Question about batteries

[evan]

Hi everyone,

I just picked up an HP Digital Camera for my upcoming trip. It takes AA batteries so I don't have to worry about things like adaptors, etc.

I was just wondering, and this may be a silly question, but are AA batteries in Europe the same as in North America? That is to say, will I have to bring a bunch with me on my trip or will the batteries available there work just the same?

Thanks!

evan

[MuvverRussia]

AA are the same in both Europe and North America. They are fairly expensive though, so it could be an idea to stock up in advance.

You'll also probably find that a digital camera will eat AA batteries. It's well worth buying a charger and some high capacity rechargeables (2700mAh or so) for any digital camera as they'll work out a lot cheaper, as well as giving you more shots per charge than even a set of expensive AAs.

[Jules80]

i use lithium AA batteries. they're made for digital cameras and last FOREVER. in 6 weeks and 1000 photos i went through 2 sets. i'd recommend those. the problem with recharchable AA batteries is they don't last very long so its annoying and not worth the hassel of hauling two sets off AA plus the charger and all the plugs that go along with it. definately buy batteries here tho. my grandfather (who was british) always used to stock up on batteries when he visited canada cause they were so much cheaper here.

jules

[evan]

Awesome. Thanks very much for the info, guys!

[Eagle]

evan, It looks like your questions have been answered. However, a few additional points.

As Muvver indicated, quite often digital Cameras deplete alkaline AA batteries fairly quckly. In many cases, when the the "low battery" warning appears this doesn't mean the battery is depleted. There's usually lots of power left, and these can be used to power flashlights, Walkmans, etc. quite nicely (keep in mind that the battery voltage might be too low at this point to operate the Camera properly). The discharge curve is different for alkalines than for rechargeable batteries, so this "fools" the Camera into displaying the low battery warning early.

The "Lithium" batteries that Jules referred to are a disposable Lithium battery, not to be confused with rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries. They do indeed last longer than an alkaline battery, however when they're depleted they go into the land fill. They're also more expensive than a standard alkaline battery.

If you do want to check out the rechargeable option, many Camera stores sell rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries with "international" chargers that will operate on 100-240 VAC (look for batteries with a capacity of 2400 mAH or above). The only other accessory that is needed to use these while travelling is Plug Adaptors to fit the electrical system of the country you're travelling to (usually one U.K. and one Euro adapter are quite adequate). The Chargers are very light and compact, and I don't have a problem in travelling with these. My Camera uses Li-Ion rechargeables, and was supplied with a "travel" charger with folding pins. It only weighs a few ounces and fits into my Daypack easily. Using rechargeables is likely the most "cost effective" option.

One point to mention though, Ni-MH Batteries are reported to have a higher "self discharge" rate than Li-Ion. That means these will dischage a certain amount each day, even if they're just sitting in a drawer. It's a good idea to top these up before going out for the day, especially if they haven't been used for a while.

Good luck and happy travels!!!

[evan]

Thanks for the additional advice, Eagle. It's much appreciated.

[commie]

muvverrussia said:

AA are the same in both Europe and North America. They are fairly expensive though, so it could be an idea to stock up in advance.

i wouldn't use cheap batteries in a digital camera - tried it once and got ~10(!) pictures out of it - with better batteries i normally got 30-50 pictures, so cheaper batteries are no good deal...

oh, and you have to recycle old batteries if you go to germany, there is a box in every store where you can buy batteries.

[herrbert]

i wouldn't use cheap batteries in a digital camera - tried it once and got ~10(!) pictures out of it - with better batteries i normally got 30-50 pictures, so cheaper batteries are no good deal...

oh, and you have to recycle old batteries if you go to germany, there is a box in every store where you can buy batteries.

I agree with you, and keep in mind that batteries perform even worse in cold weather.

If you come to the Netherlands you can also get rid of your used batteries in a box in the supermarkets.