Digital Camera Battery Problems

There's no worse feeling than lining up the perfect shot only to have your camera's battery die mid-photo. Camera battery problems are among the most frustrating issues photographers experience, especially with new digital cameras that exhaust battery power quickly. Most battery problems relate to the battery running out and there isn't much you can do short of replacing or recharging the battery, but there are ways to extend battery life.
The digital camera battery problems do not stem from the batteries as much as it does from the draw of the cameras on the batteries. If you choose to use rechargeable batteries, you do need to allow the batteries to go completely dead before charging. This can be a huge inconvenience for most people. Therefore, you will need spare charged batteries to carry with you wherever you go. It is always wise to carry the charger with you as well. The life of the rechargeable battery will depend on whether you drain it regularly and charge it when you need it.
Disposable alkaline batteries are designed to deliver full capacity to devices that consume power slowly. Digital cameras use high-drain components such as flash units and LCD screens, which consume power at a much faster rate than these batteries were designed for. Often batteries that appear depleted from use in a digital camera will continue to function in devices that use less power.
There are two common types of rechargeable AA cell batteries: nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and nickel-cadmium (NiCd). NiMH batteries--if left unused--will discharge over time, so it is always best to charge these immediately before use. NiCd batteries suffer from a "memory effect," which requires them to be fully discharged before recharging to ensure they retain their maximum capacity.
The greatest source of power drain on a digital camera is the LCD screen. To prolong battery life, digital cameras often allow a user to disable image review features so that this element is used as little as possible. With the LCD screen disabled, it is possible to take up to five times more photos before replacing or recharging your batteries.
According to Batterystyle.com, when not in use, the camera battery should remain fully charged. Before using the battery for the first time, ensure that the battery is fully charged and activated according to the instructions included with your camera or battery. It is a good idea to purchase a backup battery in case your first battery fails or dies, so you don't miss the opportunity to use your Olympus product.
Return the battery to the compartment. Line up the positive and negative symbols on the battery with the symbols inside the compartment. Firmly shut the compartment door to push the batteries down.
Place the batteries in your pocket or rub them in your hands if shooting in a very cold location. Load the batteries into the compartment just before you take a picture.
Digital camera battery problems are quite common with digital cameras. There is no way around the batteries so the user must decide on rechargeable or alkaline batteries. The best battery will be the rechargeable batteries by far. You can plan to replace the rechargeable batteries about every year or year and a half depending how much you use them and how you charge them. If you plan to use alkaline batteries, you are going to need a pack of batteries every month or so depending on how much you use the camera. Other than that, there are no other real problems with the batteries for digital cameras.