Initial charging time

Yes. The charger will charge any brand of NiMH batteries.

It could be possible that 1 of your 2300 mAh AA battery is defective.
Try to charge only 2 2300 mAh batteries at a time to see if it can charge.

It may be a bad batch of batteries. However, I would take them out, put them in the charger, but try shuffling positions in your charger in case one of the charger slots is not working.

This camera takes ordinary AA batteries. You can use alkaline ones, which are mostly not rechargeable, or you can use a set of AA size NiMH rechargeable ones, which will last longer per charge than a set of alkalines. You will need a separate charger for the batteries, they won't charge in the camera. You can buy a charger complete with a set of batteries cheaply online or in shops. Get ones marked 2300 mAH or 2700 mAH if you can- they will last longer than ones with lower ratings.

Yes, this will charge any AA-AAA Batteries. Typical charge will be about 14 to 18 hours

V = pie x r2 x h
V= pie x 3x3x20
V=180pie

NiMH tends to have a "memory". What this means is that the batteries will get used to being only charged and discharged a certain amount. What could be happening is that the battery THINKS it is charged when it is not... or.. it THINKS it is discharged when it is not. You can try to recondition them:

1. Charge them
2. reset the charger and charge again
3. put them in your device and drain them
4. let them sit, drain them again
5. recharge them
6. drain them again

Do this a few times. If you don't notice an improvement, you may want to consider getting a new set of batteries - I would recommend lithium rechargeables.

You will need to use 2100 mAh or 2500 mAh rechargeable batteries, as others are not powerful enough. To format the card, look in the menu system (or, indeed, in the manual) for the 'format' command.

Your camera requires four AA size batteries.There are several factors that contribute to battery life: NiMH: This is the best solution for enjoyment and cost savings. NiMH batteries typically last longer per charge than the average alkaline batteries. NiMH batteries are rechargeable batteries, so they can be used several times and thereby reduce the expense of continually purchasing new batteries. NiMH batteries are typically sold with a power adapter for charging. The life of these batteries can often be determined by the mAh rating, the higher the mAh rating on the battery, the longer that they will last. NiMH batteries do not have the memory effect associated with NiCd batteries, which means that these batteries can be recharged at any time and at your convenience (you do not have to wait for the batteries to completely drain between charges). Lithium: Energizer has introduced a new series of Lithium batteries that provide optimum performance and long life for disposable AA size batteries. Laboratory studies shows that Lithium batteries last more than three times as long as standard Alkaline batteries. This means many more hours of fun and satisfaction with your digital camera. These lithium batteries are not rechargeable, they are long lasting. Alkaline: Using the LCD display, downloading images, playback, zoom and flash all require some battery power to operate and may decrease the number of shots per set of batteries. Performance may also vary based on the Alkaline batteries selected. To significantly increase battery life, be sure to turn off the LCD when it is not in use. The LCD consumes the most amount of battery power. The benefit of being able to use alkaline batteries is that you can find then almost anywhere if needed. Manganese: If you are using manganese batteries, the typical battery life will be about 2 - 5 shots. Then the camera will indicate that battery power is low and may shut-down. To avoid this experience, use either Alkaline or NiMH batteries. Optimum Solution: Use a set of NiMH batteries for longer use and to reduce the expense of continually buying new batteries. It may also be a good idea to keep a spare set of NiMH batteries for other devices that require AA size batteries on a regular basis. Use AA Alkaline batteries when the NiMH batteries need to be recharged and you want to continue enjoying the use of your camera.

NiMH batteries. You can use the larger mAh AA. It has more capacity and should give you longer service before needing recharge. The battery manufacturers recommend that you do not mix the batteries. i.e. don't use mAh 2100 and mAh 2500 as one set, use all 2100 or all 2500 as one set.