Cold weather and batteries in a digital camera are a frustrating combination ...

Unfortunately, rechargeable lithium AAs aren't likely to come to pass.


The lihtium ion chemistry required for safety reasons insists on putting out ~3.6V, which is of course way out of spec for the AA format. I believe that the newer lithium polymer chemistries also put out 3+ volts. With improper charging, say in a charger designed for NiMH AAs, older lithium chemistries were subject to explosion or the release of burning molten lithium metal--something that could easily ruin your whole day, not to mention your foot.

lithium batteries are superior to anything else in the cold. I have a 3030 that I use penlight lithiums in. Also lithiums don't drain themselves on the shelf - not even rechargeable ones. And they have no memory. Now if they only made penlight lithiums that are rechargeable . . .

Batteries depend on chemical reations to produce power, in the cold reactions go slower.

I've seen the battery indicator on my GPS unit go from full to nearly empty and back to nearly full again by starting inside, going for a hike in cold weather, then come back inside. The GPS ran for hours with the indicator at nearly empty, but it draws very little current.