Digital camera accessories

[marmaduke]

I just bought the Kodak Easyshare Z700 for my son.  Several web sites did reviews of this camera and mention AA batteries as a power source.  My Kodak manual Says "Kodak does NOT recommend using Alkaline batteries with this camera" The only batteries they recommend are Ni-MH and their own Kodak Max Digital Camera Battery (which is an Alkaline Battery) Anyone ever try and get these kind of batteries while your at the zoo or museum?  Now it looks like I have to charge up enough Ni-MH to last me the day.  Kind of frustrating.  Its so easy to buy Alkalines just about anywhere you go.    

[ShutterbugGail]

Don't worry. Using Alkaline batteries will be fine.

Kodak, like other manufacturers, try to push their own brands. But the fact of the matter is that you won't be able to take many photos on a set of alkaline batteries. They lose power quickly and, if you take a lot of photos, it can be very costly. Manufacturer and digital camera users recommend NiMH rechargeable batteries for good reason, which you can read about here:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/digital-camera-batteries/digital-camera-batteries.htm

If your camera accepts them (not all do so check the camera manual), another alternative is Lithium batteries. They are very lightweight and have seven times the capacity of standard alkalines and a long shelf life. But, at this time, they are also quite expensive.

I have two sets of rechargeable batteries but if I know there is a possibility they won't last when I'm on a photo shoot, I take along a few sets of standard alkalines.

Note: to conserve battery power, turn off power consuming camera features when not using them such as the LCD and continuous autofocus.


Related reading: Battery capacity

http://www.digicamhelp.com/rechargeable-battery-storage-capacity/index.htm

Battery chargers:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/digital-camera-battery-chargers/index.htm

[Deb]

Hi there, I do quite a bit of shooting outdoors. Here's a little tip ... I carry an ac/dc power converter in my car. While one rechargeable battery is in my camera, the other is in its charger plugged into the AC/CD unit recharging. Some newer cars (newer than mine, ha, ha) have built in AC plugs. If yours has a built-in plug, plug your battery recharger into it. If not, pick up a converter and keep it along for the ride. (Sorry, I couldn't pass up the pun.)  

[shirleygirl]

Hi,

I don't take lots and lots of pictures but alkaline batteries empty to fast. I prefer not to buy a charger because I don't take enough photos. I've been using lithium batteries and they last along time. My camera manual doen't say anything about litihium batteries.  Is it okay to use them? I do not want to ruin my new camera.

Thank you......

Shirley

[bdery]

Shirley,

don't worry, Lithium batteries will also work fine with your camera, and they will last a long time indeed.

However, even if you don't take lots of pictures, after a few months the added expense of Li-Ion rechargeable batteries and charger begins to pay off, plus you can always charge your batteries overnight when you're traveling so you don't have to find a store to buy new cells if you're away from home. And you can use the rechargeable batteries in other tools (flashlight, remote, whatever). I think in the long run it pays off, since Litium batteries are quite expensive.

Bottom line is, use any type of batteries you like. Lithium, Li-Ion rechargeables, Alkalines, even the older Ni-Ca rechargeables work (in my S2, they last about 130 pics, I use them as backup). Happy shooting!