430EXII recycle time

I think there is a version II of this light and was wondering how fast it recycles when at half power, I have a 580EXII and would like a lighter speedlight for on camera fill when I occasionally use one when shooting natural light portraits and flowers, plus it offers a hair light when doing OFC speedlight portraits. I had a second 580EXII that I sold because I never used it but always wished I had something lighter.

Ms. Jannie

I just popped a couple of flashes at half power. Almost an immediate recycle.

I use the 430EXII more than my 580EXII because it's lighter weight.

Perfect, thanks!

Using rechargeable battery you can improve the performance of your flash (on terms of more fast recycles) and even reduce the impact on the environment.

I use eneloops exclusively.

windpig wrote in post #12233045
I use eneloops exclusively.

Do you happen to know if you can mix and match the old eneloops with the new ones? .

alessandro2009 wrote in post #12232272
Using rechargeable battery you can improve the performance of your flash (on terms of more fast recycles) and even reduce the impact on the environment.

I agree with this statement.

As for the 430ex II, I have both it and the 580ex II and both recycle at full power rather quickly. At half power, they will both keep up with my 50D at 6.3 fps for several frames before. They recycle very quickly unless the batteries are low. I use Energizer NiMh rechargeable batteries. I went with this brand because they have been around a while and they have stood the test of time for me. Also, they make every size battery in rechargeable. D, C, AA, AAA, and even 9-volt. I have tried other rechargeable brands and it seemed like the batteries lost their ability to hold a charge after so many recharges. I have Energizer batteries that I have been using for 3 years now and they still hold a charge as long as the new ones I have.

Jannie, one thing to keep in mind about Windpig's reply...
The way the thyristor flash works (which is virtually every speedlight class flash made today) is that unused energy is redirected back into the storage capacitor of the flash. So if you fire a single half-power flash, the capacitor is still HALF FULL and you can fire the flash again virtually instantaneously.
Having said that, I tried this on my own Metz 54MZ flash (yes, I know...the Canon probably does not behave identically) In Auto mode the ready light stayed lit and I could fire the flash a second time immediately after a partial output (target relatively close). But then the flash had to recycle 4 sec (using AA NiMH rechargeables) before I could fire again (a third time).
But when I put the flash into M/2, I had to wait 4 sec. for the flash to recycle before I could fire the second time.

IOW, the testing of the 430EX may be as context specific as my Metz flash was, and Windpig should probably confirm quick fire capability in both ETTL auto mode and in Manual/2 settings for you, before you jump to a conclusion.

Wilt wrote in post #12233213
Jannie, one thing to keep in mind about Windpig's reply...
The way the thyristor flash works (which is virtually every speedlight class flash made today) is that unused energy is redirected back into the storage capacitor of the flash. So if you fire a single half-power flash, the capacitor is still HALF FULL and you can fire the flash again virtually instantaneously.
Having said that, I tried this on my own Metz 54MZ flash (yes, I know...the Canon probably does not behave identically) In Auto mode the ready light stayed lit and I could fire the flash a second time immediately after a partial output (target relatively close). But then the flash had to recycle 4 sec (using AA NiMH rechargeables) before I could fire again.
But when I put the flash into M/2, I had to wait 4 sec. for the flash to recycle before I could fire again.

IOW, the testing of the 430EX may be as context specific as my Metz flash was, and Windpig should probably confirm quick fire capability in both ETTL auto mode and in Manual/2 settings for you, before you jump to a conclusion.

4 seconds? Wow, that is very slow for a recycle. Yes, the Canon flashes perform much quicker than that. Even at full power they will recycle much faster with full batteries.

I do know that my 580EXII at half or quarter power doesn't slow down. But, I've startes using it on the camera for event type stuff where I need a low level of fill, like 2 stops down ETTL and on a MKIII it's irritatingly top heavy after an hour or so and I used to have a 420 and it had a pretty slow recycle time but I loved it otherwise.

TGrundvig wrote in post #12233234
4 seconds? Wow, that is very slow for a recycle. Yes, the Canon flashes perform much quicker than that. Even at full power they will recycle much faster with full batteries.

Oops...2 seconds between ready light on M/2 (my bad). Keep in mind that internal AA batteries, even NiMh, are inherenly limited in output current, therefore limiting flash recycle. That is why so many use external battery packs like the Canon CP-E2, to reduce full recycle time to 1-2 sec.

The Canon 580EX specs in the user manual are "Approx. 0.1 to 6 seconds", with fresh AA-size alkaline batteries. The Metz 54MZ has same times with AA alkaline batteries. The 580EXII has been tested to have 20% faster recycle, as claimed in the specs at "0.1 to 5 seconds" than the older 580EX (which the Metz 54MZ is its contemporary in design). And don't forget the Canon flash green recycle light is 'quick flash' (half the time..."0.1 to 2.5 seconds") as opposed to full recycle (red recycle light).

I just shot the following from the hot shoe with the 430EXII, single shot mode,

ISO 100
SS 125
F.8
CAMERA 7D

ETTL -2 FEC - 7 shots non stop no mis-fire
ETTL 0 FEC - 10 shots non stop no mis-fire
Manual 1/2 power 11 shots 5th shot mis-fire

28 shots within 58 seconds.

1 IS ETTL ZERO FEC
2 IS MANUAL AT 1/2

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windpig wrote in post #12233326
I just shot the following from the hot shoe with the 430EXII, single shot mode,

ISO 100
SS 125
F.8
CAMERA 7D

ETTL -2 FEC - 7 shots non stop no mis-fire
ETTL 0 FEC - 10 shots non stop no mis-fire
Manual 1/2 power 11 shots 5th shot mis-fire

28 shots within 58 seconds.

tch! tch! tch! ...you didn't heed Canon's warning on p. 7 of the 430EXII owner manual about exceeding 20 continuous flashes!

Interesting...output at HIGHER intensity (0EV FEC) had more shots than the output at lower intensity (-2EV FEC) before running out of steam ?!

windpig wrote in post #12230891
I just popped a couple of flashes at half power. Almost an immediate recycle.

At 1/2 power my 430EX II takes about 1/3 of a second to recycle using fresh NiMh batteries..