maybe you should get an 8 pack and try them first and see if they are to your taste. i'm not a big flash whacker. i only use it for augmentation. so its and they (the batts) are there when needed. if i know i'm going out to seriously shoot with a flash i end up with my HV pack and use the eneloops for the flash brain.
circuit city occasionlly has them (8 pack) for $15 on sale
Rodger that, am a recent convert to Eneloop ~ because they are so good I ran out of juice after ten days ~ see I'm usually recharging every second or third day ~ And the report is correct too about the fit, had not noticed this before, but I know I've broken all the fins on my CP-E2 pack ~ now I beleive it was the oversized high capacity batteries at fault.
Rodger that, am a recent convert to Eneloop ~ because they are so good I ran out of juice after ten days ~ see I'm usually recharging every second or third day ~ And the report is correct too about the fit, had not noticed this before, but I know I've broken all the fins on my CP-E2 pack ~ now I beleive it was the oversized high capacity batteries at fault.
Can you post the link for the Sanyo eneloop batteries and charger deal that you mentioned?
Costco is currently selling the Sanyo Eneloop for $19.99 ($25.99-$6 rebates.) It comes with 8 AA, 4 AAA and a charger.
Can't find them searching thru their internet store.
Thanks
Rodney O
I bought it from the warehouse. I came back a week ago and bought another one. They still have it at $19.99 with the instant $6 discount, no coupon needed.
You know I just had a thought, lets just say your a very busy photographer and you have lets say 24 AA rechargeable batteries. I believe it does not matter if you have one flash or three. After a photo shoot it does not matter if you have PowerEx or Sanyo Eneloop your going to charge the battery after using it, so the next use you will have full-power. Now also to compare.
I will get longer use out of a 2700mAh battery then a 2000mAh battery not that the 700mAh is going to make that much of a deference of the PowerEx batteries have always received high reviews. So if this is correct http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/ENE/LOOP.HTM Daves test he says all seem to lose 12 to 15 percent of their charge in the first month after having been charged, so your 20 batteries you have in your bag are all down 15 percent in power. Case being when I'm at a paying job, I want all my batteires on a fresh night before charge.
Now if your a low volume photographer, and you have 24 batteries and there all charged up, even if you do rotate them so that all get used, they will all be at the same loss while sitting in your bag. It seems like the Sanyo Eneloop is good for people who hardly use there item where the batteries are being used. And not so for someone whos an everyday user and would have to charge the batteries once they were depleted.
if you are a very busy flash photographer AA batts are not the answer. i try to avoid the use of flash for the obvious reasons. but i still use it as needed. like i said when it comes down to using a flash and if you use it a lot and have to have it work when it needs to work reliance on said multiple battery sets become problematic in management and real time use and juice.
here is where a HV power pack comes in. raw power and plenty of it that gaurentees an evening of uninterupted blinding light and for the most part will go into the next day. mine can deliver about 1200 full power whacks which when used with the controller in the flash turns into a fairly copious amount of lighting glee. in addition it even can power my camera or another flash at the same time as it has dual outputs http://i.pbase.com/g3/89/44489/3/88583012.3iUzuBTq.jpg
You might want to Google Consumer Reports or find out what recent issue covers rechargeable batteries. At one time, as incredible as it sounds, Radio Shack's batteries rated higher than any other brand. That was several years ago. Check anew.
FYI - the costco pack I saw had only AAA and AA size batteries. The C and D size units are adapters that help fit the AA size batteries into the space of the larger ones.
It was exactly what I was wondering shortly before xmas.
After a bit of research, I opted on the Cosco Enloops. I got 3 sets for gifts.
Just based on the price alone, quite a KILLER deal, beings how a 4pack of just about any brand is over $20-25.
The "Blue Toolbox" style pack has a 4 place charger, 8AA, plus all the other sizes (2-c, 2-d, & 4AAA).
Killer-Killer deal.
Then, consider the fact that they are they are they the "only precharged" batteries, and the shelf life is years, instead of weeks.
Hey Sjms,
Cool, Whats that called steup called?
I'd be interested in checking that out.
Bob...Show more →
the battery and cable setup is called of all thins the digital camera battery. i have been using it about 5 years now
the cable is a HV input it puts 310 vdc direct to the caps and after the proper custom function is set allows the AA batts to just power the computing and display functions of the flash. remove the cable and the AAs power the whole flash as normal leaving the CF as is
Just putting this battery pack thing in perspective. The Digital Camera Battery is NOT a "cheap alternative to AA cells". At $450 for 80 watts & 2.8 pounds, you can buy, carry and change out a lot of AA batteries instead. Additionally, these items require special cables to make their connections. They look like a viable option for the "pro" shooting an event, but not for the photographer traveling and treking the wilds.
when in a situation where continuous output is required AAs fall flat and you can risk loosing images that you want. AA batts are for non critical use. i never said it was for running around in the "wild". that is of course the wild is a wedding or a dinner party you are shooting then its the DCB all the way. you would need to carry at least 15+ sets of 4 AA batts to get the equivelent output of the setup on 1 charge and they will recharge the flash slower. if you go through a lot of batteries in a shoot there is an economy of scale here to to taken. reliability and consistant output for long duration if you don't need or want that then its AA batts all the way.
i have been using their product for about 5 years now and i am currently working on my second battery cell pack. and their cell pack is made frome consistant quality commercial grade Nimh cells. i have tossed about 60 or so name brand nimh AA batts in that time due to their lack of longevity. longevity defined as chargability and use.
one review does not a product make. if it did canon and nikon would be in the dumpster a long time ago aslong with quite a few other corporate names. yep they can be difficult at times to confer with but when i need to i have gotten them and they have taken care of me. but if that is an issue there are other makers for this type of product
Ah.. Having a bad morning?? Such complaints It was not my intention to start a flame war. But if I stepped on your hot button, let me apologize.
Like other posters have mentioned, my AA rechargeables always seem to have gone "flat" when I want to use them. It seems like AA batteries demand "more attention" than should be necessary. I find it frustrating to have my expensive high quality gear dependent on measily AA batteries when I want to use a flash unit.
Having looked into Battery packs for my own use more than a few times over the last few years, I have not been impressed with their functionality for many photogrpahy situations. I do find that they are pretty expensive, that they are heavy, and that they do not mate particularly well or easily with my 20D, 30D and 40D level cameras. They may work well for the Pro who is shooting an event, but...
If you have knowledge of a battery pack that is more appropriate, then share your specific experience and include a link. And getting double the watts for less than a $100 more & only 1.3 more pounds seems like a better deal anyway.
It was not my intention to start a flame war. But if I stepped on your hot button, let me apologize.