flash recycle time?

[djwoods]

Is there a way to decrease the recycle time of my Canon 580EXII flash. I just did my first wedding shoot and my biggest problem was waiting for the flash to recycle. I lost numerous shots that were either gone or the flash didn't fire so the shot was blurry. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[jml79]

Sure. Get an external battery pack for it. Use a higher ISO so the flash has to work less. Same with aperture.

[Niresangwa]

fresher batteries, faster recycling batteries, use HSS or decrease your flash power and compensate with ISO/SS, less opaque defuser...

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by jml79

Sure. Get an external battery pack for it.

I agree. A high-voltage external battery pack should do the job. In the past, I could shoot a whole roll of film on motor drive continuously with my Quantum Gel pack.

[candleman]

agreed as above,
assuming you're already wide open, and using a high ISO... the only real solution is a battery pack.

use GOOD batteries.. I found disposable Alkalines last half the time my rechargables last.
(infact, this Saturday i had a set that didn't even last the whole Ceremony)
check that the batteries you do have are charging properly.. sometimes one battery will die and it effects the flash like the whole set screwey. .

[sk66]

I have switched to NiZn batteries. They recharge much faster(and are environmentally friendly)....but be careful, too fast of recharge/discharge cycles can melt a flash.

[candleman]

Originally Posted by sk66

I have switched to NiZn batteries. They recharge much faster(and are environmentally friendly)....but be careful, too fast of recharge/discharge cycles can melt a flash.

i'm 90% sure i damaged my SB600 this weekend...
it was a hot day in a stuffy church, my head was dripping wet and was rubing on the flash. Sb600 was firing at full power as soon as the ready light came on for the entire 1 hour ceremony.

when i took the batteries out after the Ceremony they were unbelievebly hot.

now my sb600's LCD screen has a rainbow effect which it didn't have before.

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by candleman

i'm 90% sure i damaged my SB600 this weekend...
it was a hot day in a stuffy church, my head was dripping wet and was rubing on the flash. Sb600 was firing at full power as soon as the ready light came on for the entire 1 hour ceremony.

when i took the batteries out after the Ceremony they were unbelievebly hot.

now my sb600's LCD screen has a rainbow effect which it didn't have before.

Wait a second. I did a wedding last weekend and it was unbelievably cold, I used the discharged batteries as hand warmers

[candleman]

haha.. good call.
I'll remember that for Winter!

[Canon Bob]

I use a Canon CP-E4 with my 580EX II when using a Better Beamer for birding in dull situations. Similar to you, I missed shots whilst the flash recharged but this solution seems to work well.

Bob