How do the new Energizer e2 Photo Lithium batteries stackup against Ni-MHs? (Is there an echo in here?)

-- bill (this_old_house@pobox.com), July 03, 2000

Answers

Bill: Lithium batteries are not rechargeable. NiMH batteries are. Historically lithum batteries have an extremely long shelf life. Unused they can remain good for up to 5 years. This makes them perfect to keep spares in your camera bag. Historically Lithium batteries, while having longer unused shelf-life didn't actually last as long as Alkaline batteries when in-use. That doesn't seem to be true any more - but Lithium batteries are more expensive - so the alkalines remain popular. Shelf-life is important. This is why you want a lithium as a spare in the forgotten recesses of your camera duffle. An alkaline is a good choice to save money if you are going to use it right away.
Now for rechargeable: NiMH is an all around better solution then the ubiquitous NiCd. The NiCd suffers from memory. Memory is the result of repeated charging of the battery only after using it for a short time (not running it down all the way). After doing this several times the battery will seamingly remember how long you have been actually using it - and then only last that long. NiMH doesn't suffer from this malady.
As another note - if you want your batteries to last the longest - get a good quality charger - a smart one that doesn't produce a lot of heat. Hot chargers reduce rechargeable battery life significantly.

Des

-- Dan Desjardins (dan.desjardins@avstarnews.com), July 04, 2000.