RECHARGEABLE - POWER-EX - ENLOOP - IMEDION

[Chris_prophotographic]

What ones? the EX seem to promise fast Cycle times  while enloop say charged for a year. Other things to consider? please educate me as im going from throw always to 100% rechargeable.  about 64 batteries for PW's and 9 strobe

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/64-Pack-PowerEx-2700-mAh-AA-NiMH-Rechargeable-Batteries-with-Battery-Cases-Maha-/230766993195?pt=US_Rechargeable_Batteries&hash=item35bac8df2b&_uhb=1#ht_6629wt_1398

seems like a good price but what do I know.

[siegsAR]

Whenever I encounter topics like this or reviews, the Eneloop would came out as the answer, really.

And an hour ago I just bought a pack of 4 AA's + quick charger. Mainly for my flash, but sidelines on my wireless xbox 360 controller. 

[neuroanatomist]

Eneloop.

[moocowe]

I've been using Ansmann Max-E batteries with no complaints. The reason I went with them is because they were the highest capacity LSD's available at the time. When I bought them the Ansmann ones were 2500mAh, compared to 2000mAh for the Eneloops.
If I was buying today, I would go for either Ansmann Max-E or Eneloop XX.

[SwissBear]

Eneloop: medium capacity (1900mAh), medium max drain BUT: charge, put in your bag, forget, still charged when you need them.

I bought 8 and i'm totally happy with them.

Also got 8 hi cap "regular" accus (2500mAh) together with the recharger. they are not bad, but i need to charge the lot a few hours before an event or else they are (half) empty. But they offer slightly better flash recharge time and they last a bit longer.

As self-discharge sucks... my vote goes to eneloop (=

[RLPhoto]

Eneloop or the energizer version of it.

[risc32]

eneloop. I charge them with the little sanyo "smart" charger that came in a set. Sometimes i charge them with my lacrosse, but i really see no reason not to just stick with the sanyo charger. I've used duracell, energizer, rayovac and the lacrosse branded rechargeable bats. Unless you get enjoyment out of fooling around with dead batteries, just go with the eneloop and consider it done.

 --stay away from the quick chargers.

[RGF]

What ones? the EX seem to promise fast Cycle times  while enloop say charged for a year. Other things to consider? please educate me as im going from throw always to 100% rechargeable.  about 64 batteries for PW's and 9 strobe

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/64-Pack-PowerEx-2700-mAh-AA-NiMH-Rechargeable-Batteries-with-Battery-Cases-Maha-/230766993195?pt=US_Rechargeable_Batteries&hash=item35bac8df2b&_uhb=1#ht_6629wt_1398

seems like a good price but what do I know.

I had a set of power-ex but they lost charge very quickly.  NOw I am trying Imedions but don't have enough experience to highly recommend them.  They hold their charge for over a year, which is important.

[beckstoy]

My setup (which I absolutely LOVE):

Batteries:  Enloop XX 2500mah
http://www.amazon.com/eneloop-Capacity-Pre-Charged-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B0058GZWXQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1363017182&sr=1-1&keywords=eneloop+xx+aa


Charger:  Titanium Smart Fast 16 Bay MD-1600L
http://www.amazon.com/Titanium-Battery-100-240V-Adapters-MD-1600L/dp/B005UNPM3M/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1363017141&sr=1-1&keywords=Titanium+Smart+Fast+16+Bay+Ni-MH+AA%2FAAA+Battery+Charger+AC+100-240V+%2B+DC+Adapters+MD-1600L

I use them in my 580exII with an external battery pack:
http://www.amazon.com/External-Speedlite-Cleaning-MagicFiber-Microfiber/dp/B004RSCL4E/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1363017291&sr=1-1&keywords=External+battery+pack+for+Canon+speedlite

[RGF]

Just a note added in post script

Imedions are less expensive than Enloop XX with similar power.  set of 4 batteries (2400 mAh) for $14.50 at Amazon vs $17.17 for a set of 4 Enloop XX (2500 mAh) also at Amazon.

[SithTracy]

Another vote for Eneloops.  All I use and buy for the last 4 or 5 years.  Use them in my speedlites, keyboards and mice, TV remotes... Kids game controllers (XBOX and Wii).  Great batteries.

[Halfrack]

Enloop - pick them up at Costco (10 pack of AA's were $20 last time I checked).  They also had 8x AA and 2x AAA with adapters to C/D sizes and a 4 spot charger for about the same.

On the Canadian site, it's $50 for 16 AA's or 12 AAA's for $32

http://www.costco.ca/Sanyo-Eneloop-1500-Battery-Pack-16-x-AA-Batteries.product.100014499.html

[Jon Gilchrist]

I have 32 PowerEx's and while they charge well and perform well, the self-discharge is a pain and I have to make sure they're all topped off the day before I plan to use them.  If I were buying again (or for my next purchase) I'd go with Eneloops.

On the other hand, I really like my Maha charger.

[Chris Burch]

I started with regular Eneloop and now use the Eneloop XX.  I tried the regular ones side by side with the higher rated Imedions and the old Eneloops easily performed better (faster recycle times).

Whatever brand you choose, get the slow discharge kinds (Eneloop and Imedions are slow but the Power-Ex model you posted are not).  Regardless of the mAh rating, the slow discharge are more efficient and will not only last longer, but can also give you better output.  Every test I've seen so far rates the Eneloops as the best in class, so they are a very easy choice.

I also use and recommend the Titanium 16-bay charger.  It makes it SO much easier to manage that many batteries.

[dlleno]

Whenever I encounter topics like this or reviews, the Eneloop would came out as the answer, really.

And an hour ago I just bought a pack of 4 AA's + quick charger. Mainly for my flash, but sidelines on my wireless xbox 360 controller. 

this is the right answer.     consider that there are tradeoffs in an AA package.

* you can make materials thinner to get more capacity, but the cost will be internal resistance (cycle time)
* in addition to the above you can optimize for capacity but the cost will be self discharge
* in addition to the above you can optimize capacity and internal resistance,  but the cost will be # of cycles. 

in short, the very best sweet spot for AA strobe use is the Eneloops.   combine that with the known reliability reputation and you have a no brainer.   be sure to look at all three variables (read the data sheets):

1.  internal resistance
2.  self discharge
3.  number of cycles

get a good smart charger like the Maha 801D (8 cells at a time). here you want individual circuits for each battery . a soft charge and and re-condition cycle are must-haves.