Rechargeable AA battery test.

[Tom Yi]

http://imagineanimage.blogspot.com/p...ry-debate.html

Some folks have lively debates on which AA rechargeable battery is better for flash units.

Here is a test of several of them. I think Duracel and Hahnel (from UK) seems to have performed the best. Sanyo Enloops were the first to hold their charge over long term but from the forums, looks like Hahnel and the Duracels also hold charge over a long term as well now.

To me, it's not a big deal, nice to know but hard to imaging people having nothing better to do than have flame wars over stupid batteries.

Quickly checking at Amazon, 4AA enloops are $12 while the duracels are $17. Personally, I'd go with enloops for the cost savings. Unless you are constantly firing the flash, the difference is negligible IMO. If you are firing the flash constantly, then you really need a power pack anyway.

[Patrick Chin]

I highly recommend Sanyo Eneloops. I took one set of Eneloops and one set of disposable Lithium batteries to my 3 week vacation to Burma, and didn't have to use the Lithium batteries. I shot 3 dinner parties, and some portrait shots during vacation. Even thought I didn't take any significant number of shots using flash, I was impressed that it maintained the charge pretty well.

[Abhi J]

One question, when using specific re-chargeable batteries like the sanyo eneloops, is it necessary/better to use the specific charger that comes for it, or would any battery re-charger work?

I have some old power2000 NiMH 2700MAH batteries and its charger. I'm wondering if I can use the same charger for sanyo eneloops.

[Patrick Chin]

Originally Posted by Abhi J

One question, when using specific re-chargeable batteries like the sanyo eneloops, is it necessary/better to use the specific charger that comes for it, or would any battery re-charger work?

I have some old power2000 NiMH 2700MAH batteries and its charger. I'm wondering if I can use the same charger for sanyo eneloops.

It should work with any chargers as long as it's for NiMH.

[Tom Yi]

I think I use the same old charger on my Enloops. I think a charger is a charger as long as it can trickle charge instead of rapidly charging which can heat up the batteries and wear them out faster.

Pat, I think some other new batteries are also built to keep it's charge like enloops.

Looks like the Duracels come precharged as well and advertise that they keep their charge longer.
http://www.duracell.com/en-US/produc...batteries.jspx

Here is what they claim.
"Holds their charge 5x longer than ordinary rechargeable batteries when not in use."
"Holds charge up to a year when not in use."

On that test, it seems to outperform the enloops. Flash recycling time is over 1 sec faster, has 650mAh's more juice, after 50 flashes, still recycles at over 1 sec faster, and has 38 more flashes which is almost 20% more.

[Abhi J]

the duracell rechargeable batteries are cheaper than sanyo eneloop on amazon.

[Tom Yi]

They seem to have two types, regular ones you have to charge after getting them and the "precharged" rechargeable.
But if the price is about the same, I think the Duracels may be a better deal. Like Sanyo, they are a major maker of batteries, so I'd say that they are trustworthy.

[Tom Yi]

Maha/PowerEX also is a good company that makes high cap. AA rechargeables.
They seem to have a 2100mAH rechargeables that keep their charge.
http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/view...?idProduct=426

I bought powerex from this company long time ago. Good prices.
They seem to have a 4 battery pack of each for $10. I don't see the Duracel though.
http://www.thomasdistributing.com/sh...rsllit8gi3gna7

http://www.thomasdistributing.com/sh...rsllit8gi3gna7

I have an old pack of PowerEx like 2400mAh and enloops, if I need a quick use of the flash, I just pop in the enloops but if I feel that I'm gonna use the flash a lot, I recharge both and use the powerex and keep the enloops as a back up, though I never had a freshly charged powerex go out of juice.

[Abhi J]

Here is a 4 battery pack of pre-charged rechargeable Duracell batteries for $9.99 on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Charg...5675634&sr=8-1

I'm gonna give 'em a try for my flashes.

[Gary Ayala]

Originally Posted by Abhi J

Here is a 4 battery pack of pre-charged rechargeable Duracell batteries for $9.99 on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Charg...5675634&sr=8-1

I'm gonna give 'em a try for my flashes.

I purchased 8 of those puppies at Costco ... work okay ... hard to get too excited over a battery.