There are differen setting on your camera for night time pics. Check your owners manual it as all the different settings and what to use for best performance. If you dont have one you can get it off their website. I have noticed on max range setting that the pics are grainy but set on default or some of the higher quality settings the pictures are better. It can vary from night to night because of different light conditions. I have had good crisp clear pictures out to 100 feet or so and kind of grainy pictures where the flash my reach half that distance all in the same week. The only thing that I know of that the different batteries do is for more consistant flash and cold weather performance.