Cameras have long required batteries in order to work, and whereas the small button batteries used in older 35mm film cameras would always last for several weeks if not months, digital cameras are a different proposition altogether. That’s essentially because all the extra electrical circuitry, LCD displays, electronic viewfinders, built-in flashguns and suchlike add up to a much more power-hungry device.

In technical terms, battery manufacturers refer to digital cameras as ‘high-drain’ devices, which essentially means you can expect to have to change or, more likely, recharge your camera battery much more often than many other small electrical devices you might own, except your mobile phone of course, which is also classed as high-drain.

And your camera is only part of the equation. If you use a DSLR or even a high-end CSC, chances are that you will also own a dedicated flashgun for it. This too is classed as high-drain, even though its power requirements differ quite markedly to that of your camera in that it needs short bursts of high-power and fast recycling times, rather than a steady flow of medium-to-high power.

So, as a photographer what options are open to you and which are the best types of battery for the job? On the next couple of pages we’ll take a look at all the leading contenders and also explore some useful external sources of power such as battery grips and portable battery packs designed specifically for flashguns.

Battery Basics

Batteries come in all shapes and sizes and employ a range of different chemical reactions in order to produce power. As far as photographers are concerned though the most popular battery size is AA. These can be used in a relatively small number of budget compacts and superzoom/bridge cameras, though Compact System Cameras and DSLRs (with the notable exception of the Pentax K-500) almost universally use their own proprietary batteries. Flashguns, however, generally take four AA batteries, though depending on your make and model you may also be able to use a dedicated battery pack – more on those later.

When choosing an AA cell for your camera the first thing to bear in mind is that not all batteries are created equally, even those that use the same chemical composition. The way that manufacturers market their products can be confusing too, with claims of ‘high energy’ or ‘high power’ often used to bamboozle consumers who aren’t familiar with the characteristics of the various types.

Ultimately, what’s really important is the way in which batteries deliver their power (which is mostly down to the internal chemistry of the battery – see Battery Chemistry, below), the duration they are able to do this for (often referred to as capacity), and how well they deal with the recharging process (i.e. how many charge cycles they can withstand before deteriorating). Bear in mind that certain environmental factors, especially temperature and how long the batteries have been left unused, can also affect overall performance.

Another big question faced by photographers is whether to use Primary (non-rechargeable) or Secondary (rechargeable) batteries. The answer is actually pretty straightforward. For high-drain devices like digital cameras and flashguns it definitely pays to invest in a set of decent rechargeable batteries. You’ll have to pay a bit more in the short-term (and be a bit organised with regards to keeping your batteries charged), but long term it’ll save you a lot of money. Of course, you can always keep a set of non-rechargeable batteries to hand as a last resort if you’re caught short.

Camera Batteries

Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) cells are by far the most common type of camera battery. The main reason for this is that they are extremely lightweight, can be recharged many times over and are capable of delivering a higher than average voltage than other cell types. In addition, subject to being stored at a reasonable temperature they are also much less prone to self-discharging when not in use.

There are some exceptions, but the overwhelming majority of Li-ion camera batteries are moulded so that they fit snugly inside the battery compartment of your camera. Depending on the make and model of your camera you may have to charge them inside the camera via a proprietary lead, or you might have to take them out and place them inside a bespoke charger. If you have the option to do both then the common-sense approach is to take them out and use the charger – that way if something goes wrong during the charging process your camera won’t get damaged.

Originals or third-party?

If you own a relatively popular make and model of camera then you will almost certainly find that many third-party manufacturers – usually obscure Chinese companies – make Li-ion replacements that look identical and appear to offer the same specifications as the original battery supplied with your camera. Given that these often cost a fraction of the price of official replacements, they are often a tempting proposition.

Most people find that using these third-party replacements presents no problems at all, and saves them some money into the bargain. However you only need to browse some online photography forums to find negative reports citing inferior performance whereby third-party batteries don’t last as long – either while in the camera, or in terms of charge cycles. And despite being rare, it has also been known for cheaply produced batteries to leak or explode.

It’s your choice whether to go official or third-party – the best advice we can offer is that if you choose to buy third-party be especially picky about where you purchase from and do your research to see if previous customers have had any problems. Or stick with tried and tested premium third-party manufacturers such as Hähnel who makes a range of Li-ion batteries for most camera brands.

Battery Grips

Another option open to many DSLR and some CSC owners is to purchase an optional battery grip. These serve a number of purposes, not all of which are related to battery performance. For example, battery grips often come with an extra shutter button and/or mode dials so that you can more easily use the camera in portrait mode. In addition many battery grips also increase the maximum continuous shooting rate of the camera – the Nikon MB-D15 grip (£280), for example, raises the camera’s standard 6fps burst rate to 7fps.

