Batteries

[Tina_B]

What are the best batteries to use for digital photos? I use ones that I can recharge and carry extra with me at all times. Sometimes when I need the new batteries they do not work. Do they lose charge if they sit a while? I know that I charged them and the indicator on the charger says they are full charge. They may take two maybe three pictures and dead as a door nail.
Most of you know more than I do on this subject so I would like some information from you, please !
Tina B

[Mack]

Hi Tina,

I assume that you are using AA OR AAA batteries as opposed to an OEM battery. You are right in that they don't have a long shelf life after recharging, at least in my experience. It is best to always leave with newly charged batteries. Very frustrating to be where you want to be and have dead batteries. I have been using Duracell 2650mh rechargeables and they seem pretty good. The bigger the mh the better, and generally, the more expensive.

Don

[Rusty]

I have also found that after several years rechargeable batteries will lose their ability to hold a charge. This is true of batteries for power tools as well. For the latter I buy a very expensive battery pack made and sold by the tool manufacturer -- they too have a rechargeable life.

I talked to a carpenter this summer; he had the same "professional grade" power tool that I use. Told me that he replaced his battery packs after less than a year of use!

Most of the literature on this (you can Google) says the batteries will take a longer lasting charge if you let them run all the way or most of the way down before recharging. I believe battery technology has improved in recent years, that may not still be the case for battery packs but I think it probably is for AA and AAA.

If your charger has both a "slow" and "fast" option, the slow charge seems to take better.

Rusty

[baycruisers]

I highly recommend Sony's Eneloop hybrid batteries, available at Best Buy, online, etc. They come in the usual sizes and hold a charge far longer than normal rechargeables. I bought 8 for our trip to Crete and took a charger to be on the safe side, but didn't have to use it. They cost more but are well worth it for reliability.

[NickLewis]

Tina,

This is a nightmare question......

All rechargeable batteries have a limited service life, and a shelf life over which they hold their charge after recharging.

Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries suffer quite badly from a thing called "memory effect" - if you don't fully discharge them every so often, they remember the level at which you last charged them, and will subsequently only discharge to that level. Nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries also suffer from this, but to a lesser extent. This may well be what you're seeing - you shouldn't just constantly top these types of batteries up.

Lithium-Ion (Lion) batteries don't suffer from a memory effect, but don't take well to being fully discharged. They can and should be topped up.

So the answer depends what battery type you're using. Either of the nickel types should be run pretty well flat, then fully recharged. Have a rota for your battery sets/packs. If possible, try to go out with a freshly charged set. However, don't store batteries for prolonged periods in a fully discharged condition. This can cause them to "self-discharge" below a level at which you can successfully recharge them.

In addition precise performance depends how you store them and use them. In general, try to store them in cool places. Type for type, very cheap batteries are likely to have cheaper, less pure chemical mixes in them and not perform as well as more expensive ones. However, whether that outweighs the substantial premium that you pay to have a camera or laptop manufacturer's label on the outside of the case is a moot point.

Confused? You should be! If you can find a way through the maze without occasionally stuffing a battery, or becoming totally obsessive on the issue, you're a better man than me! ;)

If you really want to be a battery nerd, read this site (www.batteryuniversity.com), but be warned - it's not for the faint of heart!!

Nick

[Joe M]

Tina,

I recently did a lot of research on batteries for my camera and ended up buying these, GE/SANYO eneloop 4 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IV2WAW/104-0611950-9903131). I also purchased a charger.

If you take a look at the reviews it gives a lot of information that may help you.

I used these batteries Sunday to take 192 pictures in about 3 hours and never had a problem.

[baycruisers]

Tina,

I recently did a lot of research on batteries for my camera and ended up buying these, GE/SANYO eneloop 4 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IV2WAW/104-0611950-9903131). I also purchased a charger.

If you take a look at the reviews it gives a lot of information that may help you.

I used these batteries Sunday to take 192 pictures in about 3 hours and never had a problem.

Oops! I meant Sanyo.;)

Standard chargers work just fine with them if you already have one. You may get a good deal buying the combo batteries/charger if you don't have one.

[BOBGRUETTER]

one thing i did not see mentioned, is a dead cell. If, as with most cameras, you use multiple batteries and one is defective, sht poor girl will not operate. you can play around and find the bad one, but if one has gone the others will soon follow. go and get yourself some new ones and have at it.

bob
bobgruetter

[BOBGRUETTER]

sorry about the typo. "sht" is really "the". brain got ahead of fingers and did not use spell check

bob
bobgruetter

[Tina_B]

Bob
You type just like I do. I come up with new words every time I type something.
Tina B

[BOBGRUETTER]

It's called multi-tasking. My brain does one thing and my fingers do yet another.

bob
bobgruetter