Which AA batteries last?(Up front)(Product/service evaluation)

When everyone's posed and saying "Cheese," you might use stronger language if your camera's batteries have died. To see which AAs are most inclined to keep cameras clicking--and toys, radios, flashlights, and remote controls working--we tested 17 of various types.

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After loading pairs of the batteries in point-and-shoot digital cameras, we followed a lengthy protocol: Turn on the camera, zoom in, zoom out, zoom in, turn on the flash, take five pictures with 30 seconds between each, and much more of the same. That tested the limits of the batteries, because zooming and flashing drain lots of power. Our top-rated battery took 637 photos; our lowest rated, 95 photos. For rechargeables, which can be recharged hundreds of times, we based scores on a single charge.

In the Ratings, batteries are listed in performance order, within types. The Ratings also indicate that manufacturers' claims should be taken with a grain of salt. For example, Rayovac, which offers "long-lasting power," lasted longer than only three other batteries.

Which type to use. For digital cameras, some toys, and other devices that draw bursts of power or are used often, choose rechargeables, such as the top-rated Duracell. They cost more than alkaline types and you'll pay $15 to $20 for a charger, but they almost always save money in the long run. The rechargeable Duracell Precharged, which scored very good, is unusual in that it works right out of the box without an initial charge. Another option is a single-use lithium battery such as the Energizer Ultimate.

For flashlights, remote controls, seldom-used toys, and other devices that draw little power, consider single-use nickel oxyhydroxide batteries, such as the Panasonic Oxyride Extreme Power, or alkaline batteries, such as the inexpensive Kirkland Signature. Both types have a shelf life of several years.

Care and handling. Don't mix battery types, sizes, or ages, and don't store batteries in a pile or near other metal objects. To find out where to recycle rechargeables, go to the Web site of the nonprofit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp., at www.rbrc.org.