After hearing claims that the Pixel TD-382 would offer better recycle times and longer battery life than the equivalent Yongnuo SF-18 I decided to run the Yongnuo through the exact same test I just did with the Pixel.
Setup for both units is identical. Fresh Duracell AA batteries were installed in the flash before each test and fully charged Powerex 2700mAh NiMH batteries were used in the battery pack.
The Nikon SB-900 was connected to a Pocket Wizard Plus II and was triggered once every 30 seconds using the intervalometer in a Pocket Wizard Multi Max. Triggering every 30 seconds keeps the flash from overheating or shutting down due to the thermal protection circuitry.
Test Results
First, let’s look at the results from the Pixel TD-382 test.
Recycle Time And Battery Life Using 8 NiMH Batteries:
• Full power - .9 seconds.
• Half power or lower - immediate with no perceivable delay.
Full Power Pop Test
• 1 – 100 pops : No change in recycle time.
• 101 – 200 pops : No change in recycle time.
• 201 – 300 pops : Recycle time increased from .9 to 1.32 seconds (.42 second change).
• 301 – 400 pops : Recycle time increased from 1.32 to 4.75 seconds (3.43 second change).
• 400 – 450 pops : Recycle time increased from 4.75 to 15 seconds (10.25 second change).
First indication of low charge was at 380 pops with a noticeable increase in recycle time.
Now, here are the results from the Yongnuo SF-18.
Recycle Time And Battery Life Using NiMH Batteries:
• Full power – 1.2 seconds.
• Half power or lower - immediate with no perceivable delay.
Full Power Pop Test
• 1 – 100 pops : Recycle time increased from 1.2 to 1.6 seconds (.4 second change).
• 101 – 200 pops : Recycle time increased from 1.6 to 1.8 seconds (.2 second change).
• 201 – 300 pops : Recycle time increased from 1.8 to 2.7 seconds (.9 second change).
• 301 – 350 pops : Recycle time increased from 2.7 to 9.3 seconds (6.6 second change).
There was no real indication of low charge but a noticeable increase in recycle time occurred at 310 pops.
Compare and Contrast
The results are fairly obvious. When it comes to recycle time, battery life and the overall combination the Pixel TD-382 proves to be a much better unit than the Yongnuo SF-18. If you look at the Pixel after 300 pops it was still giving recycle times of 1.32 seconds, as compared to the Yongnuo at 2.7 seconds after 300 pops. That’s a difference of 1.38 seconds. When you’re talking about recycle times, 1.38 seconds is quite a bit depending on the shooting scenario.
Another thing to note when comparing the two units is that the very noticeable slowdown in recycle time occurs at 380 pops on the Pixel and 310 pops on the Yongnuo. While that’s only a difference of 70 pops you have to figure in the fact that the recycle times are better up to and after that point.
These two battery packs look and feel the same and weight is about the same when using 8 batteries in the Pixel. When it comes to overall performance there is no question that the Pixel outperforms the Yongnuo and in my opinion is worth a few extra dollars for that performance as well as the ability to use 4 batteries in an emergency or as backup.
You can see the review of the Pixel TD-382 here: REVIEW: Pixel TD-382
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