Batteries for Digital Camera

Hi. I recently bought a Vivitar 4 MP Vivicam 3815 Digital Camera. I've
used alkeline and found that I had to replace the batteries every
couple of days. So I switched to a rechargeable generic brand NiMh, but
the battery life is still short. Is it because of the brand? Should I
switch to a better known brand like energizer or duracell? Do brand
name batteries even matter? Thanks so much!

Hi. I recently bought a Vivitar 4 MP Vivicam 3815 Digital Camera. I've
used alkeline and found that I had to replace the batteries every
couple of days. So I switched to a rechargeable generic brand NiMh, but
the battery life is still short. Is it because of the brand? Should I
switch to a better known brand like energizer or duracell? Do brand
name batteries even matter? Thanks so much!

What's the capacity of the NiMH batteries you're using? Obviously,
higher-capacity batteries will last longer than those with lower capacity.
These days, high-capacity NiMH batteries are so inexpensive that there's
really no excuse for not getting them; I've heard that even WalMart is
selling 2500mah Eveready 4 packs for just over $10.

As for quality differences between brands, there's not much reason to skimp
there either. As mentioned the Evereadys aren't very expensive, and other
high-quality brands would include Maha, Sanyo & Kodak.

But it's possible an even bigger difference might be found in chargers than
the batteries themselves. At the high end, the Maha chargers are great, but
other name-brand units are probably fine.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Hi. I recently bought a Vivitar 4 MP Vivicam 3815 Digital Camera. I've
used alkeline and found that I had to replace the batteries every
couple of days. So I switched to a rechargeable generic brand NiMh, but
the battery life is still short. Is it because of the brand? Should I
switch to a better known brand like energizer or duracell? Do brand
name batteries even matter? Thanks so much!

What's the capacity of the NiMH batteries you're using? Obviously,
higher-capacity batteries will last longer than those with lower capacity.
These days, high-capacity NiMH batteries are so inexpensive that there's
really no excuse for not getting them; I've heard that even WalMart is
selling 2500mah Eveready 4 packs for just over $10.

As for quality differences between brands, there's not much reason to skimp
there either. As mentioned the Evereadys aren't very expensive, and other
high-quality brands would include Maha, Sanyo & Kodak.

But it's possible an even bigger difference might be found in chargers than
the batteries themselves. At the high end, the Maha chargers are great, but
other name-brand units are probably fine.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

On 7 Dec 2004 20:12:15 -0800
"Jen" wrote:

Hi. I recently bought a Vivitar 4 MP Vivicam 3815 Digital
Camera. I've used alkeline and found that I had to replace the
batteries every couple of days. So I switched to a
rechargeable generic brand NiMh, but the battery life is still
short. Is it because of the brand? Should I switch to a better
known brand like energizer or duracell? Do brand name
batteries even matter? Thanks so much!

Another thing to remember is that NiMHs take a few cycles to
reach full capacity. The 2200mAh ones I've got in my camera
have had 4 or 5 cycles now, and are showing noticably longer
life than when they were new.

-Chris D

On 7 Dec 2004 20:12:15 -0800
"Jen" wrote:

Hi. I recently bought a Vivitar 4 MP Vivicam 3815 Digital
Camera. I've used alkeline and found that I had to replace the
batteries every couple of days. So I switched to a
rechargeable generic brand NiMh, but the battery life is still
short. Is it because of the brand? Should I switch to a better
known brand like energizer or duracell? Do brand name
batteries even matter? Thanks so much!

Another thing to remember is that NiMHs take a few cycles to
reach full capacity. The 2200mAh ones I've got in my camera
have had 4 or 5 cycles now, and are showing noticably longer
life than when they were new.

-Chris D

One possibility is that your camera is not completely shutting off when you
turn it off. All cameras draw a *tiny* amount of electricity from the
batteries when turned off, to keep the clock/calendar running and to retain
settings. Yours may have an electrical leak (in a semiconductor) that is
making it draw more than it's supposed to. If you can verify that it drains
batteries while turned off, you should return it under warranty. If you
have a milliammeter, you can probably even test it.

One possibility is that your camera is not completely shutting off when you
turn it off. All cameras draw a *tiny* amount of electricity from the
batteries when turned off, to keep the clock/calendar running and to retain
settings. Yours may have an electrical leak (in a semiconductor) that is
making it draw more than it's supposed to. If you can verify that it drains
batteries while turned off, you should return it under warranty. If you
have a milliammeter, you can probably even test it.

On 7 Dec 2004 20:12:15 -0800, "Jen" wrote:

Hi. I recently bought a Vivitar 4 MP Vivicam 3815 Digital Camera. I've
used alkeline and found that I had to replace the batteries every
couple of days. So I switched to a rechargeable generic brand NiMh, but
the battery life is still short. Is it because of the brand? Should I
switch to a better known brand like energizer or duracell? Do brand
name batteries even matter? Thanks so much!

The Vivtar is known to be a very power-hungry camera, so your only
real solution is to buy several sets of NiNH batteries and always
carry spares. If you want a non-rechargeable solution, Energizer
Lithium Technology batteries should give you about 5x the life of
alkalines.

Cliff Smith
www.cliffsmith.co.uk

On 7 Dec 2004 20:12:15 -0800, "Jen" wrote:

Hi. I recently bought a Vivitar 4 MP Vivicam 3815 Digital Camera. I've
used alkeline and found that I had to replace the batteries every
couple of days. So I switched to a rechargeable generic brand NiMh, but
the battery life is still short. Is it because of the brand? Should I
switch to a better known brand like energizer or duracell? Do brand
name batteries even matter? Thanks so much!

The Vivtar is known to be a very power-hungry camera, so your only
real solution is to buy several sets of NiNH batteries and always
carry spares. If you want a non-rechargeable solution, Energizer
Lithium Technology batteries should give you about 5x the life of
alkalines.

Cliff Smith
www.cliffsmith.co.uk

If you constantly use the LCD screen you will run the batteries down a
lot faster then if you compose and shoot your pictures throught the
view finder.

Art