camera with a decent battery life.

[C2996]

Could anyone suggest some reasonably priced digital cameras that have a good battery life, i'm currently using a samsung s630 and can't use it for more than ten minutes without draining a set of batteries.

thanks for any suggestions.

[rasputin]

I'm guessing the problem is not your camera, but the batteries. Which ones do you use?

My compact camera takes 4 AA batteries. Using standard Duracells, I can get around 100 shots. With Duracell M3 it's up at around 500. With decent rechargeable batteries (~2700mah) 1000 shots is no problem.

I did try to stick some cheap (pound-shop type) batteries in it once - it wouldn't even power on!

[C2996]

it takes two aa batteries, i did replace the standard two that came with the camera with some higher powered ones, can't remember what they are, it lasts a bit longer but not particularly long.

[Rofly Lollers]

I sent my first AA powered digital camera back because I was convinced there was something wrong with it. I was getting just 10 shots from a fresh set of duracells using the flash.

Buy a GOOD set of 2500mAh+ rechargeables and a GOOD charger. I'd go for one which takes 4-8 hrs or so to charge, otherwise the battery is heated too much (and batteries don't like heat).

[C2996]

I think that's the type of batteries i've got, they do get very hot when charged so maybe that's something too look into

[GetCarter]

This is 'on topic', but I doubt the camera will be right!

I'm currently seeing how long the battery lasts in my D3. I charged it about 7 weeks ago and have used it almost every day. (Not only to take photos, but via a USB to download them). It still reads 'full'.

M.C. Escher would be proud.

[jon-]

I was reading a d3s blog this morning. The shooter got around 1300 shots to his D3 but estimated he'd see nearly double that for the D3s.

Anyway, shut up about your D3. I want one, badly.

[GetCarter]

Jon

I don't know whether you saw the original post regarding this. I 'educated' my D3 battery, even though they say it's not necessary (I just do it as I always have). I'm sure you understand this concept but others may not. I charged it to full then fully discharged it 3 times before puting it into general use. This was essential with older batteries, as they gain a 'memory' of what they consider full, and only charge to that.

Anyway, I was amazed to hear that people were only getting 2000 shots per charge... I'm already nearly two months in and 2500 shots and as stated, it still reads as full.

My D1 batteries (note plural!) would take about 100-200 and last about an hour!

[jon-]

I agree with your battery sentiment, though if you do the reading it's probably the opposite.

I'm assuming the D3 has a Li-Ion battery like the 1d mk3 and mobile phones? These batteries don't like full discharge cycles like NIMH batteries do and according to the internet, continual full discharge cycles will shorten the life. Li-Ion prefer lots of little top up charges. Knowing that I still make sure I do 3 full discharge cycles on any battery I get and my mobile battery always lasts longer than the curve.

Anyway, we're getting slightly OT. To the OP get a MaHa Powerex C900 charger. They've a break-in setting for worn NiMH batteries that gives them a slow charge-discharge-charge cycle over about 40 hours. It can work wonders for older batteries gone bad.

[...Mole...]

GetCarter said:

This is 'on topic', but I doubt the camera will be right!

I'm currently seeing how long the battery lasts in my D3. I charged it about 7 weeks ago and have used it almost every day. (Not only to take photos, but via a USB to download them). It still reads 'full'.

M.C. Escher would be proud.

I am lucky if I get about 500 shots with my D200.

Always carry at least two batteries with me, Once drove 200 miles only to find out that I had forgotten to charge the only battery with me....never again!

[onomatopoeia]

I got ~750 shots from a full charged battery on my A700 with the 70-200 f/2.8 SSM lens attached and had about 15% charge left in it. That was all in one day though. Haven't ever reached a point at an event where it switches over to the second battery.

Not really relevant to the OP as they are dedicated batteries for the Alpha range, not generic AA sized or the like.

[Simpo Two]

Lightweights, you're not trying hard enough! My D200 has chomped through four EN-EL3e's in a day at several weddings.

However when I was synchronising menu settings with a second D200 I found that the meter was set to 'always on'. I also suspect that even when the LED on the charger goes out after a couple of hours, if you leave it there overnight it keeps charging a bit.

Since doing that, I can now get through the average wedding using only two batteries - leaving three spare!

Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 17th November 14:59

[Andy M]

I took my 1Ds3 on holiday for a month without a charger and still returned - having taken a few thousand shots in 35 degree C heat - with 31% power.

My little GF1 (which doesn't have a viewfinder, so the LCD is always on when shooting) takes around 1,000 shots before needing a recharge.

Battery technology appears to have come on leaps and bounds over the past few years. 7dayshop are always pretty efficient and have good prices should you need to replace the OEM batteries

[mcflurry]

I'm on 600 pictures so far on first full charge with my EN-EL9a clone from 7dayshop, and it's only just dropped from 3 bars to 2

I still need more experience with the camera and processing though, as 599 of them still look like snapshots