Filter
Top Products
Non-rechargeable
If you are not ready to invest a set or two of
rechargeable batteries for your Speedlights,
you should consider your choices within the
non-rechargeable variety. There are three
types to choose from.
✦ Alkaline-manganese. These are
your everyday, standard type of
battery, alkaline batteries are avail-
able nearly everywhere from your
local gas station to high-end cam-
era shops. There can be differences
in quality depending on the manu-
facturer. When buying these types
of batteries, I suggest purchasing
the batteries that specify they are
for use with digital cameras. These
batteries usually last longer than
the cheaper brands.
✦ Lithium. Lithium batteries cost a
little more than standard alkaline
batteries, but they last a lot longer.
You can find lithium batteries at
specialty battery shops and some
camera shops have them in stock.
✦ Nickel. While these types of batter-
ies are listed in the SB-600 and
SB-800 user’s manual as being one
of the acceptable types of batteries
to use, it is very difficult to find
them. I have never come across
any when looking for them.
Rechargeable
Rechargeable batteries do require more of
an initial investment, but you easily get your
money back in what you save by not having
to buy disposable batteries often. There are
two types of rechargeable batteries to
choose from for your Speedlights.
✦ NiCd. Nickel-cadmium batteries
are the most common type of
rechargeable batteries. You can
find NiCd batteries pretty easily.
Department stores usually sell
them along with a charger for
under twenty dollars. Also, you can
usually find them at most camera
stores. While NiCd batteries are
rechargeable, they don’t last for-
ever. After time they hold less and
less of a charge until they’re finally
depleted. If the battery is repeat-
edly charged when it has not been
fully exhausted, the life of the NiCd
is even shorter. For example, if you
come home from a shoot and your
battery was only used to half of its
capacity, you likely place it in the
charger for your shoot tomorrow.
After doing that a few times, the
battery remembers that it only
charges to half power, which is
called battery memory. Some man-
ufacturers, however, claim that bat-
tery memory does not exist.
✦ Ni-MH. Nickel Metal Hydride bat-
teries are the most expensive type
of batteries, but as the saying goes,
“you get what you pay for.” AA Ni-
MH batteries have two to three
times the capacity of AA NiCd bat-
teries, therefore they last longer on
a single charge than NiCd batteries
do, and the battery memory prob-
lem is not as significant. You can
find Ni-MH batteries in specialty
battery shops.
30 Part I ✦ Using the Creative Lighting System
07_045275 ch02.qxp 11/28/06 8:24 PM Page 30