Batteries

Digital cameras need batteries in order to work, like most portable electronic goods. They can be run off mains electricity with the right power adapters, but apart from use in a photographic studio when shooting still life or fixed posed scenes, portraits etc, this isn't much of an advantage. The basic premise of most cameras is that they are portable hand held devices.  

One of the problems associated with digital cameras is that in comparison with film cameras they are very power hungry. Normal batteries aren't in the main anywhere near powerful enough to keep a digital camera going for very long, and so as a result high power re-chargeable batteries are normally used. These fall into to two groups. Standard battery type versions ('AA' being the only size ever used), or dedicated proprietary packs made to suit each individual camera. These dedicated battery packs can be produced in any shape and size and at any voltage and power rating, and so allow the camera maker to specify the shape to suit the type and style of the camera. Of course the size dictates how much power the battery is capable of holding, and thus how many shots can be taken each time it is charged.  

There are both advantages and disadvantages with each group, which we will try and deal with so those of you reading this page will have a better understanding of the problems that can occur, and the best ways of either avoiding or allowing for them

Battery Types.

There are three main types of batteries that are currently used.

• Ni-MH:  This stands for Nickel Metal Hydride. These are re-chargeable, do not suffer the 'memory' problems associated with the Nickel Cadmium re-chargeable type (Ni-Cads), and have higher capacities and ratings, making them suitable for use with high drain products such as Digital Cameras, CD players etc. Their capacities are rated in mAh [Milliamp hours]. 

• Lithium:   These are high power and high capacity. They can be stored without loosing their charge for up to 10 years and, un-like most other batteries, are unaffected by changes in temperature. These are not re-chargeable.

• Li-ion:  This stands for Lithium-ion. These are a rechargeable version of Lithium's, and are found only as dedicated packs for particular products. They are sometimes rated according to both their capacity and power output, as both can vary. 

There is another type of battery, not yet used in digital cameras, which should be mentioned. This is the Lithium-polymer. It a high capacity version of Li-ion, giving the same power in half the size. It is already in use in some mobile phones but whether it is suitable for use in digital cameras has yet to be established. We know of no digital camera that has used them to date.

AA's 

There has only been one standard battery size used with digital cameras and this is the universally known AA . This is very useful  as several different types are available in this size, giving a measure of safety and versatility to a camera. It is unlikely they will ever become obsolete, and in an emergency its usually possible to find someone selling ordinary AA's if nothing else. 

AA's have a fixed voltage output of 1.5 volts. A pair in series produce 3 volts, whilst a set of four provides 6 volts, and a set of six 9 volts. Alkalines, the cheapest and most common form of AA battery, are not recommended for use with most digital cameras. Although they have the same voltage, 1.5v, they deliver their power slowly at low amps. Nor are Ni-cads, which are their re-chargeable cousins. Digital cameras require high amperage - power - to operate, as do many other electronic goods, personal players etc. There are plenty of high power AA batteries made for just such applications, Duracell and Energizer are probably the best known batteries which come in these versions. It is also the case that the latest digital cameras need far less power to run than early models and these batteries will power a camera for some time. Newer high power AA size batteries are also being developed for use in all types of high power devices but particularly digital cameras.

However rechargeable Ni-Mh AA's are most commonly used as they are fairly cheap to buy, and can be used many times over. Originally the capacities were fairly small at 1000mAh, but technology moves on and their current capacities range from 1500mAh up to the latest 2600mAh versions. 

Lithium AA's are also available. Lithium batteries have long been the normal type of battery used in all kinds of film cameras - in a wide variety of special sizes - and are usually just sold as 'camera batteries'. Although these are not rechargeable, they are very useful to have as they work better in all temperatures, especially the cold, and can be stored for very long periods before use. They have a shelf life of about 10 years.  The AA size generally last twice as long as the latest 2600mAh Ni-Mh cells, but of course cost more. Generally it has been difficult to find these cells for sale on the high street, but they are becoming more common, and Energizer E2 is the brand most found.

Sometimes cameras made to use standard AA's can also accept and use the CR-V3 lithium camera battery type. This type has been made for film cameras for many years. These are roughly the equivalent of two AA cells joined together, and can often be used to replace them, a pair replacing four AA's. However this can only happen if the battery compartment in the camera allows this, as it has to be a slightly different design and size. Do not assume that all cameras using AA's can automatically take CR-V3's.

