External battery packs for 550/580

[cruser]

We are looking to purchase an external battery pack, has anyone used Quantum Turbo? Or is there a better option? Does Canon have external battery pack powerful enough to do wedding?
Thanks

[Todd Jacobsen]

Get the quantum turbo 2x2. It will support your flash AND camera. In addition, your flash will have a faster recharge speed with the quantum (vs AA batteries).

[Eoseni]

Anyone with experience with other canon battery packs? Pros and Cons of each?

[ronosmena]

Its usually Quantum that the pros use, I dont know about the cons, what they use. Hehehe! My bad, i meant Quantum right now are wideley used for hotshoe flash units, I guess they give out what pro users and enthusiasts alike.

[chekone11]

The Quantums are much more powerful than the Canon units. If you're covering an event, definitley go Quantum Turbo. The 2x2 is a nice option, but I'd rather have my batteries in camera-- less cords, and I can pop it off the bracket quickly and still use it.

[tim]

The CP-E3 is good for the price, but the cord's very short - it won't reach your belt from your eye if you're using a bracket, you have to strap it to your bracket. It works well, though the Quantum probably is faster and lasts longer. I rarely use mine anyway.

[chekone11]

The CP-E3 is good for the price

it won't reach your belt from your eye if you're using a bracket

Then how is that good for the price? Seems almost useless...
I don't wanna shoot with an RZ-67 for 9 hours ever again, and I don't want to lug a battery on my bracket for the same reason, lol.

[tim]

It's not heavy, you can attach it to your bracket with the strap attached to its case. 8 AAs are light, a Quantum on your belt is heavy but you probably won't notice it so much. You could always put the CP-E3 on your hat ;)

I often use a 580EX as a master (1/32nd power or so, pointed up), my 550EX as a slave with a silver umbrella at full power, and the CP-E3 on the 550EX so it recharges in 2 seconds instead of 7. The batteries last a lot longer when you have 12 batteries (CP-E3 + in flash bats).

[gmen]

Another useful thread on the CP-E3 etc...

http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=20156

Other things to consider...

http://www.aljacobs.com/THE%20BLACK%20BOX.htm

and...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/product/273996/LUVHTF/REG/660

---- Gavin

[Eoseni]

Any one with experience with the Canon's Transistor pack E? I'm wondering which pack to get among the Canon options for my new wedding biz.

[Eoseni]

The quantum is expensive, wow.

[gmen]

Any one with experience with the Canon's Transistor pack E? I'm wondering which pack to get among the Canon options for my new wedding biz.I had one for a while... it did the job BUT it's very big and bulky... and the rechargeable pack is a NiCad one, so it's prone to memory-effect issues.

I use a CP-E2 and CP-E3 now and both perform at least as well as the TPE (IMO)... and they're significantly smaller and lighter... I run them off 2700mAh NiMH batteries.

---- Gavin

[chekone11]

You could always put the CP-E3 on your hat ;)

LMAO-- you may be onto something! I can use my old beer bong helmet, and keep a lens in the other side, lol.

[jhankins]

I've used the CP-2's for weddings for the last couple years with great success. I shoot with two CP-2's fully charged but typically don't ever switch to the second unit even on a full 8 to 10 hour day. Of course not all pictures are taken with flash either.

I've recently picked up a 580 and CP3 which I'll be shooting a wedding this weekend along with my 550's and CP-2's. For batteries I use the 15 Minute Recharge IC3 batteries. What a great system! They last longer than alkalines, can be reacharged up to 1000 times and recharge in 15 minutes flat. I always pack a couple 4 position chargers in my bags as well as fully charged batteries for two full changes on both sets. I've never had to tap them but I put them there in the event I have some problem with the batteries. I chose the system primarily for the ease in obtaining replacement batteries on the economy if necessary. I found safety in that idea and as they last as long and recharge and quick as I need them (quite fast), I saw no advantage to going with the quatums. I use the 1DS MKII so the battery life for that camera is such that while I always have 2 spare batteries with me. The 2x2 wouldn't provide me any thing helpful in that regard. The camera already lasts plenty long on it's native battery.

I've looked at the quantum units and it seemed to me anyway that price/performance for what I do (I shoot weddings and events) that the CP2/3 was the unit for me. It can be mounted at the bottom of the camera, or worn on the belt etc.

The CP-3 has cartridge load battery holder and holds 8 batteries vs the original 6 in the CP2's. I'm not sure I'm happy with the construction of the cartridge. I seems easy to break if you're hurry loading it. I'll be ordering spare cartridges now that I see that is a failure point in the system but they are quite inexpensive as I recall ~ 30 bucks.

my 2 cents.

Cheers!

Jim

[scottbergerphoto]

I have a couple of discontinued Turbo Z's and a Turbo Compact. They work flawlessly. You will still need AA's to run the electronics in the flash.