quick turnaround for 580ex???

[SezzySue]

I am having a hard time figuring out why it takes FOREVER for the flash to be ready for the next picture. How do in minimize the time between shots?

[ssim]

Could be a number of reasons but having a little more info from you would be good such as your settings when you are shooting.

Possibilities:
Poor batteries
Too fast a shutter speed and f-stop requiring the flash to output full power.
You have dialed in +FEC on your flash, again requiring it to output full power.

I shoot in manual when using my 580 and let the flash figure out how much power to output. I don't find that it takes inordinately long recycle. For indoor shots I am usually shooting around 1/100 at f/8. Outdoors I switch over to AV and use it as fill light only.

[incendy]

This is usually bad batteries.. Not necessarily dead batteries, just cheap batteries:) The 580ex eats through batteries like there is no tomorrow. Basically I have found you get off about 50 shots and then the recycling time starts to go down from there. However, if you bought cheap batteries recycle time starts out bad and only gets worse

[liza]

Incendy is right. The 580EX eats batteries like I eat jelly beans. I bought 3 sets of Energizer 2500mah rechargeables (silver and green ones) and the 5 hour charger. They work like a charm.

[queenbee288]

I agree with all of the above. I use rechargeables and have no problem with them.

[bazair2air]

You could also use an external battery pack and your turn around will be approx 1 second.
Here are two options.
www.aljacobs.com The Black Box (http://www.aljacobs.com/THE%20BLACK%20BOX.htm)
www.qtm.com Quantum Batteries (http://www.qtm.com/Turbo/?res_set=yes&res=1024&resh=768)

[SezzySue]

Liza, Thanks I think I will follow your lead and try that out. That way I have spares for a lot of pictures in a short day.