550ex battery life

[Trevor Ash]

but will rechargable cycle as fast as GOOD alkalines IN THE LONG RUN?

I don't want to drop $60 on rechargables if they don't solve my recyling issues

You would be AMAZED by the improvement that a good set of rechargables provide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Faster cycles AND longer lasting.

I highly recommend some of the maha recharger models that can be bought here:
http://www.thomas-distributing.com/b...33898&LID=3386

Look at the PowerEx batteries as well.

[another view]

First off, I've been using 2100 MAH Ni-MH batteries in my SB28 (remember those??) and I'd say they last about 3x as long as alkalines.

Second, check this out: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=164265&is=REG It looks like the same thing as the Nikon SD-8A that I use. With the Nikon, you keep the four AA's in the flash, this holds six more and it plugs into the front. That way you're using a total of 10 AA's with it. Advantage over a Quantum is that it's cheaper, lighter and fits in your pocket. Plus you can rotate the NIMH batteries to something else when not using this pack.

After shooting 300+ frames with this and ISO400 film at f5.6, I still had instant recycling at the end of the night - as in no recycle time.

[Sebastian]

First off, I've been using 2100 MAH Ni-MH batteries in my SB28 (remember those??) and I'd say they last about 3x as long as alkalines.

Second, check this out: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=164265&is=REG It looks like the same thing as the Nikon SD-8A that I use. With the Nikon, you keep the four AA's in the flash, this holds six more and it plugs into the front. That way you're using a total of 10 AA's with it. Advantage over a Quantum is that it's cheaper, lighter and fits in your pocket. Plus you can rotate the NIMH batteries to something else when not using this pack.

After shooting 300+ frames with this and ISO400 film at f5.6, I still had instant recycling at the end of the night - as in no recycle time.

Steve,

thanks for that link, I didn't event hink about that. It may not have the capacity and juice of a Quantum, but it might be a very good, and compatible, alternative.

[Peter_AUS]

One of the things to remember is, most rechargeable batteries are only 1.2v and alkaline batteries are 1.5v so that is part of the problem. I found that with my Canon 550EX flash and found these "Big" batteries that are rechargeable 1.5v batteries and haven't found a problem as of yet. I am thinking of getting the battery pack CP-E2 though sometime in the near future as well.