I had the same results with AA alkalines in a HP215 camera. It's about
enough to **** a guy off. After the camera refused to take more
pictures, even though the alkaline batteries weren't depleted (a
load-type battery tester would show that they were still good), I tried
using alkaline C cells in a holder, with a cord plugged into the power
jack on the camera. That didn't work, (error from camera display) and I
think it may have been that the wire size was too small (one of those
coily cords for cell phones).

HP recommended some high energy alkalines that cost about $8-10 for 4
of 'em. I couldn't see spending that kind of money on disposable
batteries.

I found an external power supply branded DigiPower from an eBay seller
that works flawlessly with the power hungry camera. The power supply
isn't the typical wall wart, more like a large AC plug, and has a long
cord (maybe 12-15 ft.).
It's a switchmode PS, and doesn't have a big transformer, so it's very
compact. The output is rated at 2 amps, so the camera doesn't see a
slump in voltage, which is what happened with the AA batteries.
Common wall warts with wound transformers, rectifiers and a capacitor
may not give acceptable performance (even if they're a regulated
voltage PS).

Of course, that doesn't solve the portability issue. I have a low
opinion of nicads (1.2V btw) unless they're made in Japan, from
Digi-Key or another source with good inventory turn-over, ensuring high
quality and fresh stock.
I've been looking at nimh batteries (1.25V, not 1.2V) with chargers at
retail places, and see a lot of combo paks at low prices. I'm not
optimistic of electronic devices made in China, particularly when there
may be a lot of hand soldering involved. The Harbor Freight stuff and
other China products I've bought had very low quality soldering joints,
loose enough to separate with just a slight tug, barely tacked in
place.

The nimh batteries are the latest great performer, and I suspect that
every small manufacturing facility will be turning out ship loads of
inferior products to be bought, then thrown away, by the American
market. While I was at a local Dollar store, I noticed about 6
different 4-cell/charger combo paks. I guesstimate that 4 out of 6 are
probably total crap.. resulting in damaged cells from
over/undercharging, bad assembly work, poor design, bad cells, low
quality components. No way to tell which one might actually work well,
but then they were only $8-10 each.

A good solution for someone that takes a lot of pictures would probably
be a power grip (handle with battery compartment built in, that the
camera mounts to, and a short lead that plugs into the power jack on
the camera), using freshly charged nimh batteries in the camera (and
the grip), and having the extra batteries in the power grip available
if the camera batteries go low.

WB
...............

Gunner wrote:
I was fortunate enough this week, to swap for a minty Olympus C-3000
Zoom digital camera with 128meg smart media. Friend of mine is
upgrading to hip slick and cool wonder camera

Having had some very elderly digital cameras...this thing blows me
away. And its obsolete...chuckle...but is way way cool and will do
EVERYTHING I need a camera to do for me.

I didnt get any batteries with it..he uses nicads and kept them, So I
loaded it up with fresh Alkalines..and got about 10 daylight pictures
out of them....damn thats a battery hungry *******!!!

So Ive been doing some research on digital camera batts this evening,
along with chargers etc

It would appear that everyone is pushing Nickle metal hydride
rechargables.

Which for me..is better..NIMH or NiCads? It may be weeks or longer
before I need to take any pictures and am worried about the self
discharge of the NiMH batts

On the other hand..NiCads appear to be only 800mah at best, based on
ebay descriptions

On the gripping hand...NiMH appear to have over twice the amp hour
rating..1800 is average for AAs, going up to 2500 mah