AA Batteries vs. NiMH/Li Batteries for Cameras: Which is Better?

[nafa]

Disposable alkaline batteries will be more expensive than rechargeable batteriers. Recharageable Nicd batteries are older technology and has inherent weaknesses that make them less desirable than newer technology, be it for camera or other portable electronic equipment. You can get NiMH batteries in AA/AAA sizes and so they are flexible. Lithium ion batteries are typically more expensive but have higher capacity on a volume weight basis, so is the preferred batteries for cell phones and higher end digital cameras. Both NiMh and Li batteries can be recharged hundreds of times, and there are tips on usage and charging behaviour to prolong their useful life.

[maX_Andrews]

For digital cameras the best way to go about it would be to use rechargeable AA's. Generally you have two in the camera and two in the charger, so you never run out of just because you never have to remember to plug in the camera before you want to use it. And when you go off somewhere remote like on vaction, you can just use normal AA's and not worry about bringing the charger. More flexible.

[singularity2006]

That's cool. I was just worried about how long the camera would last with the AA's. It was kind of scary seeing my brother go through his batteries so quickly! OVer a day, his digital camera bag had like eight batteries that he would eat through the day. It seemed kind of wasteful if u ask me. :eek:

That is why i asked about the lithium ion ones.... but then with those, when it does run out, i wouldn't have a spare since they are generally so much more expensive.

[imashination]

A modern digital camera, with lithium battery will be good for about 400 shots if youre not using the flash. Typically the AA cameras will last much less, or they will take 4 batteries which make them that bit more bulky. Yes, you can grab some AAs anywhere, any time but ask yourself, if youre going out are you going to be taking that many pictures? do you even have enough memory card space for that many pics?

When I go on holiday, the charger comes with me, and if you use rechargable AAs then you have to bring more batteries, and the chargers are much bulkier. If you plug in at the hotel each night, you'd have to take mountains of pictures to run down an average lithium ion battery in a single day. ie. a fully charged battery pack will last you about 2 gigs of pictures on a 6-8MP camera

[singularity2006]

If you plug in at the hotel each night, you'd have to take mountains of pictures to run down an average lithium ion battery in a single day. ie. a fully charged battery pack will last you about 2 gigs of pictures on a 6-8MP camera

That's really helpful, thanks! I'm looking at getting a Canon A series but have been wanting a camera small in size and have looked at the SD line... I'm teetering between the A and the SD simply because of that battery issue. I don't think I'll be using the flash that often but even if i did, batteries come pretty cheap on eBay so that would be cool. SD it is....!

[singularity2006]

So here's how it went on eBay:

Canon SD200 - Retail Box
2PK: 900mAH (hi-capacity) lithium batteries (standard is only 700mAH)
1GB Secure Digital Memory Card
Grand Total: $200

[Valkyrien]

I'm kind of iffy about any camera that runs on AA batteries. My old Canon A20 took 4, and with standard capacity batteries we were talking maybe a half hour of battery life. Now I've got two NiMH battery packs for my Rebel XT, and that's never not been enough. On a recent shoot, I got about 400 shots (probably a bit more actually, but I ran out of CF card space before the first battery was done ;) ) from a single pack. I had 4 Li AA batteries in the flash that same day, and those carried me through at least as long as the camera batteries (though it's probably worth mentioning that I didn't use the flash for any outdoor shots on that shoot ;) ).

btw, people still buy 3.2MP cams? Damn...hope you didn't pay too much for that :) heh, $200. Good, you didn't pay too much then :)

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