580EX battery pack question?

[Bosscat]

Gonna be adding a 580 to the kit, and wonder what kind of luck people have had with a Quantam battery pack and with the Canon battery pack?

[DaveG]

I have a Quantum Battery I (and battery 2 for that matter) which I used back in my film days with a Vivitar 283.

I could buy the module to let me use it with my 550, but I'll never do it since I use NiMh batteries in all three of my Canon flashes. Nickel Metal Hydride are easily the best deal and the most appropriate power source for these kinds of flashes and the way that I use them. There is no umbilical cord, and no module to wear out. They're cheap, powerful and cost less that $15 to replace (and probably a lot less in the US!). I've had at least three battery replacements in the Quantum's over the years and that cost runs in the $100 range - and that was locally done, not by Quantum. I've also had to replace a number of modules as well.

Back in the day Quantums made sense. They would go all day and there was no real alternative since I found that I couldn't depend on nicads, and alkalines - in flashes - were way too expensive.

So my strong suggestion would be to go the nickle metal hydride route now, and just plan on bringing some extra sets to the shoot if you think that it'd be needed.

[Bosscat]

Doesn't the Canon unit just use that type of battery, but with more batteries in the unit, it cuts down recycle time?

Thats what I am after, is the quickest recycle time possible.

[Bushplane Ken]

On Friday (September 21) I ordered a Canon CP-E4 battery pack to use with my 580 EX mark II. The CP-E4 uses 8 AA batteries.

I will be updating the Forum once I receive it and have a chance to use it.

[joepineapple]

I've got a couple of Quantum Turbos and just tried one with my 580 EX II. Connecting the turbo Z cable to the flash was a bit hard because you have to line it up correctly or you will not have any power to the flash. The plug goes in OPPOSITE of what you would think is the proper orientation between the cable and flash. Unfortunately I learned the hard way, as the receptacle on the flash has now been pushed in. It is on its way to CPS in the morning. The turbo Z worked great before this incident. I could still use regular AA batteries, but they didn't last very long when shooting continuously. THey were really hot when I replaced them.

Good Luck, Joe P

[tim]

The Canon CP-E3 and CP-E4 work great off 8 AA batteries, and they're cheap, i'll get another one next time I order from B&H. I can't comment on the Quantum. A search on cp-e3 and cp-e4 will give you plenty of information.

[jgogums]

Have a read here.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=353629
which contains a link to the following video showing the CP-E4 recycling quickly.
http://www.jmh-photography.com/flashpower.wmv

I was recently faced with the same question and for me I wanted faster recycle times more than simply longer battery life.
I just picked up the CP-E4 and it is a HUGE improvement on recycle times. But note it takes 8 AA's in the tray and 4 AA's in the flash unit. So you may want to pick up some more AA's for this setup.
I got 2 ten packs of Impact NiMH from B&H when I ordered and, again, have been really happy with this solution.

[metalman1010]

I have purchased a Quantum Turbo Battery pack myself as I just started shooting Nighttime friday H.S. Football. And I can honestly say for the price it's worth it.

If you need justification to purchase a $400 battery pack you should be shooting alot with it. I am going to be doing 3 nights a week shooting very soon when basketball season comes up.

The other option I was thinking about going with was the Black Box or the Tuxedo made by this Gentleman.

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

His prices are less expensive than the Quantum's and he seems to know what he's talking about. I probably will pick up acouple of the Tuxedo's myself to power my second and 3rd flashes.

Getting back to the Quantum packs. They have enough power to literally melt your flash heads. They have a feature on the box where you can switch from fast to Ultra-fast. And literally you can shoot until you have nothing but molten plastic because it recycles so quickly. I haven't done it but I have heard stories about neub's not knowing what they had and frying their flashes.

There's my little take on it...

Ross

[jargaguy]

Very cool info. I didn't know Canon made a battery pack.

After reading abour the BlackBox Ive gotten the urge to try one out.

ANYBODY HAVE EXPERIENCE with this product?


JA

[tim]

Check out the wedding forum of fredmiranda.com forums, plenty of people there use them, or used to at least.

[Uncle E]

I've only used the CP-E3 and here's what I like about it:

-Inexpensive
-Uses cheap rechargeable AA batteries (energizer 2500mAh for me)
-Relatively small & lightweight
-Extended usage life and faster recharge time vs. flash batteries alone

It works great for fashion shows that I shoot ... I know REAL fashion shows have great lighting and flash isn't used, but in hawaii I have to take what I can get. One of the best add-ons to my equipment pool IMO. I attach it to the left side of my waist pouch and the cable is long enough to reach w/o any problems.