Help With Digital Camera Batteries

[snopes]

I don't know if the mod will delete this but it is the chat forum so here goes. What are the best batteries for a canon powershot a540 digital camera? I know there are several really good photo buffs on here and wanted your opinions. I just purchased the a540 and it's a great camera, but it literally EATS the batteries like there was no tomorrow. I can't even put cheapie AAs in it because they won't even get the battery meter off low (seriously). The panasonic batteries that came with it were only good for about 30 shots, but of course I was playing with all of the features, zooming in, zooming out, going through all of the menus and such so I'm sure that had a lot to do with it. I plan on purchasing some rechargeable NiMh batteries soon, but also wanted to know which "regular" batteries are the best. I read somewhere once that one or another brand was actually much better for digital cameras. Anyone have any suggestions?

[sgrizzle]

Energizer makes a non-rechargeable for cameras which works pretty well. I've used the  Energizer rechargeable Nimh batteries as well. The first couple I bought quit taking a charge so Energizer replaced them free of charge.

My only real advice is stay away from quick chargers. Those are meant for getting your batteries recharged to use quickly. Not for long-lasting charges and not for leaving batteries on overnight. No matter what the packaging says.

[snopes]

Thanks for the advice sgriz! Duly noted.

[RecycleMichael]

This is the review site I use before I buy almost anything like a digital camera.

http://www.epinions.com/Canon_PowerShot_A540_Digital_Camera/display_~reviews

There are 12 reviewers on this camera and no one else has mentioned the battery eating...

[TheArtist]

Oh, thanks for the heads up.  I am wanting to buy a new camera and will be wary of that one.  I had figured the new cameras would be more energy effecient than the old ones like I have.  But yes zooming will eat batteries big time, I avoid it at all costs. When I go on a photo session I usually take one of those 24 packs of batteries lol.  But if the camera isn't even charging very well with new batteries, it may that there is something wrong with the camera.

[snopes]

It must have been the batteries that came with the camera, because I put in some duracell batteries and clicked away to my heart's content for about 4 hours yesterday and there is still no indication the battery is going low (and many of these were in low light). The crappy, cheap dollar store batteries that I used yesterday were just that, crappy and cheap.

I wouldn't let my previous concerns about eating the battery detain anyone from purchasing this camera. I like the features, and the fact that you have the option of using the thumbwheel on top to select between Manual, Auto, and several other varieties of control. I'm just not into devices that are entirely software/menu driven. I really like that the camera also has a viewfinder that can be used in cases when the sun is too bright to use the LCD. There's also a display button you can push to turn the LCD off and use the viewfinder, thereby conserving power. Believe it or not, many new digital cameras don't have viewfinders these days.

[mspivey]

Snopes, I would always use rechargables, with regular batteries as a backup. I agree with Squizzle on the fast chargers. If you plan ahead, you don't need fast.

Artist, as good as you are getting, i'm hoping you are looking at a DSLR and not a compact. A DSLR would really let you do some wonderful things. They aren't cheap, but they are worth it.
Mike

[snopes]

quote:Originally posted by mspivey

Snopes, I would always use rechargables, with regular batteries as a backup. I agree with Squizzle on the fast chargers. If you plan ahead, you don't need fast.

Artist, as good as you are getting, i'm hoping you are looking at a DSLR and not a compact. A DSLR would really let you do some wonderful things. They aren't cheap, but they are worth it.
Mike

That's good advice Mspivey. I purchased eveready rechargeable (NiMh) batteries and they seem to be doing fine. A backup pack of duracells is always handy as well. The DSLRs, although pricey, have come down, way down in recent years. I wanted to purchase one of those, but couldn't justify it with the other half. Mostly because she didn't want to figure out how to operate it. This A540 although versatile, is also very "point and click"-able...

[mspivey]

The new smaller cameras do a really nice job of recording a scene. But if you want to do some creative work, they are limited. I went through the smaller cameras until I finally decided that if I wanted to progress, I needed to step up. I raced cars for years (cost a lot of money and a couple of marriages) and now that I'm too old and fat to do that, I needed something else to be passionate about. So really, cameras are cheaper than race cars.

A little off the subject of AA batteries, but.......

Artist is doing such nice work with the camera he has that if he would step up a little, he would be awesome.

[snopes]

That's funny mspivey. Yes, some of the photos by Artist are phenomenal. I'm especially attracted to architecture and some of the pics are awesome. I PM'd TheArtist awhile back seeking camera advice because I had assumed he was some kind of expert. To my surprise he said that he didn't know that much about cameras and didn't operate an SLR. Imagine what he could do with a top of the line unit and training on how to use the extensive features!

[Porky]

I have a Canon A520 and I got some Duracell rechargeable battery's from Walmart and they work great. But like others have said on here and be sure to have some backup batteries with you at all times.

You made a good choice with the A540, it's a great camera. I'm getting ready to get the Canon G7. I was going to get the Canon Rebel SLR but found the G7 is just as good for what I want to use it for.

One of the things I have found with my A520, unless it's a night time shot you can just leave it on auto and it does an excellent job.[]

[snopes]

A few days ago I purchased four AA (Eveready) NiMh rechargeable batteries and a portable 4-battery charger for a total of about 23 dollars from Target.

I charged the batteries overnight, put them in the camera the next day... and they died after taking only 3 shots. The same thing happened when I pulled the other two batteries from the charger. I was really disappointed because this camera would not work at all on dollar store batteries and ate two AA Duracells after about 60 or 70 shots. Aside from the cost, tossing all of those batteries in the garbage wreaks havoc on the environment.

For some reason, rather than taking the charger back for a refund, I put the batteries back into the charger and charged them overnight again. Apparently that did it; after the second charge, the batteries are seeming to last forever and I'm STILL on the first two, after two days and a couple of hundred shots, many of those using the flash and zoom a majority of the time. This is great!

I'm really curious as to why the batteries didn't work after the first charge. It was only by a stroke of luck that I put them back in and gave them a second chance. If anyone has the answer, please speak up.

I've been experimenting with leaving the shutter  open for long times to capture low light images and with super fast captures using the flash with the shutter on the fastest setting. To date I've gotten some pretty interesting shots such as water droplets suspended in mid air, birds and ducks in mid flight, and action photos of people with absolutely no blur, nada.

I have a predilection for these types of shots for some reason. I'm not as creative or comfortable with the aperture setting as I am with the shutter setting, but hope to become so over time.

The auto setting is just perfect for everyday shots as well and the images are very clear. I do plan to purchase a tripod soon. Setting the camera on a shelf or table for stabilization doesn't cut it.

I highly recommend this camera for anyone considering such a purchase. It's a relatively low cost camera and works great.

Okay, that does it for this episode of Snopes "Tech Review Corner." []

[TheArtist]

Wow those kind of action shots sound like a lot of fun. I cant wait to get a good camera.  As soon as that deposit comes in for the mural I am doing for the city, that is going to be my splurge.  Then I can really get going on that Tulsa book I am wanting to do.

[snopes]

Artist, I'm glad to hear you are going ahead with the book idea. Think positive and it will happen! I promise to purchase a copy and encourage all of my friends to do so as well.