Battery (AA) and charger advice needs (for flash)

[Kostyanych]

Hi, I need some opinions about battery for Canon Speedlite 580EX.
I have read that alkaline can give us shorter recycle time. But it will be great to recharge the batteries.
So, what do you think about alkaline rechargeable batteries? Do you know any particular good quality brand? What about capacity?
Should I go for this type of batteries?

But HiMH batteries can be recharged much more times compared to alkaline (as far as I know).
If I go for NiMH could you recommend a good (fast, smart, safe, universal) charger for them?

http://www.en.varta-consumer.com/content.php?path=/1086184042.html&&domain=www.en.varta-consumer.com

What about this one?


Any ideas are welcome.
Thank you.

[scottbergerphoto]

Two good bets:
Maha Powerex NiMh at http://www.thomas-distributing.com/
Energizer NiMh at www.Target.com (Don'y buy the Energizer Charger!)
Rayovac NiMh at Walgreens and Home Depot (Great Charger)
Scott

[Kostyanych]

Thank you for the link http://www.thomas-distributing.com/
I saw Energizer have already got 2500 mAH NiMH batteries. They look good.
Is NiMHs good enough for flash?

And I am still have no idea about charger... :)

[PacAce]

Two good bets:
Maha Powerex NiMh at http://www.thomas-distributing.com/
Energizer NiMh at www.Target.com (Don'y buy the Energizer Charger!)
Rayovac NiMh at Walgreens and Home Depot (Great Charger)
Scott
Scott, I have the Energizer batteries and the charger that came packaged with it. Why did you say not to buy the charger (with an exclamation point)? Is there a safety issue with it that I should know about? Any clarification you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[scottbergerphoto]

Scott, I have the Energizer batteries and the charger that came packaged with it. Why did you say not to buy the charger (with an exclamation point)? Is there a safety issue with it that I should know about? Any clarification you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
The Energizer charger isn't a smart charger and doesn't take into account the charge level of the battery you insert. I've also read that it takes a long time- 8 1/2 hours. There are better chargers like the Rayovac and the Maha.
Scott

[robertwgross]

Some people buy good rechargeable batteries, but then they stick them in a cheap/stupid charger. Sometimes that works OK, but sometimes the batteries get overcharged. After a while, you have batteries that have only 50% of their original capacity.

If you are going to the expense of buying good rechargeable batteries, get one of the slightly more intelligent chargers. Then you'll likely get the life you expect out of the batteries.

If you use a flash only once or twice a year, then non-rechargeable batteries are fine. However, if you use your flash a lot (like, once a week or more), then NiMH is the practical way to go.

---Bob Gross---

[ggibbs1971]

I bought my Powerex batteries and MAHA charger almost two years ago from Thomas distributing. Have had no problems, though I use the flash maybe 5 times a year. It is nice to know that when I need to charge the Powerex, the MAHA is ready and able. Also have been able to charge AAA as well as AA batteries. Sure helps with othe relectrical equipent.

Geoff

[PhotoManMike]

I've been using the LightningPack 4000N charger from RipVan100 (www.ripvan100.com) for about three years now. It's inexpensive, fast, very small (fold-out plug, no wall transformer), and works on 110/220V 50/60Hz.

Mike

[PacAce]

The Energizer charger isn't a smart charger and doesn't take into account the charge level of the battery you insert. I've also read that it takes a long time- 8 1/2 hours. There are better chargers like the Rayovac and the Maha.
Scott

Thanks, Scott. The charger you're referring to must be different from the one I have, then. Mine charges in less an hour and shuts off after it's done charging (as indicated by the charging lights).

[scottbergerphoto]

You are right Leo. Energizer has come out with some new rapid chargers as I saw today.
Scott

[2new]

Check out Radio Shack http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=23-039

IC3 15 minutes to a full charge

[CyberDyneSystems]

I concur,. Radio Shack actually had one of the first less than an hour NIMH/NICD chargers on the market,. I got mine about 4 years ago at least.. (maybe more like five?)

[Kostyanych]

Well, it looks like any of "15-minutes" chargers is good enough...

Well... http://www.thomas-distributing.com/mhc401fs.htm
This one looks good. It seems to me this is not the fastest...

Just another question. Have you ever seen a charger which can charge Alcaline Rechargeable as well as NiMH and NiCd?

[CyberDyneSystems]

I've had very good luck with Maha bateries and chargers,. and Thomas is a great place to get them.

[dphotomania]

I am using Sony's 2300 NiMh battery, I also got 15 minute charger from Sony.

This is what I got, and they got good rating as a product.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000792SA4/ref=wl_it_dp/002-2178407-7486445?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I3NLLJWCFGE375&v=glance&colid=1E11MFEBNG192

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002IOIMQ/ref=wl_it_dp/002-2178407-7486445?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I2FZKS4PUZD18S&v=glance&colid=1E11MFEBNG192

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002IWCAQ/ref=wl_it_dp/002-2178407-7486445?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=IBSDC03D8ZNB5&v=glance&colid=1E11MFEBNG192

Hope this helps

[Kostyanych]

Thank you very much. Everything is useful.
I have decided to get Maha MH-C401FS.
Unfortunately I didn't find any seller in Australia. I have just sent a letter to a NZ shop.
Waiting...