s3/s5 battery life

[jim44305]

I am planning to purchase either an s3 or s5 and have only one concern. From all I've read on them the only battery information I can find is that it says it uses 4AA batteries. Are these only for the flash? Or does the camera itself actually run on these AA batteries? If they are the only power source what kind of battery life does the camera have? I used to have a digital camera that ran off of AA batteries and after 10-12 pictures the batteries had to be changed. If anyone could help clear some of this up for me it would be greatly appreciated.

[Punwit]

Below is a link to a review of the S3IS. Scroll down to the heading "Body Elements" and you'll see a brief blurb concerning battery life. You'll experience varied performance especially when using the flash but you should have vastly improved performance compared to your earlier camera.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons3is/page2.asp

Darren

[gtrgeorge]

For whatever this is worth, I have a Canon S2 IS, the camera immediately before the S3. It also uses a set of 4 AA batteries.

I think the only real trick is to NOT use ordinary Alkaline AA batteries; they'll be depleted in no time. A set of high capacity rechargeable AAs and a good charger are probably the single best thing you could get as an accessory for this camera.

I have been using NiMH (Nickel-Metal-Hydride) rechargeable batteries in this thing, rated 2700 mah (milliamp hours). I also carry a set of 4 AA lithium batteries, which are also very high capacity, and have a great shelf life, as a backup in case the rechargeables go down in the middle of something.

I've owned this camera since August of last year (06) and I think I have charged the batteries 3 times... I don't use the flash a lot, but do use the zoom, IS is always on, and either the EVF or the LCD is on all the time. I have never counted the shots I get with one charge, but it seems like it takes a very long time before I see the indicator start going down. I have to believe the battery life would be at least as good or better in the S3 or S5.

Here's a link to the place I got the batteries and the charger; this place has very good quality stuff:

http://www.nimhbattery.com/maha-powe...ry-charger.htm

This is the charger I use.