Sigma 500 Super - batteries

[aggarcia]

Any recommendations on AA rechargeable batteries for the Sigma 500 Super? I have a set of old Rayovac 1800 NIMH, but they are good enough? I will not use the flash that much, but when I need it I do not want it to fail because of poor batteries. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

[HJMinard]

I've been using Energizer 2500 mAh NiMH in my Sigma and I've been extremely pleased by their longevity between charges. Your Rayovacs should work fine, they just won't last as long between charges as the higher capacity NiMH's. Keep a set of alkalines on hand for emergency backup.

[blundar]

I shoot at car shows as an event photographer. My suggestion is to buy more than 1 set of 4 batteries. A pack of 4 batteries that were just charged up will be good for about 300 shots in your flash. Always make sure that the batteries were just charged up, at most 1 day befoer the shoot. NiMH batteries slowly loose their charge over time. These batteries do not last for ever. After 2 years of heavy shooting, you should also be looking to replace them with new ones.

I typically carry 3 sets of 4 batteries for events where I shoot approximately 600 photos. Always carry atliest 1 extra set of batteries. I buy my batteries in 10 packs of 2500 mAh NiMH because they are cheaper that way.

[tim]

I went thru 5 sets of 2400 mah NiMH bats for a wedding, diffusers really suck the power.

[lordjim]

I have used some Optex recheargeable NiMH batteries with this flash but it did not work well. Since then, I am using non rechargeable batteries with the flash and it works great. I am not using it often though.

[blundar]

I would love to get an external battery pack to power my flash. It would recycle faster, and I would not have to worry about changing batteries so much. I tend to miss too many shots when my batteries run low.

Someting like this:
http://digitalcamerabattery.com/products/index.php?category=Cameras&c=1

[DocFrankenstein]

IF you're shooting professionally, you need the quantum powerpack.

[blundar]

The Quantum power packs normally have a 20wattHr battery (Quantum Turbo). The ones from digitalcamerabattery are 40, 80, 120, & 160 wattHr batteries. A Quantum is good for about double what a set of 4 AA's would shoot (approx. 600 flashes). The smallest of the digitalcamerabattery's can handle approx. 1200 flashes.

If you want to power both the camera and flash, you can pick up a 80WattHr unit and shoot a whole wedding without having to change batteries once.

I'm not sure how they compare price wise.

[lostdoggy]

IF you're shooting professionally, you need the quantum powerpack.

I have the 500 Super too and would like to know how to connect the Quantum Powerpack to the flash??? There is no external power port!!! Does the 580 have external power port???

[DocFrankenstein]

I have the 500 Super too and would like to know how to connect the Quantum Powerpack to the flash??? There is no external power port!!! Does the 580 have external power port???
No clue man

[robertwgross]

Does the 580 have external power port???

Canon 580EX accepts external power from a Compact Battery Pack CP-E3.

---Bob Gross---