Getting the most out of your camera batteries

Getting the Most out of Your Camera Batteries on a Grand Canyon Rafting Trip

Conserving energy use and your digital camera

Guests often want to know how many camera batteries they should bring on a Grand Canyon rafting trip or how to best conserve battery power.

There isn’t an exact answer as to how many batteries you should bring. You likely have a pretty good idea how long your battery generally lasts before it needs recharged. It probably depends on whether you are a “picture taker” or more of a “casual photographer.” Some guests and cameras could go the whole adventure without recharging a camera, others might need to charged after only a few days. We always recommend bringing at least one extra battery in case you experience a malfunction from your first battery. But we also recommend conserving power, rather than figuring out how you are going to get it.  Here are 10 ways to extend your digital cameras battery power:

1. Turn off your LCD display screen. LCD screen single handedly drains a lot of power.
2. Minimize the picture preview to the least amount of time possible—usually one second. This uses less LCD screen time, thus less power.
3. Dim the brightness on your LCD screen. A dimmer display extends battery life by consuming less power to light the screen. This might make the display harder to see, but usually only in direct sunlight.
4. Set the power saver to the least amount of time. Power saver lets your compact digital camera “sleep” when not in use, but doesn’t shut it down entirely.
5. Use your zoom as little as possible. The motor that moves the lens uses power. This also goes for repeatedly turning your image capturing device on and off if it has an extendable lens.
6. Turn off the continuous focus. Again, constantly using motors and electronics to ready your shot drastically minimizes battery life.
7. Don’t push the shutter button half-way down until you’re ready to shoot. Pushing the shutter button (constantly resetting and refocusing) will drain battery life.
8. Use the flash only when necessary. Your product’s “auto flash” option should take care of this, but make sure your flash isn’t going off in broad daylight.
9. Don’t delete pictures from your device unless necessary. This consumes power. Wait until you download the pictures to your computer before deleting.
10. This one’s basic, but charge your battery often. Lithium ion batteries, which most image capturing devices use, don’t have “battery memory” like older alkaline. In fact, lithium ions work better and last longer if charged completely and regularly.

And last but not least, when you are snuggled up in your sleeping bag for the evening, refrain from reviewing the photos and videos from the day! We know it’s hard, but it will help conserve the power left in your battery.

However, if you already know that conservation is not for you or already know that you will need more juice… you might want to consider purchasing a small portable solar charger. Voltaic Systems has been recommended by several previous passengers. Study the specifications of your camera to ensure you purchase a charger that properly charges the battery as some solar chargers are made specifically for smaller electronics such as iPhones!