Yo Photographer
Register for FREE!
Go Back   Photography Forum > General Photography Forums > Photography Talk


Log-in/register to unlock all the member quick-links and features!
Reply


Bazza
Senior Member
Bazza is offline
Bazza is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: east sussex
Posts: 3,484
 
04-12-08, 11:06 PM
#1

Batteries for flashguns

Just found out you can buy 1.5v alkaline rechargeable batteries 2000ma.

You do need a RAM charger to recharge them.

Ok question why not just buy Ni-mh rehargeable batteries

a Ni-mh batteries are only 1.2mh ,whereas Alkaline rechargeable are 1.5v

b NI-mh batteries if left for some time discharge themselves a tremendous amount. Alkaline rechargeable don't.


Number of times an Alkaline battery can be recharged is 100-500 times depending on use

If anyone is interested and wants to know a bit more I have just purchased a charger and 4 batteries from this link where you can read more about them.

http://www.expanxe.co.uk/Products/Pr...BATTERIES.html

No I had never heard of these batteries either, but checked with my Nikon SB600 instruction book which says 1.5 v batteries can be used with Nikon flash guns, and on other sites they have used them with other Nikon speedlights.

RAM battery chargers must be used with these batteries

Bazza


     
nero's Avatar
nero
Senior Member
nero is offline
nero is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 855
 
05-12-08, 01:24 PM
#2

Re: Batteries for flashguns

Hi Bazza, I have Hama 2,600mAh, .. and Uniross 2,500mAh batteries, I've had them for over a year and they're great.
Kit 1
Canon 350D
Canon 18-55 f:3.5-5.6
Tamron 28-300 f:3.5-6.3
Sigma 28-200 f:3.5-5.6
Canon 28-80 f:3.5-5.6
canon 80-200 f:4.5-5.6
Kit 2
Canon 40D
Sigma 10 - 20 f:4.5
Other Kit
View my profile to see my other kit!
My Compact/P&S: Sony Mavica


     
Bazza
Senior Member
Bazza is offline
Bazza is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: east sussex
Posts: 3,484
 
05-12-08, 02:49 PM
#3

Re: Batteries for flashguns

Nero are they 1.5v ALKALINE RECHARGABLE AA (RAM) batteries ? and not Ni-mh which are 1.2v.of which I have already and are rated at 2600mah. Don't confuse maH with voltage.

The charger has to be a RAM charger as well, ordinary chargers could damage these batteries. The max output I have found is 2000maH

Bazza


     
Bazza
Senior Member
Bazza is offline
Bazza is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: east sussex
Posts: 3,484
 
10-12-08, 12:46 PM
#4

Re: Batteries for flashguns

Just Received the charger and batteries and yes it IS as they say described on the box.
Having used them in a flashgun against taking ordinary picture (no flash) and other
rechargeable batteries of similar Mah, would definately say they produce a stronger flash.


Bazza


     
BlackCloud's Avatar
BlackCloud
Senior Member
BlackCloud is offline
BlackCloud is Male
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Leicestershire, UK
Posts: 2,133
Comments/Critique welcome
 
11-12-08, 06:49 PM
#5

Re: Batteries for flashguns

Bazza, I wouldn't have expected the batteries to produce a stronger flash? Maximum output should be the same whatever batteries once it's charged up. I would expect the batteries to charge the capacitor faster so recycling times shorten.
Kit 1
Nikon D700
Nikon 28-70 f2.8 ED AF-S (The Beast)
Nikon 80-200mm f2.8
Tamron 24-135 SP
Nikon 300mm f4
Nikon 70-300mm VR
Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 (DX)
Nikon 28-105mm (great walkaround on D700!)
Lensbaby Composer
Nikon 20-35mm f2.8
Nikon SB800
Kit 2
Nikon D300
Nikon 20mm f2.8
Nikon 24mm f2.8
Nikon 28mm f2.8
Nikon 35mm f2
Nikon 50mm f1.4
Nikon 85mm f1.8
Micro-Nikon 60mm f2.8
Micro-Nikon 105mm f2.8
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8


     
nero's Avatar
nero
Senior Member
nero is offline
nero is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 855
 
13-12-08, 12:18 AM
#6

Re: Batteries for flashguns

Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackCloud View Post
Bazza, I wouldn't have expected the batteries to produce a stronger flash? Maximum output should be the same whatever batteries once it's charged up. I would expect the batteries to charge the capacitor faster so recycling times shorten.
You're quite correct Stuart, freshly charged batteries will show around 1.5 volts on a muti-meter but once connected to any device the voltage drops quite a bit.

They will not produce a stronger flash because of the built in overload protection in the flash gun, as the batteries gradually lose power after discharging the flash gun a few times they'll take longer to recycle the flash unit.

Rechargeable batteries need to be used and recharged a few times before they reach their full potential.
Kit 1
Canon 350D
Canon 18-55 f:3.5-5.6
Tamron 28-300 f:3.5-6.3
Sigma 28-200 f:3.5-5.6
Canon 28-80 f:3.5-5.6
canon 80-200 f:4.5-5.6
Kit 2
Canon 40D
Sigma 10 - 20 f:4.5
Other Kit
View my profile to see my other kit!
My Compact/P&S: Sony Mavica


     
Bazza
Senior Member
Bazza is offline
Bazza is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: east sussex
Posts: 3,484
 
14-12-08, 09:59 PM
#7

Re: Batteries for flashguns

I am tell what my results show and that is at least a 10% brighter flash in my opinion.

Quote "You're quite correct Stuart, freshly charged batteries will show around 1.5 volts on a muti-meter but once connected to any device the voltage drops quite a bit."

All things being equal a 1.2v battery drops by the same amount according to that statement, so the 1.5v battery will still produce more power

Bazza


     
nero's Avatar
nero
Senior Member
nero is offline
nero is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 855
 
14-12-08, 10:44 PM
#8

Re: Batteries for flashguns

According to your original post Bazza those Alkaline batteries are 2,000mAh - the ones I use are 2,500mAh therefore the voltage drop will be less because of their higher reserved capacity.

It's the same with car batteries, they're all rated at 12 volts but there's a huge difference between the reserves of a 30amp battery and a 60amp battery.

Immediately after removing a 1.5 volt battery from the charger it will show a reading of around 1.8 volts but this reduces in a few minutes to 1.5 volts.
The higher battery capacity will help retain this voltage longer.
Kit 1
Canon 350D
Canon 18-55 f:3.5-5.6
Tamron 28-300 f:3.5-6.3
Sigma 28-200 f:3.5-5.6
Canon 28-80 f:3.5-5.6
canon 80-200 f:4.5-5.6
Kit 2
Canon 40D
Sigma 10 - 20 f:4.5
Other Kit
View my profile to see my other kit!
My Compact/P&S: Sony Mavica


     
Bazza
Senior Member
Bazza is offline
Bazza is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: east sussex
Posts: 3,484
 
15-12-08, 01:07 AM
#9

Re: Batteries for flashguns

Nero

I was doing a comparison with like for like. Ram batteries @ 2000Mah against 2050Mah Ni cam. which is I think a fair or close enough comparison.On an unscientific test by trial, using the same camera settings, taking the same photo with both types of batteries rated around 2000 and 2050 respectively the RAM batteries definately came out brighter at a guess by around 10%



Yes you may well be correct if comparing with 2500mah, but in my opinion that is not a fair comparison having a 1/5 more output.

Bazza


     
Reply

Top


© Copyright 2008, Yo Photographer   Yo Photographer | Contact Us | Archive | Privacy Statement | Terms of Use | Top