Not enough flashes from a 580EX II... Batterry Packs Needed?

[ANGUS]

I am sick of changing the batteries out in my 580EX II when they start running down. Also when its off camera with my Pocket Wizards and Auto Power Off is set to Off it churms through the batteries.

Can anyone suggest a good canon battery pack for this flash? I notice canon makes 2 but cant see a real difference.

Thanks.

[airfrogusmc]

I use Quantum...
http://www.qtm.com/?res_set=yes&res=1280&resh=1024

[ANGUS]

I would prefer to be able to use the batteries i already have. I notice that BH only has the CPE4 is that a good unit??

[Tommy]

I've been able to shoot almost all night at a wedding on one set of NiMH batteries in my 580ex. Does the 580ex II chew through batteries faster than it's predecessor? I have a II on the way.... will be delivered today...

[ANGUS]

Never had a 580EX Original so dont know. But i shoot alot with flash and often on ETTL with +2 or so and therefore it churns through a bit faster.

[tim]

I have the virtually identical CP-E3, I wouldn't like to shoot a wedding without it. I keep it in my pocket and plug it into the flash of whatever camera I pick up. In practice recharge is virtually instant, unless you're an ISO100 F8 shooter - i'm more likely to be at ISO800 F4 so no problems. I would love another couple of battery packs and i'll get them some time, it's just charging all those dang AA cells that would be a pain in the butt.

[ANGUS]

Is the CPE3 any different to the E4? Other then a bit of rubber for weather sealing but i dont have a 1D body so the weather sealing doenst help me anyway if water wants to get in it will.

Also how long is the cord when stretched (Not the full length to straight but so there is still a bit of spring left in it)??

[_aravena]

I have Duracell Procells in my 430EX and I played strobe with it the other night on full power and it still goes. What kind of batteries are you using?

And by playing strobe, I meant I used it as a strobe light for awhile. Did ALOT of flashes.

[ANGUS]

I have Energizer Rechargeable 2500mAh in there now.

[tunin]

Hi, I have the 580ex and the 580ex II and I got these from batteryspace.com (http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3146), I shot a few night plays where I had to use +2 and two sets worked the whole night. I don't see a need to the CPE3.

[_aravena]

^That's a lot of batteries

[tim]

Is the CPE3 any different to the E4? Other then a bit of rubber for weather sealing but i dont have a 1D body so the weather sealing doenst help me anyway if water wants to get in it will.

Also how long is the cord when stretched (Not the full length to straight but so there is still a bit of spring left in it)??

CP-E4 is the same as the E3 but with weather sealing to justify increasing the price, I bet. I keep the pack in my pocket and it reaches to my head fine, but it wouldn't go much further. Just be careful not to put the camera down with the battery pack in your pocket and walk away... I did that the first time out with the 30D and scratched the new camera!

[tunin]

I know, but where I live at, it is hard to get them that ceap and that good, so I buy bulk and share with friends and family. Peace out. ^That's a lot of batteries

[GordonSBuck]

I have Energizer Rechargeable 2500mAh in there now.

That's your problem. Been there, done that, had the same problem. Try some Duracell 2650mah (available at retail stores) Some are recommending Sanyo. I use the Duracell and PowerEx from Maha. I prefer the PowerEx.

You'll find lots of discussion threads on batteries and chargers.

[tim]

Are you saying 150mah makes a difference, or the brand matters? Energisers have a decent reputation.

[Tommy]

I use the 2500maH Energizers and have never had any issues with them...

[dsc_1972]

Does not having TTL make a difference when using remote radio triggers?

I had a slight panic last night when first trying a remote trigger with my 580EX. The batteries drained on the first shot. I thought I had fried the flash! Could it be because I left it on TTL?

I charged them up and set the 580EX to manual and lowered the output - and it's been firing merrilly since.

[tim]

TTL/manual don't make any difference to battery life - what takes power is powering the flash (which is independent of metering mode) and a little running the electronics.

