Everything You Need to Know About Rechargeable Camera and Photo Flash Batteries

Whether you are a seasoned photographer or just building memories with your digital camera, you shouldn't have to let precious moments, such as a memorable family picture, escape because of a flat battery. Making sure you’re using the correct batteries for your camera is essential for getting the perfect shot. Investing in good quality rechargeable batteries helps to power your camera for longer periods of time and ensure high-quality photos.

What kind of batteries do digital cameras use?

Even though some cameras come with an add-on specialist battery pack, most digital cameras require standard AA batteries. These come in multiple options: alkaline, lithium and rechargeable. While alkaline batteries have a lower price, they usually have a short life in a digital camera. On the other hand, lithium batteries tend to last longer. However, nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries, such as our ReCyko Pro Photoflash battery, are often the preferred battery of photographers. With their high charge capacity, they are an excellent choice for cameras, as they are developed for high drain devices with maximum performance in mind, both at -20°C up to 50°C. In addition, these can replace thousands of single use batteries.

If you’re a less frequent photographer, have no fear! Because of their low self-discharge rate, GP NiMH rechargeable batteries retain up to 80% of their total power when left idle for 12 months. This means that when those fleeting memories appear, you’ll never have to worry about flat batteries.

Why should you use rechargeable batteries on digital cameras?

When getting that perfect shot, you don’t want to be burdened with many replacement disposable batteries in case they go flat. Even if you’re reaching for your camera to document special memories, ensuring you have disposable batteries can be a hassle that ruins and maybe makes you miss the moment.

By powering your camera with ReCyko Pro Photoflash rechargeable batteries, you reduce the extra clutter that photography demands whilst ensuring your camera is ready when you are.

What’s more, rechargeable batteries are a much more eco-friendly and sustainable alternative than standard disposable batteries. This not only benefits the environment but also your wallet, as one pack of rechargeable batteries replaces thousands of single-use batteries.

For when time is the essence, you can rely on our compact Recyko Charge 10. Our latest battery charger is easy to store and travel with and has an ultra-fast mode (10 minute charging with its Charge 10 batteries*). With this in your camera bag, you’ll never miss a shot again.

How long do rechargeable batteries last in a camera?

Recyko Pro rechargeable batteries are guaranteed to last for 6 years or 1500 recharges, whichever comes first**, and have rapid recycling flash time, making them ideal for high-drain devices like digital cameras and camera flash units.

What are the best batteries for a camera flash?

When it comes to camera flash, it’s best to ensure your battery choice is optimal for the images you want to capture. Our ReCyko Pro Photoflash battery is specifically designed for flash photography, and has one of the fastest flash recycle times in the world: 50%+ faster to complete 50 shots***. This is down to the low internal resistance allowing a high discharge in a short time.

With these batteries, you’ll never waste critical time waiting for the flash to be ready, especially with their low self-discharge keeping up to 80% charge when left idle for 12 months.

Can you leave batteries in cameras?

Although choosing rechargeable batteries can be one of the best solutions for powering your camera, they still require care when using them. There are some basic tips for ensuring you get as much out of your charge as possible:

How to maintain the lifespan of camera batteries

If the device is not going to be used for a long period of time, we recommend removing all used batteries from the electrical device and always replace used batteries with new batteries of the same size and type. Make sure to switch off the device after the batteries are exhausted or find power down during use and replace them with new rechargeable ones.

• Turn off all components that are not needed and keep the camera in standby or sleep mode rather than turning the camera on and off periodically.
• Either reduce the brightness of the LCD screen and/or use the viewfinder.
• If possible, review your shots after the shoot is finished, rather than after every photo.
• Do not mix new batteries in use with semi-used batteries or different types of batteries as it will affect the performance and conditions of your devices.

When it comes to cameras, rechargeable batteries can cut down on unnecessary bulk for photographers and tend to be a more reliable option when it comes to capturing memories. Shop with GP to discover your photographer essential batteries.

*Based on an internal test by GP of the average percentage of battery capacity charged after a 10-minute charge as of May 2021. Calculated from 5 simultaneous charges of 4pcs of new Charge 10 1700mAh AA batteries to 90%+ of capacity at 20°C, followed by battery discharge according to IEC 61951-2.

**Estimation based on internal test by GP. Result may vary by device and conditions of use.

***For 50 shots using Recyko Pro Photo Flash; vs other rechargeable batteries, verified by independent lab.