time......but drop off real fast when they get low....there is no memory in them and ou have to keep one or two around at all times...and within 2 years they die off.

if you are a serious camera user...look for cameras that have a DC input......that way you can build your own battery pack and plug in the camera and never worry bout problems while doing extensive shoots.

 

[DATYdude]

Isn't that a bit silly when you can just carry an extra set or two of NiMH batteries?

A lot depends on your use pattern for the camera.

If you don't use it for a while and pick it up with NiMH rechargeables inside you should thrown in a fresh set. It's also good to "refresh" NiMH batteries every 10th charge or so, by completely draining them and then using a good overnight trickle charger on them. At least that's what I've heard and it seems to work for me. Another option is to use the Sanyo Eneloop batteries, these are new rechargeable NiMH that don't (much of) lose their charge while idle.

Also, if you use the flash, the continuous auto-focus, and the LCD screen a lot, or if you leave the camera on and don't use the Auto-Off setting, all of these factors will tend to deplete your batteries. I have a camera which will take about 100-200 shots per battery charge (it uses proprietary Li batteries), but if I turn the screen off and just use the optical viewfinder I get 10x the number of shots, so I usually run the screen until I get a battery warning and then switch to the viewfinder.

As I have several cameras and work with batteries alot.......here are some points to be taken

- Alkalines have more power at the start but do tend to drain quickly if used alot for flashes......great to keep some extras in the camera bag or pocket....and they are readily available where ever you go

- NiMH are great and can maintain a better discharge over time ratio.....but do not have the burst of power that Alkalines do at the start....again if they die off you can buy Alkalines for quick start up....but they do have memory problems when charging.....have a life of 3 to 5 years with proper charging

- LiIon are smaller and hold a great discharge over time ratio....more power for longer time......but drop off real fast when they get low....there is no memory in them and ou have to keep one or two around at all times...and within 2 years they die off.

if you are a serious camera user...look for cameras that have a DC input......that way you can build your own battery pack and plug in the camera and never worry bout problems while doing extensive shoots.

 

[homer]

Thanks

Thanks for all the replies! I have been using the 2500MaH rechargeables, both energizer and duracells. Neither seems to hold much of a charge. As soon as they die it's back on the charger. Both sets of batteries are less than 6 months old. Must be the charger I guess.. Thanks again!

Homer

 

[WoodPeckr]

Lots of good tips came from this thread.

Are these new NiMH batteries? They seem to me to be very sensitive to abuse, charging patterns and fast chargers. They'll work fairly well for about the first 1-2 years, then start dropping off. You can get new 6 pack of 2500MaH for about $15.

Regular alkaline batteries don't work well in digital cameras.

They are about 18 months old. They are advertised as capable of a 1000 recharges! Yeah right! It came with an 8 hr charger. I can get lots of pix by avoiding use of the LCD screen and flash. Those two items just drain them real fast.
I've seen guys using battery packs they either made or bought, they wear on their belt. This seems like the best way to go because the AAs just don't last long.

 

[Ariel Sanchez]

Well i use the energizer bunny on my red bullet 69 and they don't seem to last that long, hmmmm maybe i use it too much? LOL......just thought this thread needed a womans touch, hehe *wink*

xoxoArielxoxo

 

[The Cunning Linguist]

Well i use the energizer bunny on my red bullet 69 and they don't seem to last that long, hmmmm maybe i use it too much? LOL......just thought this thread needed a womans touch, hehe *wink*

xoxoArielxoxo

Oh honey, you're such a techno-geek.....

 

[The Cunning Linguist]

If you haven't been letting the battery totally discharge before recharge put the batteries in the fridge for a couple of days. It totally wipes out any residual memory build up. All batteries have memory.

That's an interesting idea...where did you pick that one up? Is there any OEM battery manufacturer that recommends this?

not being a smartass, just intrigued...

 

[antlerman]

Very intersting show on Market Place the other night.....makes you think about batteries a little different

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2007/10/31/batteries_not_included/

 

[tool_man05]

I have a 5 mp camera and I use lithium batteries in it and they seem to last a very long time. I was told that using your zoom on a camera is very hard on the life of the batteries, so I try to limit that function as much as possible and it seem to help with battery life.