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Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:00 am

Howdy. As with many people these days, I try to conserve resources, money, etc...and so I bought a set of the Energizer rechargeable AA batteries & charger at Lowes for like $20. I bought another set of 4 with the"quick charger" as well, since it was almost cheaper to get the set with the charger than just 4 more batteries. These were bought for my, and my wife's digital cameras, maybe a year ago.
Anyway, I have noticed consistently that the batteries barely hold a charge for a month or so. Then when I go to put in the backup pair, they're already dead! It's like they can't even last through maybe 20 pictures. The same is true with my wife's camera, a different brand.
So, since this is not a rant of course, what I am wondering is what kind of luck other people have had with rechargeable batteries, other brands, etc, or if I should just forget it and go back with the old duracells, which held a charge for over a year sometimes.
Thanks.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:19 am

Hi,

Sadly Digital cameras crave electricity. They need special batteries that will provide it to them.

Either get rechargeable's from the manufacture such as Canon or Kodak, they have batteries designed for camera use, or use the new energizer batteries made for photography use (there're blue if I recall). They last an amazingly long time (at least in my Canon).
We, being the grandparents of 4, (want some photos of cute kids?) also use the camera a fair bit. The only thing I changed was the standby setting, the camera used to go into a standby mode after a given period of time and it looked like it was shut off when in reality it was sucking up electricity (albeit at a lesser rate) waiting to be used. I reset so that when a time period of not being used is complete it just turns completely off. This simple change has saved me many a battery!

The basic AA rechargeable's are great for kids toys and other low draw short use applications, not for anything you need to rely upon.

dave

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:22 am

I switched back to alkalines in both my digital cameras. I find a store with them on sale in like a 12 pack or 24 pk. (check date codes on the packages at the Dollar stores)
They seem to last a lot longer than any of the rechargables.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:43 am

Ni cads and Ni-Mh lose approximatley 3% of their charge sitting on the shelf daily. Internal resistance in the chemistry causes this.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:58 am

Russ Wolfe wrote: I switched back to alkalines in both my digital cameras. I find a store with them on sale in like a 12 pack or 24 pk. (check date codes on the packages at the Dollar stores)
They seem to last a lot longer than any of the rechargables.

I find the alkaline's really don't last all that long in a camera. Are they cheap? Yes but require too many replacements. I've found that the Energizer® Ultimate Lithium Batteries last substantially longer and are worth the price premium. It's a bummer to have a battery die, they never do it at a "good" time!
I've never tried the newer Energizer® Advanced Lithium, just saw them on the web site, haven't even seen them in the store yet!

dave

Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:10 am

Alkaline batteries are 1.5 volts & rechargeables are 1.2 volts. Many cameras need close to 1.5 volts & will turn off at a certain voltage level - therefore rechargeables are that much closer to the voltage cutoff point in your camera. In fact one of my older digital cameras can't even use rechargeables & acts like they're dead.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:16 am

I was buying the 2300 and 3000 mah rechargables, and was not having any luck with them. The loosing charge sitting was the bummer. I would pick up the camera, that had been sitting, and find that the batteries were dead.
I will stick with my alkalines.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:20 am

safe alkaline battery charger http://www.theweb2u.com/

Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:26 am

Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:27 am

Russ Wolfe wrote: I was buying the 2300 and 3000 mah rechargables, and was not having any luck with them. The loosing charge sitting was the bummer. I would pick up the camera, that had been sitting, and find that the batteries were dead.
I will stick with my alkalines.

Actually if you read many digital owners manuals, they say to not even use alkalines in their products. My Canon manual has this notation.

Dave

Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:46 am

djkeev wrote: Russ Wolfe wrote: I was buying the 2300 and 3000 mah rechargables, and was not having any luck with them. The loosing charge sitting was the bummer. I would pick up the camera, that had been sitting, and find that the batteries were dead.
I will stick with my alkalines.

Actually if you read many digital owners manuals, they say to not even use alkalines in their products. My Canon manual has this notation.
Dave

Both of my Fuji Finepix cameras came with alkalines.
They are SLR style camera's.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:19 am

DeathBus wrote:
my potato is dead,..anyway to charge it back up?

Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:20 am

Foxx wrote: DeathBus wrote:
my potato is dead,..anyway to charge it back up?

