AA Batteries Question

I'm looking for some advice on AA Batteries. I shoot mainly weddings. We (my partner and I) are using Canon Speedlite 580EX II and are using Duracell 15 minute AA batteries and chargers. They work great for that one day but over time they do not hold a charge for more than 24 hours and we only bought them a few months ago.

What are you guys using? Any suggestions? Recommendations??

Sanyo Enloop batteries and a very good charging unit.

A cheap recharger will kill rechargable batteries very quickly when they are used for flash, since you will be recharging them and reusing them very quickly. Cheap rechargers and quick recharge times tend to go hand in hand and are good for quick use, but are not going to last the test of time when used intensively.

The enloop batteries are a newer kind which have a much improved ability to store their charge when put in storage - they will keep something like 80% charge even after a year (regular rechargables will have given out long before that if stored in a flash and not used).

A good recharger is also key because that helps ensure the long life of your batteries

I'm using 580exII's with the Canon battery pack that holds 8 AAs. I get at least 400-500 flashes before I notice a big slow down on the flash recycle.

I used PowerEx brand rechargeables for years. They worked noticeably better than the Duracell, Everready, and Rayovac rechargeables I tried. I would get a years worth of weddings out of them, and many are still powering less demanding devices around my home.

People here at PT turned me on to Sanyo Eneloop rechargeables. I've only been using them a few months, but they seem similar to the PowerEx in performance, and they aren't supposed to lose the charge like most rechargeables. They cost the same as other ones, so it seemed like a no-brainer to me.

I use Costco Brand Kirkland, 48 batteries for about $12.00 and they last as long as any battery I have tried. Being using them for years.

Summertime wrote:
A good recharger is also key because that helps ensure the long life of your batteries

And what is a good recharger? Do they make some that can charge more than 4 batteries at a time? We have about 40 batteries between us for all our electronics.

Henry Peach wrote: I'm using 580exII's with the Canon battery pack that holds 8 AAs. I get at least 400-500 flashes before I notice a big slow down on the flash recycle.

I used PowerEx brand rechargeables for years. They worked noticeably better than the Duracell, Everready, and Rayovac rechargeables I tried. I would get a years worth of weddings out of them, and many are still powering less demanding devices around my home.

People here at PT turned me on to Sanyo Eneloop rechargeables. I've only been using them a few months, but they seem similar to the PowerEx in performance, and they aren't supposed to lose the charge like most rechargeables. They cost the same as other ones, so it seemed like a no-brainer to me.

Thank you. Maybe I will try the Sanyo Eneloop.

Darrell wrote: I use Costco Brand Kirkland, 48 batteries for about $12.00 and they last as long as any battery I have tried. Being using them for years.

That sounds like a pretty good deal. Too bad I don't have a Costco near me.

Brookie wrote:

Summertime wrote:
A good recharger is also key because that helps ensure the long life of your batteries

And what is a good recharger? Do they make some that can charge more than 4 batteries at a time? We have about 40 batteries between us for all our electronics.

www.thomasdistributing.com/

This is perhaps *the* place to shop for batteries and battery chargers. Many people consider the better Maha brand chargers to be the Canon L-glass equivalent in the battery charger field.

I've just used the chargers that came with the batteries (PowerEx and Sanyo). I'm getting 20-30 weddings and again that many portrait sessions before they get retired to the TV and video game remotes.

Summertime wrote:

Brookie wrote:

Summertime wrote:
A good recharger is also key because that helps ensure the long life of your batteries

And what is a good recharger? Do they make some that can charge more than 4 batteries at a time? We have about 40 batteries between us for all our electronics.

www.thomasdistributing.com/

This is perhaps *the* place to shop for batteries and battery chargers. Many people consider the better Maha brand chargers to be the Canon L-glass equivalent in the battery charger field.

Thanks I'll check out the site. Never heard of it, but it's you say it's "the" the place, then I should at least check it out. lol

Henry Peach wrote: I've just used the chargers that came with the batteries (PowerEx and Sanyo). I'm getting 20-30 weddings and again that many portrait sessions before they get retired to the TV and video game remotes.

If I decided to go with Sanyo, I'll probably do just that..use it's own charger. Thanks.

Brookie wrote:

Henry Peach wrote: I've just used the chargers that came with the batteries (PowerEx and Sanyo). I'm getting 20-30 weddings and again that many portrait sessions before they get retired to the TV and video game remotes.

If I decided to go with Sanyo, I'll probably do just that..use it's own charger. Thanks.

Good chargers are slow chargers. The fast charger shorten battery life. This is why I have many batteries all Sanyos. I have used many other brands as well but they dont hold their charges as long as the Sanyons.