Camcorders and cameras are among the portable electrical appliances which we most use in unexpected circumstances. Who hasn’t come across a great photo opportunity and quickly grabbed the camera out of their bag or car before the moment passes. Unfortunately, these gadgets are among the most power hungry electronic devices, and preparing ahead and choosing the right batteries will mean that you won’t be left regretting that great sunset or the deer crossing the road that you wanted to photograph but couldn’t because of power supply problems.

If your machine takes AAA batteries then a great choice is the Duracell Ultra brand. This type of battery has two main advantages. It provides a long power supply and it has a little indicator which tells you how much power it has left in it before running flat. This is definitely a wise purchase if you sometimes leave your camera lying around for months without using it and then take snaps on the hoof, while travelling or without much planning, as you can immediately tell if the batteries have enough life left in them for the photos you want to take.

Another option is to stock up on Procell AAA batteries. These are a more economic option and come in boxes of 10 batteries through online wholesalers. This power cell also has an excellent duration period and the other big advantages are the price and the bulk buying option which lets you stock up cheaply and easily. This is a good decision if you take a lot of photos or shoot a lot of videos and want to avoid constantly nipping out to buy more expensive batteries from the shops. If you are prone to coming across photo opportunities while out in the car then you could leave a supply in the glove compartment for replacement purposes.

AAA batteries also come in a rechargeable format, which is a very environmentally friendly way of powering your electronic appliances as well as being cheaper in the long term. The only drawback is the need to have take out, recharge and reinsert the power cells every time they go flat. This option probably suits a heavy battery user who is organised enough in their approach and their lifestyle to not be left with flat batteries in their camera at a crucial moment.

These same brands and formats are available in the battery sizes which are most commonly used in cameras and camcorders and it is worth thinking about whether your priority is duration, value or having a big supply close to hand before making your online purchase.