Here you see a set of 2000mAh Ni-Mh's AA's next to a pair of CR-V3's. You will see that they are larger than the AA's they can be used in place of.  Although lasting longer [10-15% more life] than AA lithium's they cost anywhere from 30-50% more, so they are not a particularly economic option.

Recently re-chargeable CR-V3's became available. However the problem is that many cameras use 4x AA's or 2x CR-V3's, and whilst 4 AA's can be charged at once in most chargers, CR-V3's can only be charged one at a time, which makes for a long-winded operation. They also seem quite costly by comparison.

Rechargeable Lithium-ion AA batteries are not made.

Re-chargeable battery packs

An increasing number of cameras - the vast majority at present - use dedicated proprietary rechargeable batteries. They are specially made to suit the individual camera, and come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. At first these packs were either Ni-Mh or Lithium-ion, but now they are almost exclusively the latter for reasons which will be discussed later.

At first only camera makers produced the dedicated battery packs used with their cameras, and these are generally quite expensive. However, as digital camera sales have grown, so has the number of 'generic' battery packs made by individual battery makers that suit many digital cameras. These are, in many cases, considerably cheaper than the camera makers own versions and in the main, just as good. One point to note with all these packs is that unlike ordinary standard size type batteries there are no set or specific sizes or voltages. Some packs can look to be a similar shape and size, but contacts are often in different places or voltage differs slightly. 

You must only ever use batteries made and designated for your particular camera. Even amongst a single camera maker batteries vary widely even between similar cameras. Using a battery pack not designed for use with a particular camera will in all probability destroy it, frying the electronic components inside. We have heard of many instances of battery packs that don't work as they should. 

'Chipped battery packs'

With the advent of the mass sales of the popular digicams and DSLR's, and the production of the cheaper generic versions of these re-chargeable packs reducing costs for users besides being easily available, a worrying trend has started to emerge with the introduction of the latest cameras from several makers, and especially DSLR's. This is the 'chipping' of battery packs, the inclusion of a silicon chip into the design, so the makers claim, the battery can communicate better with the camera, and enhanced details of performance can be given, a more accurate guide as to the remaining power etc. 

Skeptics, and we are among them, believe this is simply a means of ensuring that only batteries produced by the camera maker can be used - the camera refusing to work with an un-chipped battery - and meaning the camera maker can continue to charge high prices for replacement batteries, the camera user having no option but to purchase them. They can also control the supply. Once they decided not to produce them anymore, then the camera is effectively redundant once the current batteries reach the end of their useful life. So a method of built-in obsolescence controlled by the camera maker.

Incredibly this has now reached the ridiculous stage that the new Fuji S5 pro DSLR, which is based around a Nikon D200 body, cannot even use the standard battery pack supplied by Nikon for the D200, but only a special 'chipped' version made by Fuji. We wonder how many purchasers of the S5 Pro did so in the belief that being based around the D200 body, identical batteries could be used. Because of course something such as this is not spelled out in large letters on the side of the box. More likely buried somewhere in the small print, and only coming to attention at a later stage.

So this is another small but extremely significant detail that must be queried when purchase of a digital camera is under consideration. 

Supplied Batteries.

Cameras using dedicated batteries are supplied with a charger as well as a battery, [except when they charge in camera], and usually take about 1½ hours to charge.  Although it has been quite common practice for cameras using AA's to be supplied with a charger and a set of Ni-Mh batteries, as camera prices have fallen this seems to have ceased, and the cameras now often come with either a set of Lithium's or just ordinary AA's and no charger. Sometimes they come without any batteries at all. As re-chargeable AA's and chargers are now very common, and widespread in use, it is left to the purchaser of a camera that uses AA's to find their own charger and batteries, which is not a difficult task.

Battery Chargers: 

Battery Chargers for AA Ni-Mh's are quite easy to obtain, and come in a range of prices, linked to the speed with which they will charge. The least expensive will take many hours [10-15] to charge a set, whilst there are those sold that can accomplish the task in about two hours. The latest have adapters to charge using a car's cigarette lighter socket as well, just in case your caught out away from home, although it is advisable always to carry a spare set with you at all times. You do not usually get much warning that they are about to run out. Camera battery indication is notoriously poor. 

