Lithium-ion batteries are the most common rechargeable batteries used in digital cameras.
The rechargeable batteries in digital cameras are generally designed to last between three and five years. However, these types of batteries contain a number of heavy metals that can be harmful to the environment if not recycled. This makes it essential to maximize your digital camera's battery life; doing so will also give you the opportunity to take more photographs and save money on new batteries.
Disable Automatic Settings
Many cameras feature settings that automatically adjust the camera's aperture, shutter speed, focus and flash to optimize the camera's performance in any given situation. While these features make taking photos easier, they also drain the camera's battery by forcing it to constantly monitor the light source and setting for the photos. To have more control over the images you capture, as well as to optimize your camera's battery life, disable this feature and set the aperture, shutter speed, focus and flash manually.
Use Features Sparingly
Many features that digital camera users take for granted are the most power-intensive features on a camera. Features that require the use of a motor, like zoom, and features that require the use of light, like flash and the LCD viewfinder, can quickly drain the camera's battery. Opt to use the camera's regular viewfinder, only use flash when lighting requires it and frame your photos without zooming to extend your camera's battery life.
Turn Off the Camera
This may seem obvious, but turning off the camera when you're not using it -- even if you are just prepping for your next shot -- can greatly improve your camera's battery life. Many cameras come with power saver settings that place the device in "sleep" mode after a certain period of inactivity; however, cameras still consume energy while hibernating. To avoid unnecessary energy consumption, only power on your device when absolutely necessary.
Care for Your Battery
To preserve the overall life of your rechargeable battery, you must take care of it. Do not store the battery or camera anywhere where temperatures climb higher than 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow your camera's battery to discharge entirely before recharging it. This process, known as cycling, ensures that the camera's battery capacity stays relatively high for the duration of its life. According to the Battery University website, the average life of a rechargeable battery is between 300 and 500 cycles, so cycling the battery is also a good way to estimate its age. Many battery manufacturers set the depth of discharge (DoD) for their batteries at less than 100 percent, so your battery may be "fully discharged" when it reaches 10, 15 or even 20 percent capacity. For example, recharging a battery with a DoD of 80 percent when it reaches 20 percent capacity counts as one full cycle. Battery life also decreases in cold weather, so your battery's lifetime cycle count may be lower in colder temperatures.
Performance Gains
Unlike most rechargeable batteries whose charge cycles are measured in hours of continuous use, digital camera rechargeable battery charge cycles are measured by the number of shots that can be captured on a single charge. Most high-end cameras can capture around 500 images while using the camera's default settings. By disabling the camera's automatic settings, using features sparingly, turning off the camera when it is not in use and taking care of your battery, however, you can potentially increase the number of shots you can capture by 50 percent.
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