Batteries - What batteries are you using.

shadgkiss

Hello All - I am mostly a stalker on dgin, trying to become better. I completed my first wedding (Free) this past weekend and one of the issues that I encountered was the batteries. I went out a few weeks ago and bought some energizer rechargable 2400mhz batteries. What I found is that when I take a picture and the flash fires, they don't get the flash ready to fire again in a quick enough time frame. I am trying to determine what everyone else uses so hopefully I could get the results I am after. I was using a Canon 1d-m2, 70-200 canon is lens, with a 580ex flash the majority of the time. I had another guy with me using different lenses.

leaforte

I personally buy costco KIRKLAND (24 for 11.99) and burn through them at that price. Disposable, and recyclable. Surprisingly, they hold up well.

ziggy53

shadgkiss wrote:

Hello All - I am mostly a stalker on dgin, trying to become better. I completed my first wedding (Free) this past weekend and one of the issues that I encountered was the batteries. I went out a few weeks ago and bought some energizer rechargable 2400mhz batteries. What I found is that when I take a picture and the flash fires, they don't get the flash ready to fire again in a quick enough time frame. I am trying to determine what everyone else uses so hopefully I could get the results I am after. I was using a Canon 1d-m2, 70-200 canon is lens, with a 580ex flash the majority of the time. I had another guy with me using different lenses.

What flash modifier and ISO are you using?

Tee Why

If the AA batteries are not recharging fast enough then you really need a battery pack for the 580EX. Some other brands of AA batteries may recharge a bit faster but it won't be a night and day experience.

JohnBiggs

Its actually been tested that those rechargables cycle faster than alkalines on flashes. However those particular batteries you are using don't retain their charge long so you really have to charge them the night before.

I use Kodak "Pre-Charged" batteries and they work much better than alkalines ever did. they also seem to last 2-3x longer too. They cost about $9 at walmart.

Thomas Distributing is also a great place to get low discharge batteries. They also have a nice selection of chargers.

JohnBiggs

ziggy53 wrote:

What flash modifier and ISO are you using?

Yeah, BTW I see what Ziggy is getting at. If you are using a low ISO or a light sucking modifier you are going to force your flash to run at 1/2 or full power. The charge will always be longer.

I try to keep my flash at 1/4 or less. 1/8 is quite common.

shadgkiss

All -

I was using either the white card that stands up from the flash or a slide on diffuser which can be found here - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CLNHXY/ref=s9_simz_gw_s0_p23_t3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1HPE9BRJKDXCK4DNS1S8&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

ISO, I was using mostly 800 - 1600 because the room lights were very dim and dull. I am looking to get the external battery pack from Amazon, right now they have them for $54.00.

Thanks for all your help.

ziggy53

shadgkiss wrote:

All -

I was using either the white card that stands up from the flash or a slide on diffuser which can be found here - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CLNHXY/ref=s9_simz_gw_s0_p23_t3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1HPE9BRJKDXCK4DNS1S8&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

ISO, I was using mostly 800 - 1600 because the room lights were very dim and dull. I am looking to get the external battery pack from Amazon, right now they have them for $54.00.

Thanks for all your help.

The "white card that stands up from the flash" is just a fill card for bounced flash. Depending on the ceiling (or wall) available, bounce flash may have not been best. Bounce works best with a white ceiling and walls, and at an appropriate height. 8-10 ft ceilings work pretty well.

Dark ceilings and/or walls are not terribly good for bounce and I will go for a "scoop" modifier everytime.

http://www.fototime.com/inv/908195739C4C0D3

The device you linked is an "omni" diffuser and is not very suitable at much distance. Again, I would recommend the scoop above.

Last year I was shooting a Boy Scout event where 9 Scouts were getting their Eagle at the same time. (The presentation was in 3 groups of 3 Scouts.) I was able to keep up thanks to the scoop on a Sigma EF 500 DG Super flash. (Similar batteries to what you use.)

I agree with the use of ISO 800 and 1600 for these types of events.

Scott_Quier

Batteries - the Sanyo Eneloop.

As others have said or hinted at, your recycle time is a function of the ISO and aperture you are using the extent to which the light from your flash is actually illuminating your subject. ISO 800 to 1600 is a good place to start (and I don't think you want to go any higher) and an aperture between f/2.8 and f/4. Using one of the light modifiers linked to in my siggy, I've been able to shoot the better part of a 4 hour reception on one (sometimes 2) sets of properly charged batteries - with recycle times good enough that I can usually get 2 and sometimes 3 shots in rapid succession with a recharge taking at most 2 or 3 seconds. I've seldom missed a shot due to recycle time problems.

Manfr3d

I use Sanyo 2700mAh. Sanyo cells are often rebranded as Panasonic, Varta, Ansmann and others. These cells are real workhorses. I mainly use them in my flashguns. My 580EXII gets more than 600 cycles at 1/4th Power on a single charge.

Kevin CTMP

I too have had many failed attempts trying to find batteries that work right just for me....so on the recommendation of others here at dgrin, I picked up the external power supply that canon makes for the 580EX....it holds 8 batteries plus the 4 that are in the flash, so its pulling power and recycling from 12 batteries instead of four...I recently shot my first wedding with it and was able to shoot the entire wedding on just 12 standard AA alkaline batteries (none of the "fancy" kind). and by the end of the night, it was still flashing pretty decent. I'm sure it would work just as good with the rechargables as well...but I've found it easier to just get fresh batteries everytime then throw them away when I'm ....you can pick up a bulk pack pretty cheap