Battery life - Still feel like i am doing something wrong here!!

[Caitsmama]

Just wondering.. My camera came with Ni-HM batteries (2) and I got an extra set, but i am wondering if i should also pick up a third set?
My first set of charged batteries seemed to run 1/2 low VERY quickly (like a matter of 3 days), but i also read that it uses them up faster if :
1. it's cold out - or camera was left in a cool place
2. You use the zoom alot
3. You turn off and on the camera lots.
All of the above i did, since i was just playing with the camera after getting it.. So, How often do you go thru batteries? and how many sets do you have?

 

[ukcatfan]

With as cheap as they are, it would not hurt to pick up a four pack. With extras, make sure each set gets charged at least once a month even if it was not used. It will help them have longer lives. Try to pair them up with a mark from a Sharpie to keep from mixing and matching. This pairing makes them work better in the long run.

On a side note; I have heard recently that Energizer has switched to a manufacturer in China and that they do not work as well. If you use this brand, look for the ones made in Japan. That can probably be said for most brands. Sanyo are known as the very best brand and many other brands are actually Sanyos with a re-branded label.

Kevin

 

[Caitsmama]

The ones i got are labeled as Sony brand.. it is a 2pk for 9.99 at CCity.

 

[WillCAD]

Anything that uses power - such as powered zooms, flash, the LCD display, or powering up/down and extending the lens of a point and shoot camera, draws more power from the battery. The more you do these things, the quicker they batteries will drain.

If your camera uses AA batteries, definitely get yourself some more spares. AA rechargables are cheap as dirt nowadays (but like anything, shop around for the best price).

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

I use the energizer e2,lithium batteries, silver and blue and get long use out of them. So far I found them to be the best.

 

[psimon]

The ones i got are labeled as Sony brand.. it is a 2pk for 9.99 at CCity.

An FYI if you go for more....

Target has a 4-pack of AA Energizer NiMH batteries, 2500mAH for $9.99. I think I saw it for under $ at Walmart.

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Caitsmama]

I still feel like i am doing something wrong.. I put in a brand new just charged set of Ni-mh batteries the other day, took about 5 pics, then brought the camera to my dd's school halloween party last night, started taking a few pics, and noticed that the batteries were shown as only 1/2 full. And it seemed to almost go even lower..
I am seriously stressing over this! HOW can this be???
Yes, i used zoom, Yes, it was under 77degrees (what they consider optimal temp), Yes, I turn it off and on a few times, Yes, i have it set to fine pic, but all this and like i said, i only took about 5 pics the first time i put the new set of batteries in .. how they heck could it already be shown as 1/2 charged??? And this has happened to me with 2 different sets of Sony batteries. I am very discouraged.. I am going to WDW next mo. and i don't want to have to take along 10 sets of batteries!!

 

[WillCAD]

I still feel like i am doing something wrong.. I put in a brand new just charged set of Ni-mh batteries the other day, took about 5 pics, then brought the camera to my dd's school halloween party last night, started taking a few pics, and noticed that the batteries were shown as only 1/2 full. And it seemed to almost go even lower..
I am seriously stressing over this! HOW can this be???
Yes, i used zoom, Yes, it was under 77degrees (what they consider optimal temp), Yes, I turn it off and on a few times, Yes, i have it set to fine pic, but all this and like i said, i only took about 5 pics the first time i put the new set of batteries in .. how they heck could it already be shown as 1/2 charged??? And this has happened to me with 2 different sets of Sony batteries. I am very discouraged.. I am going to WDW next mo. and i don't want to have to take along 10 sets of batteries!!

I can think of several possibilities:

* Bad batteries (it happens sometimes from the factory). You can try these batts in another device to see how long they last.

* Bad camera. The camera might be drawing more power than it should and draining the batts too fast. Try a set of brand-new alkalines and see how long they last.

* Bad battery indicator. The 1/2 full symbol might be in error. Check the battery charge with another device and see if they match.

* Bad charger. Your charger might not be fully charging the batteries. If you have anbother charger, use it and see if it makes a difference.

* Not leaving the batteries in the charger long enough. Many chargers require as much as 12 hours to fully charge the batts. Even if the light on it says "Full" it might not actually be full but be into the trickle-charge phase. Go back to your charger's instructions to verify charging time.

That's all I can think of oiff-hand. Your problem could be any one of those, or if might be something else entirely.

