Flash Recycle Time Between "M" and "ETTL"

SYS wrote in post #5516139
A slightly off topic, but for those of you who own one, what's the external battery pack that you'd recommend?

Canon if specifically for the 580EX.
Quantum for all other flashes.

Wilt wrote in post #5516177
Canon if specifically for the 580EX.
Quantum for all other flashes.

If I want to use the external batter pack for 580EX as well as for something else, let's say a strobe, then would Quantum work? I'd also guess that it's cheaper to get a non-Canon brand...

I do not own 580EX, so have no direct knowledge of suitability of Quantum for 580EX.

I can tell you that I have used Quantum batteries on three different brands/models of flash units, and the Quantums are quite long lived!

Wilt wrote in post #5516248
I do not own 580EX, so have no direct knowledge of suitability of Quantum for 580EX.

I can tell you that I have used Quantum batteries on three different brands/models of flash units, and the Quantums are quite long lived!

Thanks, Wilt. I'll look into Quantum.

SYS wrote in post #5516202
If I want to use the external batter pack for 580EX as well as for something else, let's say a strobe, then would Quantum work? I'd also guess that it's cheaper to get a non-Canon brand...

In this case, the Canon brand would be cheaper except that you'd have to provide your own AA x 8 batteries.

With the Quantum, you can get different cords to connect to different brand flashes and maybe a few lower power strobes.

PacAce wrote in post #5516896
In this case, the Canon brand would be cheaper except that you'd have to provide your own AA x 8 batteries.

With the Quantum, you can get different cords to connect to different brand flashes and maybe a few lower power strobes.

And with the Canon, you most likely will need to swap batteries during a wedding, while the higher capacity Quantum would 'keep on ticking' like the Everready battery bunny commercial.

Wilt wrote in post #5517018
And with the Canon, you most likely will need to swap batteries during a wedding, while the higher capacity Quantum would 'keep on ticking' like the Everready battery bunny commercial.

Just goes to show how well Energizer's advertisement and marketing is working

I think some here are getting confused... he said manual which means full power to some, or manual which means user-adjustable length of the flash burst to others. Keep that in mind until clarified.

SolidxSnake wrote in post #5518188
Just goes to show how well Energizer's advertisement and marketing is working

I think some here are getting confused... he said manual which means full power to some, or manual which means user-adjustable length of the flash burst to others. Keep that in mind until clarified.

To address that point let's make this blatantly clear, so that it is impossible to misinterpret the facts...

• If a 580EX flash is on ETTL and outputs all of its GN190 power when fired, it will take every bit as much time to recycle itself as if it were on M and 1/1 power setting and outputs all of its GN190 power when fired.
  
• A battery pack will permit a flash to recycle faster if it is capable of outputting more current (milliamps) into the charge circuit than AA batteries could provide.
  
• AA rechargeable batteries will permit a flash to recycle faster because rechargeables are capable of outputting more current (milliamps) into the charge circuit than AA alkaline batteries.
  
• If a charging circuit is limited in its input current, no greater capacity battery nor higher current flow rate will overcome the bottleneck caused by the charging circuit!

Wilt wrote in post #5518273
To address that point let's make this blatantly clear, so that it is impossible to misinterpret the facts...

• If a 580EX flash is on ETTL and outputs all of its GN190 power when fired, it will take every bit as much time to recycle itself as if it were on M and 1/1 power setting and outputs all of its GN190 power when fired.
  
• A battery pack will permit a flash to recycle faster if it is capable of outputting more current (milliamps) into the charge circuit than AA batteries could provide.
  
• AA rechargeable batteries will permit a flash to recycle faster because rechargeables are capable of outputting more current (milliamps) into the charge circuit than AA alkaline batteries.
  
• If a charging circuit is limited in its input current, no greater capacity battery nor higher current flow rate will overcome the bottleneck caused by the charging circuit!

Good reference. I knew that, I noticed, however, that many were saying that it is impossible to get quick recharges when shooting the flash manual. Of course, their interpretation is shooting at 1/1, but the OP mentioned different ratios in manual, which isn't 1/1.

SYS wrote in post #5516139
A slightly off topic, but for those of you who own one, what's the external battery pack that you'd recommend?

Wilt wrote in post #5517018
And with the Canon, you most likely will need to swap batteries during a wedding, while the higher capacity Quantum would 'keep on ticking' like the Everready battery bunny commercial.

Canon CP-E4 with batteries (or these batteries are a bit better). The battery pack cuts cycle time down by about 70%, and it's cheap - $150 plus 8 AA bats. I've NEVER managed to get it even close to flat on a wedding day, but I don't shoot ISO100/F8. I do use it to power the main light at a reception, but still, high-ish ISO. And the Canon costs a lot less than the Quantum.

tim wrote in post #5520945
Canon CP-E4 with batteries (or these batteries are a bit better). The battery pack cuts cycle time down by about 70%, and it's cheap - $150 plus 8 AA bats. I've NEVER managed to get it even close to flat on a wedding day, but I don't shoot ISO100/F8. I do use it to power the main light at a reception, but still, high-ish ISO. And the Canon costs a lot less than the Quantum.

Certainly all true statements. OTOH, I rather doubt that any AA batteries would still be usable a decade and a half later from the date they were put into service, so there are the multiple replacement sets of AA to keep in mind in the expense equation.

Then there is also the unknown of how long that battery pack from Canon remains usable with future Canon flash, whereas the long term applicability of Quantum is well established across many flashes.

Wilt wrote in post #5522065
Certainly all true statements. OTOH, I rather doubt that any AA batteries would still be usable a decade and a half later from the date they were put into service, so there are the multiple replacement sets of AA to keep in mind in the expense equation.

Then there is also the unknown of how long that battery pack from Canon remains usable with future Canon flash, whereas the long term applicability of Quantum is well established across many flashes.

Wouldn't the question of the longetivity of a battery apply to any battery whether it's in a Canon powerpack, Quantum's, or anybody else's?

PacAce wrote in post #5522437
Wouldn't the question of the longetivity of a battery apply to any battery whether it's in a Canon powerpack, Quantum's, or anybody else's?

Yes. But I can state that I have two Quantum packs with the original battery set in them, 1.5 decades later. OTOH, I have thrown out multiple sets of AA NiMH batteries because of cells that the conditioning charger indicate are malfunctioning, and the sets were all put into use within the past five years.

PacAce> I only use Fujicell 2700 rechargables in my flash. It seems to be ready to fire again as quickly as I can press the button. It recycles quicker than my pal's SB800 with Duracells'.

Wilt> We were taking about 10-20 shots at a time with minimal pauses not 300 continuous. There were breaks for the model to change, move lights, move props, etc. Oh and thanks for changing my name. Very funny?

martinsmith wrote in post #5523114
Wilt> We were taking about 10-20 shots at a time with minimal pauses not 300 continuous. There were breaks for the model to change, move lights, move props, etc. Oh and thanks for changing my name. Very funny?

'martinsmite' just call me 'Milt'