Laptops For Less Blog

How To Conserve Camcorder Battery Power

It’s important to squeeze every ounce of life out of your camcorder’s battery charge; the last thing you want is to run out of power in the middle of an important recording session! Here’re some tips for getting the most out of your camcorder battery:

Buy a Long Life Battery

The easiest way to make sure you get through your event without running out of power is to buy an additional long life battery. While you’re using the long life battery, keep the original one charged to use as a spare in emergencies.

Keep the Battery Charged

If your camcorder has been stored for any length of time, the battery may have lost its charge even if it was fully charged when you stored it. Always recharge the battery the night before so you can be sure to have enough power the next day when you need it.

Use the Viewfinder Instead of the LCD

It’s tempting to use the LCD screen when recording an event, but it uses up twice as much battery power as the viewfinder. To get the longest performance out of your camcorder, close the LCD display and use the viewfinder.

Wait Until Later Before Watching Your Movie

However tempting it is to play back the event you have just captured, you will save much more battery power if you wait until the camcorder is plugged into the mains before viewing your masterpiece.

Keep Zooming to a Minimum

Zooming in and out and frequently turning the camera on and off uses up a lot of power and drains camcorder batteries more quickly. Though it’s a good idea to turn the camcorder off if you don’t want to record for a while. You will probably want to do some zooming but try not to overdo it, if you want to get the most out of your battery.

Get an External Battery Charger

Many camcorders are designed to act as their own battery chargers. If this is the case, it’s worth considering getting an external battery charger. With an external charger you can always have one battery charging at home while you are out using your camcorder, then you simply have to change the batteries over when you get home.

Replacement camcorder batteries are readily available online. LaptopsForLess.com stocks a wide range of batteries compatible with all camcorder models by all the major manufacturers. Their prices will be a pleasant surprise for you too; they’re typically 30% – 70% cheaper than the manufacturers’ own brand replacements, and work equally as well.