420EX Speedlite with NiMh Batteries

[FlyingPete]

I have just been away, and have been running my 420EX on four NiMh batteries. As I was mainly using bounc flash, the flash gun was running a lot harder, what I noticed was the recharge time was often up to 10 seconds, which resulted in many lost shots.

Does anyone else have an experience with slow recharge times on NiMh batteries, is it the fact that they are only 1.2V instead of 1.5v?

[FlipsidE]

Doesn't it say in the instruction book that the recharge time will be up to double with NiMH batteries?

FlipsidE

[scottbergerphoto]

There is a section on this in the EOS Flash Sticky above (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46599).
Scott

[FlyingPete]

OK got to the bottom of this, nothing I read inclduing the link abve suggested delays like I was getting.

Went to use the flash for the first time since I had those issues this weekend, and found the batteries were flat, unusual, as I had turned it off.

I thought nothing of it until I noticed that I my recharge time was heaps better on the new set of batteries (same type as before 2300mah NiMh's), I assumed it was due to the flash not having to work as hard (bouncing it off a lower ceiling this time).

What confirmed that something was night right was when I went to recharge the old set of batteries, one of the cells was completley dead and would not take any charge, where as the others were fine.

A quick play around with the 420EX in simular conditions to those I was in a few weeks ago confirmed it, the dud battery was messing with things, not sure how, I wouldn't think the flash could run on three batteries alone.

Unfortunatly I didn't check the charge level on the three remaining good batteries before putting them on charge.

[MrChad]

I like to use a set of Li-AA batteries if the shots are a must. The recharge time is fantastic IMO and they last much longer then Alkalines.

They are pricey, but if the moment is that important the batteries are well worth it. Look at it this way, in the old days you would spent that on film any how :D