Batteries for the SB 800

[Greg B]

I am getting the SB 800 next week

The benefits of the fifth battery are clear - faster recycling times.

I always like to have a spare charged battery (or set as the case may be) in the bag.

So I am looking at 10 rechargeables.

Does anyone have experiences, good or bad, that might help me with this purchase? Or advice?

[sirhc55]

Hi Greg

I just bought a couple of sets of 2300mA Ni-MH from Dick S - I keep a charged set in the bag but after doing a wedding of over 200 shots plus mucking around with the flash for days before the event I did not need the spare set - but handy anyway

Cheers

Chris

[Onyx]

Yeah, I'm finding the specs are rating battery life rather conservatively too.

I have a set of old 1850mAh and a newer set of 2300mAh cells, and I haven't ever run out of juice using either set.

If you carry spares in your camera bag, remember to keep them away from potential contact with other metallic bits, including each other.

[Greg B]

That sounds encouraging - thanks for the tip too Onyx.

I think I will see what Dick has to offer

cheers

[Mj]

Haven't yet found a need for spares myself... used the SB-800 with abandon during an afternoon/evening wedding and it never ran dry.

[Greg B]

Hmmm. What to do, have one set, with three left over, or have two sets with two left over. (This five battery thing doesn't sit well with the four packs)

[Onyx]

Oh Greg, i don't know how much this'll help ya - Altronics (Perth based co, just openned up a store in Syd) currently has a special, my dad bought it the other week. If you buy their charger for about $30, you can get a set of 4 2300mAh NiMH cells (unknown/house brand) for an extra $10.

[Kristine]

Hmmm. What to do, have one set, with three left over, or have two sets with two left over. (This five battery thing doesn't sit well with the four packs)

Simple. Two people get five packs of four = 20 batteries. Half the batteries = 10 each. This then = 2 x 5 batteries.

Cheers
Kristine

[MHD]

Oh Greg, i don't know how much this'll help ya - Altronics (Perth based co, just openned up a store in Syd) currently has a special, my dad bought it the other week. If you buy their charger for about $30, you can get a set of 4 2300mAh NiMH cells (unknown/house brand) for an extra $10.

where in sydney?

[Greg B]

Oh Greg, i don't know how much this'll help ya - Altronics (Perth based co, just openned up a store in Syd) currently has a special, my dad bought it the other week. If you buy their charger for about $30, you can get a set of 4 2300mAh NiMH cells (unknown/house brand) for an extra $10.

That helps a lot Onyx, thanks. I'll be in Sydney next week.

[Greg B]

Hmmm. What to do, have one set, with three left over, or have two sets with two left over. (This five battery thing doesn't sit well with the four packs)

Simple. Two people get five packs of four = 20 batteries. Half the batteries = 10 each. This then = 2 x 5 batteries.

Cheers
Kristine

A very sound solution. Although the other two batteries in a (3x4)-10=2 situation could be pressed into service elsewhere.

So many options, so little time.

[horstflotow]

[quote="Greg B"]I am getting the SB 800 next week

The benefits of the fifth battery are clear - faster recycling times.

I always like to have a spare charged battery (or set as the case may be) in the bag.

So I am looking at 10 rechargeables.

Does anyone have experiences, good or bad, that might help me with this purchase? Or advice? [/quote]

I've got a bunch of different Nimh ranging from the 1800 mAh GP to 2300 Sanyo ones. I only buy the Sanyo ones now (2300 mAh ones are 16 S$ for 4 here), at one stage I bought some "cheap-cheap" 2100 mAh (don't remember the brand off the top of my head) which were ok for a while but now no longer hold charge for more than 10 secs (as I found out in Borneo).

My suggestion is to buy the best you can get hold of, the cost over the long run is minimal.

Regards

Horst

[Greg B]

Thanks Horst. It is so often the case that buying the best you can ends up being the most economical in the long run.

[MHD]

Wise man say: Buy expensive, cry once. Buy cheap, cry many times.

[Greg B]

That wise man was seriously wise.

[sirhc55]

And don’t forget - do not mix and match - a very bad idea...

Cheers

Chris

[Greg B]

You mean like stripes with checks?



(I know what you mean)

[sirhc55]

You mean like stripes with checks?



(I know what you mean)

Absolutely - whoops sorry, I forgot you were a Melbourne member Greg hehe

Chris

[Greg B]

Harsh

[Killakoala]

Jaycar sell POWERTECH AA 2300MAh NiMhs individually.

