AA / AAA batteries. Correct usage ?

[geordiefred]

I have several film cameras of the well known brands, which can be loaded with AA, or AAA batteries. I have since bought re-chargable batteries, and used them in the cameras. Up until now I have had no problems, but this morning on a site I have seen a query where a person has used re-chargeables in a Contax battery holder. Due to the different voltage and Amh of the re-chargeable batteries it has caused malfunction and repair to his Contax 167. Is it advisable to stick to alkaline AA/AAA batteries as per the manuals, or can re-chargeables be used without fear of damage being caused ? Hope someone has a good clear answer.

 

[sevo]

Due to the different voltage and Amh of the re-chargeable batteries it has caused malfunction and repair to his Contax 167.

Given that the 167 was explicitly capable of being used with NiCd cells, that belongs into the realm of urban folklore (or dealers/repair shops tall tales)...

Sevo

 

[ederek]

The battery brand and type is likely more critical than the camera brand.

Eneloops are good and offer less discharge over time (so the camera that sits for 3 weeks and then gets grabbed still has a good charge).

Maha makes some fantastic chargers (including a nice 8-cell unit). The MH-C9000 WizardOne both charges and analyzes each cell. If a battery were starting to fail or fall out of spec, and thus cause risk to a digital camera, this would mitigate the risk.

I use rechargeable batteries for everything that is aa/aaa cell-powered.

 

[MartinP]

The voltages of NiCd or NiMh rechargeables are lower than the 'old' alkalines, so the case sounds a bit fishy in normal use. On the other hand, the rechargeables might well be capable of giving a higher current if there was a short in the camera, so there could be a risk that any short-circuit damage might be greater.

A camera would have to be seriously old to be unable to use rechargeables of some sort, and the Contax isn't so very prehistoric.

 

[geordiefred]

Thanks for that, all. So it looks like I can use re-chargeables without any problem.

 

[btgc]

It depends on camera.

Old tech P&S cameras can go bad when used with reschargeables, some even explicitly state this in manual and on body near battery cover.

Then, Ricoh XR-X aka XR-M SLR, one from last film cameras Ricoh built, work on rechargeable AA's (and AAA's with appropritate holder).

Unless reschargeables are specified as valid replacement, I stick to AA/AAA batteries.

 

[sevo]

It depends on camera.

Old tech P&S cameras can go bad when used with reschargeables, some even explicitly state this in manual and on body near battery cover.

Though "bad" can describe a lot of things. The worst that ever happened to me were motors or cameras whose transport refused to work (as the properties of the rechargeable set off the - presumably either under-voltage or over-current detecting - film jam detector) or which shut down claiming the fresh rechargeable to be a empty battery.

 

[btgc]

Though "bad" can describe a lot of things. The worst that ever happened to me were motors or cameras whose transport refused to work (as the properties of the rechargeable set off the - presumably either under-voltage or over-current detecting - film jam detector) or which shut down claiming the fresh rechargeable to be a empty battery.

If motor or circuit is cooked by rechargeables, that's not nice though easy to understand and step over as long as w don't cover expensive stuff.

Much worse if things seem to work and after some days suddenly (when you are in field without pack of spare batteries) stop, from self-discharge. Or when shutter operates each other time, or closes wrong way. Pictures missed or ruined. I don't know if this is real, but hey, if anyone feels like this is thing to explore, please let us know.

 

[geordiefred]

AA/AAA batteries. Correct usage ?

AA/AAA batteries. Correct usage ?

Looks like there is a slight difference of opinion. Use a Nikon F4S, and F5, so I do not want to damage them. In the meantime I think it better to stick to alkaline batteries. I may have used the re-chargeables in those before, nothing untoward has happened, yet. Will dig out the manuals for both and see what they say about batteries.
Thanks.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Looks like there is a slight difference of opinion. Use a Nikon F4S, and F5, so I do not want to damage them. In the meantime I think it better to stick to alkaline batteries. I may have used the re-chargeables in those before, nothing untoward has happened, yet. Will dig out the manuals for both and see what they say about batteries.
Thanks.

The F4s has a little switch inside the battery grip that you have to set for the battery type you use. You can choose Alkaline or NiCad with that switch, which is inside the rubberized handgrip that you remove when changing batteries. If you set the switch to NiCad, it works just fine with NiCads. I did so for years with my F4s.

 

[ampguy]

We've tried eneloops and most brands of rechargeable AAs, and really like the PowerGenix nickel zinc high voltage ones. They outlast NiMHs in many of our cameras and other devices by 3-5x in run time, and charge quickly.

Be sure to charge them with the dedicated charger, and dispose of properly.