Battery to use for 420EX

[canonjigs]

Guys, you gotta help me! I just bought my 420EX 2 days ago and i have been doing a lot of pratice. I don't know much about this since i'm only a beginner. Anyway, I just wan to know what type of battery should i use for my 420EX and is it really taking time for the flash to recycle? The pilot doesn't light up anymore. What could be the problem?

[robertwgross]

For a 420EX, you want to be using four fresh AA batteries. If the batteries are weak, then the unit is not going to be able to "wind up" to fire the light.

If you use this only once in a while, then you can use ordinary AA alkaline batteries. If you use this a lot, then you may want to use NiMH rechargeable batteries.

With fresh alkaline batteries, the recycle time is 0.1 to 7.5 seconds. If yours is much slower than that, it is a sign of either weak batteries or else a defective 420EX unit.

---Bob Gross---

[jeffherald]

I just checked mine. It takes 12 seconds for it to charge up the first time I turn it on (is has been off for several days) and about 6 seconds to recharge after firing. I can get about 2 flashes consecutively in multishot mode. This is about what I expect out of my flash. I have used this one for about 4 years now.

I use rechargeable NiMH Ray-O-Vac batteries (1800 mAh) in mine. They last longer and recycle faster than regular alkaline AA batteries. I just tested with alkalines and it took only about 1 second longer to recycle, but I know from experience with this flash that after a little while of usage the alkaline batteries will charge slower. They will also not last as long as the NiMH batteries. Try those, they are great.

*UPDATE* I just put in freshly charged NiMH batteries and now it recycles the flash in 4 seconds.