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Battery Guide for Digital Cameras
Digital cameras are notorious for being extremely power hungry devices. If you take into consideration that the batteries are used to power the imaging system, the LCD, flash, CCD and storage system it comes as no surprise. Add to the mix, the newer generation cameras with Image stabilisation and high-powered zoom, the power requirements get even higher. Most digital cameras will drain a normal set of batteries in just one shooting session. Choosing the right batteries will not only save you money, but will also prevent you from missing a memorable moment due to flat batteries.
Propriety or standard batteries:
Before buying a digital camera you should give some thought regarding the batteries it uses. Depending on the digital camera model, the camera will make use of either normal sized batteries (AA sized) or a propriety battery pack created specifically for that camera. Both of these have advantages and disadvantages you should take note of:
Normal battery
+ Less expensive than propriety batteries
+ Easy to find
+ Can be used in other devices
+ Able to use alkaline batteries in an emergency
- Normally lasts for a shorter period of time than propriety battery packs
Propriety battery
+ Can be used for a longer period of time before depleted
+ Normally charges in a shorter amount of time
+ Optimised for your camera
- More expensive
- Can be difficult to locate a replacement
- Can often only be used with a specific camera model or line of manufacturers products
Most often it is best to choose a camera that uses normal sized AA batteries. It will make it much easier for you to find replacement batteries. However some high-end cameras can only use propriety batteries. This should not prevent you from buying the camera, just make sure that you will be able to get a replacement battery when needed. It is also a good idea to buy a spare battery when buying the camera. This will ensure that you will have a spare when needed. (Especially if it takes a long time to order a replacement).
Battery Power Rating:
The amount of power a set of batteries can provide is depicted as a mAh (Milliampere-hour) rating. When buying batteries for your camera, you should look for batteries that offer the highest possible mAH rating. For digital cameras a 2000 mAh or higher rating works best.
Battery Types:
There are various kinds of batteries in use today. The main difference between them is the technology they use, the amount of power they can supply and whether they are rechargeable.
If you plan on using your digital camera on a regular basis you should definitely invest in a good set of rechargeable batteries. The best option would be to choose either NiMH or Lithium Ion batteries. This might seem expensive, but when you consider that they can be recharged multiple times and last longer, they will soon pay for themselves.
Caring for Batteries
Prolonging battery life
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Breaking In New Batteries
New batteries come in a discharged condition and must be fully charged before use. It is recommended that you fully charge and discharge your new battery two to four times to allow it to reach its maximum rated capacity.
Keep Your Batteries Clean
It's a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection between the battery and your laptop.
Exercise Your Battery
Do not leave your battery dormant for long periods of time. We recommend using the battery at least once every two to three weeks. If a battery has not been used for a long period of time, perform the new battery break in procedure described above.
Power Management
To get maximum performance from the battery, fully optimize the notebooks power management features prior to use. Power management is a trade off: better power conservation in exchange for lesser computer performance. The power management system conserves battery power by setting the processor to run at a slower speed, dimming the screen, spinning down the hard drive when it's not used and causing the machine to go into sleep mode when inactive. The notebook user's guide will provide information relating to specific power management features. It may also be necessary to update the BIOS of the notebook in order to achieve maximum performance especially if the original battery has a lower power capacity (mAH). Please visit the notebook manufacturer's website for information regarding BIOS updates.
The life of a rechargeable battery operating under normal conditions is generally between 500 to 800 charge-discharge cycles. This translates into one and a half to three years of battery life for the average user. As your rechargeable battery begins to die, you will notice a decline in the run time of the battery. When your two-hour battery is only supplying you with an hour's worth of use, it's time for a new battery.
Battery run-time on a laptop is difficult to determine. Actual battery running time depends upon the power demands made by the equipment. The use of the screen, the hard drive, and other accessories results in an additional drain upon the battery, effectively reducing its running time. The total run-time of the battery is also dependent upon the design of the equipment. Generally, a new Hi-Capacity battery will run 30% to 50% longer than the old battery did when is was new.