Digital Camera

Digital camera batteries come in different types. As a camera owner, it is a must to learn about what battery your gadget uses. This is to ensure continuous power for your camera every time you need to use it.

Digital cameras normally come with a built in Li-ion or Lithium ion battery similar to the one found in mobile phones, laptops, PDAs and iPods. This is the popular square flat type that requires recharging for continuous use. The gadget itself comes with a charger upon purchase and all you need is to connect the cord to the camera and then plug it into an electrical outlet to start the battery charging process.

Each digital camera battery has a rating and this is known as a mAh or Milliamp Hour. The mAh refers to the power a certain battery is capable of holding which means that a battery with higher mAh values should last longer without having the need to recharge it.

In the case of AA or the alkaline batteries, it is highly recommended to use a pair with matching mAh values. The reason is to make sure that your digital camera performs well. If one has a lesser mAh value than the other, it can cause your camera to conk out as the other battery with a higher mAh value experiences more strain.

It's important to note here that although the alkaline AA batteries can high mAh ratings, their weakness is in the short operating times. A pair, for instance, can only last from 10 to 15 minutes when used in a digital camera.

If you don't wish to use the AA alkaline digital camera batteries, what you can do is buy another battery of a similar type to the one that comes with your camera or the Li-ion battery. This will be a good idea especially if you're the type of person who loves taking photos wherever you go. At least when you have an extra battery on standby, you won't miss those important shots.

Proper storing of your Li-ion digital camera battery will help prolong its life. This type of battery should not be exposed to high temperatures as this will only cause it to age faster. Ideally, Li-ion batteries should be kept is a cool place if possible inside a refrigerator.

Also when using your Lithium-ion battery, experts recommend that consumers not totally drain it below its minimum voltage of 2.4 to 2.8 volts/cell before recharging. In other words, you don't need to completely discharge the battery before recharging. Another advantage is that this type of battery is capable of being recharged hundreds of times. But keep in mind that not using it for a long time will actually shorten its life to only two to three years.

There are many online shops that cater exclusively to digital camera batteries compatible with most brands. If you're patient enough to look for legitimate online retailers, you will surely find one that offers batteries with identical quality and capacity as to the original ones you're using.

For information about digital camera batteries, visit 42photo.com, New York's legendary camera store in business for over 40 years.