- Joined
- May 1, 2008
- Messages
- 25,421
- Reaction score
- 5,000
- Location
- UK - England
- Website
- www.deviantart.com
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
Well me and my flash have come to a disagrement and a solution has to be found. My basic problem is the recycle rate - early on in a shoot the recycle rate is acceptable - I can shoot and expect the flash to fire most of the time provided that I am not bust shooting - which will end up with many shots not getting flash support. However its getting that I only get a short amount of time (comparativly speaking) before the batteries start to drain and the recycle rate gets longer and longer until it gives up. This is resulting in me either having to change batteries or come home.
Now there a 3 possibilities to this problem:
1) the batteries are duff - might be I have not recharged/drained them enough and they have lost their capacity.
2) my flash is duff - possible, though I list it as the least possible cause - but one has to consider all the options
3) my expectations of my flash are too high/demanding. Considering my lack of experience this is probable.
The thing is I use flash for almost all my macro photography since I tend to shoot handheld rather than from a tripod so I need a decent recycle time that keeps working for several hours before needing to recharge. I have considered that an alternative could be to use an external flash battery which will hold more charge and (I hope) allow for faster and longer use of the flash. I have read that some of these can be quite weighty and tricky to use in the field and my current plan would be to use such a device by holding it in my backpack and then threading the power cord out of the bag, though the carry hoop on the top and then down into the flash (keeping the cord of the way of my hands).
However I need some advice first;
1) is it likley that I just have duff batteries and that a new set or a different make might give me the use I desire
2) what options are on the market for external chargers - I really have no idea what my options are in this area
for refrence I use the following:
Flash - one speedlite 580M2
batteries - 8 Energizer rechargeable 2500mAh (4 in the flash and 4 spare - I get similar responces from both sets)
Now there a 3 possibilities to this problem:
1) the batteries are duff - might be I have not recharged/drained them enough and they have lost their capacity.
2) my flash is duff - possible, though I list it as the least possible cause - but one has to consider all the options
3) my expectations of my flash are too high/demanding. Considering my lack of experience this is probable.
The thing is I use flash for almost all my macro photography since I tend to shoot handheld rather than from a tripod so I need a decent recycle time that keeps working for several hours before needing to recharge. I have considered that an alternative could be to use an external flash battery which will hold more charge and (I hope) allow for faster and longer use of the flash. I have read that some of these can be quite weighty and tricky to use in the field and my current plan would be to use such a device by holding it in my backpack and then threading the power cord out of the bag, though the carry hoop on the top and then down into the flash (keeping the cord of the way of my hands).
However I need some advice first;
1) is it likley that I just have duff batteries and that a new set or a different make might give me the use I desire
2) what options are on the market for external chargers - I really have no idea what my options are in this area
for refrence I use the following:
Flash - one speedlite 580M2
batteries - 8 Energizer rechargeable 2500mAh (4 in the flash and 4 spare - I get similar responces from both sets)