Anyone with experience with CP-E2 and CP-E3 battery packs?

[Eoseni]

I'm wondering if I can save some money by buying a CP-E2 instead of a CP-E3 or E4. What difference is there between the E2 and the E3? If they both give the same power/recycle performance, then I'd get the E2, unless there is a strong reason to upgrade to the E3 or even E4. Perhaps the cord is longer on the newer models?

I know the E4 is weather sealed.

Any tips/reviews/recommendations from you users of these battery packs much appreciated.

I will use these for weddings. And i use the 580EX, NOT the 580EXII.

[Eoseni]

No replies: perhaps I posted this in the wrong section....

[cdifoto]

I use a CP-E3. Works great with my 580EX. Recycles as fast as, or faster than, I can recompose for the next shot.

No experience with the CP-E2 here, but since it holds 6 batteries instead of 8, recycle times would be a bit slower (at full power) and shot count between charges would naturally be lower. Unless you're doing full power pops all day long, it'd probably be a negligible difference. If you see a great deal, go for it.

The CP-E4 is basically just a weathersealed CP-E3. Only $10 over the CP-E3 at B&H though so if I were in the market for a CP-E3 I'd get the CP-E4 instead. I won't be ditching my CP-E3 just to get weathersealing though.

[dhlewis]

I have the CP-E the original NiCad version. Can routinely get 400-700 shots in ETTL mode before recharging. Kind of ugly but it does the job well, typical recycles 1-2 sec.

[Padawan Dad]

I have the CP-E2. It works great for me. It recycles my 580ex instantly on a fresh charge, and is fast to charge my 580ex for a good portion of the night. I have a second battery pack ready to go mid-way through a wedding for it as well. I love it.

[Eoseni]

I have the CP-E2. It works great for me. It recycles my 580ex instantly on a fresh charge, and is fast to charge my 580ex for a good portion of the night. I have a second battery pack ready to go mid-way through a wedding for it as well. I love it.

Bill, thanks. In other words, one CP-E2 pack isn't enough to get you through a wedding...perhaps a Cp-e3 would? What do you think?

CDI mentioned above that the Cp-e3 holds 8 batteries and the e2 holds only 6. I think I will get the e3.

[Freff]

Are these battery packs simply that, battery packs? or do they have some electronic wizardry built in to control or regulate output etc.:confused:

[DavidW]

These packs have electronics in them, as they feed the flash at high voltage (325V or thereabouts). Not only do they provide more battery power, they speed up the flash's recycle time as the electronics in the pack supply more high voltage current than the circuitry built into the flash.

Another option, if one of the Canon packs is insufficient for your usage, is to use one of the Quantum Turbo batteries with the appropriate cable (CZ for most Canon flashes with a high voltage port). These include a rechargeable battery, and if you buy the 2x2, you can also power your camera with it.

With any of these packs, you do need to leave AA batteries in the flash to power the electronics and the zoom motor. The high voltage input is only used to charge the main capacitor.



David

[Freff]

David

Many thanks...good info.:)

[Eoseni]

Another option, if one of the Canon packs is insufficient for your usage, is to use one of the Quantum Turbo batteries with the appropriate cable (CZ for most Canon flashes with a high voltage port). These include a rechargeable battery, and if you buy the 2x2, you can also power your camera with it.

With any of these packs, you do need to leave AA batteries in the flash to power the electronics and the zoom motor. The high voltage input is only used to charge the main capacitor.
David

David,
Thanks. Do you own any of the Quantums? How are they better for the price jump they demand? Have you found them worth the price difference?

It's unlikely I can justify that purchase for now, but I'd like to hear your story on them.

[Rumjungle]

Hi Tim. If you're strictly a Canon flash user, the CP-E3 is worth it. I use one for the 580 and it works great at weddings. The 4 batts in the flash head will last you several weddings and the main pack lasts most (if not all) of the night. You can even get a spare battery tray and load that up with your spare batteries for a quick battery swap at the reception, if you need to.

[DavidW]

I do have Quantum gear - but not one of the Turbo range. One of my flashes is a Qflash X5d-R head, which is powered by a Quantum Qpaq-X. I have a D13w-R module to connect the Qflash directly to my camera for on-bracket use, and a Qnexus to use it as an E-TTL slave with my 580EX on my bracket.

Qpaq-X is a little different to a Turbo, as the flash capacitors are in the pack. However, I suspect the build quality and robustness of the Turbo is very similar, and I might buy a Turbo 2x2 in the future for use either with my 580EX, or for use with an on-bracket Qflash T5d-R if I ever expand my Qflash setup to multiple heads using FreeXWire remotes.


I am very impressed with the Quantum gear, well, everything except the price! I'm sure you'll find other people's Quantum (and Turbo) experiences if you search the forums.



David

[dbdors]

I have the CP-E the original NiCad version. Can routinely get 400-700 shots in ETTL mode before recharging. Kind of ugly but it does the job well, typical recycles 1-2 sec.

What do you mean by ugly? Are there any compatibility issues that you can think of? I have a CP-E and 550EX. I'm thinking about a 580EX and would like to make sure the CP-E will work. I assume if the E2 will work than the E will as well. I've always been happy with the CP-E with 6 Ni-MH cells.