Hello!
Some time ago i try to get a small knowledge about rechargeable batteries ( because on many cases it is a far better and cheaper than alkaline and so on), and i want to share my small knowledge in this area. i reading a lots of forums and sites approx 2-3 months, and maybe that material may be a handy for some newbies.
as so:starting with "best brands" - after a researching, peoples prefer generally a "eneloop" ( better is "made in japan" cells), GP ReCyko,and duracell staycharged ( about what i can read in some sites, it is a rebranded eneloop ). but actually most of peoples in rechargeable battery forums consider a eneloop is very good.
for that of us who lives in europe, maybe that link will be useful - for me that prices is better than that, who i can found in my country stores.
http://eu.nkon.nl/
In stock photo's that rechargeable batterys can be mostly used in flash, i think ( for example, canon 580EXII use 4 x AA elements), because compact camera's, many of who can use AA elements as power source is limited useless for stock pfoto for sites with high specs.
a good, intellectual charger with LCD too is a must buy, as result with info, who i get, first number in relatively low price ( not thousands of usd) is MAHA MH-C9000, second is la crosse bc700 and its clones. actually, based on tests, batterys, when its charged on MAHA, have a longer working life ( cycles) than la-crosse, where its degrade faster.
on other hand, flashes make very serious load to accu, as so, you dont want to expect more than 60 - 100 cycles even from very good quality cells. problem is in very high current, who draw flash on charged state - close to short - circuit mode for acccu's, approx on 8 amperes. but, anyway, that is far cheaper, than traditional battery, i think. i personally purchase 4 pieces of eneloop for my 580EX, but until that i have small numbers of shots - maybe 20 - 30.
sorry for my bad english, that is not my native language, but i try continue learn this. hope, readers understand my basic things, write there.
thanks for reading.
PS i not a accu seller and not have any benefit from battery / chargers sellers :)