Confused about digital Camera batteries and chargers

[kal9999]

Being a newbie to the digital camera world, I have the following questions:
1. With all the different battery capacities available, does it make any difference if I buy batteries with 2000 mAh or 2500 mAh capacities for my Sony digital camera? It comes with 2100 mAh batteries.
2. How about the battery chargers? They do not specify if they will charge the 2000 or 2500 mAh capacity batteries. Will they charge any capacity of batteries?
3. As far as the brand names of the batteries and chargers, is Energizer any better than Digital Concepts?

Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

[PhilR.]

1. With all the different battery capacities available, does it make any difference if I buy batteries with 2000 mAh or 2500 mAh capacities for my Sony digital camera? It comes with 2100 mAh batteries.

Many cameras have a minimum requirement for the mAh. If you go below, they will shut off. Check your instruction manual and see if it states what range is acceptable (although knowing how Sony works, they will probably say that you should just get their brand of batteries). If you can't find the requirement, then it would be best to stick to at least 2100 or more.

2. How about the battery chargers? They do not specify if they will charge the 2000 or 2500 mAh capacity batteries. Will they charge any capacity of batteries?

Although it is quite possible, not all chargers will work with all batteries. I would think it would be better to purchase both batteries and charger as a unit, just to be sure they are compatible.

3. As far as the brand names of the batteries and chargers, is Energizer any better than Digital Concepts?

Not heard of Digital Concepts, so I can't help you there. Are you only considering those two brands? You should do a search for battery retailers, as there are lots of other good brands to choose from.


happy holidays,
PhilR.

[D70FAN]

Being a newbie to the digital camera world, I have the following questions:
1. With all the different battery capacities available, does it make any difference if I buy batteries with 2000 mAh or 2500 mAh capacities for my Sony digital camera? It comes with 2100 mAh batteries.
2. How about the battery chargers? They do not specify if they will charge the 2000 or 2500 mAh capacity batteries. Will they charge any capacity of batteries?
3. As far as the brand names of the batteries and chargers, is Energizer any better than Digital Concepts?

Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

1. Buy the highest rating available. Currently 2500mAh NiMH rechargables are the top rating. 2100mAh and 2300mAh are commonly available.

For reference: NiMH stands for "Nickle Metal Hydride" The chemical composition of the battery, and mAh stands for "mili Ampere hour" this is the charge capacity of the battery.

2. Most chagers are rated in terms of charging time, which assumes a 1500mAh battery. Typically a 3 hour charger charges at 500mA, so it takes 3 hours to charge a 1500mAh battery.

Any charger labeled for NiMH or NiCad (Nickle Cadmium) will work with any capacity NiMH or NiCad battery. It will just take a little longer to fully charge. Do not buy NiCad batteries (very old technology with problems).

3. There can be a large difference in chargers and batteries. I recommend the MAHA C204W charger, and any of the batteries found at Thomas Distributing (except maybe the Lenmars). I have used my C204 for many years and it always gets the most out of a good set of batteries. Powerex, GP, Quest, Kodak, Sony, etc. are all good batteries.

http://nimhbattery.com/batteries.htm

[kal9999]

Thanks for your comments. The sony's instructions did not specify if I have to use 2100 mAh batteries or not. I got the Digital Concepts battery charger and 4 2000 mAh batteries. It is a rapid charger (charge in 2 hours) with a car charger included. After reading your responese, sounds like I can use it to charge 2500 mAh batteries also but it will probably take longer. The sony camera comes with its own battery charger but it takes 6 hours to charge 2 2100 mAh batteries. Energizer makes a 15-minute charger and 2500 mAh batteries. Has anyone tried them? I am thinking that might be my best bet.

[ReF]

i've read that many of the fast chargers are not very "smart" and tend to overcharge your batteries, shortening their service life. your sony most likely takes only two batteries at a time, which leaves you plently of time to charge the other four, so you probably wouldn't need a 15min charger. take your cam out with to a place where you would do a lot of shooting, then see if you can even drain two pairs of batteries. it could prove difficult, so don't waste your money unless you really want to. be sure to mark your 4 identical batteries as pairs, you don't want to mix them up. I did that one time and they got really hot!

[kal9999]

Re: mark your 4 identical batteries as pairs.... Why would this matter? Why can't I mix the 4 identical batteries?

I had a chance to use the 2 sony batteries that came with the camera. Since the camera only came with 32 md memory stick, I used it too. Boy, it did not take much to drain the two batteries. In less than an hour, the batteries were gone.

[Rhys]

The point is that if you mix your batteries, you could end up overcharging one and having one uncharged.

I haven't marked mine but I charge them in sets. I have a set in the camera, a set charged and a set charging.

[kal9999]

Thanks for the clarification. I thought you meant not to mix them up even if they are all fully charged. I can surely understand not to mix up the uncharged ones with those that are charged. Thanks again.

[John_Reed]

For my Panasonic FZ cameras, I carry one little charged spare in my pocket while shooting (which usually isn't needed) in my pocket. Its terminals are shielded, its volume is much less than that of 4-AA batteries, which I'd be afraid to carry around loose in my pocket anyway. Advantage Li-Ion!

[tonya]

just to comment on thompson dist. http://nimhbattery.com/batteries.htm

i heard about them through this site and am thankful.

great deals and fast service and free plastic battery carriers (i know it doesnt seem like much, but they help keep things organized).

i went with the higher level mawa (?) charger as it has fast and trickle charge and bought a few different levels "powerex" brand batteries . the 2300's last a very respectable time!!!

besides the digcam, my kids had a blast using their holiday toys not listening to me say..... dont wear out the batteries :D ;)

[D70FAN]

just to comment on thompson dist. http://nimhbattery.com/batteries.htm

i heard about them through this site and am thankful.

great deals and fast service and free plastic battery carriers (i know it doesnt seem like much, but they help keep things organized).

i went with the higher level mawa (?) charger as it has fast and trickle charge and bought a few different levels "powerex" brand batteries . the 2300's last a very respectable time!!!

besides the digcam, my kids had a blast using their holiday toys not listening to me say..... dont wear out the batteries :D ;)

Not to put too fine an edge on it, but...

The business name is Thomas Distributing...The name of the charger is MAHA... the charger numbers are C204W (120V-240V world-wide voltage) and C204F (uses a plug-in 120V wall adapter).

These are, arguably, the best NiMH/NiCad chargers on the market. I have 2 and use BP, Powerex, and Panasonic batteries. I have had infant mortality, and case size (AA diameter not to spec) problems with Lenmar.

[Rhys]

For my Panasonic FZ cameras, I carry one little charged spare in my pocket while shooting (which usually isn't needed) in my pocket. Its terminals are shielded, its volume is much less than that of 4-AA batteries, which I'd be afraid to carry around loose in my pocket anyway. Advantage Li-Ion!

Ah. Now my solution to the battery problem is simple. I put 4x AA batteries into a blister pack and carry them in my pocket.

What I did: I removed the plastic blister from a 4 x AA blister pack. I then stapled card over the back, leaving about a 2/3 inch gap between the top of the blister and the top of the card. The card meets all other edges of the blister. Now I can slide my batteries in and out when needed and they're all protected and kept tidily in my shirt pocket. The cost of this handy and safe way of carrying batteries? A few staples, a piece of an old shoe box, an old AA blister pack and a few minutes time. I have two like this and have been using them for about a year. They do wear out but it doesn't cost a lot to replace them!