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11/21/2003 11:58:25 PM · #1 |
If anyone here is using an external hotshoe flash, what kind of batteries are you using with it? Mine requires 4 AA batteries and I'm trying to decide if I need rechargable batteries or not...
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11/22/2003 12:25:08 AM · #2 |
| I'm using Energizer NiMH rechargables and they seem to work fine. I use them in my Sony NetMD player as well, and they perform well in it. |
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11/22/2003 12:26:03 AM · #3 |
Don't get NiCads.
If you really want to shoot the heck out of your flash, look into an external battery pack. I used to have one for my big Metz handle unit. I could shoot hundreds of frames without worry. It was great for wedding receptions, charged the capacitors way faster than alkaline AA's. It was a lead-acid battery though, so it was pretty heavy to carry around all night. Think it was made by Quantum. I sold it along with the flash about a year ago.
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11/22/2003 02:07:27 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
If anyone here is using an external hotshoe flash, what kind of batteries are you using with it? Mine requires 4 AA batteries and I'm trying to decide if I need rechargable batteries or not... |
I have the Canon 440EX flash and I've used Lenmar NIMH batteries and they go foreever. Surprises me! The flash seems to be the reason, because I had to use Duracell Alkaline once and I found they lasted a long time too. But of course, the Lenmar make the most financial sense.
You can buy a Lenmar charger and 4 2000 MAh batteries for around $14.98 TOTAL SHIPPED at Buy.com. That's a steal. I've bought about 4 sets that way. The chargers are compact enough, though not light.
//www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=90049448&loc=111&sp=1 |
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11/22/2003 02:09:46 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Don't get NiCads. |
Why?
Not a loaded question, I'd just like to know why.
I am looking for an alternative to buying bazillions of AA's for my 420ez.
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11/22/2003 08:18:46 AM · #6 |
Get NiMH rechargeables, the higher the rating the better i.e 2000, 2200 or 2300 if you can. These will be great in your 420ez. Standard AA alkaline batteries drain way to quick in digicams, however if they run out in your camera dont throw them away as they are still capable of being used in remote controls/clocks etc as they still have about half the charge left in them even though your camera will say they are flat. NiCads are not up to the job of powering digicams for long periods and also they tend to have 'memory' problems if you do not fully discharge them. Stick to NiMH.
Message edited by author 2003-11-22 08:19:18.
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11/22/2003 12:33:55 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Natator:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Don't get NiCads. |
Why?
Not a loaded question, I'd just like to know why.
I am looking for an alternative to buying bazillions of AA's for my 420ez. |
They develop "memory" if not completely discharged between chargings. Think of it like a gas tank on a car that unless you run completely out of gas before filling up, you can never use what is left, only the amount you fill up. Also, some of the AA NiCads are less than 1.5V, enough to run a radio or remote control, but not enough to power a flash.
If you don't want to buy a large capacity external battery ( I saw one that will power both camera AND flash), get the NiMH batteries. No memory probs.
For some NiCads, you can get chargers that will completely discharge the batteries before recharging them. I would still get NiMH batteries though for their higher Amp-Hour rating
Message edited by author 2003-11-22 17:39:23.
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11/22/2003 02:19:54 PM · #8 |
| For what it's worth, I use Maha PowerEx 2200mAh AA's in my 550EX and they are incredible. I get quick recharge times and lots and lots of flashes. I recharge them with the Maha MH-C401FS advanced charger. Both are available in a "combo kit" from Thomas Distributing. No affiliation, just a satisifed customer. |
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12/01/2003 10:47:09 PM · #9 |
Went to buy Nimh rechargables yesterday, best I can get here in Oz are 2100's, but what the heck.
However, I noticed they are actually all 1.2 volt, not 1.5. Called a battery specialist place, they said all NiMH are only 1.2. I also notice that EddyG's ones, of which he speaks so positively, are 1.2's.
Does that matter? I assume not as Eddy is so happy, but Spazmo syas that with NiCAD you need to avoiud the 1.5;s (and I can find 1.5v NiCads).
