Need advice on Olympus E-20 batteries please.

I'm looking at the Reference Manual of my recently acquired Olympus
E-20 camera and, in the battery insertion instructions, it clearly
states, "the lithium battery pack CR-V3 cannot be recharged".

Since there are currently NO batteries in the camera, I went to E-bay
to purchase some and found that there are both rechargeable and non-
rechargeable CR-V3 batteries listed.

I would appreciate it if someone would tell me whether one type is
better than the other?

Thanks.

Lewis.

*****

On Sat, 25 Aug 2007 19:29:14 -0000, wrote:

I'm looking at the Reference Manual of my recently acquired Olympus
E-20 camera and, in the battery insertion instructions, it clearly
states, "the lithium battery pack CR-V3 cannot be recharged".

Since there are currently NO batteries in the camera, I went to E-bay
to purchase some and found that there are both rechargeable and non-
rechargeable CR-V3 batteries listed.

I would appreciate it if someone would tell me whether one type is
better than the other?

They should both work, but by being "better", I assume that you
want to know how the number of shots you can get per charge compares
with the number of shots that the non-rechargeable version is good
for.

I seem to recall reading some reviews a year or three ago where
the rechargeable version didn't perform very well. But there's no
way I'd be able to recall the brand tested. Others may be better.
Were I in your position, I'd buy a non-rechargeable version just to
quickly check out the E-20. If the camera doesn't work, stop there.

If it works properly then I'd buy one of the rechargeable versions
and see how well it does. Even if it provides only 1/2 the number
of shots, that could save you a lot of money in the long run, and
only by knowing how well it does will you know how many more you'll
want to buy, if any. The non-rechargeable CR-V3 would then make a
good emergency backup battery that should last for many years if all
goes well with the other battery packs. About two years ago I think
I saw some of these batteries and a charger for them on a Radio
Shack rack, but I know nothing more than that about them.

My reading of the boards (no direct experience) is that the Rechargeable
CRV3 do not have the best capacity and loose charge faster.

According to your usage (lots of pictures at a time or few over time)
the newer NiMH would be best. I use AA Lithium because my usage is few
at a time over a longer time span and they don't loose their charge so
are ready to go when you are (although at a higher cost than NiMH).

Ed

PS-when the instruction book was printed there were no AA Lithium or
rechargeable CRV3's so disregard the information.