What to Look for in Digital Video Camera Batteries

When buying a new digital video camera this holiday season there is a lot to consider, and the battery attachment is one of the most important.

The Smart Shopper

When you are about to buy a new digital video camera you have a lot of things to look at before purchasing. You have to analyze size, resolution, number of features, and general usability in conjunction with your needs. One of the more important things that digital video consumers forget to look at is the battery, which should be a serious consideration when choosing a video camera.

Lithium Ion

Make sure to find out what type of battery the camera has with it already. The new standard is the Lithium Ion, which has a good life span. You really should only choose amongst cameras that use this power source.

What Comes With It?

See what kind of battery actually comes with the camera, because if it is not high quality that just means you are going to have to immediately buy another one. See what the life span is on it, how sensitive it is to temperature changes, and how easy it is to charge. If you have to buy an external charger for the battery separately that is also something to consider. These are very expensive and are only worthwhile if you are doing a lot of shooting with a lot of different batteries.

Multiple Battery Types

Some camcorders allow for different types of batteries, which can be a nice feature. You really want to only get in the habit of buying one type, though, so you should make sure the digital camera that you are leaning toward can really maximize the power in the Lithium Ion battery.

Location on Camera

Check to see where the battery attaches on the camera and that it is in both an easy to reach but also protected location. When you are in the field filming and need to switch batteries it is important to be able to do this with ease. Likewise, if the battery can get knocked out of connection easily or is in a place where it can get damaged this is not great either. You want to find a perfect balance between these considerations.

Plug It In

Since you will be using, and re-using, your batteries while on location you need to make sure that your chosen camera will give you what you need. You should always get a camera that allows you to plug into a wall outlet, but make sure you also have the ability to use a high quality battery for long shoots away from power sources.