Batteries

The topic of batteries is not a flashy one, but every digital camera uses them, so it is a necessary one. If you can stay awake until the end of this article, you will know everything you ever need to know about powering your digital camera!

Digital cameras are not like film cameras, where you replace the batteries every few years. They are full of complex circuitry and digital controls which take a lot of juice, not to mention the ultimate power monger - the LCD screen. It is essential to have at least 2 sets of rechargeable batteries for your camera (one set for the camera, one set for the charger), whether it takes one proprietary battery or two or more AA batteries.

Types of Batteries

Alkaline Batteries - Avoid regular alkaline batteries; they are not suitable for high-drain devices such as digital cameras and will cost a lot more in the long run (environmentally as well as monetary). If your camera uses AA batteries, alkaline batteries can be used in an emergency, but be warned! They won't last long.

Rechargeable AA Batteries - There are two types of rechargeable AA batteries available - Nickel Cadmium (NiCD - often referred to as "nicads") and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH).

You won't find any NiCD batteries at Photo Express. They are old fashioned and have what is known as a "memory effect", which means that over time they need to be recharged more often. NiMH do not have a memory effect and are much more powerful.

Not all rechargeable AA batteries are created equal. They are rated in milliamp hours (mAH). The higher the number, the better. Your batteries should be at least 1700 mAH to be useful. Photo Express has top of the line batteries rated at up to 2500 mAH.

To conclude, if your camera takes AA type batteries, Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries are the ones for you.

Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries - Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are the futuristic battery packs that many digital cameras use for power. They do not come in a AA format, but are propietary to particular cameras. Li-ion's come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and power levels. They are much lighter than NiMH's, and also more expensive. Like NiMH batteries, they have no memory effect.

If your camera takes Li-ion batteries, make sure you get the right propietary model to fit in your camera. Some cameras also come with an adapter which you can fill with disposable Lithium batteries in an emergency.

Charging Your Batteries

You should have at least 2 batteries or sets of batteries for your digital camera, so that you can charge one while using the other. Over time, batteries that are not in use will slowly lose their charge, so always check your batteries before going out with your camera. Rechargeable batteries have a finite life span based on the number charge/discharge cycles they go through (the actual number varies for different batteries). Therefore, it is a good idea to wait until your batteries are almost fully discharged before charging them up.

Disposal of Batteries

After several years, you may use a rechargeable battery so much that it runs out of life. Federal laws prohibit you from simply throwing this battery in the trash, as it is hazardous waste. You are to take your dead battery to your local battery recycling depot. Don't bother looking one up though, as these facilities do not yet exist. Sigh. We recommend you take your dead battery to Photo Express where we will pay to recycle it. While you're there, you may as well purchase a replacement battery.

Is There Another Way to Power My Camera?

Most digital cameras have an option to plug in an AC power adaptor, which plugs into an electrical outlet. Some cameras come with an adaptor. For others, you can purchase an adaptor at Photo Express. Using an AC adaptor makes sense if you take a lot of indoor pictures without moving around much. Product shots are a prime example.

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