DSLR AA NiMH or similar battery advice?

[anandi]

Hello,
This *is* the evil SLR forum. Doubly evil DSLR. So to support my new old Pentax *ist DS I need AA batteries. Any recommendations on NiMH types? There's some new low discharge tech. out there now such as Sanyo Eneloop (weird marketing choice of name) - is this stuff any good for DSLRs? My first set of AAs seem to have gone to 1/2 life within 30 shots. Any advice is appreciated.

Cheers,
-Amit

 

[Kin Lau]

I used a set of low discharge nimh AA's in my flash for the last wedding and it did just fine thru the ceremony and reception. The flash went off at least a few hundred times.

 

[Jerry Thirsty]

Personally I've been using rechargeable CRV3s. You need to be careful when buying because some of them can be charged to too high a voltage which can damage the camera. I've been using the Moby Power ones from Thomas Distributing without any problems: http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/moby-power-2300-plus-crv3-rechargeable-lithium-battery-p-659.html?SP_id=&osCsid=ad73804498183148e4e12aee92e481ca

 

[Kim Coxon]

I use "normal" 2300mAH ones in my D with no problems t all.

Kim

 

[BillBingham2]

Very cool and a great price point! Thanks for sharing.

I too am going down that Darkest of Dark sides (DSLR) soon.

B2 (;->

 

[charjohncarter]

I use AA 2500mAH, be sure to get at least 2300 as mentioned. My DL goes a long time on the four AA.

 

[Finder]

NiMH need a breaking in period. After a few full discharge and recharge cycles they work longer.

 

[charjohncarter]

Great advice, thanks Finder.

 

[anandi]

Thanks for the advice - the sanyo eneloops look like a winner when they go on sale. They're about $30 for a set in Canada at the moment (until the retail world catches up to the strength of the Canadian dollar )- which is double what a good set of NiMHs go for. I've picked up fast charger and a couple of sets of NiMH until then.

 

[mackigator]

I'll second the Thomas Distributing link, especially the Powerex batteries and fast charger - best AA rechargeables on the market, and they have been improving over the 4 years I've used them.

 

[ChrisN]

Yep- the Eneloops are excellent. The big advantage is that they hold their charge longer between use. My wife never checks batteries, just puts the camera away and expects it to work next time she wants it. The Eneloop will hold a charge for several weeks of non-use, whereas the other nimh batteries we have won't hold their charge for longer than a few days. Fine it you remember to charge them the night before.