Camera battery care and storage

Charging habits

Charge with a charger that matches the battery type, as the pairing guide explains: a mismatched charger is the most common cause of poor charging. Charge in a moderate environment, not in extreme heat or cold, and do not leave a battery charging unattended for longer than the charger and the battery are made for. A battery that is charged well will serve its shoot; a battery that is charged carelessly will fail early, whatever its quality.

Charge before the shoot, not during it, where the workflow allows: a battery charged the night before is ready when the shoot starts, while a battery charged between takes may not be. A team that plans charging into its schedule — how many batteries, charged when, by which chargers — will rarely run out, and a team that improvises charging will often run out at the worst moment.

Storage and checking

Store batteries in a cool, dry place, away from direct sun and from metal objects that could short the contacts. Store them partly charged, not fully flat and not fully full, where the battery type allows: a battery stored flat for a long time may not recover, and a battery stored full for a long time may age faster. Check stored batteries periodically, and charge them before a shoot, not after arriving at it.

Check the battery before use: its contacts, its fit in the camera, and its charge level. A battery with damaged contacts, a swollen case, or a charge that drops unexpectedly should not be used, and should be set aside for inspection. Safety comes before schedule: a battery that looks wrong should not be pressed into service because a shoot is waiting.

What to ask next

Ask the supplier, in your inquiry, for the care and storage guidance that applies to the exact battery type you order, as part of the specification. Ask at the same time for the quantity terms, the lead time, and the certificates for your market, by name, with documents attached. The bulk battery inquiry page lists these confirmations.