New flash batteries.

[Ozzi-Paul]

Just looking through my new Australian Photography magazine and noticed a small article about some new batteries designed for use with a camera flash. The brand is "Tecxus" & the batts are called "Tecxus Quickflash Batteries".  It says - "A new technology allows for a shorter flash recycling time than for normal batteries. It allows each battery to provide quicker reuse, which also allows for more photos to be taken during a given shoot.
They are ready to use straight from the pack, have 365 day standby power, extended temp range from -20 to 50 degrees celcius and up to 2100mAh.
Sounds like they may be a good thing. Wonder how they will compare to the Sanyo Enaloops.

[Ron Kruger]

This is interesting. Even though good AAs in my 360 last quite a while, it doesn't take much use before the recycle time slows down considerably. It can be a bit frustrating at times, but not as frustrating as that insecure battery door. I've started taping it shut with electrical tape.

[blackcloudbrew]

Ah yes, that wonderful battery ejection device on my 360! To know it (the door) is to love it.

[Ozzi-Paul]

Yeah, I heard about that battery door on the 360, not good. I went for the Metz 48 AF-1, really like it and its pretty easy to use with tilt & turn head. Strong battery door to. I have just been using Energizer Lithium batts in it but wouldn't mind getting some chargables for it, maybe these would be a good choice.

[blackcloudbrew]

The Metz gets a lot of positive remarks. I've never seen one though. I have come to love the Promaster 7500. It behaves like the Pentax 540 (minus the external power cord), swivel head, and it has a cute second fill in light on it. It's about half the cost of a 540 here and the battery door stays closed. Oh, and it speaks PTTL.

[Mike Pearson]

I had the battery door replaced on my 360 about 3 years ago and at the same time Pentax Canada re-calibrated the flash as it was out by about 2 stops. It was just out of warranty so they split the cost of the door replacement and threw in the calibration. I don't use it as much as the 540 though.

Recently I switched to Ansmann re-chargeable batteries as Enloops are almost impossible to find here. I have been extremely pleased with the Ansmann so far.  I did however pick up a couple of packs of Enloops last week at a Kits Camera in Washington State for $19 for a 4 pack  They came pre-charged but I have yet to try them.

Mike