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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
AA Rechargeables
Stephen Holt, Photographer
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Salt Lake City | UT | USA | Posted: 11:35 AM on 10.13.09 |
| ->> I am looking for some GREAT AA rechargeables for my 580EXs. Recycle time and stamina are key. Any favorites? |
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Corbey Dorsey, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Greg Francis, Photographer
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 5:07 PM on 10.13.09 |
->> Energizer/Duracell work great, but like the camera batteries, only work 2-4 yrs before replacement.
Maha has some chargers that charge each battery individually (extending battery life), but I haven't tried that system. |
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Allen Hubbard, Photographer
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Spokane | WA | USA | Posted: 5:36 PM on 10.13.09 |
->> In several previous threads about AA batteries many people recommended the Powerex batteries.
I have to say I am extremely disappointed in the sets I purchased.
I bought 3 sets of 4 batteries about 6-7 months ago and all but 1 of the 12 batteries won't hold a charge anymore. I am taking them back to the store to see what they will do.
At the same time I bought the Maha Powerex MH-C9000 charger and have been happy with it.
I have continued to use my older Energizer batteries with that charger and they still work good after 3 years (they aren't as good as new but do work).
So I guess you can always get a lemon but for me getting 11 of 12 that were lemons makes me wary. |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 6:00 PM on 10.13.09 |
->> I've been a big fan on the Enerloop's. They aren't one of a kind anymore as I belive Maha etc has a similar offering now, but while they have a bit less capacity, they are so much more reliable.
Problem with most AA's is that you've got to charge them all before a shoot because they lose so much power just sitting for a few days at a time.
The Enerloops and similar hold their charge far longer so you can charge them, stick them in your speedlights, and when you pull the flash out, be it the next day, next week or even next month, you'll still have 90% or more of your charge.
My Powerex while great right after a charge are next to worthless after a week or so of sitting in the flash. So the night before a wedding I'm spending the whole evening cycling all my sets of batteries onto the charger to make sure they will be good to go in 12 hours, which is sort of a pain. |
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Brad Barr, Photographer
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Port St. Lucie | FL | USA | Posted: 10:49 PM on 10.13.09 |
->> Allen thats very surprising. As wedding photographers use AA's like they are going out of style...I have never ever encountered anyone who didnt absolutely rave aobut the powerex AA's including myself. On DWF, they are very critical...and again..only raves for these. I use 24+ every week, and never have exhausted a set while on the job. Recently I've been using them in the grips of my d700's and same thing..you cant wear them out even after 1K shots.
If you got lemons, you got the only set I've ever heard of.
bb |
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David Ahntholz, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Cleveland | OH | USA | Posted: 8:20 AM on 10.14.09 |
| ->> I agree with Jeff about the Eneloops ... for the same reasons he stated. I've had good luck using them with my strobes. I got mine from Thomas Distributing, which has package options with different chargers. Costco stocked the batteries a few months ago with a regular charger (not sure if they still have them, though). |
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Al Goldis, Photographer
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East Lansing | MI | USA | Posted: 10:58 AM on 10.14.09 |
->> Like Jeff and David, I have switched entirely to LSD (low self-discharge) rechargeables. Sanyo Eneloop, Rayovac Hybrid and Duracell Pre-charged are the ones commonly found in stores. There are some other models available online.
I prefer the Eneloop over the Rayovac but I think either is a big improvement over traditional Ni-MH which lose their charge so quickly that they're dead within a week. The LSDs don't have to be charged immediately before use. The Duracell is actually a repacked version of either the Eneloop or Rayovac, depending on where it was made. I believe with AAs, the Duracells with the white tops (next to the terminal) are Eneloops and the black tops are Rayovac.
There is a lot of expertise at the CandlePowerForums. For example: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=79302 |
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Andrew Scott, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McLean | VA | United States | Posted: 12:13 PM on 10.14.09 |
| ->> Recently I found a great deal on the slow discharge Duracell AA rechargeables marked down at Target of all places. $6 for a set of 4 AA's or $10.50 for a set of 4 AA's with a 6 hour charger. Too good a price not to stock up. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 12:22 PM on 10.14.09 |
| ->> There were already numerous threads on AA recharge. batts. Doesn't anyone search the archives besides Bert? |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 1:24 PM on 10.14.09 |
->> Jeff, I think searching is a good idea always, but you have to remember some technology can change very quickly. The latest devices can draw more current and new battery brands/technology are coming to market very quickly.
What might be suggested as a best buy in January of 2008 might be a rather dated choice today.
Before buying a new computer monitor I tried to read everything I could to figure out the best type of panels and brands. Over half of what I read didn't apply because they have new models coming out every 6 months or more so I couldn't even buy some choices if I wanted to since they were replaced. Simply to rely on old search info would of been a bit foolish as I would of missed out on some current opinions on some great new models that just hit the market.
Search is a good tool in general, and there is indeed a wealth of information to be gained, but at the same time, I think it would be foolish not to seek out the most current information and accounts you can find as well. |
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Stephen Holt, Photographer
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Salt Lake City | UT | USA | Posted: 6:39 PM on 10.14.09 |
->> thanks Mills. I thought there might be new info out there and indeed there was. I am now researching the Low-Discharge batts and will probably try my luck with the continuing crowd favorite Maha Powerex 2700 in the mean time.
Thanks ALL who participated. It has been a GREAT help. |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 7:22 PM on 10.14.09 |
->> A combination of both LD and high capacity Maha Powerex has always worked for me. I keep the Enerloops in two flashes I use for day to day use. Keeps them ready to go and while not quite as powerful, they always seem to have enough to get through an assignment.
Then when I know I'll need more battery power, such as putting the grip on my D700 and using AA's, I'll charge up 2 sets of Powerex the night before, along with my other camera batteries.
A good charger is really the key though, something that can charge each battery separately. The Maha stuff is great. Its not cheap, but neither are AA's or missed shots.
There is nothing worse than have 3 good and 1 bad battery and trying to figure that out while out shooting. The cheap chargers just don't tell you anything about each battery so its a gamble if they are all charged fully.
Being able to condition and charge each cell on its own means you know you've got 4 fully functional cells.
Also probably not really needed, but I label each set of 4 and try to keep them together when I charge them. It allows me to keep track of how many times as set is used and keeps one battery from seeing lots more usage than another battery if you just randomly grab a few each time you load up a speedlight |
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Allen Hubbard, Photographer
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Spokane | WA | USA | Posted: 2:36 PM on 10.21.09 |
->> Brad,
I am not sure why they went dead so fast but I took them back to the Batteries Plus store where I purchased them and they ran a test and confirmed all 12 were DOA.
I kept them together in sets marked A_B_C and used them together and recharged them together etc.
I suppose there could have been a bad batch or maybe this store had them on the shelf for several years before I bought them. ??????
Anyway after getting them back from Bat. Plus yesterday they told me they had talked to Powerex and I was to call them. I did so this morning and the guy on the phone took down all my information and said he was shipping out replacements right away. So great customer service it appears.
The MH-C9000 seems to charge all my other batteries just fine but maybe I should have it checked out too. |
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