Best batteries for a flash?

[HannahWebb]

What would be the best batteries to buy for a Canon 580ex ii?

 

[gsgary]

Sanyo Enloop

 

[Big Mike]

The most common type are probably rechargeable NiMH. I use Energizers in the 2500-2700 Mah range.

These batteries are great for use in a flash because they work very well (recharge the flash quickly) right up until they are almost drained. Alkaline batteries, on the other hand, tend to die more gradually, slowing down over their charge/life. Not to mention that rechargeable are much better for the environment (and your pocketbook).

The problem with most NiMH batteries, is that they self discharge (drain) even when you aren't using them. In other words, they have a terrible shelf life. So if you charge them up and don't use your flash for a month or two, they won't be anywhere near fully charged. But I always charge them up fresh before I use them, so this isn't an issue for me (for my flash batteries anyway).

This is where the above mentioned Sanyo Enloop batteries come in. They are NiMH, but 'low discharge'. Meaning that they have a much longer shelf life, and won't drain as much as regular NiMH batteries. There are other brands besides Sanyo, but they are the most popular (maybe because they were first to mass market them).

Now, if you are going to be using your 580 heavily (rapid fire shooting at high power levels), then you may want to consider an external battery pack. Canon makes one and there are other brands as well. I've worked with the Quantum Turbo SC battery packs that can be worn on your belt (or on a light stand) and attach to the flash with a coiled cord.

 

[ghache]

Sanyo Enloop

+1, thats what i use. bh got them in stock for cheap

 

[OrionsByte]

Sanyo Enloop

+1, thats what i use. bh got them in stock for cheap

Yep, I use these too, and I've been thrilled with them. They last forever, recharge the flash very quickly, and since they hold a charge so well, you can keep a charged backup set in your camera bag at all times.

 

[el_shorty]

^^^^ That's why I use them too.

 

[gsgary]

It's the first time this many people have agreed with me

 

[KmH]

Sanyo Eneloop's aren't the only 'slow discharge' NiMH batteries out there.

Regular Sanyo Eneloops have a power rating of only 2000 mAh, so they will run out of power in a speedlight sooner than freshly charged, regular discharge NiMH batteries that have a 2700 mAh power rating.

I don't use 'slow discharge' NiMH batteries like the 2000 mAh eneloops, I use the regular discharge 2700 mAh NiMH batteries and just make sure they are freshly charged the night before I need to use them (including spares).

 

[gsgary]

Sanyo Eneloop's aren't the only 'slow discharge' NiMH batteries out there.

Regular Sanyo Eneloops have a power rating of only 2000 mAh, so they will run out of power in a speedlight sooner than freshly charged, regular discharge NiMH batteries that have a 2700 mAh power rating.

I don't use 'slow discharge' NiMH batteries like the 2000 mAh eneloops, I use the regular discharge 2700 mAh NiMH batteries and just make sure they are freshly charged the night before I need to use them (including spares).

I have found they last longer

 

[OrionsByte]

Sanyo Eneloop's aren't the only 'slow discharge' NiMH batteries out there.

Regular Sanyo Eneloops have a power rating of only 2000 mAh, so they will run out of power in a speedlight sooner than freshly charged, regular discharge NiMH batteries that have a 2700 mAh power rating.

I don't use 'slow discharge' NiMH batteries like the 2000 mAh eneloops, I use the regular discharge 2700 mAh NiMH batteries and just make sure they are freshly charged the night before I need to use them (including spares).

I have found they last longer

Sorry to agree with you again Gary, but I do.

The lower amperage will mean that the flash doesn't recycle quite as fast, but doesn't directly effect the length of the charge.

 

[Overread36]

+1 to the Sanyo Enloops - fantastic things, especially if you don't shoot on a regular cycle and always know to charge up the batteries the day before.

Also to add to the subject of battery packs, the official canon battery pack and the quantum ones are not cheap options - Pixel make a series of battery packs which are more economical and yet still deliver good quality (they also have the edge over the canon by running two sets of 4 batteries rather than one set of 8 - so not only can it run on half as many batteries, but it also recycles faster). Note that not all speedlite flashes can take battery packs.

 

[Big Mike]

mAh is the storage capacity of the cell...and as such, a higher number means you get more use out of one charge. It does not meant that they will recycle the flash any faster.

Like Keith, I use 2700 mAh batteries because they will give more more flashes per charge, than 2000 mAh batteries.


Of note, is that batteries don't always perform as rated. If you buy a higher end battery charger, it may be able to test the batteries and tell you the actual capacity. Few actually get up to the number on the side, but some are actually much lower, even half way there....even when brand new.
This is where it's good to have a charger that has a 'break-in' mode, which can force the capacity of the battery, back up to where it should be. After many uses, these batteries will loose that capacity naturally, and the same break-in mode can sometimes restore the batteries back to usefulness.

 

[OrionsByte]

mAh is the storage capacity of the cell...and as such, a higher number means you get more use out of one charge. It does not meant that they will recycle the flash any faster.

Alright, but I thought that the reason that rechargeable batteries - and NiMH ones in particular - yield better recycle times is because they have more current, which is measured in amps. After all, they only give 1.2 volts instead of 1.5.

What am I missing (besides my memories of my high school physics classes, apparently?)

 

[Derrel]

Orion'sBYte,
I'm not much on electronics or electricity, but I believe the power output LEVEL of most Nickel metal-hydride batteries would best be described as approximately 1.2 volts. But the capacity of the battery is rated in milli ampere-hours; it is on the capacity end of things that the 2000 milli ampere-hour batteries are lower in capacity, not output, than the 2,700 milli ampere-hour versions of the same type of cell. I'm not sure what,exactly, the power storage capacity of a standard alkaline battery is...but it seems to me that the 2,700 milli ampere-hour batteries from Annsman, Sanyo, and other vendors are pretty good. I've shifted to 2,700's for almost all my flash units.

 

[D-B-J]

I love my sanyo eneloop's