Longest lasting batteries for 580 exII?

Graham CrackerGraham Cracker Registered Users Posts: 242 Major grins
edited September 16, 2010 in Accessories
I am looking to see if there are some recommendations for rechargeable batteries for my flash that might last a little longer than my 2500mH and 2650mH that I currently have. IS there a brand that might last longer. I have found the rapid charge don't last as long. I am using these for Friday night football. Thanks Patrick
PDG
Canon 1DM3, 20D & 40D, Canon f/2.8 70-200mm IS, Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8

Comments

  • mercphotomercphoto Registered Users Posts: 4,550 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2010
    What you really need (and that I used to have, and recently sold) is the Canon external battery pack for the 580 flashes. When I used it for night motorocross a few years back with NiMH batteries the difference in recharge rates was unreal. Combine the four batteries in the 580 with another eight in the external pack and that is the real solution to your problem.
    Bill Jurasz - Mercury Photography - Cedar Park, TX
    A former sports shooter
    Follow me at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bjurasz/
    My Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mercphoto?ref=hdr_shop_menu
  • Graham CrackerGraham Cracker Registered Users Posts: 242 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2010
    mercphoto wrote: »
    What you really need (and that I used to have, and recently sold) is the Canon external battery pack for the 580 flashes. When I used it for night motorocross a few years back with NiMH batteries the difference in recharge rates was unreal. Combine the four batteries in the 580 with another eight in the external pack and that is the real solution to your problem.
    I actually do have it and it helps, but I still find that I have to change the batteries in the flash at half time if I really want quick recycle time. MAybe I have a setting wrong?
    PDG
    Canon 1DM3, 20D & 40D, Canon f/2.8 70-200mm IS, Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8
  • mercphotomercphoto Registered Users Posts: 4,550 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2010
    Do you have high speed synch turned on or off?
    Bill Jurasz - Mercury Photography - Cedar Park, TX
    A former sports shooter
    Follow me at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bjurasz/
    My Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mercphoto?ref=hdr_shop_menu
  • Graham CrackerGraham Cracker Registered Users Posts: 242 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2010
    mercphoto wrote: »
    Do you have high speed synch turned on or off?

    I think off? IS that my problem?
    PDG
    Canon 1DM3, 20D & 40D, Canon f/2.8 70-200mm IS, Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8
  • mercphotomercphoto Registered Users Posts: 4,550 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2010
    Hi speed synch being off is the best approach to your shooting situation, so that's not your problem. It might be an issue with expectations. How many flashes do you fire per half? In other words are you expecting too much? I always carried a spare battery magazine so that I could quickly swap batteries during a race.
    Bill Jurasz - Mercury Photography - Cedar Park, TX
    A former sports shooter
    Follow me at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bjurasz/
    My Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mercphoto?ref=hdr_shop_menu
  • OverfocusedOverfocused Registered Users Posts: 1,068 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2010
    What brand are you using? This makes a huge difference. Cheap batteries have higher internal resistance and will actually slow down recycle time quite a bit, and also last much less time than a quality battery since it is literally working against itself. GP Ryecko and MAHA are the best brands for NiMH rechargables hands down. Both have very low internal resistance and allow high amperage draw and long life. I have twelve GP Ryecko 820mAH LSD NiMH AAA batteries that go above and beyond on the flashes I use. (GP makes the best AAA, MAHA makes the best AA and chargers) They also charge to their rated capacity or higher! Most of mine go to 850-920 mAH. Personally I'd buy LSD (low self discharge) NiMH. They can be left on the shelf for 1 year and only lose %25-30 of their charge, and use higher quality internal components.

    I bought this MAHA charger with the batteries. It is an AMAZING charger, usable with any brand and can analyze/refresh batteries very accurately. It's worth every penny since it should last decades (if the technology exists by then rolleyes1.gif):


    http://www.thomasdistributing.com/shop/maha-mhc9000-advanced-battery-chargerbrfree-deluxe-storage-case-included-p-405.html?SP_id=&osCsid=a98rm8a91donrsllit8gi3gna7
    www.overfocused.com
  • Graham CrackerGraham Cracker Registered Users Posts: 242 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2010
    Overfocused wrote: »
    What brand are you using? This makes a huge difference. Cheap batteries have higher internal resistance and will actually slow down recycle time quite a bit, and also last much less time than a quality battery since it is literally working against itself. GP Ryecko and MAHA are the best brands for NiMH rechargables hands down. Both have very low internal resistance, that allow for high amperage draw and long life. I have 820mAH AAA batteries from them that go above and beyond on the flashes I use. They also charge to their rated capacity or higher! Most of mine go to 850-920 mAH. I'd buy LSD (low self discharge) NiMH. They can be left on the shelf for 1 year and only lose %25-30 of their charge, and use higher quality internal components.

