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Back to this glorious font of knowledge for another drink!

Planning to order an SB800 this weekend and I'm not quite clear on what's included with it.

I see a battery pack listed in one place, but no charger. And then some posts have referred to using individual AA cells.

Hoping one of you that own one could clarify it for me and then make some battery/recharger brand recommendations.

Thanks.

SoCal Steve

It just uses 4 x AA batteries. I use the VARTA 15 minute charge and go with it and it works just fine. A friend borrowed my kit about a month ago and apparently took around 500 or so shots before needing to replace the batteries.

The SB800 normally comes without battery pack as a separate item or charger. You will find that most people buy NiMh batteries of around 2300mA either as a set of 4 and/or complete with charger.

Also keep in mind that if you use the fifth battery option you will obviously need 5 batteries.

I use Sb800/ 5 batteries + an SD8 battery pack with 6 batteries = 11 batteries in one set, and last me few days shootings continuously.

If you go here:

http://forum.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?t=1055

you will find a 4 page discussion on this very topic. Handy tool the old search button

Thanks to all of you for the replies!

The Varta and a 15 minute recharge sounds incredible! Must be a lot of heat involved, but what do I care. As long as it works. I'll check them out.

I've been silently reading many of the posts the past weeks and enjoying the hell out of them! Some really great images too.

Ordering this weekend an SB800, 50mm f1.4, B+W 67mm CP and two adapter rings, (6) 512Mb Lexar 80X cards, an extra EN-EL3 and a couple Kodak gray cards. Whew, that should hold me for a day or two.

Cheers and Thanks.
SoCal Steve

SoCal Steve wrote:Thanks to all of you for the replies!

The Varta and a 15 minute recharge sounds incredible!

You'll find that Varta is marketed as Rayovac in the USA. Actually it's the other way round, Rayovac is marketed as Varta here (Varta is owned by Rayovac)

I checked out the Rayovac's and they are perfect. I see the 15 minute charger and 12 batteries here in the States for $67. Excellent! Even includes a car adapter for charging. 2000mA batteries btw. BTW I did check out the link before posting my question but was still left wondering what the SB800 came with, etc.

Thanks again guys. Problem solved!

SoCal Steve

Steve, the battery pack you might have seen mentioned that comes packaged with the SB800 is the SD-800, which is the optional use 5th cell.
The SD-8A Birddog mentions is yet again an external battery pack, compatible with the SB800 with or without the SD800 fifth cell option; but is an extra cost option.

Good quality rechargable batteries are expensive and the quick chargers tend to overheat them and damage them fairly quickly. A good battery charger is not a quick charger. It is a slow charger...but it looks after your batteries and they last a lot longer. I have been using a number of these and they are outstanding.

http://www.rezap.com.au

SoCal Steve,

SoCal Steve wrote:I checked out the Rayovac's and they are perfect. I see the 15 minute charger and 12 batteries here in the States for $67. Excellent! Even includes a car adapter for charging. 2000mA batteries btw. BTW I did check out the link before posting my question but was still left wondering what the SB800 came with, etc.

Thanks again guys. Problem solved!

SoCal Steve

Depending and how much you are going to use the 'Rayovac' 15 Minute Charge and Go you may want to consider another pack of 4 'NiMh' batteries at the same time as purchasing the unit. I did and several other forum members either purchased 1 or 2 packs depending on whether you want to use the fifth battery cell in the SB-800, please refer to manual re operation. This way you can have one complete set of spare charged batteries.

Cheers,