Your camera is heavily reliant on battery power. Your shots will depend on such power to take shots, view them on the LCD screen (if you have one) and transfer them to the memory card and thereafter to the computer. The use of flash, the optical zoom or working in extremes of weather will use up even more precious battery resources. Constant reviewing of yor images after you take them represents a further strain.

It is imperative that you keep your batteries in good shape. Here's how:

- charge batteries well before use keep your batteries fresh

- reduce the brightness on the LCD screen conserves unnecessary power drain

- reduce your use of the flash - shoot in bright conditions or use a high ISO flash is rarely needed

- check you camera for "power saving" features your camera can help reduce wastage

- keep batteries warm by storing them near to your body cold conditions and batteries don't mix

- don't keep fiddling with the camera reviewing images and zooming uses power

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- use NiMH produce good power with the least loss

You can be sure that your best image taking opportunites will be at a time when your camera is low on battery power. Don't get caught out!