Important facts you need to know about your photographic camera's batteries.

Nosotros've come up a long way since the early days of digital cameras when AA batteries were the norm and you lot were lucky to become more than 50 shots from each new gear up. Today, rechargeable lithium ion batteries have replaced all the previous types because they accept more charge, agree their charge longer and provide more authentic information about how much power they retain. It's also safe to recharge them when they're partially discharged.

How a camera uses power depends on the type of photographic camera and its components. All cameras use battery power for their electronic displays too as operations like opening and closing the mechanical shutter, metering exposures and driving the autofocus motor(south) and stabilisation mechanisms in the camera and/or lens.

In mirrorless cameras, much of the ability is used by the electronic viewfinder, which ways bombardment capacities tend to be lower for mirrorless and compact cameras than DSLRs with optical viewfinders. Batteries may also exist smaller in mirrorless cameras to make them more meaty and lighter than DSLRs. The table below compares two cameras from the aforementioned manufacturer with a similar sensor size and resolution.

Nikon Z50 Nikon D7500
Physical dimensions 127 x 94 x threescore mm 136 x 104 x 73 mm
Body weight 450 grams 720 grams
Battery EN-EL25 EN-EL15a
Battery weight Approx. 73 grams Approx. 95 grams
Battery chapters 320 shots/charge 950 shots/accuse

Shows the differences in physical size between a typical mirrorless photographic camera (the Nikon Z50) and a DSLR (Nikon D7500).

How long should a camera bombardment last?

Rechargeable batteries take a limited life, which is influenced by the way they are handled and stored and the number of times they're recharged. It'south impossible to provide exact figures that cover all the different sizes of batteries on the market but, as a guide you should expect a photographic camera battery to last at least five years – provided information technology'south been handled correctly and wasn't initially faulty.

Batteries are still available for many DSLR cameras that were showtime released over a decade ago. A check of several online forums found many contributors reporting rechargeable lithium ion batteries 'still going potent' after viii to ten years. Some older batteries that take been heavily used are non accepting the same amount of accuse – just they're still usable.

After a few hundred cycles, a bombardment may fall below one-half chapters and, if so, information technology should be 'retired'. These batteries tin can exist kept as emergency back-ups and used simply when needed.

It's not a proficient idea to let your camera's batteries fully discharge because if recharged from flat the cells might become unstable and overheat. Your photographic camera will bespeak equally presently as the accuse becomes depression enough to need recharging.

Batteries self-discharge over time, and will 'die' if they're left unused in long-term storage through a gradual voltage drop. For lithium-ion batteries the average rate is around ii–3% per month and so when buying batteries, it's wise to bank check when the battery was made to make sure it really is new.

You tin often find add-on battery grips available for cameras at the pinnacle end of a manufacturer'due south range. Most will accept two batteries, which can double the shooting capacity of the camera'southward single battery. Grips can be available for both DSLR and mirrorless models.

Loftier-end enthusiast and professional cameras can oftentimes accept an add-on battery grip that accommodates two batteries, thereby doubling the camera's shooting capacity.

How to prolong a battery's life

Lithium ion chemistry prefers partial discharge to deep discharge, so it's condom to recharge camera batteries at whatsoever time. Y'all can also go out a battery with less than half its full charge on charge overnight, although information technology's best to avert charging longer than necessary wherever possible. Batteries last longest if they're only topped up when a recharge is needed. If you're in a rush and the battery is non fully charged it'south condom to utilise; it needn't be fully charged every time.

Go on at least two batteries at hand and when the camera's battery becomes low on power, exchange it for a fresh i. Labelling the batteries with the date on which they were purchased makes information technology easier to keep rails of them and offers a quick indication of their historic period.

Most mod cameras brandish bombardment status data via icons on the monitor screen that show the level of power remaining. When the icon is fully coloured, the battery is charged; one-half the icon coloured shows the bombardment is half-charged. When there is no coloured in-fill, the battery is depleted and the camera should remind you to re-change it.

Some cameras likewise provide information on when to calibrate the battery and when a new battery is required. Battery chargers volition usually show when the battery is fully charged past changing the colour of the indicator calorie-free or switching it off. Some will also signal when it is partially discharged, low or depleted.

Bombardment functioning can be afflicted past excessive rut and cold. Loftier temperatures tend to advance chemical reactions and, in rare situations, batteries may explode. This is very unusual with photographic camera batteries but has occurred with larger laptop batteries.

Depression temperatures wearisome the reactions down and this might affect photographic camera operation. Although near batteries tin can cope with sub-zero conditions, when shooting in cold weather condition keep spare batteries within your coat, close to your trunk and then they remain relatively warm.

