Digital cameras are all the rage these days. It seems that everyone has a digital camera now. Now, people aren't spending a lot of money on film every time they want to take pictures. Now though, they are spending a lot of money on batteries. A disposable, alkaline battery will last about one hour total in an average digital camera. Some studies indicate that it is entirely possible that some people are spending more on disposable batteries than they were spending on film now!

A much better alternative is to purchase rechargeable batteries for your camera. Not only are these better for the environment, but they will save you a lot of money as well. There are a couple of types of rechargeable batteries.

Lithium Ion batteries, also referred to as LiIon, are high capacity batteries, often used in high-end digital cameras and camcorders. These batteries generally provide a lot of power for their size and weight, and hold a charge longer. They self discharge more slowly than other types of batteries in most cases. The disadvantages of these batteries are few. They tend to cost more than other types of batteries, although buying a replacement of the manufacturer's original, like those at greenbatteries.com is often as much as 50% cheaper. They also are almost always specific to the device brand and model they are going to be used in because of their size and shape. They are not available in standard cell types like AA, AAA, D, and C.

The other common type of rechargeable battery is the nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery. These are ideal for high drain devices like digital cameras, portable music players, and handheld radios. Nickel metal hydride batteries are available in standard cell types, like AA, AAA, D, and C. They are inexpensive, and can generally be used hundreds of times before they need to be replaced. They do have a self-discharge rate, usually around 1-5%, so proper storage, and recharging after storage is important.