As a general rule battery chargers take either two or four batteries. Since cameras use either two or four batteries, two for small low drain digicams, four for most others, purchasing one which can charge four at a time seems a better option. If you have a camera that just uses two batteries, two sets can be charged at one time.

On the left is a charger from Uniross that takes  between 3-5 hours depending on the capacity of the batteries and plugs straight into the power socket. On the right is a fast charger, which was supplied with an Epson camera, and takes about 2 hours. Chargers that take just I hour are now made. A premium price is usually paid for these.

Ni-Mh battery chargers

                                            Uniross                                                              Epson

Dedicated Pack chargers

If you purchase a camera that uses a dedicated battery pack then a battery pack and charger will be provided. As well as producing cheaper generic replacement battery packs some battery makers also make chargers as well. The ability to purchase extra chargers is useful if you are a professional and need to charge multiple packs in the shortest possible timescale. Camera makers supply them as well of course, but usually at considerably higher cost.

Charging batteries

After charging, a set of batteries will be warm and sometimes quite hot. Leave them to cool before attempting to store or use them. The faster the batteries are charged, the hotter they become. When they are new [first few charges], it is recommended that they are charged slowly, known as trickle charging. This ensures good performance and long life. It is worth buying one of the 'cheap', slow chargers [the ones that take 10-15 hours] to ensure this. 

** Please note. You must use a charger made to charge Ni-Mh batteries. Using a charger made only for Ni-cad's will cause damage, and should not be tried under any circumstances.

Advice on Common Battery Problems, and points to note

Power capacity

It usually takes a number of charges before re-chargeable batteries of any type reach maximum efficiency and full capacity. Do not be surprised if you do not get the same number of shots from a set as the camera maker might suggest is possible for a given size, even after a number of re-charges. Any tests carried out will have been done in such a way as to replicate 'average' use, which doesn't always mirror actual use. Using LCD screens, EVF viewfinders, and flash, will deplete batteries quite quickly.

If you do not intent to use your camera much, then any type of re-chargeable battery fitted should serve you well, and may well last the lifetime of the camera. However, should you need or wish to get the maximum use from it then the type of battery used will be of some importance, as will the features any camera may have. Although much effort has been made to reduce the amount of power cameras use with considerable success, new features can offset this. The use of  Electronic Viewfinders is a prime example, as is the migration to ever larger rear LCD screens, anti-shake lenses/sensors, and 'live view'.

Lifespan

Re-chargeable batteries only have a certain life-span, whatever the type, before they degrade to the state that they cannot hold a charge. They will not last forever. This is irrespective of how often they are used and how many times they are charged. The average lifespan is around 3 years. If you think that over the lifetime of the camera you will need further sets of batteries, and we are sure you would like a digital camera you have bought - especially an expensive one - to last longer than 3 years, then you should take this into account when deciding which model to purchase. We say this in respect to the camera maker. Are they well known? Will replacements be easy to find and obtain if they are of the dedicated pack type? If not then when the battery expires so will the camera. This is of course not really a problem with AA batteries since they are camera maker independent, and one of the reasons we recommend the use of AA battery digital cameras in preference to others when a choice is available.

Shot capacity/Re-charging/Carrying spares

Most camera makers will state in the camera specifications how many shots you should be able to take with a camera, depending on the resolution of the shots, on one full battery charge. But this is really just a general figure and can't begin to take into account all variables that can occur. As the ambient temperature drops batteries lose their charge much more quickly. So on a hot day in a warm climate you may get many more shots out of a battery than you would on a cold day, or in a cold climate. Then there are other variables such as the amount of AF, LCD, IS and review use carried out. 

As a general rule it is advisable to have and carry with the camera at least one spare battery/set of batteries to ensure you do not get caught out, the camera's battery suddenly failing without much warning that it is running down. Very few cameras have good battery indicators that can accurately state how much charge a battery has left, or how many shots can be taken before it needs re-charging. Most give no real indication at all, going from the battery full indication to half full and then to empty within just a handful of shots.

One other point is that some cameras are not supplied with a charger because the battery is charged 'in camera'. This is mainly digicams. Whilst at first this may seem a good idea, it means the camera cannot be used when it is charging, which may not be convenient, and might be a considerable drawback. Even if a spare battery exists.

