SB-600 flash recharge

[viper_biker]

Does the recharge time on the SB-600 depend on the strength of the batteries? I find that its not as quick as the onboard flash or is it because of it being a better, more powerful unit it takes a little longer. Looking as 'paps' on TV and how quickly their flash-guns shoot of the flash got me wondering if its possible to get the flash going quicker or is that just within its own parametres. I had a play a few nights ago with family and I got laughed at when I had to ask them to wait for the flash to re-charge. Almost £2k of kit and a P+S would have been quicker LOL

 

[puddleduck]

Are you using decent quality NimH batteries?

Never use TTL-BL (especially in the dark / night) - use TTL instead and use negative EV instead to balance foreground / background. This will stop the flash firing at full output and improve recycle time loads.

 

[sdb123]

As PD asks....are you using good quality (powerful) batteries?

I own an SB-600 (have owned another before now too) and the recharge is very quick and the flash powerful and effective - given the right settings.

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Apart from the batteries the main thing that governs recycle time is the power level you're using the flash at - set the flash to manual and fire off a shot at 1/1 and then wait for the ready light, then repeat at 1/2 power, 1/4, 1/8 power, each time you'll see the recycle time get quicker.

At 1/8 power you can fire off 8 consecutive shots on one charge, compared with one at full power.