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fastest recycling flash

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Jonathan Lee

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i am looking for a PTTL flash which will recycle in 2-4 seconds. what are my options?

thanks.

--
Cheers,
Jon.
 
Speed of charge is affected by internal resistance of the battery and terminal voltage.

Enloops have very similar spec for both as NIMH so will not alter the charge time just because they have a higher rate current capacity.

Though they will last longer , If number of pulse is your requirement then the 2500mAH XX enloops are probably the best.

For fast recharging NiZN is you friend with a terminal voltage of 1.6V Vs 1.2 For en-loops and similar Internal resistance they will provide a significant recharge boost.

There is a danger that the 6.4V Vs the 6V max expected may destroy the flash if there's any weakness in it.

The safest way to fast recharging is the Metz series of Hammer flashes with P-ttl modules and external PSU.

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Jonathan Lee said:
i am looking for a PTTL flash which will recycle in 2-4 seconds. what are my options?
Click to expand...
Buy two and use them together in place of one. The lower power needed to be produced by each flash will lower the recycle time faster than any one flash you could use. Even if that one flash has external power source, it won't be faster than two of the same flash with their own external power sources.

Thank you
Russell
 
my metz 48 3-4 sec and i just ordered the yn560 they say 2 sec, we will see. sigma sg500st 4-5 sec i use hobby king nmhi baterries at around $ 1.00 each and buy 30 each time. ishoot continuously for 12 hours and the batteries come out so hot you cant hold them. and they go straight into a charger at 2.5amps, havnt had any batteris or flashes fail yet.

cheers don
 
So according to you how much time does this best $399 flash take for full recharge from drain?
read the specs for this metz 58Af-2 recycle time 5 to 6 sec

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/744545-REG/Metz_MZ_58327PS_mecablitz_58_AF_2_TTL.html

0.3sec=8sec according to you then 5sec=? 40 to 50 sec

so dont you think that polaroid is good by today's standard?

R.Raghu
wlachan said:
Raghu R said:
0.3second recycle time & the cheapest for pentax with good guide number
take a look
R.Raghu

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/752618-REG/Polaroid_PL126_PZ_PE_PL126_Shoe_Mount_Flash.html
Click to expand...
That means it will take 8s to full recharge from drain. Slow by today's standard.
--
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Click to expand...
--
'The Photographer reveals the light;the light reveals the picture'--C.Rajagopal.
A picture should communicate with our heart.
Efzee-50 & Foojee F 31fd---Polaroid X-530

 
Raghu R said:
So according to you how much time does this best $399 flash take for full recharge from drain?
read the specs for this metz 58Af-2 recycle time 5 to 6 sec

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/744545-REG/Metz_MZ_58327PS_mecablitz_58_AF_2_TTL.html

0.3sec=8sec according to you then 5sec=? 40 to 50 sec

so dont you think that polaroid is good by today's standard?
Click to expand...
No Raghu. If you look at the specs of the Polaroid PL-126PZ, it says:

Recycle Time 0.3-8.0 seconds

That means the recycle time is 0.3s with the shortest flash duration (least amount of energy). If the flash recycle from full power, the recycle time is 8 sec.

The Metz specs is 5 - 6 sec from full power.

Back to the original question, I don't think there is any flash unit without external high voltage power supply that can recycle from full power in 2 sec. If there were, heat would kill it in no time.

With a Quantum Turbo, the recycle time from full power of my Pentax 540 and of my Metz 54MZ-4 is about 2 sec or a little less. My Lumedyne #052X/P/C (I have one of each) can recycle them even faster, in about 1.5 sec.

My Pentax 540 with Pentax TR Power Pack III (or II) can recycle in about 2 - 2.5 sec if the energy comes from both internal and external batteries.
 
The best way I know is to blow the money on a Quantum power pack to power the flash. From the Quantum compatability list it looks like the best bet would be a Sigma EF-530 Super with either a Quantum Battery 1+ or a 1C power pack. Will work on an EF-500 Super flash also. Sigma cycles times are usually shown as 7s on Alkalines and 5s on Nicads. Advertised cycle times with 1+ are 50% faster than AA. With 1C they are listed as 3x faster than Alkalines and 33% faster than Ni-Cads, so figure cycles times from 2-4s range. I use a QB1 on an EF-500 Super and while I have never timed it it is definitely faster than using AA batteries. A new 1C is $129 and you will need the MVI cable which can cost as much as $73. I would prefer the 1C myself because you can either use it like my Battery 1 and clip it on your belt or you can use it's built in tripod mount and bolt it to the bottom of the camera. The current QB1+ costs $229 + $73 for the cable. You can also look for good deals on Ebay and get the prices on a used one down to maybe 50%. There is also a place you can buy replacement batteries for them cheaply when they wear out, which I have done once in the 10 years I have owned mine. You can get as many as 800 flashes from one of these and the speed stays up till they are nearly depleted. This is what I used at the 3 weddings I was roped into doing by friends.
Kent Gittings
 
That Polaroid flash is just a Zeikos under a Polaroid name.
The only thing that counts is the cycle time at full power:
Polariod=8sec.
Metz=6sec.
Sigma=5sec (Nicads)7sec(Alkalines)

Metz/Sigma/Pentax with Quantum/LumiDyne battery pack=2-4sec.
Kent Gittings
 
The answer is.......

Metz 45 CL digital with quantum Power and CM5 lead

Recycle time down to 1 second
http://www.qtm.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=191
The 45 CL digital on its own power will deliver 4 secs or better.

