Forget the alkaline batteries that came with the camera and don't waste money buying more - buy a decent charger (Maha seems to make the charger of the moment) and 2 or 3 pairs of high capacity NiMH rechargeable batteries (2100mAh or better). There is great information in the battery shootout thread and others on this site. Remember that it takes a few charge/discharge cycles to get NiMH batteries to maximum power capacity...

Alkalines do not last very long, a good set will give you 35 minutes (assuming 2 x AA batteries). Sounds as if you may received a dud set. Better to buy Ni-MH batteries. At the bottom of this page is a graph of a set of 4 AA alkaline batteries verse Ni-MH: http://www.users.on.net/mhains/vision3.html regards M..

Thanks to you both and thanks for the link Michael. Before reading your replies I have been out today to buy Ni-MH batteries and a recharger. Just surprised that the camera companies don't provide decent ones with the camera or at least explain that they will not last that long...

If the batteries lasted too long you'd find out that the memory card is too small too! If you don't feel like waiting for mail orders, there are local sources as well. I happened to get the Rayovac fast charger at WalMart. Not the 15 min charger! It's also available elsewhere but at the time, the Walmart packaging included the car adapter. I've found 3 sets for my camera (takes 4 AAs) are a good setup between having one set in the camera, a charged set available and one in the charger...

I discovered the same issue with the new HP Digital Camera I purchased for Christmas. I was able to take 6 photos before the Alkaline batteries gave out. The info on the Ni-MH batteries and recharging unit will certainly prove beneficial. Next stop Wal-mart to get the batteries (3 sets obviously) and the recharger...

After about a year using rechargables let me share some thoughts and cautions:.

Panasonic makes a battery charger package that includes 6 AA and 2 AAA batteries. A good package considering the batteries are 2100 rated. Do not buy any battery rated less than 1800. In some cameras, notably my old C-3000 from Olympus, some NiMH batteries would not work until I removed a little bit more of plastic from both the + and - sides. Remember that the NiMH batteries loose about 1% of their charge a day. In two weeks, a 2100 battery is now an 1800 battery in down to about 1550.

Jerry..