Like other portable consumer electronic devices, digital cameras also use batteries as power sources. In this article, we will introduce different battery technologies and their advantages and disadvantages. With this knowledge, you can consider the battery used when buying the next camera.
The camera usually supports only one type of battery, namely a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery. The exception is cameras powered by standard AA, AAA or similar batteries. In most cases, disposable and rechargeable batteries can be used interchangeably.
There are two battery types:
Disposable battery: can only be used once. They usually have standard sizes and shapes, such as AA, AAA, etc. You can buy these batteries in most stores, and once they are used up, you just need to throw them away (please only place the batteries in special battery handling containers to help ensure environmental safety and cleanliness).
Rechargeable battery: Can be used multiple times. Some rechargeable batteries have standard sizes and shapes, such as AA, AAA, etc. This standard size battery can be used anywhere disposable batteries can be used. However, rechargeable batteries usually have a proprietary shape and are only compatible with some specific cameras. After the rechargeable battery is used up, you can put it in a dedicated charger to charge it. The time required to charge the battery, the number of times it can be charged, and the life of the battery depend on the technology used to manufacture the battery.
There are advantages and disadvantages to using disposable or rechargeable batteries. The main advantage of using disposable batteries is that you can always carry some batteries with you to replace the empty battery, and if you are stuck with an empty battery, you can always buy one near the store. The disadvantage of using disposable batteries is the cost and capacity of buying a new battery each time your battery runs out (in most cases, the life of a disposable battery will not be longer than a high-quality rechargeable battery). On the other hand, rechargeable batteries need only be purchased once. When the battery is dead, you only need to put it in the charger, and you will be fully charged in about an hour. The disadvantage is that if you run out of batteries during shooting or in a place not far from home or power, you will not be able to buy just another battery. The solution to this problem is to purchase an extra battery and always carry it with you when fully charged.
If your camera uses standard size batteries such as AA or AAA, you can have the advantages of disposable batteries and rechargeable batteries. You can always use disposable AA or AAA batteries with the camera, but you can also obtain AA or AAA rechargeable batteries and use them at your convenience.
Rechargeable battery technology:
Different technologies are used in building rechargeable batteries. Look at the battery itself to understand that the technology used in most cases will be written on a small label on the battery or somewhere on the packaging. The following are the most common technologies and their advantages and disadvantages:
Nickel calcium: one of the oldest technologies. These batteries are cheap and can be quickly charged and recharged multiple times before losing capacity. The downside is that they have low capacity and have a "memory effect"-"memory effect" means that the battery cannot be charged to its maximum capacity unless the battery is completely discharged first. This may be a problem, because in most cases, no matter what kind of shooting, make sure that the battery is fully charged before shooting. Some charges solve this problem by first discharging the battery and then fully charging it.
Nickel metal mixed materials: This technology is an improvement of nickel calcium. The capacity of these batteries is up to 50% higher. Although it still has a "memory effect", it is not as noticeable as nickel-cadmium batteries. The downside is that these batteries can be charged for less time before they lose capacity and discharge faster when not in use.
Lithium ion: a new technology that solves many nickel technical problems. Lithium-ion batteries even have a higher capacity than nickel metal. They have no "memory effect" at all (thus, they can always fill their maximum capacity regardless of their current state). The disadvantage is that they are more expensive than nickel batteries.
Lithium polymer: the latest technology. These batteries have all the advantages of lithium-ion batteries. They have a higher capacity and can also be easily manufactured in any shape or form. This allows the use of smaller, lighter, high-capacity batteries and batteries that are more suitable for camera design.
In short, when choosing a camera and considering what battery to use, you should first choose between a disposable battery and a rechargeable battery. If you choose a camera that uses rechargeable batteries, unless there are special considerations, you should try to use the latest technology (such as polymer or lithium) batteries.

Lead acid batteries factory