Batteries for Nikon Coolpix L100

[Bob96]

Just bought this camera that takes AA size batteries. The handbook says use Alkaline or Lithium "RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES CANNOT BE USED". The camera set-up menu has a set battery type screen that allows a choice of Alkaline or Lithium. Why not rechargeable? I have lots of them, and both household and car chargers. Will they damage the camera, is there some technical issue with discharge rates or voltage/power, or do Nikon get a fee from Duracell for printing the do not use rechargeable?

[GeoffR]

Just bought this camera that takes AA size batteries. The handbook says use Alkaline or Lithium "RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES CANNOT BE USED". The camera set-up menu has a set battery type screen that allows a choice of Alkaline or Lithium. Why not rechargeable? I have lots of them, and both household and car chargers. Will they damage the camera, is there some technical issue with discharge rates or voltage/power, or do Nikon get a fee from Duracell for printing the do not use rechargeable?

NiMh batteries suffer from high "Self discharge" meaning that over a relatively short period the batteries will become to flat to maintain the camera's date and time. Having to reset the date and time every time you use the camera will become tiresome over a few months. Nikon know about this and suggest you use expendables so that you don't get fed up with the camera and ditch it for another brand.

[AlexMonro]

While Geoff's description of the self discharge problem of NiMH batteries is true, there are now available a new type of NiMH battery called the low self discharge type, sold under brand names such as Sanyo Eneloop and Uniross Hybrio. These will typically hold 90% of the charge for at least a year. However, I don't think that's the real problem here.

New alkaline batteries have a voltage of just over 1.5 volts, new lithium cells are a bit over 1.6 volts, whereas a NiMH cell is about 1.3 volts when it's fully charged but has been sitting on the shelf for a few hours. So it's likely that the lower voltage isn't enough to power the camera properly.

I used to have an Olympus SP-350 which took AA batteries - the manual didn't specify what type. I tried it with NiMH cells, but it would only take 2 or 3 shots with batteries straight from the charger before shutting down with low battery. However, the manual did specify that it would also take CRV-3 type (like 2x AAs side by side) lithium batteries, and one was supplied with it. I found that a number of suppliers advertising in AP listed a rechargeable CRV-3, so I thought I'd give it a try, and founsd I could get several hundred shots, with months between charges. If the L100 manual says it will take CRV-3 batteries, it might be worth the OP giving these a try.

[Bob96]

Nikon thought of that - the camera has 4 round holes for AAs so I can t use CRV-3s. Will just have to purchase expensive single use lithium AAs. I have no issues with cheep rechargeable AAs in my film camera (Dynax 9). Presume it has a capacitor to maintain the memory when the batteries go flat.

[Barney]

Eneloops are the way to go.