Photography 101

A Beginner’s Guide to

Flash Photography

Power Management of Your Flash

(Part 40)

In part 39 (December 8, 2009 issue), this writer briefly introduced “add-on gadgets” to your dedicated flash that will greatly improve the performance of your system in terms of recycle time. So far, I have only mentioned two (for Nikon and Canon), but of course other brands have also their own equivalent external battery pack. You can inquire about this accessory at your favourite camera distributor.

Benjamin Rivera

Third-party manufacturers have always been a practical choice for those who don’t want to spend more if cheaper alternative at “same” performance is available. In this respect, Sunpak of Japan offers a double-purpose alternative (see photo A).

Practical Power Management

of your Flash

The Power Packs and other flash accessories I have discussed are undisputedly real head-turners (and envy) for most photographers. In fact, my staff photographers have them presently in their wish list, too. But in reality, only very few (those privileged ones) would invest in these gadgets because of the price that could approximate the tag of a new flash unit. Most photographers would have to bear with AA size batteries to power their flash.

It is therefore fitting that we take a closer look and discuss some important tips about using the AA battery.

•  Many flash using four AA size batteries will recycle very fast if powered by five cells (instead of four). However, the hassle of fabricating a custom battery case and or adapter may prevent you from doing it. But Nikon SB800 offers an optional battery holder for five penlights. Those who have tried it would tell that their flash recycles as fast as three seconds.

•  Make charging of your batteries a serious business. Poor performance of flash is mostly due to insufficient battery power as a result of improper charging.

•  Use only good quality chargers specifically suited to your type of battery being charged. This will insure optimum performance of your battery and extend their usable service life, too.

•  As your batteries have gone into repeated charge cycles, you will notice that some AAs will charge faster than the rest. You may group together those that are fully charged in about same time. These AAs are not on top of their health. They will simultaneously discharge also. If you group them with the healthier ones (those who get charged in normal time), these AAs will drag the healthier ones into fast discharge rate.

•  Do not power your flash of batteries with different ampere-hours. For example, mixing 1700 Ah with 2900Ah – the 1700 Ah will discharge early and as a result, it will drag down the 2900 to fast discharge rate.

•  In charging, it is important that the two cells being charged are of the same type and similar level of discharge. If the cells are mismatched, one will become fully charged before the other.

•  Batteries of high ampere-hour takes more time to become fully charged compared to a battery of lower ampere-hour. Let’s say that at a charge current of 400ma, the following different types of batteries will be charged in full:

Cell Type Charge Time

700mAh NiCd 1.5 hour

1100mAh NiCd 2.5 hours

1600mAh NiMH 3.5 hours

2000mAh NiMH 4.5 hours

2500mAh NiMH 5.5 hours