Like other portable consumer electronics, digital cameras use batteries as their power source. In this article, we will describe the different battery technologies and their advantages and disadvantages. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be able to consider the battery used when purchasing your next camera.
A camera usually supports only one type of battery, either a disposable or a rechargeable battery. The exception is cameras that are powered by standard AA, AAA or similar batteries. In most of these cases, disposable and rechargeable batteries can be used interchangeably.
There are two types of batteries:
Disposable batteries: these can only be used once. They usually have a standard size and shape, such as AA, AAA. You can buy these batteries in most stores and once they are empty, just throw them away (help us keep the environment safe and clean by disposing of batteries only in special containers).
Rechargeable batteries: we can use them several times. Some rechargeable batteries have a standard size and shape, such as AA, AAA. We can use anywhere these standard size batteries a disposable battery can be used. Most often, however, rechargeable batteries have a proprietary shape and are only compatible with a few specific cameras. When a rechargeable battery is empty, you can place it in a special charger that will recharge it. The time to recharge a battery, the number of times it can be charged, and how long it lasts depend on the technology used to make it.
There are advantages and disadvantages to using disposable or rechargeable batteries. The major advantage of using a disposable battery is that you can always buy a few to replace empty ones, and you can always find one at a nearby store in case you get stuck with empty batteries. The disadvantages of using disposable batteries are the cost of buying new ones every time your batteries run out, the capacity (in most cases, a disposable battery won’t last as long as a good rechargeable battery). Rechargeable batteries require only one purchase. When the battery is empty, you can simply place it in its charger, and after an hour, you will have a fully charged battery. The downside is that if you run out of batteries during a photo shoot or if you’re away from home or a power source, you can’t just buy another battery. The solution to this problem is to buy an extra battery and always carry it with you, fully charged.
If your camera uses standard size batteries such as AA or AAA, you can enjoy the benefits of both disposable and rechargeable batteries. You can still use AA or AAA disposable batteries with the camera, but you can also get an AA or AAA rechargeable battery and use it whenever you want.
Rechargeable Battery Technologies:
Different technologies are used to make rechargeable batteries. Look at the battery itself to see what technology was used; in most cases, we will write this on a small sticker on the battery or somewhere on its packaging. Here are the most common technologies and their advantages and disadvantages:
Nickel-cadium: one of the older technologies. These batteries are inexpensive and can be recharged quickly and several times before losing capacity. The disadvantage is that they have a low capacity and a “memory effect” - a “memory effect” means that we can only recharge the battery to full capacity if it is first completely discharged. This can be a problem because, in most cases, you’ll want to make sure that your battery, regardless of its current state, is fully charged before you leave for a photo shoot. Some charges solve this problem by discharging the battery first and only then charging it to full capacity.
Nickel-metal hybrid: this technology is an improvement in nickel-cadium. The capacity of these batteries is much higher, up to 50% higher. Although there is still a “memory effect”, it is less noticeable than in nickel-cadium batteries. The disadvantage is that we can recharge less often these batteries before they lose capacity and they discharge more quickly when not in use.
Lithium-ion: A new technology that solves many of the problems associated with nickel technology. Lithium-ion batteries have a higher capacity than nickel metal. They have no “memory effect” (so no matter what their current state, they can always be recharged to their maximum capacity). The disadvantage is that they are more expensive than nickel batteries.
Lithium polymer: the latest technology. These batteries have all the advantages of lithium-ion and more. They have an even higher capacity and can also be easily manufactured in any form. This makes it possible to manufacture much smaller and lighter high capacity batteries, as well as batteries whose shape better fits the design of the camera.
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In conclusion,
when choosing a camera and thinking about the batteries it uses, you should first make a choice between disposable and rechargeable batteries. If you choose a camera that uses rechargeable batteries, try to choose a battery that uses the latest technology like polymer or lithium, unless you have special considerations.
