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.

Powerpix is the new disposable battery range released by Duracell with a special promise of longer life.

Let’s face it, disposable batteries are a pain in these days of power photography. They seem to last only an hour or two, and the cumulative cost can be high. The price of consumables is beginning to dominate most sectors of the gadget market.

Now Duracell say that their new Powerpix range, in both AA and AAA sizes, will last twice as long as normal battery types. The new batteries are powered by advanced NiOx technology, specifically formulated to meet the needs of the latest digital cameras.

Pocket-Lint comments: “PowerPix will be available in February 2006 in America. We are still trying to find out whether or not they will be available in the UK at the same time. The new battery will be sold in four- and eight-cell packs in AA size and four-cell packs in AAA size. The suggested retail price for a four-cell pack is $5.99.”