A710is & crv3

with ni-mh I need much time for charge flash. Can I use cr-v3 battery?

Aren't the CR-V3 the little batteries the size of dimes? How would that work? Or am I thinking of something else?

The problem is, any flash uses X amount of current to recharge the flash capacitor. That X amount cannot be modified, if you are using this camera on AUTO mode. However, in manual mode on the A710, you can set the flash output (brightness) to Low, Medium or High. (In AUTO mode, the flash is on High and cannot be changed.)

So, a lower output (dimmer) flash would mean faster re-charging. But the Medium or Low settings might not be strong enough for the photo, depending on how far you are from the subject. For example you might have to be just 3-4 feet from the subject with the camera on Low flash.

Typically, cameras like the (compact) Powershots that have 2 batteries have weaker flashes than cameras with 4 batteries.

A more powerful flash would add to the cost of the camera, and also take even longer to re-charge.

You might consider getting better batteries and a good charger, since lower-output batteries will take longer to charge a flash---AFTER they have lost some power. IE, 2000 mAh batteries and 2700 mAh batteries should perform the same IMMEDIATELY after both have been fully charged. But then the 'time-to-charge' (recycle time) after the batteries have been in use for a short while (perhaps as little as 4-8 flash photos) will take longer and longer on the 2000 mAh batteries, as their 2700 mAh counterparts.

Check out thomasdistributing.com for batteries and chargers.

I think that batteries lowest capacity (I tried with 1800mAh and with 2650mAh) flash recharge is more rapid. Probably the internal resistance increases with the capacity.

That is surprising, but I'm no battery engineer. Well, I wouldn't be using anything under 2000 mAh for that camera; I mean, it DOES have a large LCD---that eats batteries up, although not as fast as firing the flash does.

1. No. You can't use the CRV-3 battery in this camera because it is 3 volts and it won't fit.
2. You may be onto something in regards to battery capacity versus instant amp output. The capacity measures how much total power is stored in the battery but doesn't tell you how quickly the battery can output that power, which is measured in amps of current not amperehours. It is certainly possible that the lower capacity battery could put out a higher amp current initially and thereby recharge the flash quicker. The battery with the higher capacity (measured in mAh) would be able to recharge MORE flashes before having to be recharged.
You have raised a very important practical issue which reminds us that you always have to give a little to get a little. There is no free lunch in engineering like there is in politics. :)