 

[jann1033]

I still feel like i am doing something wrong.. I put in a brand new just charged set of Ni-mh batteries the other day, took about 5 pics, then brought the camera to my dd's school halloween party last night, started taking a few pics, and noticed that the batteries were shown as only 1/2 full. And it seemed to almost go even lower..
I am seriously stressing over this! HOW can this be???
Yes, i used zoom, Yes, it was under 77degrees (what they consider optimal temp), Yes, I turn it off and on a few times, Yes, i have it set to fine pic, but all this and like i said, i only took about 5 pics the first time i put the new set of batteries in .. how they heck could it already be shown as 1/2 charged??? And this has happened to me with 2 different sets of Sony batteries. I am very discouraged.. I am going to WDW next mo. and i don't want to have to take along 10 sets of batteries!!

these are rechargables right? are you allowing them to recharge completely or could your recharger not be working? recharge-abels also can take a few charges to get totally charged. try it with a set of lithium disposables( guessing you have AA batteries)...( they last in my daughter's easy share for an entire vacation and then some)if they do the same thing you know it's the camera isn't working right, if not you know it's the batteries or charger.

 

[DebºoºS]

It does sound like you're going through batteries quickly. As WCad mentioned chargers vary. I'd try Panasonic 1950mAh batteries. They've lasted and kept a charge for me.
When I'm in the parks I usually carry 3 sets of fully charged with me. Leaving 2 sets charging in the room for the next day. I never get to the third set unless I forget to swap them out when I get back to the room for the next day.

 

[Caitsmama]

Thanks guys.. I am going to try to move the charger to another outlet, and let them charge for 12 full hours.. even though the light goes off, I assumed they were fully charged. (I have always left them in for at least 8 hrs) But, maybe it's not fully charging and my outlet is faulty? I am simply using the charger that came with my camera (Sony H5).
As for checking them out in another device to compare - What would you suggest? I don't have another device that takes AA Ni-MH that would show me a charge symbol.. Do they have something you can buy that would show you a charge - remember how a while back they had the built in indicators on the AA Duracell or whatever kind of batteries?
I REALLY hope it's not the camera.. I don't want to have to bring it back or anything.. ugh.

 

[manning]

What camera do you have???

 

[ndelaware]

I wouldn't worry about it showing the batteries half way discharged. I would be more worried about how long they go til they are dead. I would try using the camera around the house just taking pictures until the batteries went dead. Take all your pictures using the flash and the zoom. That way you will know how long the batteries will last under the harshest conditions. Most cameras will take a couple of hundred flash pictures on a freshly charged set of batteries. If you don't get this many shots you need to find out if it is the batteries, the charger, or the camera which is not working properly.

 

[jann1033]

if you have a radio shack store, they used to sell a little thing that showed if your batteries had a charge( i'm talking yrs ago) but maybe they still do..it was pretty cheap at the time. i don't know if it would show if they were fully charged though. they must be charging at least somewhat or you couldn't reuse them( if they are the problem)

if you bought it locally why not take it back and see if they can show you another model and if it drains after a few pictureswith you batteries i would think it would be more like to be the batteries or charger . they may have charged batteries also they could test yours with or connect it to the outlet their cameras are on and see what happens

 

[manning]

Never mind my question I just looked at your other post.

The battery meter (indicator) is inaccurate. This is common with the H series cameras, maybe others.

Relaxe, you have plenty of battery power (I have this camera). Just get extra batteries and change them out when the camera won't power up.

Also with this type of battery you will have to charge them 4-5 times before they reach their full capacity.

I carry 3 pairs of rechargable batteries (I'm known to go wild with picture taking) and a set of AA lithium batteries in case I use those up. The lithiums have a shelf life of 15 years and will take about 600 shots. You don't want to use these as your main batteries as they are expensive compared to the rechargables.

 

[Caitsmama]

Manning, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I am glad to hear from someone who also has my camera.. that helps a lot. I was wondering why in the booklet, it says with certian types of batteries (not the ones that i am using mind you) the indicator doesn't show the accurate info?! That doesn't make much sense to me..
And NDeleware, that is pretty much what i am trying to do.. I was just taking shots yesterday, and will take more tonight or tomorrow to see how much i can do..
Thanks so much!!

 

[ukcatfan]

To be on the safe side at WDW, you could bring along a couple lithiums. They seem a little costly considering that they are disposable, but they will last a very long time compared to the rechargeables. A four pack should be $9-10 at Wal-mart.

Kevin