Best Rechargeable Batteries AA For My Nikon SB 800 Flash

Which brand is the best to buy that has the Highest ratings and reliability.

Also, which website or company to order them from. Thank you, rollsman

I've had good luck with Radio Shack rechargeables in the past, but when I bought my SB800 from BH Photo, I bought their name-brand rechargeable Lithiums and the dang things last forever.

Buy from http://thomasdistributing.com

 

I'm a big fan of the MAHA Powerex series. A number of people recently have been recommending the Sanyo Enloop series for their slower self-discharge.

 

Here's an article from the Strobist on feeding your flash unit's NiMHs.

 

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/09/feed.html

I use Energizer 2500mah rechargeables in both my sb-600's and my sb-800 and they work extremely well, they just seem to go on for ever.

I recently purchased some Sanyo Eneloop's from Thomas Distributing. These are slow discharge batteries with only a 2000mAH rating compared to my 2300 MAHA Powerex. But my brief experience is that they are more likely to be at the ready when I need them because of their much slower discharge rate.

 

Thomas Distributing are great by the way ...

I use Energizer 2500 mAH rechargible batteries. You get the best price at Sam's Club or Home Depot. These are good batteries, but perhaps there are better. The self-discharge rate is typical.

 

The key to useful life seems to be the charger. With continued use, some batteries lose their charge more than others, leading to an imbalance. Batteries are usually charged in pairs, and the first battery to reach full charge shuts the charger down to trickle mode. I found I would get poor life and long charge time in my flash units, even after recharging all the batteries.

 

Maha comes to the rescue with one of their 8-cell units that charges each battery individually (http://www.mahaenergy.com). That's how I found the root cause and the solution. I've had no problems since.

NiMH's vary in quality. The only make that I've come across that have consistently delivered rated capacity is Sanyo (and brands they OEM to.) Use their standard 2700mAh chemistry where self-discharge isn't an issue. Use the Eneloops otherwise. In practice, I've found the Eneloops to have idle shelf life almost comparable to alkalines.

 

As for chargers, the LaCross BC-900 is very well designed. I also use a Maha MC-801D. The Maha isn't quite as sophisticated. The important thing though, is that both units handle each cell individually: this is critical.

I have to give a vote for Eneloops as well. Having used Energizer rechargeables, which drain

quickly, I think the Sanyos are a lot better.