Altronics in Sydney is just behind the Auburn Megamart on Parramatta rd. Just go behind Mega Mart via Duck St and it's on the block opposite the rear park entry.

[Onyx]

Koala's got it - Altronics is in Auburn, just around the corner from Birddog's base. They have all of four car parking spaces, so get there at a time you think nobody else would be there...

I use exclusively Energizers myself (rebadged Sanyo's). Also Maha C204F charger, as they were the best at the time of purchase.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM

Very thorough resource.

[Raydar]

I’ve been using Lenmar NoMempro 2300 ma for some time now with no probs.
I was using them in the 5700 to try & get a little more life out of the thing; it worked quite well.

Cheers
Ray

[MattC]

This could be an option. Smart charger with 10 batteries

http://www.mittoni.com.au/catalog/default.php/cPath/133

Cheers

Matt

[Greg B]

This could be an option. Smart charger with 10 batteries

http://www.mittoni.com.au/catalog/default.php/cPath/133

Cheers

Matt

Matt, Outstanding link, that looks just the ticket, thanks a lot

cheers

[Greg B]

Jaycar sell POWERTECH AA 2300MAh NiMhs individually.

Altronics in Sydney is just behind the Auburn Megamart on Parramatta rd. Just go behind Mega Mart via Duck St and it's on the block opposite the rear park entry.

Thanks Killa, good old Jaycar (home of the el cheapo remote)

Sensational, I'll be there on monday!

Good work.

[MattC]

Greg,
It was the chargers that got me interested more than anything else. There are a couple of chargers on the Mittoni site, one of which will run from a 12V supply. I keep meaning to pick up a smart charger. This unit will charge an odd number of batteries, so is perfect for an SB800 with the fifth battery. I am currently using 2300mAh Energisers that I bought from the local supermarket (for convenience). The batteries perform well, but the charger is a bit sussand is hassle when using the fifth battery (which I do).

Cheers

Matt[/quote]

[Greg B]

Just for the interest of anyone who might be looking to buy batteries for the SB 800, I bought some today.

The Varta charger, and 4 2000mAh batteries cost $89. Four additional batteries were $19. (They are special rapid charge batteries) The charger has a capacity of 4 AA or AAA batteries.

I went for this one for two reasons:-

1. The charger fully charges the batteries from zero charge in 15 minutes.

2. The charger comes with 240v power and a 12v car adaptor.

The batteries charged up in the promised time. Everything got quite hot, but I guess that isn't surprising. The charger has a fan in it.

For an impatient person such as this correspondent, this is good stuff. Purchased from a Dick Smith Powerhouse.

cheers

[fozzie]

Greg B,

Just for the interest of anyone who might be looking to buy batteries for the SB 800, I bought some today.

The Varta charger, and 4 2000mAh batteries cost $89. Four additional batteries were $19. (They are special rapid charge batteries) The charger has a capacity of 4 AA or AAA batteries.

I went for this one for two reasons:-

1. The charger fully charges the batteries from zero charge in 15 minutes.

2. The charger comes with 240v power and a 12v car adaptor.

The batteries charged up in the promised time. Everything got quite hot, but I guess that isn't surprising. The charger has a fan in it.

For an impatient person such as this correspondent, this is good stuff. Purchased from a Dick Smith Powerhouse.

cheers

Is this the same unit:

http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/prod1503.htm


Cheers,

[Greg B]

That is the one fozzie, currently $10 cheaper at Dick Smith at $89.

Actually, I think I might be rounding down (learned that from my wife) - it was $89-95

[Gerard]

Has anyone used the external power that plugs in under the badge at the front???
Gerard

[birddog114]

Has anyone used the external power that plugs in under the badge at the front???
Gerard

Yes, Nikon SD-8 external battery pack

[Gerard]

Has anyone used the external power that plugs in under the badge at the front???
Gerard

Yes, Nikon SD-8 external battery pack

Birddog,
Does it outlast having batteries in the flash, could there be a power cord adaptor instead of it being just a battery pack adaptor when near power???
Gerard

[birddog114]

[quote="Gerard
Birddog,
Does it outlast having batteries in the flash, could there be a power cord adaptor instead of it being just a battery pack adaptor when near power???
Gerard[/quote]

Yes, the SD-8 will be outlast the the batteries in the flash, and recycling time is twice faster than the SB-800 with the fifth battery chamber. No power cord adapter for the Sb-800 and why should we need it for? Make no sense here, cos with the SD-8, it's battery pack will last more than 6 times of the five batteries and it's designed for mobility in the field.
If you want set up for studio shooting then there're many options for lighting and they're better than the SB-800 if money is not a subject.

