chase_heger Posted January 31, 2005 Share Posted January 31, 2005 Can canon external flashes draw battery power from the camera bodyitself or do they have to have their own batteries? I really wouldrather be using battery power from a camera w/ a battery grip (threebatteries) than burning through AAs all the time..... Also, is the 420ex a decent flash for an amateur photographer? Doesthe flash tilt and swivel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_leonard Posted January 31, 2005 Share Posted January 31, 2005 They do not draw power from the camera body. As to what batteries to use in the flash you really, _REALLY_ want to use NiMH cells. First off they're rechargable, second, for high current devices like camera flashes, modern NiMH cells have higher capacities and can achieve higher drains on the battery (ie has a lower internal resistance) than alkaline cells. A good place to get NiMH batteries and chargers online is http://thomasdistributing.com/ and yes the 420ex is a good flash and does tilt and swivel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_leonard Posted January 31, 2005 Share Posted January 31, 2005 Oh, and I should have mentioned that using NiMH cells in a modern flash (the 420ex included) will cut the recycle time in half as compared to alkaline cells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaius1 Posted January 31, 2005 Share Posted January 31, 2005 Yes, get NiMH, I use the Uniross 2300 mAh AAs. It is so much cheaper than buying Duracells that you won't even notice the cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
model mayhem gallery Posted January 31, 2005 Share Posted January 31, 2005 You probably don't want flash to draw power from the camera. If your flash kills the batteries you will not be able to shoot at all. When doing events or weddings my camrea batteries can go all days, but I may run through several sets of rechargeables in flash. You may want to upgrade to the 550EX or 580EX which have HiVoltage plug and can take external powerpacks. There are power packs that can run both your camera and flash. Check out Quantum.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chase_heger Posted January 31, 2005 Author Share Posted January 31, 2005 If i run 3 batteries (one in the camera and two in the vertical grip) is it possible to run the flash off of those, or does it have to have its own AAs? Wouldnt that also be plenty of battery life for the flash and the camera? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jurie Posted February 1, 2005 Share Posted February 1, 2005 Chase, <p>Short of a custom solder job, there's no way to make the 420ex run off of the internal batteries in the camera. And, as others said, if the flash drains the power from the camera's batteries, you're screwed. Run off of NiMH AAs, or check out the external powerpack options. <p>Trust me, a heavily used flash will drain your camera's lithiums in no time flat. <p>Jordan R. Urie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chase_heger Posted February 1, 2005 Author Share Posted February 1, 2005 Even w/ three lithiums? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maria barnett Posted February 1, 2005 Share Posted February 1, 2005 Can you load 3 lithiums? I have the 20D and with the vertical grip attached you can only load 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chase_heger Posted February 2, 2005 Author Share Posted February 2, 2005 One in the camera and two in the grip no? I dont have the grip as of yet because i was waiting to see if the flash worked off of those batteries, and then it would be a better investment...... I could be totally off the mark here, that is just what i assumed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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