Eneloop or Duracell AA rechargeables
Dec 31, 2017 14:38:11 #
Caught between these 2 brands of "AA" rechargeables for my dedicated flash. I'm using Eneloop as of now but their life seems to be under 2 years. When I was at an event, my Eneloops died after about an hour of shooting, maybe 100 clicks, I could tell it was dying because the recycle time was dragging, between 15 seconds to maybe a minute in between. The photographer I was with had an extra 4 Duracell {with the green tops} rechargeables he loaned to me and they worked for the next 4 hours with a very quick and responsive recycle time, maybe 2 seconds! What do you recommend, if not these, then what? Thanks Hogs, I really dig all your opinions.
Dec 31, 2017 14:58:46 #
MichaelH
Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI
Last time I checked Eneloops had three varieties. A low power version, the middle power version and one high power version. The middle power version (1900mAh/2000mAh) advertises 2000 recharges at about $2.50 each battery and the high power version (2550mAh) advertises only 500 recharges and is almost $4.00 each. At that price differential I would buy twice as many of the 1900mAh batteries for roughly the same price and get almost 4 times the recharges. The Eneloop recharger also is able to charge one battery at a time where the Duracell recharger I have used at work required two at a time to recharge.
Some knowledgeable sources recommend a "smart recharger" that can discharge the battery before recharging it and will do the charging at a fast or slow (preferred) rate to extend the useful life of the batteries. These "special" rechargers run about $30 for a four bay and more for an eight bay or larger.
Some knowledgeable sources recommend a "smart recharger" that can discharge the battery before recharging it and will do the charging at a fast or slow (preferred) rate to extend the useful life of the batteries. These "special" rechargers run about $30 for a four bay and more for an eight bay or larger.
Dec 31, 2017 15:23:56 #
May be his Duracells are brand new. Also 2 year life is about what I expect for NiMH batteries.
Dec 31, 2017 15:54:50 #
There have been complaints here about Duracells leaking - but I haven't had any trouble like that.
Dec 31, 2017 16:08:43 #
rehess wrote:
There have been complaints here about Duracells leaking - but I haven't had any trouble like that.
Few leaky duracells coming to me with 2nd hand gear. Duracell are good at advertising ...
The Alkaline cells have tended to leak , I have no information on rechargables.
Dec 31, 2017 16:17:50 #
I have only used Eneloop for a couple of years. So far no regrets. I did buy some Amazon brand but haven't used them yet. Unlike lithium where age is a big factor, these batteries you are using are rated in part by the number of expected charges. Comparing yours to somebody else's that you know nothing of the history won't help you much.
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Dec 31, 2017 16:26:58 #
I've had excellent results with Powerx low discharge batteries by Maha that I've been getting from Thomas Distributing (https://www.thomasdistributing.com/AA-Low-Discharge-NiMH-Batteries.html).
Dec 31, 2017 17:09:28 #
Old Timer
Loc: Greenfield, In.
I Have been using Eneloop for over five years and and have never had any problems with them. I think I have most of the originals. I have tried to or three other brands and none of them lasted like the eneloop. That was before Eneloop was taken over by Panasonic. The worst ones were some I bought at Radio Shack. I will stay with the Eneloop till I find some thing I can trust. I have shot hundreds of shots with the Eneloops with no problem.
Jan 1, 2018 03:25:50 #
blackest wrote:
Few leaky duracells coming to me with 2nd hand gear. Duracell are good at advertising ...
The Alkaline cells have tended to leak , I have no information on rechargables.
The Alkaline cells have tended to leak , I have no information on rechargables.
Some folks have been calling Alkaline batteries “Alkaleaks” for years.
Jan 1, 2018 05:03:35 #
Fabulous1too wrote:
Caught between these 2 brands of "AA" re... (show quote)
I've been using eneloops for a few years, not because I thought they were great but because I could get them easily at Costco. Is that what has made them popular? Or are they actually good?
Lately I've bought about 3 sets of 4 at Harbor Freight Sales to try. So far so good. They surprised me that they don't seem any different than the eneloops and are doing well. They're about a dollar each. If I recall, about 2000ma.
Just thought I'd let you know!
SS
Jan 1, 2018 06:09:15 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
Fabulous1too wrote:
Caught between these 2 brands of "AA" re... (show quote)
I have used Eneloop batteries for many years now and really like them. They seem to hold a charge much longer than any other rechargeable's I have tried. I also use their battery chargers. I also use the Watson battery holder to hold many four packs in my camera bag.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1047695-REG/panasonic_bk_3hcca8ba_eneloop_xx_aa_rechargeable.html?sts=pi
Jan 1, 2018 06:23:32 #
I have been Eneloops for many years. They have worked flawlessly. My rechargeable Duracell’s died long ago. And I have had many alkaline Duracell’s leak on me. I won’t touch them anymore. I have shot entire weddings or events on one set of Eneloops in my flash Unit.
Jan 1, 2018 06:24:58 #
I have 8 Eneloop batteries for several years now and they will last for a day or more so I would recommend that you purchase Eneloop over Duracell.
Jan 1, 2018 07:03:17 #
SharpShooter wrote:
I've been using eneloops for a few years, not because I thought they were great but because I could get them easily at Costco. Is that what has made them popular? Or are they actually good?
Lately I've bought about 3 sets of 4 at Harbor Freight Sales to try. So far so good. They surprised me that they don't seem any different than the eneloops and are doing well. They're about a dollar each. If I recall, about 2000ma.
Just thought I'd let you know!
SS
Lately I've bought about 3 sets of 4 at Harbor Freight Sales to try. So far so good. They surprised me that they don't seem any different than the eneloops and are doing well. They're about a dollar each. If I recall, about 2000ma.
Just thought I'd let you know!
SS
I've used HF alkaline and Heavy Duty batteries with no problems, work fine, been tempted by their rechargeable batteries, IKEA has some good rechargeable batteries too,
Jan 1, 2018 07:16:42 #
I buy my eneloops at Costco, and the first set from almost 10 years ago still work fine. They were made by Sanyo, and the current iteration are made by Panasonic and they're supposed to hold their charge(unused ) for a year.
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