I hate my flash

[DionM]

I am really at odds with this damn 580EX.

Shooting a wedding yesterday. Started off and I was super happy with the fill flash, after trying to work out the best approach. Was giving some lovely balanced photos.

Looking now at them on the PC, I realise it stopped firing about 20 shots in - dead batteries I presume. I didn't check the batteries till after the first 100 photos, when I changed them. Didn't expect batteries to die so soon! So now I have a bunch of dark photos (was fill-flashing). Trying to save them in PP ... but argh!

Yes I know checking batteries is a user error and not a problem with the flash, but I have really struggled with this thing since getting it.

<sigh>

Lucky it wasn't a paid job!

[Dug]

Don't you hate that! you are not alone but not much consolation.

there is no such thing as a perfect system.

[johnd]

Dion, NiMH batteries loose charge real quick. Something like 3% per day. So after 2 weeks on the shelf they're getting pretty low. So before an important event, or ideally any flash shooting, I recharge. Plus carrying a fully charged spare set plus a set of cheap unused AAs just in case is a good idea. You can usually tell if the batteries are going flat when the flash whines for ages charging up.

Cheers
John

[DionM]

Dion, NiMH batteries loose charge real quick. Something like 3% per day. So after 2 weeks on the shelf they're getting pretty low. So before an important event, or ideally any flash shooting, I recharge. Plus carrying a fully charged spare set plus a set of cheap unused AAs just in case is a good idea. You can usually tell if the batteries are going flat when the flash whines for ages charging up.

Cheers
John

John - agreed. I charged my 3 sets the night before! Which stunned me that they died so quickly. The second set lasted much longer. I think the first set is either stuffed or maybe needs a few discharge/charge cycles ...

[Slider]

I had an SB800 and SB600 both in perfect condition only 2 minutes away

Seriously though, sorry to hear you had problems. Weddings are so damn stressful as it is without that sort of nonsense going on.

[Michael]

I have a severe phobia about anything going wrong when I go out to a job, so i carry an extra tonne or so of spare stuff in my bag with me wherever I go.

It's a healthy unhealthy phobia.

but at least know you will conciously think next time to check things like that, lesson lived is a lesson learned as they say.

[PiroStitch]

Thankfully I bought the 10 battery charger from Jaycar. Bloody useful as I can have a full charge the day before.

I've noticed that as well with the NiMh batts that's why if it's a paid an important job, i will do a discharge and full charge the day before.

[padey]

Two of my camera's use AA's + three SB800's, so you can imagine i have to do a lot of battery management for each wedding.

I plan a set of fresh AA's for my SB800s at each stage. So 5 AAs for the church, then change them at the reception even if they don't need changing.

Idealy i don't use flash at the church, but my wife does with the D200. Also, it depends on the setting. If it's a sunny day, then i'll have fill flash firing on all three cameras and will change all 15 AAs when I get to the reception plus all 8 S3 AAs. I also do a bit of chimping to see how they are going throughout the day.

I'm not sure with your unit, but the SB800's let you know when they are going sour as the recharge times start to take longer.

[Alpha_7]

Slighly off topic but the red button on the 10-Jaycar charger is that used to discharge the batteries ? (insert clueless look here).

[Michael]

Thankfully I bought the 10 battery charger from Jaycar. Bloody useful as I can have a full charge the day before.

I've noticed that as well with the NiMh batts that's why if it's a paid an important job, i will do a discharge and full charge the day before.

Pirostitch

This discharge feature you mention interests me, how much can you pick up the jaycar charger for and in your experience does the discharge feature yeild better chargin with the batterys?

EDIT: http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.as ... BCATID=295

Is that the charger?

[padey]

Slighly off topic but the red button on the 10-Jaycar charger is that used to discharge the batteries ? (insert clueless look here).

yeah.

[PiroStitch]

Craig - Yes the red button discharges. Press it within 30 seconds of turning on the charger (with the batteries inserted)

Michael - From memory I bought it for about $60 or $70. As for whether it has better charging, I haven't noticed anything as the SB800 still lasts for yonks.

[Alpha_7]

Wayne so would the proper / suggest usage be, after a shoot bring the batteries in plug them in for a discharge (I believe the red light flashes when this occurs right?) Once they are discharge, then reset the charger and charge them till they are green ?

[padey]

Wayne so would the proper / suggest usage be, after a shoot bring the batteries in plug them in for a discharge (I believe the red light flashes when this occurs right?) Once they are discharge, then reset the charger and charge them till they are green ?

Spot on there.

[Alpha_7]

Wayne so would the proper / suggest usage be, after a shoot bring the batteries in plug them in for a discharge (I believe the red light flashes when this occurs right?) Once they are discharge, then reset the charger and charge them till they are green ?

Spot on there.

Thanks guys, you're a wealth of information, I'll use the discharge feature from now on.

[PiroStitch]

Craig - you don't need to reset the charger...it will automatically begin recharging once the charge is empty.

I don't bother discharging anymore as I have not noticed any difference.

[DionM]

I'm not sure with your unit, but the SB800's let you know when they are going sour as the recharge times start to take longer.

Yeah I know, the 580EX does too. I think its more user error, but you know about blaming one's tools

The recycle time on the 580EX off NiMhs usually is stupidly fast, esp in fill flash mode.

[Hudo]

Hi,

I use this Jaycar charger and discharge before every charge (the batteries). The only down side is the time it takes, like 16hrs. However better to do it right than have to change batteries after a dozen shots fired. Also have 6 sets of various mah's in the selection. Shot 1230 shots at Autosalon last weekend with 2 flashes and we would have used all 6 sets up. All where completley recharged using to chargers the day before the event.

Mark

[MattC]

Dion, NiMH batteries loose charge real quick. Something like 3% per day. So after 2 weeks on the shelf they're getting pretty low....

Mine get stored in a fridge (at ~3 degrees Celcius - I keep my milk for coffee in there too ) when not in use. I pulled a set out prior to going to Adelaide a week ago and took about 300 shots. They had been sitting in the fridge for nearly 3 months (I date the ziplock bag) and they are still going strong.

Cheers

[beetleboy]

I think the instructions that come with the Jaycar charger actually say that you don't need to use the discharge feature for NiMH's - could be wrong, I haven't looked for a long time!

Liam =]

[Alpha_7]

I think the instructions that come with the Jaycar charger actually say that you don't need to use the discharge feature for NiMH's - could be wrong, I haven't looked for a long time!

Liam =]

I failed to look ever, hence my questions within this thread.

[greencardigan]

I think the instructions that come with the Jaycar charger actually say that you don't need to use the discharge feature for NiMH's - could be wrong, I haven't looked for a long time!

Liam =]

I had a feeling that was the case too. NiCad's will benefit from the discharge function.

[jerrysk8]

3 words - quantum battery pack

[Matt. K]

Do not discharge NiMh batteries! They much prefer to be topped up when they still have some capacity. Top them up at anytime...they love it. Also....when you use a flashgun you should see the flash go off everytime. Look for it! If you can't see it then it's not firing.