Going through batteries like crazy, HELP!!

[ratherbeindisney]

Ok, I just got my first ever digital camera for Christmas. It is very nice, a Kodak C743 model. The problem is it is I only take like 10 pictures a day and the very next day when I turn it on I have to replace the batteries. Am I doing something wrong, is there a setting I can use to save on batteries. This just does not seem right to me. HELP!!!

Ratherbeindisney

 

[ndelaware]

Make sure the LCD screen doesn't stay on for more than a few seconds and if you have a "power down" setting set it to the shortest time possible. Since it uses AA's, I would get 2 or 3 sets of rechargables.

 

[ukcatfan]

If they are regular alkaline AAs, then you will not get many shots. If they are rechargeable but are older, they may have been used up and you need to buy new ones. It could also be your charger. One that charges each cell individually works the best. If that does not do it, then it could be a faulty unit.

Kevin

 

[theblondebee]

I took my Canon S3 to the World last month with Energizer Lithium batteries and got about 1400 shots before I had to change them. That was with the screen on and LOTS of flash shots.

 

[Nicsmom]

I've had several different brand/types of cameras, been through the "battery war" and now use nothing but rechargeables. Best quality and online source I found is www.sterlingtek.com. Great customer service and they have batteries and chargers of all kinds.

FYI: I have NO affilation with them, just like the company prices and products.

 

[seashoreCM]

Try setting it to never use flash. Even if the flash is on "auto" rather than "fill in" or "always on" the flash will charge up whenever you turn the camera on and this takes a good chunk of power from the battery.

A super long life battery such as a lithium will last much much longer than a regular battery as opposed to just proportionately longer. Typically the more juice a batter has left, the less the voltage will drop when a heavy draw, even for a short time, occurs. In other words, in actual use the voltage the battery delivers undulates from high to low as opposed to drops evenly from high to low. At any time including during an undulation valley (corresponding to a startup with its heavy load for recharging the flash) the voltage drops below a critical point, the camera will stop working, possibly not powering on. This might occur 1/4'th of the way into what you think is a regular battery's life but not until 3/4'th of the (much longer) way into a super long life battery's life.

In addition some kinds of batteries, even though they hold more juice altogether, have a lower initial voltage. These batteries are more likely to not start the camera early in their lives for the reason just stated.

Some digital camera hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/digicam.htm

 

[alan]

If it's AA batteries, definitely go for the highest capacity NiMH batteries you can find (I believe you can now find 2700mAh batteries). They will last a lot longer than alkaline ones.

regards,
/alan