Digital camera batteries -how long do yours last ??

peter999

Just bought a new digital compact camera (Fuji FinePix A700, £80 in current Currys deal).
Uses 2x AA batteries, has 2.5" LCD screen.

Used it yesterday afternoon (3-7pm) & it seems to be using batteries like no tomorrow !! Took about 140 photos.

It used 3 lots of batteries before battery warning appeared & shutdown:
-1x set of new Panasonic Alkaline batteries (came with new camera)
-2x sets Ni-MH 2000 mAh rechargeable batteries

With my other digital camera (has 1.8" screen), I didn't need to change batteries that much, a pair of batteries probably would last same 4 hour period.

Just seems the batteries aren't lasting as long in this new camera.
It's a pain having to constantly change batteries.

How often do you need to change your batteries ??

What batteries do you use ??
How long do they last ??
How many pictures can you take ??

peter999

Inactive

Fuji F11, has it's own dedicated battery, I take about 500 shots on one charge.

candygirl

Only duracell batteries last in my olympus digital camera.It isn't even worth buying any others:rolleyes:

espresso

peter999 wrote: »

-2x sets Ni-MH 20000 mAh rechargeable batteries

Interested to know where you got 20Ah AA rechargables from?

:rolleyes:

The AA cells supplied with the camera are just test cells and will not last long for taking pictures.

You need to get two sets of high capacity NiMh rechargeables and a good microprocessor controlled charger.

GaryS

On my Canon 10D digital slr, the batteries last for several good photo sessions before even beginning to lose any charge.

In the children's Samsung compact digital cameras I use 2700 mAh rechargeables made by Vapextech (search Ebay for seller). These seem to last very well if the lcd screen is not used too much.

peter999

espresso wrote: »

Interested to know where you got 20Ah AA rechargables from?

:rolleyes:

The AA cells supplied with the camera are just test cells and will not last long for taking pictures.

You need to get two sets of high capacity NiMh rechargeables and a good microprocessor controlled charger.

The rechargeable batteries:
1x set are Fuji, new, came in Accessory kit I bought with camera
1x set are Jessops (1.5 years old).

Accessory kit came with small Fuji overnight charger (only AA batteries)
Also have bigger Vanson NiMH/NiCad universal charger from Maplin Electronics.

peter999

espresso

peter999 wrote: »

The rechargeable batteries:
1x set are Fuji, new, came in Accessory kit I bought with camera
1x set are Jessops (1.5 years old).

Accessory kit came with small Fuji overnight charger (only AA batteries)
Also have bigger Vanson NiMH/NiCad universal charger from Maplin Electronics.

peter999

I think that you missed my first point. It is not possible to get 20Ah AA cells!
2Ah (2000mAh) yes but these are not very high capacity now as 2800mAh are commonly available i.e. nearly a third more storage capacity.

A good charger is also important to get the best from these NiMh cells i.e. something like this.

peter999

espresso wrote: »

I think that you missed my first point. It is not possible to get 20Ah AA cells!
2Ah (2000mAh) yes but these are not very high capacity now as 2800mAh are commonly available i.e. nearly a third more storage capacity.

A good charger is also important to get the best from these NiMh cells i.e. something like this.

Yes, that should be 2000 mAh.

Need to get better batteries as camera has bigger screen.

peter999

Stephen_Leak

espresso wrote: »

You need to get two sets of high capacity NiMh rechargeables and a good microprocessor controlled charger.

Absolutely.

For my Fuji S7000 I use 2 sets of Uniross 2300 mAh NiMh's and the amazing little Uniross GlobeTrotter charger. 1 set of batteries came with the charger.

And, obviously, if you use the screen and not the viewfinder when actually taking pictures, your power consumption is going to be high. Switch it off when not in use, and/or set the power save mode timer to a short time.

fatnbald

Is your fuji one of the style with only the viewing screen to take the pics by, if it is this will be one reason why you are struggling with battery life, it is the screen that absolutely slurps life out of the batteries.
If there is an optical viewfinder on the camera use that and turn off any auto preview options that kick the screen into life unnecessarily. Do not view the pics on the camera if you can help it, download them to the pc to view them whenever possible. Only use quality batts and if using rechargeables get the biggest current capacity you can lay your hands on (2500 mah or higher as a minimum) and a final tip - ALWAYS carry a few spare sets of new or fully charged batteries.

peter999

fatnbald wrote: »

Is your fuji one of the style with only the viewing screen to take the pics by, if it is this will be one reason why you are struggling with battery life, it is the screen that absolutely slurps life out of the batteries.
If there is an optical viewfinder on the camera use that and turn off any auto preview options that kick the screen into life unnecessarily. Do not view the pics on the camera if you can help it, download them to the pc to view them whenever possible. Only use quality batts and if using rechargeables get the biggest current capacity you can lay your hands on (2500 mah or higher as a minimum) and a final tip - ALWAYS carry a few spare sets of new or fully charged batteries.

Yes, mine only has LCD screen, no optical viewfinder.
Also 2.5" screen, bigger than screen on my old digital camera.

I had 2 spare sets of batteries.
Was surprised they didn't last as long as my old digital camera.

I may need to buy new sets of batteries as rechargeables do lose their capacity.

peter999