So, go with the 1.2volt 2100 ma NiMH ones?
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12/02/2003 08:03:43 AM · #10 |
I still haven't decided which route to take yet. I believe I will keep shopping around and use the duracell or energizer alkalines in the mean time. My first set of batteries gave me 250-300 flash fires before the recycle time got to be too long.
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12/02/2003 09:29:38 AM · #11 |
I'm thinking of buying a frame for my 10D and its probably going to be the StroboFrame Pro-T ($90 USD from B&H) although I like the Newton Di400CR better ($195 USD from B&H for the next week or two and then a price increase to $250 USD). I want to mount my 550EX to this but with all this discussion of power I'm wondering if I can and/or should get an external power supply for the flash. I'm sure several people on here are more familiar with the 550EX flash and can tell me if there is a power supply unit I could wear on my belt or over my shoulder to supply 100's of flashes instead of relying on the power of AA alkalines or NiMH rechargeables.
Any information you can supply about powering a Canon 550EX in this configuration would be appreciated.
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12/02/2003 01:59:19 PM · #12 |
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12/02/2003 04:45:12 PM · #13 |
i use rechargeable batteries in my flash too... cheaper than burning through regular batteries :)
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12/02/2003 05:54:08 PM · #14 |
Although none of the options are cheap, the Quantum Turbo or Turbo Z is very popular (Sample price from B&H, don't forget the cable for the 550EX). Another is Canon's own Compact Battery Pack CP-E2, which is powered by 6 AA batteries or the Transistor Pack E which comes with a NiCd battery pack or can be configured to use standard "C" size batteries with the battery magazine.
With the Quantum Turbo (the lead-acid one, not the Turbo Z), you'll get a recycle time to full power of approximately 2 seconds and a battery life of 200+ full-power shots. NiMH AA's deliver a recycle time to full power of about 7 seconds and a capacity of a bit over 100 full-power shots, and alkaline AA's deliver full-power recycle times in the neighborhood of 18 seconds when fresh and worse when depleted!
But you don't always need a full power pop from the the 550EX. With the Quantum Turbo, you can repeatedly get 4 consecutive 1/4-power flashes, 12 consecutive 1/8-power flashes, or indefinite operation at 1/16th power. With NiMH AA batteries, you get 3-4 consecutive 1/4-power flashes, 7 consecutive 1/8-power flashes, and 14 consecutive 1/16-power flashes. The biggest difference is that the Quantum only needs a couple seconds to recover before it's ready to shoot anothrer burst, while the NiMH batteries require about 7 seconds.
Note that even with an external battery pack, the 550EX still needs some batteries in the flash itself to power the "guts". It isn't clear to me if it still uses the internal batteries to charge the capacitors though. If it doesn't, then you can really save some weight in the 550EX by using some Energizer E2 Lithium AA's, which are so light when you pick up the package you think something is wrong.
Don't worry about the NiMH batteries only being 1.2V. They can supply almost 3X as much current as an alkaline battery, and current is what it is all about.
Like I said, I'm quite happy with my 2200mAH AA NiMH's in my 550EX, but I'm not shooting once-in-a-lifetime moments like weddings where a shot could easily be ruined because the flash wasn't recharged...
Message edited by author 2003-12-02 18:30:31. |
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12/02/2003 06:19:09 PM · #15 |
I agree that the Quantum packs are the way to go if you don't mind carrying it around and your pocketbook allows.
I used to use a Quantum pack with a Metz CT-5 flash and could shoot an entire wedding and reception (8-10 hrs)without recharging and I would usually shoot about 300 frames in that time. The battery would recharge the flash in a couple seconds at full power or almost instantaneously at lower power. I could shoot my F3 at full drive (3.5 fps, if I remember) speed on scenes that only required low power from the flash. The Metz unit is a BIG handle mount flash with 2 flash tubes that would eat Alkaline AA's after about 15-20 frames.
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