Extending Digital Camera Battery Life: 7 Tips

Extending Digital Camera Battery Life: 7 Tips - Everyone nowadays owns and operates a digital camera. They are almost standard issue equipment in modern society. If there is one problem with digital photography in which we can all relate, it is a dead camera battery. I can't count how many curses I have uttered and how many gray hairs I have acquired when, at the most critical and perfect picture moment, the camera fails to snap and I read those two loathsome words, "Low Battery." Although the camera fails to snap, something else does, and that is me! In response to premature aging I have followed a few simple rules to extend the life of my camera battery and make sure I never miss one of those precious moments again.

1. The first and most important rule in the easiest one of all. It only requires a little extra pocket cash. Buy a second battery and carry it with you. This will double your picture taking ability right away without having to resort to losing any features or functionality. Kodak.com, the long-time authority of the photography world, suggests to keep the extra battery warm, so keeping it in your pocket close to your body is an excellent idea.

2. The second, and another simple way to extend life of the battery is also recommended to us by Kodak.com. Keep the contacts on both the battery and the camera itself (if accessible) clean and free of debris. Use only a dry cloth to remove any dirtiness.

3. Now we are getting into the hardcore methods that may not fly with everyone. But, believe me, this tip will extend the life of the battery by up to 5x. The biggest culprit of battery drain is the LCD screen. Almost all digital cameras have a feature to turn off the LCD display. If your camera has an optical viewfinder, it is not really necessary in the first place, it just looks really cool. If you think you may have a problem with the appearance of a picture, I always suggest taking two shots just in case. This will still extend the battery life up to 3x.

4. Along the same lines as tip 3, adjust the LCD display brightness. The brighter the display, the more juice it's using. Also, many cameras have a feature to dim the display after a couple seconds.

5. Another simple tip, but something my wife could never do, is to STOP previewing every photo you take directly after the snapshot. Is it really so important to review a moment on the camera that in many cases can still be seen with the naked eye? Wait until you get home and then review all the photos en masse. The difference between the camera LCD and the full-size photo on the computer is so vast that the LCD will never do it justice anyway.

6. If your camera has a continuous focus feature, be aware that it is not necessary to have it activated at all times. This feature only works for fast-action shots anyway, such as sporting events. The focusing mechanism of the camera is the second largest consumer of power right after the LCD.

7. Lets end the tips with simplicity again. Keep the battery always charged. Make it rule to charge the battery at least once per day. A good rule, and easy to remember, is to charge the battery as you are uploading the photos to your computer.

By following these 7 tips, you will enjoy an extended battery life and massive picture-taking potential. Also, if you are anything like me, you will also save some money on hair coloring.