Rechargeable batteries

Do all mid-range digital cameras come with battery chargers? Are these preferable to the AA option. Have to say I get fed up with the number of batteries I get through on my existing camera, so am hoping rechargeable is the better option. But does it come as standard and is it prefereable?

Digital cameras need a battery, and it will always run out at the most inconvenient time. So the question is really do i get a camera with a rechargeable bettery and a spare, or rely on disposable AAs. The advantage of AA is you can get them practically anywhere, the disadvantage is the cost. If you decide not to have a spare rechargeable battery then you always need to have access to a power supply. Some activities, like a camping holiday, may not allow such access to mains power. My personal preference, and it is personal, is to use the rechargeable battery cameras, but have two cameras. They are not too big nowadays and give you confidence that you will come home with photos.

The question posed starts from a inaccurate assumption.

You can get rechargeable AA batteries, just as you have rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries, but cameras that allow you to use AA batteries give you a wider choice.

With AA batteries, you can use NiMH rechargeable, or single use alkaline or single use Lithium batteries. With Lithium-Ion rechargeable batteries, you are stuck with what the camera manufacturer supplies (some batteries can also be obtained from other sources - it depends on how common that battery type is, but none will be as cheap as the ubiquitous AA batteries).

The Lithium Ion batteries are light (for the amount of charge they have), and will hold their charge well, but are costly and difficult to just buy a replacement in any shop.

AA Lithium batteries are also expensive, and can hold a lot of charge, but are only single charge.

AA alkaline batteries are cheap, but don't have a lot of charge, but very easily obtainable in an emergency.

AA NiMH batteries are also very cheap. Some have a high capacity, but then will lose their charge within a month, even if not used (this can be mitigated by putting the batteries in the freezer when not in use). Others have less capacity, but do not self-discharge at anything like as prodigious rate.

I used to hate AA batteries because of the self-discharge problem; but now I would rather have AA low discharge batteries, but always carry at least 2 spare replacement sets with me. Others may have other priorities.

I'd personally ALWAYS go with a Digital compact camera that has a Lithium Ion Battery & charger.,,
I'd NEVER go with a camera that took AA Batteries ever again..
I've been there done it, Duracells used to run out in our 1st digital Olympus Compact in no time.. Decent rechargeables held for a few more pictures but still not too long, Where as many Lithium Ion Batteries you can charge up & put in the camera and they will last up to a few hundred shots,, (It'll usually state how many in the spec's online....

I love my Canon powershot's ability to take AA batteries. The Panasonic lithium Ion batteries are good, but you sometimes need a spare and they are expensive. On balance, I prefer to use AAs as they keep getting better and better. At one time they were only 1700mA/hour, now some give around 3000mA/hour. With the bespoke lithium ion ones, what you get is all you're going to get. Especially as Panasonic have a security chipset that limits the functionality of 3rd party batteries.

I had a real problem with rechargeable AAs in my Canon compact till I found Sanyo Eneloops (thanks Graham Hearne). They have been excellent and I recommend them. They are not that expensive either - see Amazon.

I'd also recommend Uniross AA Hybrios 2100mAh. (They seem to be based on the same technology as the Sanyos). They last a lot lot longer than other higher rated AAs.

To answer your question, if they use a proprietary Li-ion battery they'll usually come with a charger. Most cameras using AA batteries still don't come with a charger though.

That said I'd choose AA batteries every time. Get yourself some Sanyo Eneloop AA re-chargeable NiMH batteries, as they'll stay charged when not in use. In most cases good rechargeables should last far longer per charge than the lifetime of any disposable AA. You can also get an adequate charger for under a tenner too, try the 7dayshop 808LCD; it's not really fast, but fast charging reduces the lifespan of the batteries anyway.

The problem with proprietary Li-ion batteries is that even if you have spare proprietary batteries, you can forget to charge them, or your charger can fail. There's nothing worse than having an expensive camera you can't use because *no-one* sells a compatible battery, or you can't charge the one you have. Pretty much wherever you find people, you'll find AA batteries.

The proprietary Li-ion batteries can cost a fortune too, some of the Canon dSLR originals have an RRP of £75/each. Some of their pro-dSLR proprietary batteries are a truly staggering £150 RRP, and many of the other camera manufacturers are no better.

Of course, after a while the battery cloners will come up with cheaper replacements for big name cameras; but then there are worries that the battery may fail, or may not work as expected. When my camera was introduced no-one made compatible batteries, so it was £75 for a spare, or nothing. When they did start coming out with compatible batteries, the first ones needed to use a different charger than the original batteries and wouldn't display their charge level when in the camera... It took a year before fully compatible batteries became available.

Manufacturer's seem to delight in coming up with a new battery type for every camera. I've upgraded to my third Canon dSLR and each one has required a different type of battery, and each of those uses a different charger too.

I lost my recharchable battery on a Canon Powershot A3100 and how can I get it placezable?

Maxim - Battery charger / car charger - Compatible with NB-8L, NB8L, Canon PowerShot A3000 A3100 IS, By Maxim Foto Supplies.

I agree with Dr Austin I have been using these batteris in my Fuji HS20 EXR and have take over 300 photos and reviwed the as well as learning how to use my camera. I would recomed these bateris to all who use AA .

I now have a whole stack of Sanyo Eneloops in both AA and AAA sizes for all my gadgetry. They're dependable, quick to charge and have a power capacity that belies the modest numbers written on the side.

I now no longer use anything else. If it takes a AA or a AAA and it's in my posession, it's loaded with Eneloops. be it a toothbrush or a professional SLR and motordrive.