Seems to me if you want pro flash recycle times then Buy a pro flash :)
KentG said:
The best way I know is to blow the money on a Quantum power pack to power the flash. From the Quantum compatability list it looks like the best bet would be a Sigma EF-530 Super with either a Quantum Battery 1+ or a 1C power pack. Will work on an EF-500 Super flash also. Sigma cycles times are usually shown as 7s on Alkalines and 5s on Nicads. Advertised cycle times with 1+ are 50% faster than AA. With 1C they are listed as 3x faster than Alkalines and 33% faster than Ni-Cads, so figure cycles times from 2-4s range. I use a QB1 on an EF-500 Super and while I have never timed it it is definitely faster than using AA batteries. A new 1C is $129 and you will need the MVI cable which can cost as much as $73. I would prefer the 1C myself because you can either use it like my Battery 1 and clip it on your belt or you can use it's built in tripod mount and bolt it to the bottom of the camera. The current QB1+ costs $229 + $73 for the cable. You can also look for good deals on Ebay and get the prices on a used one down to maybe 50%. There is also a place you can buy replacement batteries for them cheaply when they wear out, which I have done once in the 10 years I have owned mine. You can get as many as 800 flashes from one of these and the speed stays up till they are nearly depleted. This is what I used at the 3 weddings I was roped into doing by friends.
Kent Gittings
Click to expand...
--
My PPG
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/andrewwaldram
My Photo Stream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/awaldram/
1x.com
http://1x.com/artist/awaldram/wall
 
External battery packs can be low-voltage supply or high-voltage supply.
  • Low-voltage battery packs (e.g. Quantum 1, 1+, 1C, Bantam, 2, 4, 5) supply power at the same voltage as the flash unit's internal batteries. The recycle time may be better than Ni-Cad cells internal to the flash, but not by much. The main advantage of low-voltage battery packs is the number of flashes per charge, not recycle time.
  • High-voltage battery packs (e.g. Quantum models with "Turbo" in the name) supply 330V to the flash unit. The flash needs to have a high voltage power input (not all flash units do). For shoe-mount flashes, the recycle time is reduced to about 1.5 - 2 sec for full power strobe. For hand-mount flashes, 2 - 4 sec.
I have not seen recycle time of 1 sec yet.

In terms of power packs, I currently have Pentax TR II, Quantum Turbo, Quantum Turbo Compact, Lumedyne #052C/P/X (1 of each), Quantum 2 (low voltage), and Quantum 1+ (low voltage). In terms of flash units, I have Pentax 540, Metz 54MZ-4, 60CT-4, 60CT-2, 45CL-4, 45CT-1, 45CT-4, Quantum QFlash T2, Sunpak 611, 555, 522.
 
-another vote for multiple flash-

If you are in a studio environment, I think it actually makes a lot of sense to use two, or even 4 flashes and fire them at 1/4, 1/8 or even 1/16 (depending on quite a few factors but still...) With 4 flashes at 1/16 you do get quite a lot of lights, and the cost is still not too bad. Plus when recycle time is not an issue, you do have 4 flashes to play with to pull some very nice effects. Any new flash (Sigma, Pentax, Metz) will recharge almost instantly with fresh batteries at 1/8 - 1/16 output.
 
ThankYou
R.Raghu
soldbear said:
Raghu R said:
So according to you how much time does this best $399 flash take for full recharge from drain?
read the specs for this metz 58Af-2 recycle time 5 to 6 sec

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/744545-REG/Metz_MZ_58327PS_mecablitz_58_AF_2_TTL.html

0.3sec=8sec according to you then 5sec=? 40 to 50 sec

so dont you think that polaroid is good by today's standard?
Click to expand...
No Raghu. If you look at the specs of the Polaroid PL-126PZ, it says:

Recycle Time 0.3-8.0 seconds

That means the recycle time is 0.3s with the shortest flash duration (least amount of energy). If the flash recycle from full power, the recycle time is 8 sec.

The Metz specs is 5 - 6 sec from full power.

Back to the original question, I don't think there is any flash unit without external high voltage power supply that can recycle from full power in 2 sec. If there were, heat would kill it in no time.

With a Quantum Turbo, the recycle time from full power of my Pentax 540 and of my Metz 54MZ-4 is about 2 sec or a little less. My Lumedyne #052X/P/C (I have one of each) can recycle them even faster, in about 1.5 sec.

My Pentax 540 with Pentax TR Power Pack III (or II) can recycle in about 2 - 2.5 sec if the energy comes from both internal and external batteries.
Click to expand...
--
'The Photographer reveals the light;the light reveals the picture'--C.Rajagopal.
A picture should communicate with our heart.
Efzee-50 & Foojee F 31fd---Polaroid X-530

 
Hi Russell...
Been considering your two-flash method since you posted it on Thursday.

Seems to me your two-flash method would also significantly reduce the heat buildup in each flash when using many-multiple, high-power flash actuations.

I remember seeing, quite awhile ago, a two-flash bracket somewhere; just don't remember where.
I am really liking your two-flash solution.
SK
Russell Evans said:
Jonathan Lee said:
i am looking for a PTTL flash which will recycle in 2-4 seconds. what are my options?
Click to expand...
Buy two and use them together in place of one. The lower power needed to be produced by each flash will lower the recycle time faster than any one flash you could use. Even if that one flash has external power source, it won't be faster than two of the same flash with their own external power sources.

Thank you
Russell
Click to expand...
 
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