I just had one on a friends lease and he has had 95 pics in 4 days. and the battery is fine. Not sure what circumstances fries a battery faster then others but the Battery life with the other people I talked with with the excite and expert are getting long life on them. Not saying that it is the only camera you should buy but for the trip time and quality of pics it is well worth the money. I think that the trigger reaction time is the biggest thing...JMHO.....good luck