What power draw factors should I consider when buying a digital camera?

What power draw factors should I consider when buying a digital camera?

Mark Comon (Vice President, Paul's Photo, Torrance, CA) gives expert video advice on: Why would I use the "image stabilizer" feature?; How do various image stabilizers differ?; What shutter speed range do I need for my digital camera? and more...

The power draw function of your digital camera relates to how many pictures you can take before you have to replace or recharge the battery. That's a combination of two factors. Number one the effeciency of the camera, how much power does it suck down. Number two, the type and the size of the of the batteries. You have to compare, it's kind of a hard thing to do, but you'll have to find rated life on batteries on your digital camera. But remember the rated life you find in the brochure or on the internet is just like the miles per gallon rating you see on your car. You never get 30 miles to the gallon like it says on the sticker of your car. Remember that for your digital camera. But, think about it, some cameras rate 75-150 pictures, others rate 200 - 400 pictures. So know that if you are buying a camera that has the 200 - 400 rating, you're generally going to get twice as many pictures per charge as you are with the one that going to give you 75 - 150 pictures. That's what you need to know. Once again, it generally relates to the size of the batteries and how many batteries there are. If you have a camera that takes two double A batteries versus a camera that takes four double A batteries, the four double A batteries' going to give you, generally, twice as many pictures. That camera is going to be quite a bit bigger and heavier, because it has four batteries versus two. That's what you need to know about power draw on your digital camera.