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420EX Recycle time....too slow......

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24 seconds? Is that a typo? My 420 doesn't take 24 seconds to recharge on dead batteries.
Chris Ludwig said:
I timed the new batteries: (Canon NB4-100, 1600Mah) against
standard AA alkaline batteries by hitting test switch (full-power
flash). Here are the results:

Alkaline: 24 sec. Cycle time
1600Mah: 3 sec. Cycle time

Much better!
Click to expand...
--
TyDo
 
Deeddawg said:
Alkaline batteries technically hold more energy, but they have a
relatively high "internal resistance".

What this means is that if you compared them to NiMH's for a
low-current application they'd last longer. But when dealing with
high current demands, they simply can't deliver.

The key to flash-recharge times is how quickly the batteries can
deliver energy to the flash charging circuit. And for this
application NiMH and NiCD batteries are best.

I suspect you'll find a good set of NiMH's will halve your recharge
times.
Click to expand...
Well, I think you got I slightly wrong about the alcalines holding more energy. They do hold more volt, but not more energy (mAh). According to the Battery-shootout at Imaging Resource http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM AA alcalines hold typically 750 mAh, while AA NiMH's, depending on the type, hold between 1500 and 2000 mAh.

I just recently got NiMH's for all of my 3 flashes - what a relief. Recycling time is essentially a phenomenon of the past ;-)

--
Kjeld Olesen
http://www.acapixus.dk
 
Deeddawg said:
Maha c204f charger and PowerEx 2000mah batteries.
Click to expand...
I have read all the good stuff about the Maha charger and I am sure it is an excellent choice.

Just wanted to point out another possibility for anybody lloking to charge 12 AA NiMH at a time (or AAA or C): The Ansmann Energy 16 Lader. Definitely NOT the choice for mobility, as it is rather large.

Unfortunately, I could not find an english page, but here is a link to the Ansman page describibg it in german http://www.ansmann.de/web_art/art_detail.php?art_nummer=5207123

--
Kjeld Olesen
http://www.acapixus.dk
 
Hi Terry

What is that gizmo mounted on the front of your flash called?

And do you know what the effective guide number becomes??

--
Kjeld Olesen
http://www.acapixus.dk
 
I have a CP-E2 for my 550ex (I love it BTW). I don't think that it is compatible with a 420ex.

Here's the B&H link to it:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh5.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=ProductActivator__Aproductlist_html___164265___CACPE2___REG___CatID=660___SID=F382A98BDE0
danks said:
I use the "Compact Battery Pack" CP-E2. it holds an additional 6 AA
cells and provides very fast recycling time. It is mounted on the
base of the D60 on the photo.



--
Terry Danks
Nature & Wildlife (Hummingbirds!) Photography
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/n1dcmc78/home.htm
Click to expand...
--
TyDo
 
It's a flash extender . . . a simple plastic fresnel lens held the appropriate distance in front of the flash head. Claim is it increases light output, by concentrating the beam, by 2-3 stops. I find that a bit optimistic but it certainly helps by a stop or so. It only comes into its own at FLs in excess of 300mm or so. Basically just a device to prevent scattering your light all over the landscape and keeping the beam more confined to the subject.

About $40 from the likes of Arthur Morris and Kirk.
Kjeld Olesen said:
Hi Terry

What is that gizmo mounted on the front of your flash called?

And do you know what the effective guide number becomes??

--
Kjeld Olesen
http://www.acapixus.dk
Click to expand...
--
Terry Danks
Nature & Wildlife (Hummingbirds!) Photography
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/n1dcmc78/home.htm
 
So the guide number of the EX550 becomes something like 77 at 100 ISO - one stop gain from the rated 55.

Shooting at ISO200 and using a f:4.0 lens fully opened you can get full flash exposure just short of 30 meters, or -1 EV fill flash at 40 meters??

I may have to get one of those ;-)

--
Kjeld Olesen
http://www.acapixus.dk
 
I have no luck at all at using flash at anywhere near those distances! I am usually concerned with smallish birds at less than thirty feet. Any attempt to get much longer usually results in that dreaded lack of exposure confirmation on the 550ex. Obviously all depends on settings and ambient light but 30 metres and more is "outside the envelope" entirely in my experience.

Still, while a bit unwieldy, a flash extender is very useful and gives a lot of "bang for the buck" even if I feel their gain factor is overstated in the advertising blurbs.
Kjeld Olesen said:
So the guide number of the EX550 becomes something like 77 at 100
ISO - one stop gain from the rated 55.

Shooting at ISO200 and using a f:4.0 lens fully opened you can get
full flash exposure just short of 30 meters, or -1 EV fill flash at
40 meters??

I may have to get one of those ;-)

--
Kjeld Olesen
http://www.acapixus.dk
Click to expand...
--
Terry Danks
Nature & Wildlife (Hummingbirds!) Photography
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/n1dcmc78/home.htm
 
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