[gravy graffix]

energizer batts the last year or so are real spotty on quality...

duracells are my new goto brand.

[LightUser]

Hummm..I have a 580EX II also and when shooting a wedding I only have to change batteries once..of course I'm using Energizers. I get about 400 shots from 1 set and I'm done before my 2nd. set is done. Batteries are cheap enough to change when needed..I never met a rechargeable battery yet that can perform like an energizer..battery packs are great but very expensive to buy and to replace...

[Papaw]

I buy Alkaline in a 48 pack from Costco's that are packaged 4 to a package. I think it runs about $12.00 and go under the Kirkland brand and can usually get about 400 flash shots without reloading.

[rklepper]

The Canon CPE's are good. I prefer my Jacob's Black Box (http://www.aljacobs.com/THE%20BLACK%20BOX.htm) though. Much more convenient than switching out AA's all the time.

[rklepper]

I have also had Energizers and Duracell and gave both away as I was tired of them never being ready when I needed them. They went flat so fast.

[ben_r_]

I have Energizer Rechargeable 2500mAh in there now.

Thats probably your problem right there... The Energizer 2500mAh rechargable batteries are well known around the internet to be low quality. They have one of the quickest discharge rates (discharge when just sitting there and not being used) and when charged with those 15 minute charges one of the lowest overall lifetimes (the slower you charge your batteries the longer they will last). Do some research on the internet about them and quick chargers in general. Youll see what Im talking about. The best rated are the Sanyo Eneloops with a MAHA charger.

[timmytimmytimmy]

Thats probably your problem right there... The Energizer 2500mAh rechargable batteries are well known around the internet to be low quality. They have one of the quickest discharge rates (discharge when just sitting there and not being used) and when charged with those 15 minute charges one of the lowest overall lifetimes (the slower you charge your batteries the longer they will last). Do some research on the internet about them and quick chargers in general. Youll see what Im talking about. The best rated are the Sanyo Eneloops with a MAHA charger.

I agree. I thought Energizers were OK batteries. My 2500mAh Energisers will charge in my no-name brand charger fine, but will discharge extremely quickly. In fact, even if the flash is off, sitting in the cupboard for a few days, the batteries go flat and cannot power the flash.

[ANGUS]

I use a slow charger so i dont think thats the issue.

[ItsMike]

I use and swear by the CP-E3 as well..

[Jonathan H]

Until you try a Quantum turbo, You haven't experienced flash bliss. Recycle is so fast, you could probably melt your flash head in the first 3-4 minutes of an event if you aren't careful.

Regarding the CP-E3/4 - you could easily make one of these yourself if you're even remotely handy and electronically inclined for about $40 in parts I imagine. Maybe a rainy Autumn project for me...

Finally, @Pawpaw - please consider switching to rechargeables over alkaline. You'll save money within 5-6 events and be doing your part to not contribute even more mercury/lead/acids/waste metals to our landfills and drinking water. There really isn't any incentive at all any longer to not use rechargeables. I say this as a staunch conservative, hippie-hater, but most importantly, an avid landscape shooter. We're only ruining the planet for ourselves.

[JasonSTL739]

I have both - the 580EX II is better on batteries for me. Also recycles quicker.

Those Energizer 2500's are junk - that easily could be your problem. You could very easily have a bad set. I get at least a couple of hundred flashes out of a set of 4 AA's

For batteries - I've been using 2900Mah impact's:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/475265-REG/Impact_AANM2900__AA_Nickel_Metal_Hydride_NiMH_.htm l

They seem to last forever, and don't discharge too quickly that I notice. I have a couple of the 8-bay chargers and that works very well.

If I use a 580EX II with the CP-E4 and a pocketwizard, I can pretty much treat it like a studio flash, and I have when I needed an additional kicker or something. add cardboard shoot.... and voila works right along with the other heads. Lasts easily all day with the 12 batteries working. At an event or something it is very easy to kill the flash and have to swap the 580 head itself out to let it cool off.