Power of the Camcorder Battery

Sooner or later, all who own a camcorder, no matter what kind, will need to replace the battery. Knowing what kind of camcorder battery your particular model takes and what different kinds are available will help you to select the right battery for your camcorder.

Many people don't even consider the type of camcorder battery when looking at camcorders, which can cause some trouble in the long run. Also, depending on the knowledge of the user, battery life can be iffy at best, so you can't always go by what it says on the box. Most of the specifications of battery life printed on cartons and boxes imply an ideal battery life for basic camera operating functions. Keep in mind however, that the amount of time you spend zooming, using night vision capabilities and then also viewing through the LCD viewfinder can and often does limit battery life expectations. Instead of relying on the expected battery life printed on the camcorder box or carton, look to see what kind of battery is installed in the camcorder. Most electronics consumers are unaware that there are three different kinds of batteries that can be used in a camcorder. They are nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydroxide and lithium ion batteries. Which is right for you? Keep reading.

Most consumers stay away from a nickel cadmium (NiCad) camcorder battery because they have a bad habit of forming a memory if that very first charge isn't completed properly. While you're supposed to wait until the battery is dead before recharging, most people don't, and recharge batteries that still hold at least half or more charge. This sets a predetermined memory in the battery charger, and while you can recharge that battery hundreds of times, if you didn't let it charge completely the very first time you charged it, that actual charge time from that first go-round is the amount it will hold, every time. If the camcorder battery is rated to hold a two-hour charge, your battery will nevertheless only hold a charge for about an hour. If you use zoom and night vision, you can get even less.

The nickel metal hydroxide (NiMH) camcorder battery is typically the same as an NiCad battery with the exception that the NiMH battery doesn't develop a charging memory. The last kind is by far the most popular with camcorder users today. The lithium ion camcorder battery (L-Ion) is a bit more expensive than the previous two types of camcorder battery, but when you're filming, the last thing you want to do is experience battery failure. The L-Ion camcorder battery is smaller and weighs less than both the NiCad and NiMH camcorder battery models and has a longer device powering times, sometimes up to over ten hours.

If you're looking for optimal film equipment, don't forget the power source. When shopping for a new camcorder or a camcorder battery replacement, it pays to consider the pros and cons to each of the three different kinds of batteries.