430ex Flash - Batteries!

[PoohJen]

Finally got to use my new 430EX flash w/ my Rebel XT and...wow! does that thing eat batteries!!!

I don't really know how to use the flash; haven't even read the manual; just attached it and used auto mode all night at wedding last weekend.

w/ 4 new AA batteries, I only got about 150 pictures before they were spent.

Any recommendation on batteries, especially rechargeable ones, for this flash?

Thanks!

 

[jann1033]

partly subscribing partly wonder why you picked this one over the others ( probably will be my next purchase) so no battery help what so ever from me

 

[PoohJen]

Hi Janet,
I read a few reviews, asked around on this board, and this one was recommended and a good price. I didn't need anything "more" right now, as this is my first ever external flash, and I barely know how to use my camera yet, let alone put in time to learn the nuances of "good" and "better" flashes!

Since I was taking pics at a reception, and being part of the party rather than experimenting w/ my camera, I left the flash on the whole time and didn't take any with just the built in flash, so I haven't compared the with/without flash yet to see how noticeable/improved the pics are with the external flash.

 

[Master Mason]

Jann, I chose the same flash for the following reason.

I was only going to buy one flash right now, so I didn't need the 580 that can be a master, if I want mutiple flashes, I can get the 580 next.

Along those same lines, the 430 will act as a slave if needed, I don't think the smaller one will.

And it was quite a bit less than the 580. I never really concidered the smallest one as it has no abilty to bounce flash.

 

[mabas9395]

I have this flash too. Actually 150 shots may not be that bad. This flash is supposed to be smart enough to know how strong of a flash is needed. So if you were trying to take pictures in a rather dark environment you might get less than 100. If you were taking pictures in a bright environment and you were just using it as fill flash (done automatically in AV mode) then you should have gotten more.

That being said, 8 rechargeable batteries are a must for this thing (4 in and 4 backup). Get ones with a high mAh (2700 is a good number) and don't get one of the 15 minute speed chargers, they have a habbit of shortening the useful life of the batteries by quite a bit.

 

[mabas9395]

partly subscribing partly wonder why you picked this one over the others

This flash is the best (for me at least) of the flashes that an average consumer would need. The 580ex has a bit more power but the other things you get with it, better manual control, act as master, etc, weren't that important to me.

Someone did a good comparison of all canon flashes here: http://www.kjsl.com/~dave/speedlites.html

 

[jann1033]

This flash is the best (for me at least) of the flashes that an average consumer would need. The 580ex has a bit more power but the other things you get with it, better manual control, act as master, etc, weren't that important to me.

Someone did a good comparison of all canon flashes here: http://www.kjsl.com/~dave/speedlites.html

thanks for the link

 

[PoohJen]

That being said, 8 rechargeable batteries are a must for this thing (4 in and 4 backup). Get ones with a high mAh (2700 is a good number) and don't get one of the 15 minute speed chargers, they have a habbit of shortening the useful life of the batteries by quite a bit.

Thanks, that's a big help!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Flashes eat batteries. When I've got to shoot something where I know I'll be relying on a lot of flash, I bring a hold bunch of batteries with me. After about 30 or 40 shots, the recharge times start to get too long so I swap the batteries out for new ones. Batteries are cheap.

 

[PoohJen]

Do you ever use rechargeables Mark?

Hey, after spending $2000 on my camera + equipment, I can't afford $4 in batteries!!!

 

[0bli0]

i use 2700 NiMH rechargables - mostly sanyo. i recently purchased a bunch of vapex 2700's cheap off ebay and they're almost as good as the sanyo - much better than the energizers.

like Mark, i keep tons with me as the 580ex gets battery hungry.

 

[boBQuincy]

It is possible that you will get better performance from your flash with NiCd batteries instead of NiMH. Even though similarly sized NiCD cells have a lower overall capacity than NiMH, NiMH cells have a much higher internal impedance than NiCD and are not as good at delivering bursts of high current, just what a flash needs.

Because of this most power tools still use NiCD batteries.

 

[0bli0]

the downside to NiCd is their capacity. the main reason i switched to NiMH over alkaline is (on the recommendation of Canon Professional Services) the speed at which they recharge the flash. you can try this for yourself:

take 4 freshly recharged nimh and put your flash in manual mode - full power. set your camera to manual and take a photo while watching your stopwatch. when the light comes back on stop it. on my 580 it recharges with NiMh in about 4 1/2 seconds. with a fresh set of Energizer alkaline it takes almost 7 seconds. if i take batteries that were recharged about a month ago - it takes about 5.2 seconds or so.

heh i just tested with some NiCds but they're too old - they won't even hold enough charge to illuminate the flash.

with Canon's 1 series bodies, they use NiMH batteries instead of Li-Ion because a) they discharge at a rapid constant rate and b) aren't nearly as affected by colder temperatures. the charger includes a 'refresh' circuit to completely discharge the batteries so you can keep maximum charge (you do it once a month or so, depending on use). my aa charger also has a refresh circuit.

 

[DueyDooDah]

Have you tried the Hybrid batteries? They advertise holding a charge 4x longer than other batteries and last 3x longer during use than alkalines. Check Rayovac.com for more.

 

[0bli0]

thanks DueyDooDah.

they sound like the sanyo eneloops. i've got a set of eneloops (the white ones) but they're only 2000 mah and don't provide many flashes in the 580. they are great to leave in the bag for an emergency as they don't noticeably discharge at all. has Rayovac been able to increase the capacity? we don't get their batteries in oz.

the eneloops are almost twice the price of a good set of 2700 nimh so i havent purchased any more. have you tried the Rayovacs?