Battery Chargers & Batteries
If you’re a shutterbug, you will find that your digital camera batteries don’t last long. Some digital cameras show a low battery in as little as 10 minutes of use, especially if you use the flash and LCD display as well.
There are basically three kinds of batteries you can use: the NiCD (nickel Cadmium) or the NiMH (nickel-metal hydride) or the rechargeable lithium ion variety.
Digital cameras are high-drain devices. They will take the life out of your battery, particularly if you take a lot of pictures in rapid succession. It is not uncommon for some digital cameras to report a low battery after only ten minutes of use, if you are using the flash and the LCD display at the same time. While the lithium batteries perform better, they don’t come in AA size, so most cameras can’t use them.
Rechargeable batteries are considered to be better, because they maintain their charge level until they are almost depleted. However, they will loss their charge just from sitting in the camera. NiMH batteries lose between two and four per cent of their charge per day. Your camera won’t indicate a low batter until it reaches about 80 per cent and it may only be calibrated to report on alkaline batteries.
The cheapest batteries on the market are the Panasonic alkaline batteries that sell anywhere from 24 cents to 1.49 each depending on the size, whereas a rechargeable battery is about 99 cents each. A Panasonic Super Heavy Duty 9-volt battery two-pack is $1.58. If you opt for a 3-volt lithium coin size battery, it will run you about $3.99.
Camera-specific batteries cost significantly more. Sony has an NP-FS11 Lithium Ion Battery Pack for $25.99. Canon has a CP-E3 Battery Pack for its 14EX flash units that costs $139.95, an NB-4L rechargeable battery for its PowerShot digital cameras for $59.99 and a CB-2LW charger for Canon lithium ion batteries for $54.99. There is also a PowerShot A-series Accessory Kit that includes a carrying case, batteries and charger for select camera models for the same price.
Nikon has a 100 per cent OEM compatible battery for its Coolpix line of digital SLR cameras that is 3.7 volts that costs $19 and a 7.4-volt at $24.99. Nikon’s rechargeable camera battery has a low discharge rate and should retain 90 per cent of its charge after 30 idle days. This one costs $19. You can also purchase a camera battery and charger that is 100 per cent OEM compatible that replaces disposable batteries for $49.
Sony has an NPF750 Lenmar LI Ion Battery Pack for $33.99, while Olympus features its LI-42B lithium ion battery compatible with a list of Olympus models for $37.99. Olympus also has aw Power2000 RTC-113 Mini Rapid Battery Charger that is compatible with its Li-40B camera battery for $21.95 and the Olympus 200846 lithium-ion battery charger for $69.
Bronica has a couple of digital camera batteries to offer. There is the ETR-C Motor Drive (B-162), which is a rechargeable battery for $19.99. There is also the SZ-AM Motor Winder digital camera rechargeable battery and an ETR Motor Drive digital rechargeable battery for the same price.
Kodak has a complete line of batteries suited for its various digital cameras. Its 100 per cent OEM compatible for the Easyshare cameras costs $9.50, whereas the professional lithium ion battery for Kodak’s DC series of cameras costs $30. Kodak’s rechargeable camera battery, which is a 3-volt battery, costs $19. You can also get a camera battery and charger for $49.
Aside from its cheaper one-time use batteries, Panasonic also has larger models. The Palmcorder 7.4-volt battery sells for about $29 and a digital camera battery for Panasonic can cost anywhere from $29 to $49. Panasonic also offers a camera battery and charger for $49.
The Fuji NP40 digital camera takes a lithium ion, 3.7-volt battery, which costs $8.99, while the Nikon 2CR5 battery costs $21.95.