Power supply for dedicated battery grips varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. In some grips you have to use proprietary Li-ion batteries that have been specifically moulded to fit (again, you can usually find third-party copies of these), while in others you can choose to use either Lithium or NiMH AA cells instead. Either way, as long as you don’t mind a bit of extra bulk and can afford one, then a battery grip is often a worthwhile investment.

Flash Power Packs


If you shoot with flash on location a lot, then it may be worth investing in a dedicated flash power pack. These are essentially bigger-capacity batteries that produce more power for faster recycling times, meaning you are free to use your flash to capture the moment without having to wait so long for it to charge in between shots.

Most camera manufacturers offer their own battery packs that work specifically with their own flashguns, however there are also plenty of third-party options. The Nissin PS 8 Power Pack (£150) is one of the cheaper options, although do bear in mind that you’ll also need to buy a compatible lead to hook it up to your flash. For a few more quid, the Quantum Turbo Slim series (£350) is regarded as being very good.

Our Essential Guide To Batteries – Chemistry

Battery Chemistry: A Brief Guide

Batteries use a range of different chemical formulations to produce power. While it isn’t really necessary to fully understand the science behind the various chemical compositions and reactions involved, it is important to understand the practical differences that result from them. This is because putting the wrong type of battery into your camera or flashgun will not only lower its effectiveness, it could also leak and damage your equipment or become unstable and dangerous. Similarly, it’s also important to use the correct type of charger when recharging your batteries.

Carbon Zinc/Zinc Chloride

These are basically the no-name packs of ten you find in pound shops. They’re the cheapest battery type of the lot and for good reason – they drain super quick. Put these in a high-drain device such as a camera or flashgun and before long you’ll be taking them out and throwing them away.

Alkaline (LR6)

These are the most widely available batteries, with everything from premium brands like Duracell and Energizer to cheap, unbranded packs-of-ten in your local pound shop available. They are not rechargeable and have to be replaced when they run out, which means that while they might initially seem cheap the costs will mount up over time. While some premium brand alkaline batteries do boast a higher capacity than rechargeables, they also tend to drain faster. Ultimately, alkaline batteries are better suited to low-drain electrical devices (think digital clocks and suchlike) and are best if only used as a last resort in a camera or flashgun.


Not to be confused with their Li-ion cousins, Lithium batteries are similarly capable of delivering a higher than average voltage but cannot be recharged. If you’re looking for a set of disposable AAs as back-up for your camera or flashgun though, Lithium batteries do make a better option than regular Alkaline LR6 ones. Another plus point with Lithium batteries is that they have a very long shelf life, which means they lose much less charge when not in use. Ultimately though, for cameras and flashguns you are still better off with rechargeable NiMH batteries.

Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH)

If you’re looking to go down the AA rechargeable route then NiMH batteries are your best option. They don’t tend to last quite as long as disposable lithium batteries, but they can be recharged many times, meaning you will soon recoup your costs.

Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad)

NiCad batteries are pretty much obsolete these days owing to the fact that part of their inner composition (the Cadmium part) is a highly toxic heavy metal and thus highly dangerous to humans as well as highly damaging to the environment.

Our Essential Guide To Batteries – Chargers

Choosing A Charger


Broadly speaking there are three types of charger on the market: basic (cheap) chargers, smart chargers and fast chargers. The first type is best avoided altogether as they are often cheaply produced and feed a continuous current as long as they are switched on, which can lead to overcharging and damaged batteries. In addition, cheap chargers generally have no way of automatically shutting down should there be a problem, which can make them inherently dangerous.

Smart chargers will cost you a little more money but are well worth the extra expenditure. These types of chargers will monitor your batteries as they are charging and will automatically shut down once the battery has reached its optimum charge, or of there is a problem. In addition, some smart chargers can automatically drain partially charged batteries before fully charging them in order to preserve their longevity. The main downside with smart chargers is that they tend to be slow, which means you may well have to organise yourself and charge your batteries overnight.

If your primary need is speed then a fast charger might be your best bet. These typically charge suitable batteries in around an hour to an hour and a half. The main issue with fast chargers though is that the batteries can get very, very hot while charging. For this reason avoid any fast chargers that don’t have a cooling fan built in, or which don’t have any protection circuits should something go wrong. Last but not least, also be aware that fast chargers shorten the life of your batteries much more so than smart chargers do.

  1. 1. Battery Basics
  2. 2. Our Essential Guide To Batteries - Chemistry
  3. 3. Our Essential Guide To Batteries - Chargers
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