Trail cam batteries?

[oldleclercrd]

I just got one of those m-100 moultrie trail cameras. I just put it out for 3 weeks and checked it today and the batteries are totally dead. Granted the camera took 3500 pics in the first five days and then shut off, i figured the battery would still be AT LEAST half. I thought those cameras were supposed to be amazing at battery useage. I used those Energizer lithium batteries with the power meter on the side ( the most expensive kind) and I was wondering what everyone else used. Maybe the cold had something to do with it, or just the number of pics. Any advice?

[Todd_ID]

I think if you're wanting the camera to go more than 3500 pics, then you'll need to go to an external battery and solar panel. 3500 is a ton even if there were no flash shots at night, which there were likely plenty.

[oldleclercrd]

Yeah i know thats alot of pics and yes quite a few were at night, but I had a flash cam last year fill up a memory card with just as many pics and the battery level was like 50%. Those batteries were D's and these ones are AA. I hope the warmer weather will help the life of the batteries.

[Todd_ID]

Cold weather certainly doesn't help. Lithiums are less affected by the cold than alkaline.  And a D cell is around 5 times the milliamp hours of a AA, if I am not mistaken.