Batteries? What Type is Best?

[Dcanoli]

Okay, had an Energizer battery charger that came w/four batteries. MAYBE I've had it a year. The charger no longer "lights up" or charges batteries, and the batteries, via another charger, never charged.

I am ticked. I wrote Energizer asking if this was a normal lifespan (one year), and they wrote back saying, "No," and sent me a $25 check to buy a new set.

So...big question...do I need to buy the same batteries? Seems like, on another thread somewhere, Groucho and a few others were discussing some new type of battery.

Can anyone help? We leave in a month, and I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[mabas9395]

eneloop

 

[matthew_hull]

Lithium AA batteries are the best. They cost a lot, buy you do get what you pay for.

 

[boBQuincy]

Lithium AA (and AAA) batteries probably have the highest energy density if you don't need rechargeable batteries.

For rechargeables I like Maha/Powerex available from Thomas Distributing. Their "Imedion" batteries are similar to the Eneloops in that they hold a charge for a long time.

 

[Code]

Eneloops, Powerex Imedion, etc are "low self-discharge" NiMH rechargeables. They have less overall capacity than regular NiMH, but they retain charge much longer. Some brands of these are marketed as "pre-charged".

Someone over on the dpreview forums did a test of many different brands of this type and found the Powerex Imedion were the top performer for charge retention. Tied for second, though, were Kodak Pre-Charged and they are available at Wal-Mart for $8 per 4-pack. I bought a few packs of these for my flashes as I didn't want to pay or wait for shipping and they are $8 vs $10-11 for the Imedions. Also interesting to note that the Eneloops were just average performers. (but it's just one guy's test...)

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Eneloops. I charged my batteries for my SB800 when I first got the batteries last October. They are still charged and my flash fires.

 

[Dcanoli]

Wow! Eneloops are the ones I was trying to remember, but couldn't....didn't realize about the others!

I may look up the Kodak ones since they are readily available at W/M.

Code, do you have the link for dpreview? (Otherwise, I'll just search for it on the site.)

Thank you everyone!!!

 

[NostalgicDad]

I use the Maha/Powerex 2700mAh AA's as well as their Imedion line and have never been without loads of power.

 

[dr_zero]

Wow! Eneloops are the ones I was trying to remember, but couldn't....didn't realize about the others!

I may look up the Kodak ones since they are readily available at W/M.

Code, do you have the link for dpreview? (Otherwise, I'll just search for it on the site.)

Thank you everyone!!!

Our wal mart had the Eneloops and the chargers not too long ago on clearance you might get lucky yours.

 

[Dcanoli]

Our wal mart had the Eneloops and the chargers not too long ago on clearance you might get lucky yours.

GREAT! Thanks for the heads-up!

 

[Groucho]

I have a couple sets of the Kodak 2100mAh low-discharge (aka pre-charged) AAs (and bought a set for my original DSLR's new owner), and they work great. They theoretically should give you a little extra charge over the Eneloops, which are 2000mAh. I bought them from Thomas Distributing - I avoid Wal-Mart so I have no idea if they're available there where I am. Thomas has several brands of low-discharge batteries now, I seem to recall that there are only 2-3 companies actually making them, and most are just rebadged.

Make sure you are using a decent charger, too - the really fast (ie, 15/30/60 minute chargers) will burn up your batteries before their time.