Batteries are important for digital photography and for many different types of electronic equipment. Learn the ins and outs of batteries and how to make them last longer.

Digital cameras are wonderful. Since no film is needed, they are always ready to capture that priceless moment. That is, of course, except when the batteries are low or depleted. Heavy reliance on battery power is one of the pitfalls of the digital age of photography. Yet, there are some simple things that the digital photographer can do to make sure that power is always available and to extend battery life.

First, if at all possible, have some spare batteries. I really like digital cameras that will accept plain alkaline standard size batteries. With these cameras you can use the more economical and ecological friendly rechargeable batteries, but can carry some standard batteries for backup power when needed.

If a camera uses its own rechargeable battery pack, it is always a good practice to purchase an extra battery back to keep handy in case you need it. One problem with this is that you must be sure to keep both the battery pack in the camera and the spare charged up and ready to go. Battery packs, like rechargeable batteries can lose their charge even when the camera is turned off. So you must remember to make sure the batteries are charged before you need them.

Another power-saving option is to purchase an AC power adapter for your digital camera. This will allow you to take pictures when you are near a power source without depleting your batteries. If you use it to plug the camera into the wall outlet before you download pictures, more power will be left in the batteries.

If you happen to be in a situation where your batteries are running low or you want to conserve on battery power, there are several things you can do. First, use the digital display sparingly. The LCD display screen is the item that consumes the most power in a digital camera, so using the optical view finder to take a picture instead of the LCD screen will save a lot of battery power. For the same reason, you may want to wait until you get home to look at the pictures that you just took. Erasing poor photos to free up memory space will also consume a lot of power, so keep an extra memory card available if you are trying to conserve battery power.

Rechargeable batteries can be cost-effective, and they have seen several improvements in recent years. It is, however, still advisable to run the batteries all the way down at least once every few weeks before recharging. Battery companies advise that this will give better performance and longer life to the rechargeable batteries. The easiest way to do this is to find a piece of equipment like a flashlight that can be turned on and left until the batteries are completely drained. Then recharge.

While talking about batteries, it is important to note that you should never mix NiMH and lithium ion rechargeable batteries with each other or with alkaline batteries. Make sure that all of the batteries in use at any given time are of the same type. Also, be sure to check your camera documentation for the proper type of batteries to use in your camera.

If you are planning to purchase a digital camera, you will want to read reviews as well as the camera specifications to make sure you get a camera that promises to get the most from its batteries. Great strides are currently being taken to improve battery life for all types of digital equipment. So expect to see better and better battery performance in the near future.