Top 3 Batteries for Digital Cameras

Written by: Om Thoke • Edited by: Rhonda Callow
Updated May 25, 2011 • Related Guides: Digital Cameras

When you consider the best batteries for a digital camera, it's most likely that you're going to count out the non-rechargeable ones; however, this is not true in all the cases. Let us take a look at some of the best batteries for a digital camera; the rechargeable as well the non-rechargeable ones.

Next up: Best Disposable Batteries for Digital Cameras ►

Best Rechargeable Batteries for Digital Cameras

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Let us start off with the rechargeable batteries and then move on to the disposable ones.

Sanyo eneloop Rechargeable Batteries for Digital Cameras

The Sanyo eneloop rechargeable batteries are AA size batteries built on a hybrid technology. They come pre-charged, allowing you to use them right after making the purchase.

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Sanyo eneloop rechargeable batteries combine the goodness of NiMH batteries as well as the standard pre-charged disposable batteries, and also retain charge for a long time, when kept unused.

It has been tested that these batteries can retain about 90% charge even after being kept unused for 5-6 months. What’s more, they’re equally cost effective too; you can charge them up to 1,000 times, without noticing a drop in performance. They’re currently the pick of the lot, costing about $10 per four-pack.

However, if you’re planning for a longer trip, it may be worth considering other options like Energizer e2 Lithium batteries that have higher capacities and cost efficiency.

So, in a nutshell, the Sanyo eneloop rechargeable batteries are a great choice as they’re highly versatile and cost-effective; they self-discharge very slowly, and come pre-charged. But, on the downside, they have lower capacity than others, aren’t too convenient to charge during long trips, and hence they aren’t the best bet for extensive usage.

Note: The Sanyo eneloop rechargeable batteries for digital cameras work best when used with a Sanyo charger, and stored at cool temperatures. Read How to Take Care of Rechargeable Camera Batteries for more tips.

Amazon is currently selling SANYO eneloop 4 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries for $12.09

Best Disposable Batteries for Digital Cameras

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Moving on to the disposable batteries, let us consider the available options on the basis of performance, durability, as well as performance.

Duracell CopperTop Alkaline Disposable Batteries

Most of the alkaline batteries aren’t counted amongst the best batteries for digital cameras, but the Duracell CopperTop batteries are amongst the rare exceptions in this category.

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These are extremely economic amongst the disposable batteries, and they're good for usage in digital camera, provided you don’t click 100 times in a day.

However, if you consider their real usage, these are ideal for usage in low-drain electronics circuitries such as smoke detectors. But, for the extensive camera users, these might not turn out to be a viable option, due to inferior storage capacity, and poor cost-efficiency in the longer run.

When compared with the pre-charged Sanyo eneloop, they don’t stand a chance; on the other hand, they don’t last as long as the lithium disposable batteries. More so, they pose the risk of running out of power just when you need to capture an unforgettable moment in your camera.

But, on the brighter side, these are one of the easiest batteries that you can find, be it in a small store or a big supermarket, and the initial cost of purchasing is also very low. And, they’re available in AA, C, 9-volt, AAA, and D sizes; so you don’t have to worry if you’re in need of a size other than the standard AA or AAA size.

The Duracell CopperTop batteries cost about $1.41 per battery at Amazon, and turn out to be the best batteries for digital camera during longer adventurous trips wherein you can’t recharge the battery. Furthermore, they’re considered to be one of the most economic yet durable disposable alkaline batteries available in the market; so if you need a cheap battery for your digital camera, Duracell is the way to go!

Energizer e2 Lithium Disposable Batteries for Digital Cameras

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When you don’t want a rechargeable battery, but need a long lasting one for your digital camera, the Energizer e2 lithium disposable batteries are simply unbeatable.

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When you’re on the move, you can’t think of considering the cost-effectiveness of the rechargeable batteries. Having said that, you won’t mind shelling out an extra $5 on buying a superior disposable battery for your digital camera, right? Well, if this happens to be the case, then you simply can’t find a superior option to the Energizer e2 lithium disposable batteries that come with a long runtime in digital cameras and 10-year shelf life.

They have excellent flash power and recovery time, making them ideal for taking flash shots and fast camera shooting. Most of the critics recommend the rechargeable batteries for digital cameras on account of their cost-effectiveness, but it is worth noting that the ‘cost per photo’ clicked with the e2 lithium disposable batteries is less than the ‘cost per photo’ clicked with top notch rechargeable batteries like the Sanyo eneloop.

These lithium batteries are light, available in AA & AAA sizes, but come with a higher price tag than most of the other disposable batteries. Far worse, they don’t give any warning before running out of charge, in most cases. But, at the same time, they work well at low temperatures; so they can be a great asset in snowy areas.

Coming to the pricing part, the average market price of Energizer e2 lithium disposable batteries is about $12 per four-pack.

The Bottom Line

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Your decision will heavily depend upon the intended usage as well as several other factors. Therefore, it is not possible to nominate anyone in particular to be the best batteries for digital camera. But, it is important to note that different batteries are based on latest technologies such as the hybrid technology, while some are the conventional alkaline cells that have been in existence for years together. In this article, we’ve considered the performance of these batteries, but you must not forget that pricing always plays a decisive role too.

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