Best batteries for speedlights

[DameAgs]

Quote from Inkista (I'd blame the charger, not the batteries. Getting the La Crosse BC-900 saved me a lot of heartache in this regard. Most new NiMH batteries won't work at peak efficiency straight after their first charge, or after long periods of being unused. It usually takes two or three full charge/discharge cycles to get them back to full capacity. Which is why having a charger that can condition batteries is A Good Thing.)


Inkista, that makes sense...I have had one battery go bad from a group. I then put a new battery into the group...but sounds like that is a no no...good tip, regards, dame

[Scooter Pie]

omg i opened the floodgates! hahah well the batteries really held up well. i didnt see anywhere in my speedlight manual that said rechargeable batteries are bad..and the power rating of the ones i bought were actually recommended.
I put them in the charger that i had and it took FOREVER to charge..usually the regular rechargeable batteries take about 6 hours to charge..and last about half the time haha. i went to the party and it was great...flash was firing and never failed me that night

i did see the ubercharger and thats fantastic, i think i might invest in it. i love the detailed information. I did check out the eneloops on amazon and it was rated #1 rechargeable battery by cnet review.

thanks so much guys

[Cuchulainn]

I didn't realize you only had a few posts. Welcome to DPS!!

If I understand what you are saying the guy at the camera store suggested you should use Alkaline throw away batteries instead of niMH rechargeable. The reason he gives is because they don't recharge evenly and will "slow down the action." Is that correct?

If so, I disagree with him. With those comparison charts what I was attempting to point out is that according to benchmarks by Nikon for the SB-800 the NiMH batteries will recycle faster than the Alkaline Batteries and will provide a higher minimum flash count. The charts show the statistics for a full discharge/recharge cycle. I have found them to be significantly faster than Alkaline batteries in "real world" usage as well. I started off using Alkaline , until I tried the NiMH rechargeable batteries. Now I have several sets of them (rechargeable) and only carry the Alkaline as emergency spares.

Even if you give the guy at the camera store "partial credit" for being correct that uneven charging can cause a loss of performance with NiMH batteries, I don't agree that they will fall below the slower performance of Alkaline batteries.

In other words, I think you are better off staying with the NiMH rechargeable batteries.

Originally Posted by DameAgs

Cuchulainn, thank you for your response....you are the first person to speak to me in DPS. Looking back at my note I realize it was not fully informative. By rechargeables I was referring to NIMH.batteries...as opposed to Regular..alkaline batteries. The camera store person recommended alkaline rather than NIMH rechargeables, because he says they recharge unevely. Currently I am using a PF30X Sunpak speedlight, but for Christmas I will get a nikon SB600. I should have gotten that one the first time but my frugal soul rebelled...The PF30X is perfectly fine but the SB600 has more features. I agree with you and am happy with the NIMH batteries..regards, dame

[RussHeath]

Another vote for the Eneloops. I have three sets (one of which I won from DPS ) and I keep each set of four together. I've only ever charged them in the included chargers and they work beautifully in my SB-600s. I'm quite hard on them and they don't disappoint.

[DameAgs]

Cuchulainn, I really believe you are right...and was puzzled when he tried to tell me alkaline were better. I know I will continue to use NIMH rechargeables. I have been looking at chargers and according to STROBIST, Costco has eneloop batteries. I will give them a try. And La crosse and uberchargers are half price on Amazon...Thanks for all your advice, it is lovely talking with you. regards, dame

[Cuchulainn]

Costco used to have the Eneloop batteries in the store. That is where I purchased mine, but all I have seen lately at my local Costco are the Energizer batteries. I don't know if they still carry them online, or if some stores still carry them. None to be found at my local store though.

Originally Posted by DameAgs

Cuchulainn, I really believe you are right...and was puzzled when he tried to tell me alkaline were better. I know I will continue to use NIMH rechargeables. I have been looking at chargers and according to STROBIST, Costco has eneloop batteries. I will give them a try. And La crosse and uberchargers are half price on Amazon...Thanks for all your advice, it is lovely talking with you. regards, dame

[myfavoriteshoes]

Rechargeables arent great for any electronics. What I recommend is using Lithium batteries. They last way longer and are great for photography...

[Cuchulainn]

They may be great for a camera because they are a long lasting battery. However, I would not recommend them in a flash. Lithium batteries just don't seem to do well with being cycled in a flash.

I tried them once on the advice of a sales person. They were dirt slow in recycling, overheated, swelled, and split the sides of the plastic wrapping. All 5 and they were from two different packages. Luckily they did not split the metal casing and do any damage to my flash unit. But never again.

The Nikon SB-800 manual gives the specs for varying battery types. I will only mention the ones for 4 batteries for the sake of saving space, but I will not that Lithium remains at a slow 7.5 recharge time with 4 or 5 batteries. All other battery types reap the benefits of a faster recycle time.

I would say Lithium (due to the slow recycle time) and NiCD (due to the low min. flash count) are actually the two worst battery types for flash.

Minimum Recycling Time based on M1/1 (full output):

Type Min. Recycling Time Min. Number of Flashes

Alkaline 6.0 Sec 130 min. flash count

Lithium 7.5 Sec 170 min. flash count

Nickel 6.0 140 min. flash count

NiCD 4.0 Sec 90 min. flash count

Ni-MH 4.0 Sec 150 min. flash count.

Yes, they have have a higher minimum flash count than Ni-MH, but a recycle time that is nearly double. Ni-MH are the best combination of life and recycle time.

Originally Posted by myfavoriteshoes

Rechargeables arent great for any electronics. What I recommend is using Lithium batteries. They last way longer and are great for photography...

[SusanAshlea]

I am also another fan of the Sanyo Eneloops. I keep a set with me at all times.

I also like the Energizer Lithiums too. I have had those in my flash since May and it is just now slowing down.

[myfavoriteshoes]

Originally Posted by Cuchulainn

They may be great for a camera because they are a long lasting battery. However, I would not recommend them in a flash. Lithium batteries just don't seem to do well with being cycled in a flash.

I tried them once on the advice of a sales person. They were dirt slow in recycling, overheated, swelled, and split the sides of the plastic wrapping. All 5 and they were from two different packages. Luckily they did not split the metal casing and do any damage to my flash unit. But never again.

The Nikon SB-800 manual gives the specs for varying battery types. I will only mention the ones for 4 batteries for the sake of saving space, but I will not that Lithium remains at a slow 7.5 recharge time with 4 or 5 batteries. All other battery types reap the benefits of a faster recycle time.

I would say Lithium (due to the slow recycle time) and NiCD (due to the low min. flash count) are actually the two worst battery types for flash.

Minimum Recycling Time based on M1/1 (full output):

Type Min. Recycling Time Min. Number of Flashes

Alkaline 6.0 Sec 130 min. flash count

Lithium 7.5 Sec 170 min. flash count

Nickel 6.0 140 min. flash count

NiCD 4.0 Sec 90 min. flash count

Ni-MH 4.0 Sec 150 min. flash count.

Yes, they have have a higher minimum flash count than Ni-MH, but a recycle time that is nearly double. Ni-MH are the best combination of life and recycle time.

Hmm, I did not know that. Thanks!