Can someone recommend a battery pack for a 550EX?

[John Pelafigue]

I'd like to get a battery pack for my flash, and have no experience shopping for these. If any wedding photographers can help me, I'd appreciate it. I can't afford the Quantum Turbo, so that's not an option.

[JuhaL]

buy "underdog" (mounts bottom of your camera) from robertsimaging.com or underdog.com, two batteries for two flashes and charger $150-?, plenty of power.

[John Pelafigue]

Thanks, but no can do. I'm on a tripod.

[yallcome]

http://www.aljacobs.com/universal_battery_packs.htm

Last time I checked, you could get gel cell batteries and a good charger (Battery Minder) at this place:

http://www.batteryweb.com/batteryminder.cfm

[scottbergerphoto]

Quantum makes a number of battery packs that will work with the 550EX via the high voltage jack. You buy the pack and the corresponding cable for the 550. I use two Turbo Z's for my Nikon, Canon and Quantum flashes. You can find them at
http://www.qtm.com/
Regards,
Scott

[defordphoto]

Try this one too: http://www.digitalcamerabattery.com/ Kinda pricey but supposed to be the cat's meow.

[John Pelafigue]

Thanks for both replies. Quantum seems like a good company which supports its products.

[NGrinerPhoto]

http://www.powersource.org/powersource/files/35mmbattery.html

charges in 15 mins - car charger - lasts all day

[rodbunn]

It works GREAT ! here is the pointer to B & H photo;


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&kw=CATPE&is=REG&Q=&O=productlist&sk u=13061

Great power source.

Rod

[leony]

i second the transistor pack from Canon. It takes 6 AA batteries in the pack.

I usually put Alkaline AA in the flash itself, and NiMH rechargeables in to the transistor pack. Between the two I've gone as far as shooting 500+ images with flash and recycle time of about 2 seconds with full-power shots without the need to change batteries.

The beauty is that you can always get more AA batteries while "special" batteries can't be easily obtained in a hurry and recharging takes time.

[John Pelafigue]

Perhaps, but that makes the total cost over $200, after buying batteries and recharging unit, and you can only re-charge 4 batteries at a time, leaving you with two more to do afterward.

[leony]

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=23-422

Recharges 8 AA at a time (anything between 2 and 8 - in even numbers).

Edited:

I've started shooting with ELan II, and with a vertical grip, Elan II can be powered by 4 AA batteries. I went with AA power pack because the batteries for the whole system were interchangeable (all AA).

WHen I got 10D, I solved the problem with getting a grip for it and a second battery to double the capacity of (in my experience) 900+ shots on a full charge, with out using built in flash.

What you get with other bateries is capacity. In other words - biggger number of flashes. Transistor pack gives out higher mAh that is fed directly to the capacitor (it plugs in from the side plug on the 550EX) and not only gives you more flashes but also gives you a recycle of 1-2 seconds at full power - something only Quantum's TURBO batery does, and it's not cheaper than $200 - it's $450+. Quantum's also plugs in from the side and is fed directly to the main capacitor's circuit.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=268860&is=REG

[John Pelafigue]

I'm referring to the six "C" batteries, not AA.

[leony]

this is the one i use.... btw - 6 C cells is like a decent tripod in weight....

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=164265&is=REG

[robertwgross]

Transistor pack gives out higher mAh that is fed directly to the capacitor (it plugs in from the side plug on the 550EX) and not only gives you more flashes but also gives you a recycle of 1-2 seconds at full power - something only Quantum's TURBO batery does, and it's not cheaper than $200 - it's $450+.

Isn't the Canon transistor pack simply a big set of batteries running into a current source transistor circuit?

---Bob Gross---

[leony]

probably. they have to raise the voltage somehow - easiest way is to use transistors in a circuit to charge the capacitor. my point was that the curent from the canon's pack goes where higher amperage can be converted to higher voltage quicker (hence 6 batteries - not only raises volts, but also raises current).

other packs just use bigger bateries for the capacity. the pack that uses C bateries gives you both - same recycle performance, but it will last longer than AA pack for the simple reason that C cells last longer than AA cells.

if you get 6 bateries and put that power to the contacts inside the flash (where the original 4 AA's go) you'll fry the flash. what you want is any AA in the flash to power the micro circuits in the flash itself and as much power as you can to go to the main capacitor's circuit (which is accessible from the side plug).

not sure if that answers your Q, but that's pretty much it without getting too technical.

[John Pelafigue]

Holy Jesus, I'd hate to know the combined weight of 6 C Batteries and transistor pack. I can barely lift my flashlight that holds 3 C batteries.

[jhankins]

I'm going to give this one a try. Ordered today from BH along with some other gear. I'll let you guys know what I end up with on the battery charger. I count the need for 10 batteries, so it may end up being two of the Radio Shack ones so I can handle charging them all at once. I already use the battery grip for the 10D which is great. Important note here is the 2 battery charger charges only 1 battery at a time (I was bummed on that one) Sooo, I take my single battery and double with me and put one in each. The 2 battery charger is fine when you're not in a hurry.

[Harry Settle]

Just in case anyone doubts the validity of the Al Jacobs site, mentioned in one of the above threads. I made a battery pack to power my Minolta Dimage 5, which is a real battery hog. Used one 6v emergency lighting gel cell from Home Depot, cost about $17.00. I never owned enough memory to run the battery down and it was great in the sub-zero temps that I was shooting in.