p.3 #1 · What Is Your Favorite AA Rechargeable Battery For Flash?
Eneloops are marketed under multiple brands. They're not necessarily the best choice; you sacrifice as much as 35% capacity in favor of low self-discharge. If the batteries are sitting on a charger and you're grabbing them within a few days of the expected use, high-capacity NiMH cells can last longer. Total charge capacity with these batteries tends to suffer over time, however.
p.3 #2 · What Is Your Favorite AA Rechargeable Battery For Flash?
alexdi it's not the low-discharge of eneloops that is valued as much as the high current carrying ability (low internal resistance). They've had batteries that have had higher capacity than eneloops for a long time (2800mAH or more) but these can't provide 8-10A or more without dropping below 1.0V like the eneloops can.
It's overkill but a while back some companies were pushing NiZn or some other type of AA battery that could charge the flash even faster than eneloops (higher voltage) but these never really caught on (several other problems).
p.3 #3 · What Is Your Favorite AA Rechargeable Battery For Flash?
There are a number of high-capacity NiMH batteries with lower flash recycle times than the Eneloops. The advantage is fleeting, though. I only buy Eneloops and Rayovac Hybrids.
p.3 #9 · What Is Your Favorite AA Rechargeable Battery For Flash?
When you need the fastest recycle times, consider NiZn batteries. I've used them for about 2 years now. I get about 100 full power pops on my 580exII before swapping them out. They get very hot so I take them out after about 100 to avoid any issues with overheating. There are some negative reviews of them, but I've not personally experienced a problem because of the batteries. YMMV.
p.3 #15 · What Is Your Favorite AA Rechargeable Battery For Flash?
Quick question. With my Eveready's and Duracells I've always used a 15 minute quick charger and the batteries have performed with no issues. I know some other chargers have been recommended but sometimes I need a quick charge. Is this type of charger ok with the Eneloops?
p.3 #16 · What Is Your Favorite AA Rechargeable Battery For Flash?
I like Eneloops as much as the next guy because I don't use my flash very often. I can leave them in my bag and they will stay charged for many months, or even a year probably.
However, if you are a serious flash user who charges their batteries often there are better batteries. Something like a Powerex 2700 will work better at cycling the flash over an extended photography session.
1st 5 Pops Average Recycle Time: (3:86sec)
After 100 pops: (4:61sec)
After 200 pops: (4:88sec)
After 300 pops: (5:10sec)
After 400 pops: (5:48sec)
After 500 pops: (7:16sec)
eneloop – 2000mAh
1st 5 Pops Average Recycle Time: (3.37sec)
After 100 pops: (4:63sec)
After 200 pops: (5:37sec)
After 300 pops: (5:41sec)
After 400 pops: (7:63sec)
After 450 pops: (18:01sec)
After 460 pops: (35:41sec)
The eneloops start out slightly better than the Powerex ones, but look how long the cycle times get after 450 flashes. 18 seconds? I would have swapped them out after 350 or so. Meanwhile the Powerex ones just keep going strong. In the test, even after three weeks of sitting unused the Powerex batteries were still at 100%. So, as long as you top off your batteries at least once a month or so they are better than the eneloops. Except for the initial cycle time which is .5 seconds slower. But after 100 flashes they are cycling faster.
eneloops are better designed for TV remotes, clocks, Xbox controllers, flashlights, etc., things that sit around for a long time unused or only sip tiny amounts of power from the batteries.
There were a lot of batteries tested, and there is a lot of data to sift through. Feel free to make your own conclusions. I was biased in favor of eneloops before I read this test. It seems like a lot of other people are, too. Now I have a lot more respect for the Powerex ones. Especially because of the good performance regarding self discharge. I own a bunch of both brands.
Like a lot of other people, I use a MAHA 8 battery charger.
p.3 #18 · What Is Your Favorite AA Rechargeable Battery For Flash?
I've always used Energizer rechargeables, however they go bad if you let them sit there. often times they cannot be recharged. if you use them and charge them often they are great, and you can always find them in 4 packs for $10. I have found out that the high MAH batteries are sometimes overrated, and have read from multiple places that the Eneloop batteries are often underrated for their stated MAH. (1950 is not all that much) However, I have some old dead Energizer AA batteries that were rated at 2400 or 2500, and now see they only sell them at 2300mah.
Since Eneloop comes recommended and I have a Costco membership, I just bought a few packs of them. $7 for a 4 pack before Christmas was a great deal and I can use them in the camera grip, flashes, xBox remote, or the kids toys just to keep them constantly draining and recharging.
p.3 #19 · What Is Your Favorite AA Rechargeable Battery For Flash?
Todd Moon wrote:
However, if you are a serious flash user who charges their batteries often there are better batteries. Something like a Powerex 2700 will work better at cycling the flash over an extended photography session.
That's progably just a pure capacity thing, the difference between 2000mAH and 2700mAH is about 25%
