Post your best bird shots!

[HDNitehawk]

My 430EX II fires through 5-6 shots of a 7D burst. That's partly because 8 fps is slower than 10 fps, but also because both flashes use 4 AA cells, but the 580 has a larger capicitor to fill than the 430, meaning more time to recycle. What batteries do you use? NiMH's like eneloops recycle the flash significantly faster than alkalines (2-3 times as fast).

I am using Energizer Recharable, so the eneloops will give mequicker fire power?


I did notice that the 430ex, I used it off camera remote at the bird feeder last week and I could get several shots with it. It seems to have a better recycle time than the 580ex II. But I can tell that the 430 doesn't throw as much light as the 580. This was important yesterday, it was overcast and I had the 580ex at +1 and +2 several times trying to get enough light to fill.


I did order the better beamer yesterday to see if that helps.

[neuroanatomist]

I am using Energizer Recharable, so the eneloops will give mequicker fire power?

I would not expect them to be different in terms of flash recycle times. The eneloops have lower self-discharge (meaning you don't have to charge them the day before you use them), and better longevity (more recharge cycles - current ones are rated to 1500 charge cycles).


The faster recharge of the 430EX II is simply due to it's lower output, which requires a smaller capacitor. The 4 batteries dischare at the same rate in either flash, so the smaller capacitor fills faster.

[HDNitehawk]

I would not expect them to be different in terms of flash recycle times. The eneloops have lower self-discharge (meaning you don't have to charge them the day before you use them), and better longevity (more recharge cycles - current ones are rated to 1500 charge cycles).


The faster recharge of the 430EX II is simply due to it's lower output, which requires a smaller capacitor. The 4 batteries dischare at the same rate in either flash, so the smaller capacitor fills faster.

That makes me wonder:


When in a blind, like at the bird feeder, if it wouldn't be better to have several 430ex II set up remotely than one 580ex II on camera. That might give more flash for second and third shots.


Because it has less power I am not to comfortable with the thought of the 430ex II on camera as a main flash for the 500mm yet.


It also brings in to question when using two diffrent flashes, what happens when your set up remote andthey both fire and the 430ex is ready for the second shot and the 580 isn't.. It makes me wonder if it is wise to mix one flash with a diffrent one in this situation. I guess I get to answer this question in a few days when I try them both together again. So far I only have tried them together once in the field, and I had problems with the 430ex working. After much reasearch I found that if you plug the pocketwizard in to the 430ex II backwards that it will not function, imagine that revelation.

[neuroanatomist]

After much reasearch I found that if you plug the pocketwizard in to the 430ex II backwards that it will not function, imagine that revelation.

Great tip. I'll file that one away for future reference... []

[bob williams]

So that