As digital photographers, battery life
is as important as having enough film for a traditional camera. How
you use your camera and the type of batteries you choose greatly affect
how many shots you’ll get.
Choosing A Battery. All
batteries discharge themselves over time. That’s why disposable
batteries have an expiration date. Rechargeables self-discharge much
more rapidly than disposables, though, losing as much as two percent
daily, or more than a quarter of the battery’s charge in two
weeks. Some camera manufacturers offer a “dock” for their
cameras that fixes this problem by supplying new energy to the battery
as the camera sits idle. By keeping your camera on the dock, it will
always be ready to go, even when you haven’t used it in a while.
If your camera is likely to sit unused for very long periods, disposables
may still be a better choice.
If you choose to use disposables, get lithium batteries. Their initial
cost is higher than the alkalines they replace, but their longer life,
especially with a digital camera, makes up for it. Lithiums
are designed for the higher battery loads common in digital cameras,
and are particularly effective for heavy users of live image preview
or movie modes. They also have a much longer shelf life than alkaline
batteries, and will continue to provide reliable power in cameras
that sit for an extended time.
New types of rechargeable batteries, like NiMH or Li-ion, offer performance
greatly improved from the NiCd batteries of the past. They feature
higher endurance and freedom from the “memory” effects
that used to plague NiCds. These newer rechargeables need to be fully
charged and completely discharged a few times when new to ensure maximum
charge capacity. After that, draining the battery only partway before
recharging it is fine.
Using A Battery. When
using the camera’s LCD monitor to compose shots, you’re
cutting the number of photos from a set of batteries by one-third
to one-half, even with a quick look of five seconds per photo.
To save battery power, compose using your camera’s optical viewfinder
instead. (If you must see the image on the LCD, look at it after you
take the photo—it takes far less energy that way.)
The other great energy-zapper is your still camera’s video mode.
If you shoot a lot of video with your camera, carry extra batteries.
Other digital camera functions consume energy as well, including flipping
through the camera menus, and even turning your camera on and off.
Traditional camera functions, like the power zoom and built-in flash,
consume battery power, too, although they’re not as power-hungry
as previewing your images. Don’t zoom aimlessly, and you’ll
get more shots out of your batteries.
The best strategy for dealing with your digital camera’s battery
drain is to keep a second set with you, charged and ready. A second
battery is a minor investment compared to the frustration of running
out of power. If you shoot great volumes of pictures, or are heading
out for an extended trip, consider a third battery—two
come with you when you’re out shooting while the third recharges
in your hotel room. Keep in mind that unless your camera can use AAs,
extra batteries may not be readily available where you’re traveling.
