Leaving batteries in 580?

[Jamesino]

How do you guys store your 580 EX when not in use? Do you take it off the hot shoe and put it into the pouch? Do you take the batteries out?

I heard a rumour that if you leave batteries in, the batteries will lose charge faster.

[john-in-japan]

100%, back in the pouch, batteries out, every time.
John

[40Dude6aedyk]

Since my batteries won't recharge themselves sitting in the speedlite, I take them out and charge them. I don't put them back in until I need to use the speedlite. And I use the case for its intended use as well.

[fotojoem]

In case, no batt. number 2

[device01]

cool avitar! E

[tim]

Flashes don't use power when they're switched off. Put the batteries, flash, and camera whereever you want so long as they don't get physically damaged. I leave everything in a big camera bag.

You guys worry too much, like a pack of old women! No offense meant to old women ;)

[dave kadolph]

I use eneloops and they stay in the flash until the recycle time starts to slow down. Spares are in the bag :)

[Skid]

I leave my batteries in the flash, and store the flash in the pouch it came with..

[Agamemnon]

+1 on not removing them.

Laziness plus the fact that they're eneloops, and they don't lose charge as fast as most rechargables.

When powered off (Or sleeping), the flash units - and cameras for that matter - use so little power that it's not worth removing them unless you need to recharge them.

[mpeters]

Replace the batteries after charging them, put it in the case, on the shelf ready to go.

[Weddingguy1]

If I was leaving them for a month and not using them I would take them out in case of battery leak, but normally leave them in. Nickle Hydrate batteries lose 5% of their charge every day in or out of the flash. That's why many are going to Eneloops which are a new technology that will hold up to 85% of their charge for months. Having said that, all my batteries are freshly charged the day befor a serious shoot. Even 85% doesn't hack it!

[oomus]

+1 I leave them in and recharge prior to a shoot, but all my stuff is in a pelican case or the case it came in and a back pack.

[NinetyEight]

I'll leave them in for a few weeks but any more than that (rare) I'll take them out just in case they suddenly decide to leak.

[Titus213]

I leave them in the flash. That way the flash is always ready for at least one shot. If I've used the flash heavily I'll pull out the batteries and replace them with a freshly charged set while the used batteries are charging.

You should have many more than one set of batteries if you shoot flash.

[Collin85]

You guys worry too much, like a pack of old women! No offense meant to old women ;)

Yeah. :lol:

[Collin85]

How do you guys store your 580 EX when not in use? Do you take it off the hot shoe and put it into the pouch? Do you take the batteries out?

Nope and nope. I stick it on the plastic stand and leave it as it is or leave it in the camera bag. These days I've been using it along with the OC-E3 alot, so I've just been leaving it on the table connected to the OC-E3 and camera when not in use. I take great pride in looking after my gear, but what you're describing there sounds a tad excessive. Heck, you'd probably wear out the battery door on your flash due to all the battery swapping before anything happens to mine.. ;)

[AlanU]

I leave the eneloops in the flash. I have my camera/flash sit (sleep) and then its wakes up when I need to take photos.

[tim]

If I was leaving them for a month and not using them I would take them out in case of battery leak, but normally leave them in. Nickle Hydrate batteries lose 5% of their charge every day in or out of the flash. That's why many are going to Eneloops which are a new technology that will hold up to 85% of their charge for months. Having said that, all my batteries are freshly charged the day befor a serious shoot. Even 85% doesn't hack it!

5% a day sounds a bit high from what I remember. www.batteryuniversity.com has good info.