What sort of batteries are best for your digital camera?

I ask this because I recently had a battle to get an online camera store to send me the rechargeable batteries advertised in the national press, instead of the 2 x AAs they actually sent me. It took them six weeks to admit the error and I’m still awaiting the goods, though DHL assure me they are on the way.

So, was it worth the effort? The package promised of NiMH rechargeables, plus a battery charger will save a fair amount of money in the short, medium and long terms.

On average you can use rechargeables over 100 times. If you change your AA batteries every month, the cost of alkalines will far exceed your occasional purchase of the use-again type. It will also save on shoe leather traipsing back and forth to the camera shop. The more you use the camera, the more you save.

A camera with a proprietary lithium brick battery also sounds good, but if it runs out in the middle of a shoot, you’re done.

Being able to stick in a couple of spare AAs will keep you shooting whatever happens. So bear in mind all these points when it comes to choosing your camera. Battery type could be an important consideration.