Photography 101

A Beginner’s Guide to
Flash Photography
Boosting the Power of Your Flash
(Part 39)–

Most users of portable electronic flash available in the market today are enjoying their high-tech gadget. Those using the likes of Nikon SB 800 and 900, Canon 580EX, and other top-of-the-line flash models expect their flash units to meet their expectations, thus providing them with notably improved images. Indeed these devices are shipped with a promise to fulfil the specifications in their brochures. All their promises, however, is subject to one condition: It depends on the quality of your power supply. In this premise, the newbie photographer must have a thorough understanding or knowledgeable in the proper use or management of his power sources.

Benjamin Rivera

Most dedicated electronic flash units are powered by “AA” size alkaline dry cell batteries. For the photographer who doesn’t take a lot of flash pictures, alkaline batteries should be an ideal power source. These batteries do not discharge power significantly with age. Another choice is nickel-cadmium batteries. It can be recharge a hundred times, so Ni-cads are much cheaper to use in the long run. Ni-cads have been the choice of photographers who use their flash equipment frequently and charge batteries before using.

These type of batteries have been discussed in detail in our previous series – Basic Digital Photography Part 13 (see Picture Perfect Sept. 13, 2006 issue) and maybe now is a common knowledge to many photographers. More recent product developments, however, are mushrooming in the market, and this writer felt to provide our reader with information updates.

A nickel-metal hydride cell is similar to nickel cadmium but with deferent properties. The NiMH cell can have two to three times bigger Ampere Hour capacity of an equivalent size nickel-cadmium battery. This is the kind of battery used in hybrid automobile like the Toyota Prius. However, it has higher self-discharge rate if not immediately used after full charge. Common NiMH batteries (AA cells) have nominal charge capacities ranging from 1100 mAh to 2900 mAh at cell voltage of 1.2 Volt. Its main advantage over Nicad battery is that it does not suffer the same sickness called “memory effect.”