Batteries for an external flash

[pxlbarrel]

What kind of batteries do you use for your external flashes? I have a Canon 420EX. I've been using plain non-rechargeable AAs with it but I'm not happy with the number of flashes I get out of one set.

A long time ago, somebody told me to never use rechargeables with a flash unit. Is this advice to heed or should I just go and buy some rechargeables?

 

[garris3404]

I like the Energizer® e2® Lithium batteries. I have the Nikon SB600. I also carry a spare set of batteries.

 

[0bli0]

i have several sets of nimh batteries i use with my flashes. most of them are sanyo 2500 or 2700. the nice thing about nimh batteries is the quick recharge time. my recharger has a refresh circuit - which takes the batteries down before recharging to keep the capacity at its max.



the reason i keep so many sets with me is i built an external battery pack for my p2000 so it's helpful for watching movies on long plane trips. that, and if i'm using the flash for skateboard shooting, i take a lot of photos.

 

[manning]

i have several sets of nimh batteries i use with my flashes. most of them are sanyo 2500 or 2700. the nice thing about nimh batteries is the quick recharge time. my recharger has a refresh circuit - which takes the batteries down before recharging to keep the capacity at its max.



the reason i keep so many sets with me is i built an external battery pack for my p2000 so it's helpful for watching movies on long plane trips. that, and if i'm using the flash for skateboard shooting, i take a lot of photos.

If you can't find the Sanyo batteries look for the Sony's with the initials "HR" on them. They are Sanyo batteries.

 

[ndelaware]

I use these

in my Canon 580 EX.

I get several hundred flash firings before I have to change them out. They also are fine for continuous shooting when I put a freshly charged set in the flash.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Ok...I bought some Energizer NiMH 2500 batteries and the charger. And it's...well, it's crap when I use it in my flash.

I can use it once and then it takes a very, very, very long time to recharge the flash. It's basically useless after one flash. This is with two sets of these batteries so it's not a case of one set being bad...unless it's two sets being bad.

When I test the battery, it's fully charged and then after one flash, it's not so fully charged (still in the good range...I guess if you want to run a penlight or something...just not a flash).

It's incredibly bad and I have no idea why.

 

[extreme8]

I bought a set of the Energizer 2500's and found them to be incredible in my Nikon SB-800. Far faster recycle times and much longer lasting than the alkalines I had been using.
I've ordered a bunch of Maha 2700's and a quick charger but the Energizers are really working fine for now.

I really don't know how to explain the disparity of our results - maybe a bad battery? Not fully charged?

 

[pxlbarrel]

I bought a set of the Energizer 2500's and found them to be incredible in my Nikon SB-800. Far faster recycle times and much longer lasting than the alkalines I had been using.
I've ordered a bunch of Maha 2700's and a quick charger but the Energizers are really working fine for now.

I really don't know how to explain the disparity of our results - maybe a bad battery? Not fully charged?

I had two sets of batteries charging until the light went out and then some. The first time they were charged was overnight so...about 12 hours. They're not in a rapid charger by the way. So unless all 8 batteries are bad...something weird is happening. Very odd.

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

I've been using Energizer 2500 mAh NiMH batteries for the past couple of years in my Nikon SB-800 units (all 3 of them) and have had very good luck with them. In cold weather they are slow to recharge but quite honestly so am I.

Jeff

 

[Master Mason]

I've been using Energizer 2500 mAh NiMH batteries for the past couple of years in my Nikon SB-800 units (all 3 of them) and have had very good luck with them. In cold weather they are slow to recharge but quite honestly so am I.

Jeff

And you get cold weather in AZ when??

 

[boBQuincy]

The manual for my Canon 220 flash says it can use alkaline or NiCd (it was written before NiMH). I use NiMH and they work just fine.

 

[tinksdad]

I've got several sets of the rechargeable Powerex NMH AA batts from Thomas Distributing. They are terrific!! The new ones with the 2700 mHh rating are really great, but even my old 1800 will still last for at least 100 flash discharges or more.

Their little chargers are top notch as well.

 

[ndelaware]

Ok...I bought some Energizer NiMH 2500 batteries and the charger. And it's...well, it's crap when I use it in my flash.

I can use it once and then it takes a very, very, very long time to recharge the flash. It's basically useless after one flash. This is with two sets of these batteries so it's not a case of one set being bad...unless it's two sets being bad.

When I test the battery, it's fully charged and then after one flash, it's not so fully charged (still in the good range...I guess if you want to run a penlight or something...just not a flash).

It's incredibly bad and I have no idea why.

Since the same thing happens with both sets of batteries, you may have a bad charger. If you find out the charger is OK then it is the flash unit that has a problem.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Since the same thing happens with both sets of batteries, you may have a bad charger. If you find out the charger is OK then it is the flash unit that has a problem.

I think it's the stupid charger. I just charged 4 batteries overnight again. When I put the battery tester to it, it's not even a full charge. It's in the "good" range but the bottom half. I'm going to see if I can borrow my brother's charger and see if the results are the same.

In the meantime, I have to now go out and buy some alkaline batteries for today. Grrrrr.

 

[0bli0]

nimh batteries are great when they are fully charged. on my 580ex they charge up quite quick. when they start to dip off, it takes forever for the light to go on - that's when i know it's time to change. it sounds like your charger isn't getting them fully charged. i just threw in my daughter's set of energizer 2500 and flashing on manual (100% flash) it recharged in about 6 seconds. shooting at 1/2 power, it recharges in about 2 seconds in e-ttl mode, shooting in av or p mode, it recharges instantly since it's not flashing at 100%. i don't know about green box mode since my camera doesn't have one (and i'm too lazy to get my dw's body at the moment).

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

And you get cold weather in AZ when??

Hey, it got down to 57 degrees last night. I almost had to shut the window and go try and find that heat setting on the thermostat. Then this morning I got up and had to shovel 3 inches of sunshine off my drive way. The kids had used my sunshine shovel so it took me longer than usual. This time of year it's really tough to live in Arizona.

Growing up in Idaho makes you appreciate things like warm weather, indoor plumbing, and the Internet.

Jeff

 

[Groucho]

(and i'm too lazy to get my dw's body at the moment).

This could look bad taken out of context.

 

[Disneyfreak92]

This could look bad taken out of context.

I was just thinking the same thing!