Digital Camera Batteries - Their Types and Recommendations

If you have just bought a new digital camera that comes with a charger and a proprietary battery - a rechargeable battery made specifically for your make and model of camera - you won't need to worry about what type of batteries are best for your camera, but I do recommend you buy a spare or two. But if your digital camera takes standard AA size batteries you may be wondering what type of batteries are the best. Here is a list of the various types of batteries on the market and information on each type.

Alkaline Batteries
With a digital camera that takes standard AA size batteries or even AAA batteries, you could walk into most shops and buy a pack as they are readily available. You would probably choose from Duracell, Energizer and the like. These batteries can only be used once. Then they are finished you should dispose of them sensibly. You should never attempt to recharge them as they can explode. Don't be surprised if within the next 10 year a recycling scheme for batteries will be rolled out (as has happened in other EU countries) as we go through millions of batteries per year.

Recommendations for AA size alkaline batteries
Duracell:    Duracell Ultra M3, Duracell Ultra Digital, Duracell PowerPix - see NiOx batteries
Energizer:   Energizer Max, Energizer e2 Titanium

NiOx Batteries - Nickel Oxy Hydroxide
Duracell has made their PowerPix batteries from NiOx - Nickel Oxy Hydroxide and claim you can take up to 3 times more photos with your digital camera using these batteries against normal alkaline batteries.

NiCd Batteries (or NiCad, Ni-Cd)
Made form Nickel Cadmium, these batteries can deliver a 300-1000 charge/discharge cycles. The capacity of these batteries determine how long they will last before the need recharged. You may see the capacity listed as such: 600mAh 1.2v or 800mAh 1.2v. They are designed as a cost effective alternative to disposable alkaline batteries. Note that alkaline batteries are 1.5v where these are 1.2v. Don't worry about the difference, it's too small to matter. 
Recommendations for NiCd batteries: Do not use these batteries. They have a low capacity which means they won't last very long. They are being replaced with the better longer lasting NiMH batteries. If you want rechargeable AA batteries, use NiMH batteries. 

NiMH Batteries (or Ni-MH)
NiMH stand for Nickel Metal Hydrate and these batteries have a far higher capacity than NiCd batteries and therefore last a lot longer. The highest I have seen is 2700mAh. The voltage of these batteries is rated at 1.2v. Special batteries are also available to fit certain makes and models of digital cameras. If your camera came with a flat rechargeable battery it's a very good idea to get yourself a spare.

Recommendations for AA size Nickel Metal Hydrate batteries
Uniross:    Uniross Rechargeable 2100mAh, 2300mAh, 2500mAh - about 500 charge cycles
Duracell:   Duracell Rechargeable 2500mAh - 1000 charge cycles
Jessops:   Jessops Rechargeable 2500mAh - charge/discharge cycles unknown
Energizer: Energizer Rechargeable 2200mAh, 2500mAh - charge/discharge cycles unknown

Lithium Batteries
Relatively new to the market are Lithium AA 1.5v and AAA 1.5v batteries by Energizer. Duracell do lithium photo batteries but as yet not in AA size. Normally they are short and dumpy or the thickness of 2 AA and come in 3v and 6v. Depending on the camera, you may be able to fit one 3v lithium battery into the space where two AA 1.5v batteries would normally go, such as the CR-V3 type battery. CR-V3 batteries lasts longer then AA Lithium batteries. Lithium batteries are very light weight as this is the lightest metal known - in fact, it's half the weight of water. It's also a very active metal which gives the batteries its long lasting power. AA Lithium batteries deliver a huge 2900mAh, meaning they last longer than the best NiMH rechargeable batteries. They are an ideal battery choice for travellers and they work well in very cold conditions. They are non-rechargeable.
Recommendations for AA Lithium batteries: Energizer e2 Lithium batteries, CR-V3 lithium, (if you camera can take it)

Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) Batteries
These lightweight batteries are rechargeable and have a long life.  If your camera came with a flat proprietary battery and charger, it will no doubt be a Li-ion battery. The battery manufactures and introducing Lithium Ion AA size batteries. Uniross have a Lithium Ion Rechareable CR-V3 battery.
Recommendations: I recommend you get yourself a spare prorietary battery and remember you keep them charged. However some battery manufactures such as Duracell make flat, disposable, non-rechargeable lithium batteries to fit popular cameras that came with Lithium Ion batteries.