Camera flash battery suggestion? Increased performance?

[RTTR]

I know this isn't flash light related. But I have been wondering if I can squeeze anymore performance out of my Nikon SB-800 Speedlight flash with different batteries.

As stated by Nikon here are the performance numbers (full dump recycle time) in relation to battery type.

Alkaline x4 = 6 Secs
Alkaline x5 = 5 Sec

Lithium x4 & x5 = 7.5 Sec

NiMH 2000mAh x4 = 4 Sec
NIMH 2000mAh x5 = 2.9 Sec


I use 4x Sanyo Eneloop AA currently, but I was wondering is the flashes charge up performance based on how much amperage the supplied batteries can discharge? Would something like an Intellect 2000mAh 10A or Elite 1700mAH 25A battery maybe help the recycle time?

 

[UnknownVT]

if I can squeeze anymore performance out of my Nikon SB-800 Speedlight flash with different batteries.

Alkaline x4 = 6 Secs
Alkaline x5 = 5 Sec

Lithium x4 & x5 = 7.5 Sec

NiMH 2000mAh x4 = 4 Sec
NIMH 2000mAh x5 = 2.9 Sec

I use 4x Sanyo Eneloop AA currently

Can't say.....
I was quite surprised that Lithiums would be rated so slowly - in just about everything else they seem to the battery that performs "best" - due to the higher maintained voltage under load and current delivery (ie: total power/watts delivery).

Be that as it may - caveat - I do not own the Nikon Speedlight SB-800 or have a Nikon system, and even if I did I probably could not answer with any authority/certainty -
the relevant page on the SB-800 manual (download pdf)

eneloops are one of the most capable NiMH in terms of current delivery - they also maintain a higher operating voltage under load.
May I refer you to SilverFox's excellent -

NiMh Battery Shoot Out

where he compares a lot of NiMH under different current rates.

eneloop was one of the few AA sized NiMH that managed a 10 Amp load

Taking arbitarily the 2Amp load line (green) eneloop was the only NiMH that managed to maintain an operating voltage under load for any length of time above 1.2V.

So I guess you are probably using close to if not the "best" batteries for the purpose -
probably the best bet is to always top-up the eneloops before use so they are always freshly charged (might be detrimental to battery life - but this is for performance). Or use the 5 battery option, which would reduce the recycle time down to a minimum of 2.9 secs - this appears to be the fastest recyle time they list for this chart/spec.

The other option is to use their external power pack (page 113 in manual) with either 6x NiMH or 6x NiCd where the spec'd recycle time was then 2 secs.

 

[RTTR]

I guess I'll make an order for some more Eneloops and run a 5 cell configuration. Thanks for the link to the comparison.

 

[SemiMan]

I guess I'll make an order for some more Eneloops and run a 5 cell configuration. Thanks for the link to the comparison.

Have an SB-800, not a pro photographer by any stretch, but have ran Eneloops, Alkalines, Oxyride(sp?), and Sanyo 2500. Would not put anything but Eneloops in there now. The 2500 are great if fresh and I am shooting all day, but that is rarely the case. I like the confidence that the Eneloop are ready and the recharge is very fast right till they are almost dead.

Semiman