[Vicareyus]

thanks for the question Greg...I've been wondering too. Comments are helful for me also.
Vic

[birddog114]

Sanyo released new 2500mA AA batteries for Digital Camera

4 AA size batteries with charger $89.00
4 AA size batteries no charger $26.00

Retek
Retek Ni-MH AA 2350mAH Battery (2 pack) $12.00
Retek Ni-MH Battery Charger (Fast) $25.00

[sirhc55]

Jaycar will be releasing a 30 minute charger shortly - I have finished the artwork for it which is now in China - should appear soon. No price as yet.

Cheers

Chris

[birddog114]

Jaycar will be releasing a 30 minute charger shortly - I have finished the artwork for it which is now in China - should appear soon. No price as yet.

Cheers

Chris

Chris,
It's interesting! does it charge the 2500mAH? and how long?

[sirhc55]

Hi Birddog

I will look at the artwork and get back ASAP

Cheers

Chris

[sirhc55]

These are the specs for the Jaycar (yet to be released MB-3538) battery charger:
FEATURES
• Suitable for 4pcs or 2pcs AA/AAA
• Fast charger, charging mode: CC/CV
• Microprocessor controlled, stable, accurate, efficient and safe
• Over-heat and over-charge protection
• Detection of non-rechargeable cell
• Automatically stops charging when battery inserted the wrong way
• When charging, different batteries can be mixed either in size
or in capacity
• Able to charge a single cell
• Intelligent, it will alarm when a single battery or a group of
batteries is fully charged
Technical parameters for charger
• input:12V DC/3A
• output charging: AA x 4/3500mA AAA x 4/1500mA
Technical parameters for adaptor
• input:100V-240V AC 50/60HZ
• output:12V-15V DC/3A
• Measures:105(L) x 43(w) x 31(H)mm
• Weight: 205g (batteries excluded)

Hope this helps Birddog

Cheers

Chris

[sirhc55]

Further to my last post:

Battery capacity 1000mAh charging current 3500mA 23 minutes
Battery capacity 2000mAh charging current 3500mA 45 minutes
Battery capacity 800mAh charging current 1500mAh 42 minutes

Cheers

Chris

[birddog114]

Thanks Chris,
Do you know: when it's availble to the stores?
I'll grab one and try with the new Sanyo 2500mAH

[sirhc55]

Hi Birdie

I will contact Jaycar in the morning and ask the import manager, I will also try to get a retail price on it as well.

Cheers

Chris

[birddog114]

Thanks Chris

[sirhc55]

Hi Birdie

The Jaycar battery charger will be available late January for a rrp of $79.95 - but don’t buy without contacting me first

Cheers

Chris

[Raydar]

Can you let us know when it comes out please mate.
I mite be in for one of them, sounds great.

Cheers
Ray

[sirhc55]

Can you let us know when it comes out please mate.
I mite be in for one of them, sounds great.

Cheers
Ray

Will do.

Cheers

Chris

[Raydar]

Thanks mate

Cheers
Ray

[Paul]

This could be an option. Smart charger with 10 batteries

http://www.mittoni.com.au/catalog/default.php/cPath/133

I ordered these yesterday at about 3pm and they were delivered straight to my work at 12:30pm today - awesome service and a nice set up. I picked the 6 bay charger with 12 batteries, it worked out to be $10 cheaper than the 10 bay unit. The batteries do get very hot under charge, apperently this is normal, I would recommend keeping them away from children as they can burn you.
Now where is my SB-800...

[Matt. K]

Hi Guys
I have had my SB 800 for a week now and am still coming to grips with all the features. One thing I am contemplating is to remove the 5th battery and only use it if I am going to a heavy flash session. I find it awkward to charge 5 batteries in a 4 battery charger.
When I get comfortable with the kit I will post some pics and user tips. I think we should all aim to put what we learn on this forum...this is one complex little sucker.

[sirhc55]

Just a thought on the SB-800 - I think it would have been great to have 2 IR detectors - one on each side of the body

Cheers

Chris