How to preserve battery power

If you're out on location and don't have a fully-charged spare battery, there are a few practical things yous can do to maximise the number of frames you can capture with the remaining charge:

  1. Don't leave the camera powered-up when you lot're not actually using it. Nearly cameras will switch off if the controls aren't used subsequently a specified period of time (which tin be set in the set-up card).
  2. When photographing static subjects, such as landscapes and posed portraits, try not to activate the metering until you lot're gear up to shoot. This isn't practical when shooting moving subjects simply keep information technology in listen that continuous re-focusing drains power from the bombardment, and avoid unnecessary re-adjustments wherever possible.
  3. Turn the camera off when it's not being used, particularly if the screen is illuminated. Screens can draw a lot of power from the battery. In that location's also the chance you might press a push button inadvertently and activate the camera if you're walking around with the camera switched on.
  4. Epitome stabilisers too depict ability from the camera. Leaving IS switched on volition deplete the battery, particularly if you are using a super-telephoto or extended-range zoom lens. Switch off the stabiliser whenever your shutter speed is fast enough to avoid camera shake.
  5. Hunting for focus in low light or low contrast situations too consumes battery power. Switch to manual focus or utilize the manual focus over-ride to focus the lens.

3rd-party batteries
To the all-time of our knowledge, no camera manufacturer makes its own batteries; they source them from specialist manufacturers and re-make them. Appropriately, 'alternative' batteries from third-political party manufacturers are bachelor for most digital cameras (also as many other electronic devices).

Alternative batteries with different brands from the camera come in different configurations. Some are sold alone, while others come with a matching charger. Some are also offered equally twin packs.

Information technology's not uncommon to pay more than $fifty for manufacturer-branded batteries, especially the relatively minor, depression-capacity batteries used in compact digicams and entry-level interchangeable-lens cameras (ILCs). Higher-capacity batteries for advanced DSLRs and ILCs usually toll more than $100; sometimes much more than.

There are a few issues with buying 3rd-party batteries. Offset, you accept no guarantee of the aforementioned levels of quality control every bit the branded batteries provide. Secondly, even though the battery might fit into your camera and be able to provide it with power, information technology may non be able to be recharged with the charger supplied with the camera. Problems can likewise occur when recharging batteries via a USB cablevision.

If the manufacturer'due south bombardment fails during the warranty period both information technology and your photographic camera will be fully covered. Just while a third-party bombardment may be covered by a limited warranty, any damage to your camera won't, and then yous're running a chance. That said, a check of online forums showed many contributors reporting expert performance from third-political party batteries.

Our advice to potential purchasers would be to purchase batteries from a reliable re-seller, such as your local photographic camera shop, so yous know the battery is fit for purpose and you lot take some recourse if anything goes incorrect. If ownership online, check the price; if it's too adept to be true, the production is likely to be lacking.

Auction sites offering products with no box or transmission, no warranty or documentation, are ordinarily selling counterfeit goods. These products consistently fail to meet stringent safe standards and tin can pose serious dangers to the end user. Buying cheap is merely too risky to contemplate.

Identifying faulty batteries

Lithium batteries that accept become damaged and unstable have been known to ignite fires. Look for the following signs that point a damaged battery: bulging and or discolouration, squashed, deformed or spilt casing and leaking fluid. If your battery shows any of these signs, it should be replaced immediately.

A number of major retailers in Australia accept spent batteries for recycling, among them Bombardment World, Ikea and Officeworks. Virtually council offices also provide a drove service for a range of batteries. You tin find nearby collection points at the Recycling Near You website.

Travelling with batteries

While information technology's more often than not safe to travel with equipment containing batteries, near airlines (and governments) impose regulations on travelling with batteries. Qantas permits each passenger to behave up to fifteen portable electronic devices powered by lithium-ion batteries with capacities upward to 100 Watt hours. This includes cameras, camcorders, small drones, computers and medical devices and the devices must be for personal utilize just. Devices containing lithium-ion batteries over 160Wh (such as the batteries used in commercial cameras, professional drones and remote control aircraft etc.) are forbidden every bit passenger luggage and must be sent every bit freight.

Note that the U.s.a. and UK take implemented new travel requirements that restrict the carriage of electronic devices larger than a smartphone in the cabin of inbound flights from some Middle Eastern airports. Check the requirements of the airline you are booking with.

Shows the current airline regulations for carrying devices that use lithium-ion batteries and spare batteries.

The batteries that power phones, laptops and cameras are usually nether the 100 watt-hour (Wh) rating and it's rubber to acquit them in your hand luggage, either in the device or in a carry-on bag.

Spare batteries must e'er be carried in hand luggage. Some airlines accept a limit of two spare batteries per passenger. Identify them in individual plastic bags or protective pouches, or  tape over the terminals to protect them against short circuiting.

Don't travel with fully charged batteries. Keeping charge levels at xl-70% volition maintain the particles that store energy in their most stable land, minimising the chance of overheating.

Article by Margaret Brownish –  see Margaret'southward photography pocket guides

Excerpt from Photo Review Issue 84

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