Here are some tips to help preserve the batteries.
Turn off the LCD and use the viewfinder for focusing a composing. Only use the LCD for composition when you can't use the viewfinder..
Minimize photo previewing: When you preview photos on the LCD you are wasting battery. Only use the LCD to view photos when you need to do so for checking composition. Do not use the LCD to view photos for fun or to show photos to others.
Do not use continuous focus when not necessary: Every time your camera focuses it consumers energy. The motors that move the optical components in order to focus consume a lot of energy. You can not avoid focusing of course but you can avoid focusing that is not necessary. In those cases as long as you press the shutter button half way down the camera will continue to focusing on the object. If you plan to shoot a photo of a runner at point A only press the shutter when he gets close to that point. Holding the shutter button down and following the runner for a longer time than needed to capture him at point A wastes a lot of energy.
Recharge whenever you can: Charge your battery (or batteries if you carry an extra one) at least once a day or whenever you are back to your office, home or hotel. Even if you did not take many photos and you think the batteries have enough power in them it is better to make sure by fully charging them rather than to take the risk. You never know how long your next photo shooting session will be and when will your next recharge opportunity will be. Batteries slowly lose their charge even when not used so always recharge your extra battery too even if it was not used.
Plan for battery consumption: The most important thing is to plan for battery consumption. For example if you are leaving your office for a short photo shooting session of an hour you are not going to have any battery issues. In such cases you can ignore all the guidelines and just shoot photos freely in the way that is most convenient to you. If you are going out for a long day of photo shooting in scenarios that require flash and maybe continuous focusing (just as shooting a sports event) – plan ahead for power consumption take an extra battery or maybe two refrain from using features that are not necessary for your session such as previewing photos on the LCD or using the LCD as a viewfinder.
When you are using the flash turn the camera off when not in use and run a slightly higher ISO or sensitivity setting to light. Learn your digital cameras limitations. Always keep in mind that the higher the ISO the more grain you will see in your digital files.
Battery Memory
Nickel cadmium batteries were the most commonly used rechargeable batteries in portable devices for many years and are still used today for many applications. These batteries were subject to something called the memory effect. If you consistently recharged your NiCD battery when it was only partially discharged, the battery would lose its full capacity. To reduce the effect manufacturers recommended that you regularly run your battery completely down, then recharge it. Many chargers included a "conditioning" option.
Nickel-metal hydride(NiMH) batteries succeeded NiCDs and were originally thought to be free from memory-related problems. However, that didn't prove to be true. NiMH batteries suffer from their own memory issues. The engineers called it voltage depression--but the effect is basically the same as with NiCD batteries. To avoid NiMH memory loss, you should fully discharge these batteries once every six or ten uses.
The good news is that the newer Lithium ion batteries are free from memory-related problems. These batteries also have a better shelf life so you can expect to pick up the camera you charged last week and expect it to have nearly a full tank. This was not the case with the older NiCD and NiMH batteries.
Always remember that with any battery the chemical processes which allow the battery to work will eventually reduce the number of shots you can take per charge. Buy a spare and keep it handy after the first year or so of use.
Recycle Your NiMH, NiCAD, or Alkaline Batteries
SUMMARY: Don't throw away your old rechargeable AA batteries - they are recyclable.
Have your rechargeable NiMH or NiCad batteries stopped accepting a charge? If so, save them until you have a chance to dispose of them properly. To dispose of them properly contact your local camera store to see if your community has a mandatory recycle program. If not, check the manufacturer website to see if they have a recycle program. These batteries are quit toxic so take a few minutes to find a convenient disposable plan.
For a location of places you can drop off your rechargeable batteries, you may also wish to visit the following website (provided for informational purposes only). The RBRC has a simple form you can fill out to find recycling points across the USA and Canada.
The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation - http://www.rbrc.org/
Article Submitted by Art Sprague of Art's Photography
Whether your digital camera uses disposable batteries or rechargeable ones you have a limited life to consider. Few things are more frustrating than missing a great photo opportunity just to find out that you have run out of batteries.