Night of the living dead batteries

You know that battery life isn't eternal, but what if even brand-new AAs give you just a few dozen shots in your new digital camera? Most current models can take hundreds of photos before running out of juice, so if you're getting substantially less than that, there's a problem. Fortunately, it's probably very easy to solve--although you may have to spend a little money to fix the problem.

Well, maybe not as long as the undead, but they should be able to hold up for a good long shoot. Here's what you need to know to boost your camera's stamina.

1. Use the right AAs. If your camera runs on AA cells, the problem is probably that you're using alkalines. Many manufacturers package their consumer snapshot cameras with alkaline AAs, despite the fact that the cameras aren't designed to use that power source. Why? Because they can knock the cost of rechargeables and a charger off the price and make you think you're getting a bargain.

If you don't already have rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride cells and a charger around the house, you'll need to buy them. The higher the mAh rating, the longer they'll last--look for 1850mAh or higher. Another option is using disposable lithium AAs. They last much longer than alkalines, but of course you can't reuse them. Some cameras run on larger CRV3 cells, which are also disposable and provide much longer life than alkalines.

The good news is that you can probably bring those seemingly dead alkalines back from the grave: Stick them in your CD player or another low-drain device, and they'll have a whole new life.

2. Return the damned to their maker. If your camera came with a rechargeable lithium-ion cell instead of AAs, and you're getting very short battery life on a full charge, there's probably something wrong with the camera. Take it back for an exchange or refund.