DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I used to have cameras that used AA batteries. I used Nickle Metal Hydride batteries because they were rechargable. The batteries, as you say, did not last all that long in storage. I would have to make sure they were recharged before I used the camera, so it took some planning.

Two things I eventually discovered.

(1) the cheap charger that came with a 4-pack of rechargable AA batteries would charge the batteries in series, two at a time. The charger would turn itself off when the battery voltage was high enough. Sometimes it would turn off when only one of the batteries was charged, so I couldn't depend on a full charge on all my batteries. That would lead to premature battery failure.

I fixed that by getting a smart charger. Significantly more expensive than the cheap charger I had been using, but since it charged the batteries individually, all the batteries wound up with a full charge. That made them last longer in the camera.

(2) Not all batteries are the same. The cheap rechargeable AAs have "leakage", which is an internal current that drains the battery when it's just sitting there, either in the camera or on the shelf. Back then, Eneloop batteries promised lower internal currents, so they would last longer in storage. I tried some and they worked well, so now they're the only kind of AA I use. By now there are other brands with similar performance.

If you're going to use AA batteries in your camera (or flash, or other piece of electronics) you might want to invest in Eneloop batteries (or modern equivalent). They cost a bit more than the cheap AAs, but not that much more, and they really are worth the price.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Taking batteries out of s camera means you have to put them back when you want the camera to work. As for the date and time, there are separate button batteries that are used for that function. Don't take those out!