    I bought a MAHA charger and GP Ryecko batteries (about $80 for the charger + 12 LSD AAA) and I can assure you they will last for at least a decade with how well the MAHA chargers condition batteries.
    Quantaray Ni-Zinc 2500mAh. I would say I take about 300 shots per game including pre and post. Second half though recharge time is slower so I end up with more without a flash. I also have some Quantaray Ni-MH for back up.
    PDG
    Canon 1DM3, 20D & 40D, Canon f/2.8 70-200mm IS, Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8
  • NeilLNeilL Registered Users Posts: 4,201 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2010
    Wow! You must have read my mind! I have just been pondering exactly this question! Thanks for the discussion!

    Neil
    "Snow. Ice. Slow!" "Half-winter. Half-moon. Half-asleep!"

    http://www.behance.net/brosepix
  • OverfocusedOverfocused Registered Users Posts: 1,068 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2010
    Graham Cracker wrote: »
    Quantaray Ni-Zinc 2500mAh. I would say I take about 300 shots per game including pre and post. Second half though recharge time is slower so I end up with more without a flash. I also have some Quantaray Ni-MH for back up.


    Hmm... if you can't get better performance no matter what I find trading 1 or 2 stops of ISO is generally worth the flash recycling benefits, especially with a 1DMKIII noise wouldn't be much of an issue.
    www.overfocused.com
  • GrainbeltGrainbelt Registered Users Posts: 478 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2010
    sanyo eneloop

    I use them in my camera, my grip, my flashes... very long life, and don't discharge over time when dormant.
  • OverfocusedOverfocused Registered Users Posts: 1,068 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2010
    Grainbelt wrote: »
    sanyo eneloop

    I use them in my camera, my grip, my flashes... very long life, and don't discharge over time when dormant.

    Yeah those are the LSD NiMH batteries
    www.overfocused.com
  • Graham CrackerGraham Cracker Registered Users Posts: 242 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2010
    Overfocused wrote: »
    Yeah those are the LSD NiMH batteries
    Thanks I'll give them a try.
    PDG
    Canon 1DM3, 20D & 40D, Canon f/2.8 70-200mm IS, Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8
  • OverfocusedOverfocused Registered Users Posts: 1,068 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2010
    Graham Cracker wrote: »
    Thanks I'll give them a try.


    Yep. Still, the Ryecko and MAHA last just a bit longer than the Eneloops. I researched all that before I bought and those 2 are the tops in actual amperage/workload.
    www.overfocused.com
  • Manfr3dManfr3d Registered Users Posts: 2,008 Major grins
    edited September 13, 2010
    Graham Cracker wrote: »
    I am looking to see if there are some recommendations for rechargeable batteries for my flash that might last a little longer than my 2500mH and 2650mH that I currently have. IS there a brand that might last longer. I have found the rapid charge don't last as long. I am using these for Friday night football. Thanks Patrick

    I use Sanyo 2700mAh rechargeables in the 580EXII. They last very long.
    Sanyo manufacutres thes cells themselves and sell them to Panasonic,
    Sony and others who then rebrand the sanyo cells unter their name
    (at a higher price).
    “To consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk.”
    ― Edward Weston
  • Sil3ntp8nd8Sil3ntp8nd8 Registered Users Posts: 42 Big grins
    edited September 13, 2010
    powerex 2700mah for me
    Website - www.stevenphamphoto.com
    My NIKON gear list ;)
    Flickr
  • DigicDigic Registered Users Posts: 9 Beginner grinner
    edited September 16, 2010
    I agree with Granibelt... ENELOOP batteries everytime. I heard of them through several of the photo podcasts on iTunes and went out a bought a bunch. They are without doubt the best rechargeable batteries I ever bought.. and I've sure bought a few in the past!
    They keep 80% of their charge for a year and they seem to go on forever. Apple have apparently started marketing batteries under their own name... and guess who makes them?

    Si.
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