Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

Moderated by: guardian

Visit the FM Store · Image Upload · Buy & Sell
FM Forum Rules

FM Forums | General Gear-talk | Join Image Upload

2 end

Archive 2008 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

anorphirith
Online
Image Upload: On

p.1 #1 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

hello, I want to buy some rechargeable batteries for my Flash and my grip, do you guys have any experience with that? the longest lasting/ more reliable ones ?
thanks

Nov 14, 2008 at 07:09 PM

Avi B
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #2 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

sanyo eneloops.

Nov 14, 2008 at 07:15 PM

anorphirith
Online
Image Upload: On

p.1 #3 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

yeah they look pretty tough, but are also super expensive !!

Nov 14, 2008 at 08:30 PM

DennisW1
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #4 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

anorphirith wrote:
yeah they look pretty tough, but are also super expensive !!

Well you asked which ones were the longest lasting and most reliable, and these are it.

Expensive? Maybe a bit more than some of the other Ni-MH brands out there, but......They're worth it.

I've been thru dozens of brands of Ni-MH batteries for portable strobes, and these are far and away better than anything I've seen yet.

They also seem to hold a charge much better during periods of non-use. Typical Ni-MH cells seem to really fall off after about a week or so of sitting in the flash without being used, but not the eneloops.

After paying that much for a flash you're going to cheap on the batteries? I don't get it.

Nov 14, 2008 at 08:34 PM

Mark Sisco
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #5 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

Avi B wrote:
sanyo eneloops.

Best purchase you'll ever make!!!!!

Nov 14, 2008 at 08:38 PM

howardm4
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #6 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

+1 to what Dennis said.

they are head and shoulders better than the others and you have no idea what 'super expensive' for a battery really means.

Nov 14, 2008 at 08:42 PM

trenchmonkey
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #7 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

COSTCO's got a $9 off? coupon for an Eneloop set! Gitty-up.

Nov 14, 2008 at 08:44 PM

anorphirith
Online
Image Upload: On

p.1 #8 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

I meant more expensive than the other rechargeable, I remember when they got released, they were like 15$ more, but it looks like it's totally worth it !
thanks guys !
how many flash do you think they would go (at full power)
@trenchmonkey where can I get the coupon ?

Nov 14, 2008 at 10:29 PM

Avi B
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #9 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

Also get the MAHA or LaCrosse chargers, as they allow various charging currents (ie how fast you can charge).

Nov 14, 2008 at 10:49 PM

anorphirith
Online
Image Upload: On

p.1 #10 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

Avi B wrote:
Also get the MAHA or LaCrosse chargers, as they allow various charging currents (ie how fast you can charge).

So they can actually charge faster than the regular charger ?, isn't that affecting the battery life ?

Nov 15, 2008 at 01:39 AM

John Power
Offline
Buy and Sell: On

p.1 #11 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

Those are the only batteries I use. Charge them with this:

http://www.thomas-distributing.com/maha-mh-c801d-battery-charger.htm

I have 2 chargers and 16 eneloops. The ONLY way to go...

Nov 15, 2008 at 12:31 PM

DisrupTer911
Offline
Buy and Sell: On

p.1 #12 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

I'm using Delkin 2900mAh rechargables and they seem to be workin out pretty well so far.

Nov 15, 2008 at 02:48 PM

44lefty
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #13 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

Radio Shack?

Larry

Nov 15, 2008 at 03:45 PM

dcmiller
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #14 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

Alkaline batteries are by far the most expensive. These are also the poorest performing in terms of recycle time and number of flashes.

$2.50 a piece for eneloop with a life of 1000 charges is very inexpensive.

I've found all the major brands of the slow discharge nimh are pretty good. I buy different brands in sets of four to keep organized. I suppose I could mark the batteries with purchase date instead and just buy eneloop.

Non-rechargeable lithium batteries are excellent for backup. They have years of shelf life, tons of power, and are light weight. I try to keep one or two sets in my bag for the times I mess up with recharging.

Anything is better than alkaline in a flash. The voltage drops quickly with akalines and flashes and cameras don't like that. The total power of traditional alkaline is pretty good, but there's no way to use most of that power in photography.

Nov 15, 2008 at 04:36 PM

howardm4
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #15 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

you're unlikely to get 1000 cycles from any battery. more like 200-500 but even then, it's a no-brainer.

yes, fast charging, esp. high capacity AA size batteries does take it's toll on the life. You generally would not want to charge a 2000mA battery at more than 1100mA rate which is about 2-3 hour recharge time (if fully flat). And even then, get a good charger that 'peak detects' NiMH *well*

Nov 15, 2008 at 05:57 PM

JohnJ80
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #16 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

+1 on eneloops.

They are great.

J.

Nov 16, 2008 at 03:33 PM

capt don
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #17 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

The enloops are the best that i have ever used. I was at costco yesterday and the batteries with charger kit was about $28 and a separate package of just batteries was about $18. While i still use alkaline once in a while, the money that i have saved using these is quite surprising and they have a long shelf life when charged and really hold up not like the early "re-chargable" batteries that first came out.

Nov 16, 2008 at 05:13 PM

Matthew Leffle
Offline
Buy and Sell: On

p.1 #18 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

+1 for eneloops.

Nov 17, 2008 at 05:44 PM

Joseph Bayot
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #19 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

Based on everyone's recommendations, I bought these off amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-Eneloop-Pre-Charged-Rechargable-Batteries/dp/B000IV0REA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1226943962&sr=8-2

seems like a pretty good deal, plus it has great reviews

Nov 17, 2008 at 05:46 PM

matt4626
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #20 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

++eneloops

Nov 17, 2008 at 08:29 PM

sapro
Offline
Buy and Sell: On

p.1 #21 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

anorphirith wrote:
@trenchmonkey where can I get the coupon ?
If you don't receive it in mail, then you should be able to find one in store.

Nov 17, 2008 at 09:40 PM

Kiron Kid
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #22 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

Keep in mind, that the Sony "Cycle Energy" batteries, are identical to the excellent Eneloops. Just different labeling.

Kiron Kid

Nov 17, 2008 at 10:45 PM

jhom
Offline
Buy and Sell: On

p.1 #23 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

As many FMers know, Thomas Distributing is a good online retailer of all types of batteries including eneloops.

Jim

Nov 17, 2008 at 11:55 PM

DennisW1
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #24 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

Avi B wrote:
Also get the MAHA or LaCrosse chargers, as they allow various charging currents (ie how fast you can charge).

I got mine from Thomas Distributing, Very reasonable prices

http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/sanyo-eneloop-aa-2000-mah-4-battery-pack-brultra-low-discharge-nimhbr1-free-4-cell-battery-casebr25-977-per-4-pack-6-or-more-957-p-287.html?SP_id=50&osCsid=na8b2tqm43b2bql5hcfcud1dh3

This is the Maha Charger I'm using, not the cheapest but it works very well.

http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=422

Nov 18, 2008 at 01:47 AM

dfresh
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #25 · Rechargeable Batteries for 580ex II

trenchmonkey wrote:
COSTCO's got a $9 off? coupon for an Eneloop set! Gitty-up.

I just got my coupon the other day but I hope my local Costco has restocked them because they got rid of them months ago.

Nov 18, 2008 at 05:46 AM


FM Forums \| General Gear-talk \| Join Image Upload 1 2 end