alpha_company, good that you're using a slower shutter speed to get the ambient colors and light in, but you need to use the white card on your flash to give some forward light to the faces. The shadows on the face are not flattering!

Interesting observation...
I googled for "eneloop flash recharge time" and found several links.

Another interesting read is the Performance testing of Eneloop AA 2000mAh vs PowerEx Imedion AA 2100mAh NiMH Battery
eg. http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74823
and also the link below is quite interesting
http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73833

nb: I misunderstood your post when you wrote recharge time to mean battery recharge time..
Rupanya you were refering to the flash recharge time... aiyyaa hehe 

vandechrome, I have not found my batteries to recharge any faster if I have higher capacity batteries.

I have 4 Energizer 2500 mAh AA batteries and 4 Sanyo Eneloop 2000 mAh AA batteries. Both take 4 seconds to recharge from a full 1/1 power blast (press Test, then wait for the light to come on again in 4 seconds.)

Do you mean that when you fire one 1/1 blast, then fire another 1/1 blast in 2 seconds, that second blast has much power as the first one? I always presumed that I will only get full 1/1 power again when the Test light comes on again after 4 seconds. I usually don't fire one shot then wait 2 seconds; I most certainly always fire 2-3 shots in burst mode of 5 FPS (so it's 0.2 seconds between 2 flashes). This is to lower the chances of blinking eyes (and have a chance to merge pictures where different people blink.) If I was to shoot again in 2 seconds I'd certainly have a hard time realigning the flashed images.

The Eneloops however are low-drain batteries so they still have power after a week whereas I don't know if the Energizers will. So I always prefer to put the Energizers in the flash to use first, then switch to Eneloops when the Energizers are finished. I always carry alkaline AAs as backup for paid events.

hafeez71, yes the Imedion makes a good backup set.

If your flash is eating batteries:

- don't be a pixel peeper, use a higher ISO! ISO400 at least. People ask you to shoot events to catch the moment, not to pixel-peep at how sharp an uncle's moustache can be at ISO100 F8
- remove diffusers if shooting over large distances, it makes no difference.
- point your flash forwards instead of bounce for much, much faster recharge times.

vandechrome, forgot to note that I use TTL all the time so I don't have a good idea whether I'm at 1/1. Though I'm usually on ISO400 onwards so chances of that are lower. Also back on my old F56, I could hear the full recharge sound, but I know that I rarely heard it so I know I don't hit 1/1 in TTL much.

sanyo evo? how does this perform? can it hold it's charge as long as eneloop and be as powerful as other 2700mah batts?

guys... this is my first wedding pic.. i really dont know how to compose and still new to wedding photogs.. with my new 17-50 tammy:

bro spooky.. u upgrading or jumpship ya??

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Added on May 4, 2009, 2:46 pm
3 -
2 +

are u referring to my F42? selling like pancake;)

alpha_company, nice weding series u have!
crop the cupboard, and better shoot at eye level ..

what if i have two f42 and plan to sell both to get cobra?

dont sell ur F42, keep it..so i can borrow from u later..

no lah, seriously, don sell it, u will find it very useful when the F58 overheat or u need play2 with wireless..

petang ni ader sukan antara staff kat tempat kerja,

outdoor sport i.e. futsal dan bola tampar,

sal1870 enough or should i pair it wif cobra or bring 1870, 55200, and cobra?

what if i have two f42 and plan to sell both to get cobra?

rugi...u will regret that..

rugi...u will regret that..

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Added on May 4, 2009, 3:00 pm
just ssell the new F42 that u won la

congrats neway bro