[Grayrock]

The rechargable AA's I have been using for about 4 years now do not hold their charge- even though they have been recharged lots less than their 500 cycle life. So I guess they should have said "3 years or 500 recharges- whichever comes first". Now I need to purchase some new ones. eBay has some 3000 mAh AA's. Thomas Distributing sells some 2900 mAh batteries- is larger always better? Is there a brand to look for or avoid? I just need 4-6 batteries to get me fixed up again, so it is not a big purchase- just an inconvenience I don't like having to deal with. What will give me the best bang for my buck? I want good performance, but price is always a consideration.

[ZeSpectre]

If you want to know more than you ever cared to about batteries, visit the flashaholics over at the Candlepower forums (http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/).

A quick summary though is that we've discovered that the higher capacity "AA" NiMH batteries (3000mah and up) seem to have a shorter overall lifespan than the previous generations.

Total discharge of NiMH cells will also greatly reduce their total lifespan.

Top notch brands (right now) seem to be (in no particular order)
-Sanyo
-Powerex
-Energizer

An excelent source of batteries, chargers, and information is Thomas Distributing (http://www.thomas-distributing.com/index.htm)

Now if someone would make rechargable button cells for my reddot sights I'd be in heaven
:neener:

[VWTim]

What's the use for these cells? People have been noticing a somewhat high self discharge rate in most of the 2650/2700 cells. For intermittantly used cells Sanyo Enloops or Rayovac Hybrids are looking like a good way to go.

[Grayrock]

Will be primarily used in a digital camera.

[heathen]

I've gotten extremely good service out of two sets of 4 Duracell 2500's. I use mine in a Canon S1 and they last a very long time and seem to hold there charge a good while. I've been running them for about a year now, I think. I've read nothing but good things about the Energizer's so I would look at those if I was you. Also consider getting a good quality charger if you don't already have one. I use a Lacrosse Technology BC-900U bought from Thomas Distributing and have been extremely pleased with it. Here's a link to it.

http://www.thomas-distributing.com/la_crosse_bc-900_battery_charger.php

I hope this helps. Heath

[black bear]

The Powerex 2700 mah that I have been using have a much less self discharge than the Sanyos 2500's.

Sanyo 2700's that I have are too fat to enter in my Sansung camera, so that also will be important to find out before you buy.

In the other hand the 2900's that Thomas' sell are thin enough to enter a device where the Sanyos 2700's can't.

If you use your camera sporadically, you will be better off, like WTim say with the Eneloop or Ray O Vac Hibrid.

[geronimotwo]

energizer, and duracell have worked well for me, although a few of the energizers are snug in my minimag lights. i purchased some no name "BTY" brand (silver with blue stripe around negative end) on ebay, and they will not fit in mini mags at all, although they work in most other things. also they don't store their charge as well as the others.