Gear Survey: Rechargeable v Disposable Batteries for Photographers

April 30, 2015

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It's happened to all of us. You're on your way to a wedding or a session, you're sitting at a stop light and suddenly your stomach flips over. Do I have fresh batteries? You start frantically looking around for a Walgreens or CVS- heck, even a Circle K will do. Under your breath you start mumbling, “must get AA batteries.” You start to sweat. Then, if you're lucky, you wake up from your little nightmare, cozy and comfy in your bed and make a mental note to double check the next morning that you do indeed have fresh batteries in your bag ready for your shoot.

So the question is… what type of fresh batteries do you have in your bag? Rechargeable v. Disposable? There are pros and cons to both. Rechargeable batteries last longer and in the end cost less, but you do have to remember to recharge them and be careful not to throw them out (a hard habit to break after years of disposables). Disposable batteries on the other hand don't require that you remember to charge them before your next shoot and can be picked up at any corner drug store, or when you're in a pinch at a gas station.

When surveyed, the Showiteer Facebook community overwhelmingly answered (four to one) that they are using Rechargeable AA batteries for their businesses. The most popular brands seem to be Sanyo Eneloop and Powerex.

What kind of batteries are you using for your business? Share with us in the comments below.