Up • Printing Your Images • Rechargeable Batteries • Using A Flash • Your First Digital Camera

Are Rechargeable Batteries Good to Use? You'll find many devices giving you the option to use rechargeable batteries in place of the standard Alkaline batteries.  Some devices will tell you NOT to use the rechargeable batteries.  Don't use them if told not to. What's the Difference in Voltage Levels? Alkaline batteries are nominally 1.5 Volts while the rechargeable AA batteries are 1.25 Volts.  This tells you that even with a fresh set of rechargeable batteries you're already lost some play time. I wouldn't worry about this reduced starting level as the camera will work very well for you.  The capacity or amount of power available in rechargeable batteries can exceed the life of normal alkaline batteries so again, you are ahead of the ball game. What's the Best Rechargeable Batteries?  When considering batteries for your digital camera use the newer NiMAH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries instead of the NICADS (Nickel Cadmium).  The NIMAHs are the latest ones and they don't have memory problems like the NICADS had.   The memory problem that NICADS had was that if you used your camera for only 15 minutes a day for long periods of time and then one day decide to use it for 30 minutes, it would fail at the 15 minute mark.  So NICADS had to be cycled to prevent this from happening.  Cycled meaning used up before it is recharged again. Care for Your Rechargeable Batteries If you elect to use rechargeable batteries than I would recommend purchase a small battery tester like the ones you can buy at Radio Shack.  Even though there are claims that rechargeable can be recharged about 500 times you'll find one day that you're fresh set of rechargeable batteries had died only after taking a few snap shots. Actually, when using the radio shack tester you'll find that only once cell at the least had gone dead and was no longer able to hold the charge. As a practice, I would put a fresh set of batteries and even if I don't use it for a while, I'd take them out of the camera and test them.  A good set of rechargeable batteries should have the same level of power left even after sitting in the camera for a while.  Know that unlike Alkaline batteries,  Rechargeable batteries will only hold the charge for a month, so they say.  Actually,  I usually recharge all my batteries the day before I need to use them.  I normally keep to sets of rechargeable and one set of alkaline batteries as backup. Where to Buy Rechargeable Batteries I've seen the best deals in Costco and Sams Club.  Wal-Mart also has a good price for them. There you have it,  I hope that I've provided you with some good information.