The rule here is to top-up a re-chargeable battery by re-charging it whenever you can. Both the one currently used in the camera, and any spares you might have. This does not harm a battery, or reduce it's ability to hold a charge. Indeed recently tests carried out by computer makers on laptop batteries, which used identical technology to digital camera batteries, there being both Ni-Mh and Li-ion made, have discovered that keeping a battery 'topped up' increases it's efficiency as compared to one that is allowed to fully run down before it is re-charged.

Lithium-ion v Ni-Mh, and charge retention periods

Although cameras that use the AA type batteries have many advantages, particularly with regard to obtaining spares and replacements, there is one area where they are at some disadvantage with regard to the re-chargeable Ni-Mh types. They are not good at holding a charge over a long period of time. Lithium-ion batteries will generally hold their charge for a very long time, many months and usually much longer. Ni-Mh types do not. As a rule they will lose their charge over a fairly short time span. Just a few weeks after charging they could well be flat or nearly so. Which can make using them awkward.  Charge up a couple of sets together, and by the time you come to use the second set, if the time frame long, you don't take many shots over a fairly long period, you can find them as flat as the one's being replaced. This is the reason why most dedicated battery packs are now of the Lithium-ion type.

So we now tend to have at least one pack of lithium AA's we can fall back on in such a situation for our AA powered Pentax DSLR. In fact we don't use Ni-Mh re-chargeable AA's when traveling away from our home base anymore, we just use lithiums. This avoids having to lug a charger around, and several sets still weigh less. It is a big advantage if your traveling abroad, as we often do, to countries where power supplies are not as accessible as you are used to, and plug adapters for the power outlets used are difficult or impossible to obtain. We still have to take a charger and spare batteries for our Canon DSLR, which uses dedicated one's, but at least it cuts down on the chargers, because of course you need different ones for each type of battery pack design. And even if you have no difficulty finding a suitable power socket it becomes a case of queuing up the batteries to charge them.

But this does not get over the problem that for most users the fact that Ni-Mh's don't hold their charge for very long is a real pain. They don't use their cameras often enough to go to the trouble that we do, but they do expect to be able to pick them up and use them when they want to, not have to decide hours or days in advance that they might like to use them. 

Battery makers, being of course aware of this problem, having been trying to overcome it, or at least reduce the worst of the effect, by producing re-chargeable battery designs that hold their charge for much longer. Some time ago Sanyo came up with the Enloops battery, a Ni-Mh design that is reputed to hold it's charge for much longer. But they are very hard to find and appear only to be available in the USA at present. Although we have seen them in Australia when we went there again recently.

Now the French firm Uniross has come up with another long life design, called Hybrio, which seems to be more widespread in it's availability, certainly around Europe. The first difference is that the batteries come pre-charged, so they can be used straight away. The next is that it is claimed that they will hold their charge for up to 1 year. Not the full amount, but about 75%, which is about what those who have tried them have found when using then as first bought. It is said that they loose 15% of their charge in the first three weeks, and a further 10% over the next month, and then stabilize, retaining the remainder over the rest of the year before requiring a re-charge. 

We have had sets of these batteries under test for some time and it seems that at 6 month intervals they still hold a considerable charge, so the claims made for them seem to be correct. They can be re-charged in ordinary Ni-Mh battery chargers and cost roughly the same. It will take some time for them to become widely available but if the stated claims are correct, and evidence so far suggests they are, then they will then be at least as good as lithium-ion rechargeables, and thus be a good alternative to Lithium AA's for those who need them. 

* A indication of problems that can occur with dedicated re-chargeable battery packs are exemplified by the controversy surrounding Apple's i-pod personal music player. This uses Lithium-polymer type rechargeable batteries, which in this case cannot be removed and replaced, and reports indicate that frequent users have found that the batteries fail after just a years constant use, rendering the product unusable. It has to be returned to Apple, at considerable cost, to have them replaced.

Despite this more recently Apple have repeated this attitude with their new Laptop which it is claimed is the thinnest yet made. Unlike virtually every other laptop made this uses a built-in re-chargeable battery which cannot be accessed. When it stops holding a charge the laptop will have to be sent back to Apple for it to be replaced, again at considerable cost, not to mention loss of convenience.