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Choosing what works for you.

Camcorders have come a long way from the big bulky machines that required an advanced degree to operate them. Now camcorders make you think of a hand held trendy accessory that can easily be brought to any event to capture the moment. As with all handheld appliances, the element that keeps them going is the battery. For every brand of camcorder, there is a specific type of battery and a varying amount of battery life.

For each brand and model of camcorder, there is a specific battery designed for that camcorder by the manufacturer. In order to purchase additional batteries, you must know the make and model number, as brands like Sony have dozens of models of camcorders.

Camcorders typically use NiCD or NiMH batteries. Newer Lithium Ion batteries are on the market for camcorders as well. They are more ideal for camcorders because they must run multiple applications which uses lots of battery power. To accommodate this, traditional NiCD and NiMH batteries can be extremely large and heavy, whereas Li-Ion batteries weigh much less and provide the same amount of power.

Depending on the type of battery, whether it be NiCD, NiMH, or the new Li-Ion battery, the type of camcorder charger needed will be very different. All these batteries use different technologies and therefore charge using different technologies. Many camcorder charger manufactures have helped to overcome this problem by creating universal chargers that charge all types of batteries in one docking station. Another option is rapid chargers, which charge batteries in a fraction of the time it takes traditional chargers. For convenience, some chargers are also equipped with a battery tester to measure the battery and avoid over charging.

Camcorders use lots of battery power, so it is important to consider how it will be used before purchasing a camcorder battery. Remember to take into account weight and frequency of use to get the most for your money.