Battery advise AA vs Rechargeable Lithium ion or Battery 101

[TwingleMum]

I'm looking at a few models of cameras and one of the major differences seems to be power source. So help a newbie navigate these tech waters. This is what I think so far

AA Batteries

Easy to buy if needed quickly. Can buy rechargeables to get more shots and reuse. Heavier.

Rechargeable Lithium Ion

no need to buy more. less bulky. cameras tend to be lighter/smaller.

Any opinions/preferences???


I'm deciding between Canon Powershot 650 (AA power source) and Canon SD850 (Lithium Ion power source)

 

[Code]

If you go with a camera that takes AAs, do yourself a favor and invest in a few sets of rechargables and a charger. Alkalines die FAST, and lithiums aren't worth the price vs just buying a rechargable setup.

I like to have a backup with me no matter what type the camera takes, and if buying the replacement Lion battery from the manufacturer was the only option (ripoff!) then I would prefer a camera that takes AAs, but I found a reputable Ebay seller for good third party replacements, and got extra batteries for my Olympus E-510 and my Fuji F30 for about $19 shipped.

The only (minor) downside for me is I can only charge one battery at a time with the proprietary ones.

 

[TwingleMum]

Can anyone explain in simple terms the differences in AA batteries and their pro/con. Are there different types of rechargeable AA batteries? Does one last longer than the others??? Any brand better?? Prices?? Best places to buy batteriesThanks so much I know there are other beginners who have the same questions.

 

[Jeanne B]

I much prefer a camera that takes AA's. I know a lot of people use the rechargeables but I always use the Energizer lithium batteries, they're much lighter than standard AA alkalines and they last quite a long time (I'm thinking I get 800-1000 pics with the lithiums although it's been a while since I last kept track).

My first digital was a Kodak that took a Li-Ion rechargeable and the battery died on the last day of our cruise and of course I couldn't get that type battery on board (AA's wouldn't have been a problem though!!) and I left my charger at home because it was one more bulky thing to pack and I was already overpacked as it was. Since then I always buy cameras that take AA's but with that said, I don't recommend letting that be the primary reason to choose one camera over another.

 

[My2Girls66]

I like rechargeables for our p&s cameras that take AA's. There is a # on the battery, 2100mAh, 2650mAh. The higher the #- supposedly the longer they last. I have both #'s but have never tested them-the newer ones have higher mAh#'s. Lithium AA's last a long time but they are pricey. I just replaced them in my L6 today- I put them in in April while in Italy. They took many many pictures. They came with the camera- thats the only reason I tried them. My favorite is to have a rechargeable lithium ion battery specific to the camera but you do need to get a spare and keep it charged. My D50 uses a rechargeablelithium ion and it takes 100's of pics on one charge. Most of the less expensive cameras seem to use AA's these days,tho. I tried finding an inexpensive one with a rechargeable lithium ion- no luck.
At a place like BJ's you can get a set of 6 rechargeable AA with charger for under $20. You just have to make sure you remember to charge them and always carry an extra set. I found a baby turtle on a bike trail today- took 2 pictures of it with the L6 then the batteries died. I didn't have a spare set with me I should know better.

 

[Groucho]

It's a good idea to have a backup with the li-ion ones - you need to take them out and charge them sometime! For my wife's F40 and her older SD600, we got $6 ones off eBay, they work just fine, perfect for backups (and seem to last as long as the real thing.)

For rechargable AAs, the trick is making sure that they're all getting charged properly. The ultra-fast rechargers often wear out the batteries too quickly due to overheating.

The mAh rating is supposed to tell you how much charge there is, but there are big variations, even among batteries bought in a bundle. I use a LaCrosse charger than can actually measure the amount of mAh each battery is using. I then took the "best of the best" and use those. I didn't have a set die on me at all on my DL trip, even when shooting 450+ photos in a day, with some long-exposure ones in there.

 

[SrisonS]

As far AA's, I'd definitely go with rechargeables (at least 2 sets...use one, while the other charges). You'll never have to worry about buying batteries all the time.

I have Sanyo Eneloop AA batteries for my camera (available at Circuity City), and am very pleased. For my 6 MP cam, I can get 500 pics at the highest size/quality the camera does. A great thing about them is that they don't really drain over time; and they're usable straight from the pack....no pre-charging required.

 

[boBQuincy]

The type of battery a camera uses is pretty low on my list of defining characteristics but it can become an issue when the battery quits in the middle of "Iluminations".

Almost all of the lithium batteries are proprietary while AA cells can be found almost anywhere, although not the good ones. Lithium-Ion have a lot more energy density than NiMH and should power the camera longer but usually require a special charger.
The point is to never be caught without a spare set, no matter what type your camera uses!

Ratings are suspect, a small (or even a large) difference in mAH ratings means very little or nothing since there are no standards for these ratings. Some third party lithium cells have gone up in flames, be sure yours are from a reputable source.

 

[TwingleMum]

Thanks everyone for the information I appreciate. I am definately going to get rechargeables.