Paul Le Chien

With all the features digital cameras have these days, you may find keeping batteries a problem. You may spend more on batteries than on any other component of your digicam, so it's always a good idea to stay ahead of the game and minimize these costs. And you may want to start by learning the main sources of power drain.

No component uses as much power as the LCD screen. This is not always a necessary feature, so you'll do well by turning it off if not needed. Try using your viewfinder instead for better results.

The flash is also a major source of power drain. Natural lighting would be your alternative as you won't always need the flash feature. This will help save your battery for times when you absolutely need the flash.

Finally, the third major battery drain source would be the zoom feature. Obviously, it would be more wasteful to keep zooming in and out rather than leaving the zoom steady where it is. Once you find a setting that suits your needs, use it as often as you can to minimize use of zoom.

Some other things you can do to make your battery last longer are:

If you are not using your camera, turn it off, and always ensure Power Saving mode is on when you are using it.

If you take photos in cold weather, make sure your camera (and batteries) are kept in a warm place if you aren't using it. You wouldn't want your batteries drained due to the cold.

Store batteries in a cool, dry location away from sunlight and other heat sources.

Playing back your images may be fun, but you don't have to do it all the time. Try to decide when you take the picture if it is a "keeper" or needs to be deleted and then refrain from reviewing until the pictures are downloaded to your computer.

The AC adapter can help as well. Chances are your digital camera would include an adapter that can conveniently be plugged into an outlet. Make sure to remember this when you are near an outlet so you can extend the life of your batteries with your adapter.

Needing to buy more or recharge your battery is something you won't be able to avoid completely, but with a few precautions this won't be needed as often.