Digital Camera Batteries Advice

There are many types of battery available for your digital cameras, and choosing which one is best can sometimes be confusing. We have, therefore, prepared this guide to help you understand the options available. Please check your manual for size / type your camera can take before purchasing. Also note that it is the colour screen that uses most power – switch this off whenever you can and try to use the optical viewfinder (if you camera has one). Most digital cameras will auto switch off when power (mAh) drops to below 700 mAh to prevent any chance of power failure whilst writing a file to the cameras’ memory card.

Alkaline
These are widely available, being used in everything from household appliances to toys. They are not rechargeable and have to be replaced when drained of energy. If these batteries are left in a camera and the camera is not used for a long period of time, the charge may remain for up to two years. However, they will last only a very short time in a Digital Camera with a colour LCD screen and are recommended for emergency use only.

Average Power 400-800 mAh

Typical uses: Compact cameras, SLR cameras with optional motor drive, flash units.

Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd)
NiCds are the cheapest type of rechargeable battery. They are available with different power capacities, measured in Milliamp-hours (mAh). This rating indicates the batteries overall charge storage capacity. Generally higher mAh ratings mean the battery will give a longer performance. Higher capacity batteries tend to be more expensive, but this extra capacity is worth paying for, especially on high-drain devices like digital cameras.

Average Power 800-1200 mAh

Typical uses: Low power digital cameras, Compact cameras, SLR motor drive, Flash units.

Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH)
NiMH batteries are more expensive than NiCds, and use a different technology to provide their power, resulting in much higher output. They therefore last longer when being used, but also have the problem of draining over time if left unused. These batteries do not suffer the 'memory effect' like NiCds. For best performance you should still try and buy a 'smart' charger that monitors the batteries individually as it charges them. Also try to buy batteries with the highest possible mAh rating that the charger is capable of charging.

Average Power 1200 – 2800 mAh

Typical uses: Digital Cameras, SLR camera motor drive, Flash units.

Lithium-Ion ( Lith-ion)
Not to be confused with standard Lithium batteries, these are rechargeable. They share the characteristics of the non-rechargeable Lithium batteries – that of being light and offering very high power / size ratio. They are much better value though as can be recharged often many hundreds of times before they need to be replaced. Because of their very low weight and high power they are perfectly suited to high power drain devices such as Digital cameras. Many camera manufacturers produce their own size batteries, which can be more difficult to track down. Most cameras charge this type of cells in camera with an external power supply.

Unfortunately, if your camera did not come packed with a Lithium-Ion battery and charger, it probably can’t take one.

Genuine branded batteries are usually longer lasting and higher power than ‘equivalents’ – we find the genuine batteries are usually more reliable too. A cautionary note! – There are fake Lithium Ion batteries (some branded) on the market – usually from Hong Kong or Indonesia – These are remarkably cheap and often use old Mercury Oxide technology rather than Lithium-Ion and some have been known to explode on charging!

Typical uses: Digital and Video cameras.

Lithium
These batteries are more expensive than all the other non-rechargeable options. They do have some unusual advantages but are not an economical way of powering a digital camera. Advantages: Up to 10 years life at full power if left unused. Can last up to 5 years in devices with very low power consumption. They can work well at very low temperatures and are often used where camera may be subjected to sub zero temperatures. Power rating varies but the AA (LR-6) size are usually between 1800 and 2400mAh. There are four common sizes; the 6v 2CR5 used in SLR cameras ; 6v CRP2P (used in compact cameras); 3v 123A used in compacts and small SLRs; the 3 volt CR2 (two are usually used in compacts) and an AA substitute that may come paired as a CRV3 (as pictured here). Most of the film compact and film SLR cameras made in the last two decades take these non rechargeable Lithium cells.

Typical uses: Compact cameras, SLR cameras, specialist use digital cameras.