The bads of 1.2V batteries

[atyab]

I just realized today that the rechargeable sony batteries that I use with my K200D are 1.2V. What am I missing without the 1.5V batteries?

[AndrewG NY]

I think it's typical for the rechargeables to be < 1.5V, though 1.2V sounds lower than i would expect when initially charged--I would have expected > 1.3V. Assuming that your battery life is OK, it may cost you some AF speed. No doubt there are tons of other threads on PF about the merits of various AA batteries. I will contribute that the Sanyo Eneloops are nice from the standpoint of low self-discharge.

[Rational Root]

Originally Posted by atyab

I just realized today that the rechargeable sony batteries that I use with my K200D are 1.2V. What am I missing without the 1.5V batteries?

As far as I remember... Alkaline 1.5 volt batteries have a high internal resistance. So when you actually try to draw a large current they voltage drops to about 1.3 volts. Since rechargables have a very low internal resistance, they stay at 1.3 volts.

Thus a 1.5 alkaline == a 1.3 rechargeable in actual use.

Not sure about disposable lithium batteries.

Some things I've noted. If I take a lot of pictures in a hurry, the battery "goes dead" then after a minute or two, shows up as fine. I think this may be due to the internal chemistry of the batteries, but I'm out of my depth here. Anyone care to comment.

Also some have said Focusing is better with Lithiums and with fresh rechargeables.

[Ben_Edict]

With the usual 1.2 volts rechargeables you won't loose anything in respect of camera performance. The main drawbacks are storage life (remedied to some degree by the current Eneloop and clones generation) and that's about it. Even in terms of capacity a good rechargeable now is at least as good as most one-way batteries.

So, my conclusion is: If you use your camera regularily, you would prefer rechargeables. If you use your camera only occassionally with longer pauses in between, a high quality non-rechargeable might be preferable. Especially litium batteries have a very long storage life.

Ben

[roy]

Originally Posted by Ben_Edict

With the usual 1.2 volts rechargeables you won't loose anything in respect of camera performance. The main drawbacks are storage life (remedied to some degree by the current Eneloop and clones generation) and that's about it. Even in terms of capacity a good rechargeable now is at least as good as most one-way batteries.
So, my conclusion is: If you use your camera regularily, you would prefer rechargeables. If you use your camera only occassionally with longer pauses in between, a high quality non-rechargeable might be preferable. Especially litium batteries have a very long storage life.
Ben

Ben's correct,
but if you are going w/rechargeable go with the new type of the NiMHs. the ones that you can use right out of the box. some names
Eneloope
Hybreos
Hybrid

any NiMH charger will charge them. the difference is that they hold their charge unlike the regular NiMH.. I've 4 sets for 2 years now and i doubt I've recharged them each over 10 times. the regular NiMH need to be throne in the trash after year because of their hi non-use discharge rate...........................