Yes I believe so, get another from the bag! :wink:

Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:29 am

I thought most of the new digitals came with a battery pack anyway? I haven't had to put batteries in a camera for awhile now.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:07 am

Bart wrote: I thought most of the new digitals came with a battery pack anyway? I haven't had to put batteries in a camera for awhile now.

Mine are not new cameras.
They are only 3 mega pixel, which I never use above 1 meg.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:56 am

Russ Wolfe wrote: Bart wrote: I thought most of the new digitals came with a battery pack anyway? I haven't had to put batteries in a camera for awhile now.

Mine are not new cameras.
They are only 3 mega pixel, which I never use above 1 meg.

Time to update your technology dude!
Hope you use them just for online stuff and not an 8 x 10 of the family. They won't look good blown up to any decent size.
Not sure you can still purchase a 3 gig camera except for what's built into ones cell phone.
Good Luck with that Technology. Antique cars go hand in hand with antique digital technology. No wait, antique digital would be the old Sony with the floppy drive in it.
BB

Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:59 am

realbugfanatic wrote: Alkaline batteries are 1.5 volts & rechargeables are 1.2 volts. Many cameras need close to 1.5 volts & will turn off at a certain voltage level - therefore rechargeables are that much closer to the voltage cutoff point in your camera. In fact one of my older digital cameras can't even use rechargeables & acts like they're dead.
I didn't realize that. Next time the camera rejects a pair, I'll have to throw them in a flashlight and see if it still lights up.
Both our cameras are maybe 4-5 years old, and each uses 2 AA batteries. I know mine didn't come with a rechargeable, I don't know about my wife's.
So anyway, it seems that I may as well just grab the regular AAs, although perhaps the ones specially packaged as being for cameras are worth the extra $$? And then save the rechargeables for flashlights, and such...
although doing a brief bit of googling just now, I see some NiMh 2500 maH batteries for $8/pair, specially rated for cameras supposedly. Might those do better?
As mentioned, the camera batteries never die at a good time...

Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:32 pm

Those green and silver label energizer rechargers do the same thing to me too. IF you put them in the camera and use them right away they work fine and take lots of pics ( sorry baileyboy not all of us are willing to upgrade technology and camera's that work for OUR NEEDS) in my "old techno" Kodak CHEEZYSHARE camera(s). :lol: :P

But as stated they don't seem to hold a charge very long if you charge them and have them on "standby" in the camera case they are often dead when you need them. *I don't have that trouble with some other brands. I also just keep some alky's in the case for back up to use right when needed.

The "Kodak" dual battery pack that comes with some ( of the older I guess) Easyshare is just two AA nicads wraped in some black plastic... after the "cradle charger" deal seemed to quit working, I took the plastic outer wrapper off and now charge them up in the Energizer wall charger like you have... they work very well. For sure better quality than even the supposed correct "rated" 2500mah Energizers.

I may order and try one of those alky chargers... With all the devices in my house that take AA ( and since it also does all sizes) I think it's worth the 40 bucks to try one... especially with the holidays coming.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:06 pm

I use the 1 meg format, because that format is easier to upload to the web.
Taking them at 3 meg is a waste of bandwidth for online.
The 1 meg, has all the detail I need. Besides, if I upgraded my camera. Then I would have to upgrade all my special lenses.
Nope, My cameras work for what I need them for.
I am not the type that needs the latest whiz bang gizmos. I don't even use the camera in my cell phone, and have never text messaged.
I have one late model car. (an 05 that is paid for). Other than that, my 4x4 pickup is a 1992 that I bought brand new, and from there, it is a 1988 and older.
I owe nothing on credit cards, and my home is mostly paid for.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:31 pm

Russ Wolfe wrote: I use the 1 meg format, because that format is easier to upload to the web.
Taking them at 3 meg is a waste of bandwidth for online.
The 1 meg, has all the detail I need. Besides, if I upgraded my camera. Then I would have to upgrade all my special lenses.
Nope, My cameras work for what I need them for.
I am not the type that needs the latest whiz bang gizmos. I don't even use the camera in my cell phone, and have never text messaged.
I have one late model car. (an 05 that is paid for). Other than that, my 4x4 pickup is a 1992 that I bought brand new, and from there, it is a 1988 and older.
I owe nothing on credit cards, and my home is mostly paid for.

Well no wonder Circuit City is going bankrupt! You haven't supported them at all! :wink: