Battery advice needed
Author
Discussion

simpo two

Original Poster:

90,519 posts

285 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
I need to get some flashgun food, ie AA bateries!
I've narrowed it down to NiMH, and want 8, so I have 4 in the flash and 4 spare.
Questions are:
1) Should I go for the highest capacity I can get, eg 2400mAh, or are there drawbacks (other than charging time)?
2) Do quick/sprint chargers shorten battery life? Some batteries say they are not suitable for 'overnight' chargers.
3) Are some brands better than other? Fameart seem to crop up a lot.

eBay is so full of options, chargers and batteries my head is spinning!

pug406

3,636 posts

273 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
I use 2 types, both Ni-MH in my SB-800. 1 set of 4 is 2000mAh and the other is 1600aMh. There is no significant difference in the refresh time between flashes. Recharge times are about 4 hours from flat. You need to get the correct charger for the batteries. Be aware that the Ni-Cad chargers do not fully discharge the batteries before they recharge. The Ni-MH ones do. HTH

Dave

Edited to add - Don't mix the types

>> Edited by pug406 on Tuesday 7th December 15:04

luca brazzi

3,982 posts

285 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
Got this from Ebay.



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3830035635&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT

£20 for charger and 8 batteries. And the charger is shaped like a sports car

Great thing, digital display to show power/charge status.

Can also be charged by car socket, or USB on a PC, in addition to the standard mains AC.

HTH
LB

>> Edited by luca brazzi on Tuesday 7th December 15:09

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

90,519 posts

285 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
LB: Just what I need - but he has none left.
Arse!
I've mailed him to see if he's got anything else that fits the bill.

Bee_Jay

2,599 posts

268 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
I have just got the Ansmann 4 ULTRA from www.budgetbatteries.co.uk to power my 580EX flash...

It comes with 4 2400 mAh NiMH batteries, which it charges in about 15-20 mins, and I ordered an additional 4x 2500 mAh NiMHs which take about 20-30 mins to charge.

Can't recommend it enough.

No, I have nothing to do with either company, it just came on strong recommendation from several people, and that site was the cheapest place I found, and gave a good service...

luca brazzi

3,982 posts

285 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
Bee_Jay said:
...to power my 580EX flash...

Could you tell me what you think of the 580EX....I just bought one off Ebay, and am looking for any top tips.

Might be better to mail me offline, so as not to take this thread off topic.

Any comments gratefully received.
Ta LB

pug406

3,636 posts

273 months

Wednesday 8th December 2004
quotequote all
Jessops are selling a Uniross X-ress 150 battery charger and 6 AA2000 batteries for £9.99. On-line or High Street. Jessops code is UNRXP150PROMO. these look like Ni-MH to me

HTH

Dave

Bee_Jay

2,599 posts

268 months

Wednesday 8th December 2004
quotequote all
The Uniross ones are 2000 mAh NiMH, I got that £9.99 pack 'free' with my 580EX.

It takes 19 (yes, nineteen) hours to charge 4 AAs...

Hence why that charger is now in a drawer somewhere and has been replaced with the one I mention above.

simpo two

Original Poster:

90,519 posts

285 months

Wednesday 8th December 2004
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies folks. I'm going to go for Luca's litle car - the seller says he will have more in stock soon.

There's only so far you can get through a Speedlight manual without power!

V6GTO

11,579 posts

262 months

Wednesday 8th December 2004
quotequote all
simpo two said:
Thanks for the replies folks. I'm going to go for Luca's litle car - the seller says he will have more in stock soon.

There's only so far you can get through a Speedlight manual without power!


FFS don't get a PINK one!

Martin.

simpo two

Original Poster:

90,519 posts

285 months

Wednesday 8th December 2004
quotequote all
V6GTO said:
FFS don't get a PINK one!

I know dodgy colour balance when I see it

daver

1,209 posts

304 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2004
quotequote all
Ah, topical.

As another Canon flash toting PH'er, I was only wondering this morning if rechargeable NiMH batteries were the way forward...

section:

I take it there's no issue with the fact that you're probably getting 5v at best from four AA NiMH cells compared with the 6v that four AA Duracell's would give you?

luca brazzi

3,982 posts

285 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2004
quotequote all
Works a treat for me in the 580ex

LB

simpo two

Original Poster:

90,519 posts

285 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2004
quotequote all
daver said:
I take it there's no issue with the fact that you're probably getting 5v at best from four AA NiMH cells compared with the 6v that four AA Duracell's would give you?

Recycling time is a bit slower - but on the SB800 there's provision for a fifth battery!

pug406

3,636 posts

273 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2004
quotequote all
simpo two said:

but on the SB800 there's provision for a fifth battery!


I cant get the cover off of mine, don't want to break it.

simpo two

Original Poster:

90,519 posts

285 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2004
quotequote all
pug406 said:
I cant get the cover off of mine, don't want to break it.

Simpo the trailblazer has been here before you

www.nikonians.org/dcforum/DCForumID7/2166.html