550EX battery question

[codeglue]

Hi,

Have a 550EX. I'm wondering about the battery expectancy. It takes a while to power up when I turn it on, so I wind up leaving it on for a while... What am I doing to the batteries in this mode?

Any sources for more info on the power issues with these would be appreciated.

Lee

[Littlebike]

Additionally, I would like to know if there is an after market battery pack for it (550ex) that will last longer with faster refresh times.

[CoolToolGuy]

Canon makes two different battery packs. One uses multiple AA batteries (six, I think) and the other uses something else. A bit pricey as you would expect.
Take a look at Quantum batteries made by Quantum Instruments. They have several options. I have the Quantum 1/compact, which attaches to the tripod socket of the camera. I have only used it once, but so far it is doing well. I took it to a parade at night, and shot 50 shots that were all at a long distance outside, so they were probably near full power, and it didn't go below half power, and recycle times were quick when I needed them to be.
Have Fun

[codeglue]

cooltoolguy wrote:
I took it to a parade at night,


Mardi Gras?

Lee

[CoolToolGuy]

Sorry, not that exciting - it was the Halloween parade in Hanover, PA. I had an interest, being a 'band dad'.

[DaveG]

codeglue wrote:
Hi,

Have a 550EX. I'm wondering about the battery expectancy. It takes a while to power up when I turn it on, so I wind up leaving it on for a while... What am I doing to the batteries in this mode?

Any sources for more info on the power issues with these would be appreciated.

Lee

You don't mention what kind of batteries you are using. They MUST be at least
alkaline’s. You'll kill the badly named "Heavy Duty" batteries with just a few pops.

Of course you can (and maybe should) use rechargeable’s. I use four nickel metal
hydride batteries (2200's) in all of my Canon flashes (one 550 and two 420’s) and haven't had any
problems with them at all. It's been kind of a non issue. I turn the flash on, it works just
like any other flash I've used so I hardly notice.

[photography By Evangelos]

I have both canon battery boosters for the flash.
The first one takes 6 AA batteries which I use the Lenmar NoMem Pro NiMH 2000 rechargeable and it works fine for me. The pack is called CANON CP-E2 and Plugs in to the 550EX and the 540EZ only. It plugs in on the side of the flash unit there is a plastic cover you will need to remove it to see were the it plugs into the flash. I use the canon CP-E2 when I am out of the country or when I do not have time to charge the other canon battery system. It is also nice because AA batteries are so common in the US and out in other country's. The second canon Battery system I use is called the Transistor Pack-E and is made by canon it is much larger and cycles the flash much faster I use this one for all my weddings with a waist belt. The only down side is it takes 16 hours to charge it up so plan in advance when you will need to use it. If I were you start off with the Canon CP-E2 and get some rechargeables for it. You will not break the bank and get faster flash times when you need it most. I use the CP-E2 for over 300 shots and it works fine. I use the Transistor Pack-E for over 600 and more shots and it is fine for me. The cost for the CP-E2 Canon pack is around $125.00 and the Transistor Pack-E is around $250.00 or so. Best of luck if you have any more questions just email me.

[codeglue]

Thanks for your replies.

I am using alkaline, Energizer, cells. I guess I need to restate the question. The flash is working fine, I got several hundred flashes outof it the first and only time I tried to take that many shots at a wedding.

My question is about the timing that's required to

1. Take pics from a totally "off" camera
2. How does leaving the camera / flash (particularly flash) in the "on" state affect battery consumption?

I guess I can the electric meters out and measure the consumption, but I'd figured somebody out there had already done this.....

Thanks.

Lee

[robertwgross]

On the 550EX unit, set up the settings the way you want with the main switch to ON. Then set it to Save Energy.

At a wedding, I walk around with the unit powered up and with two extra sets of alkaline batteries in my pocket. Generally, we shoot a dozen shots at one pose area, and then move to another pose area. I rotate the battery sets while we move. That way, each set never gets drained down to where flash operation is unreliable. By the time I have shot 200 shots or so, each battery set has been used and rested several times.

NiMH is also good in terms of cost over a lifetime, but they won't support so many flashes on a charge. If I am only going to flash five shots total, then NiMH is my choice.

---Bob Gross---