Canon CP-E4

I know this sounds slightly daft, but I was just about to buy one online, when I spotted a third party version for £18 (as opposed to £150). Given that's quite a dramatic difference in cost, despite the obvious non-brand element; do I really need to pay for an official Canon branded product at such a massive cost difference?

Jahled wrote in post #11452347
I know this sounds slightly daft, but I was just about to buy one online, when I spotted a third party version for £18 (as opposed to £150). Given that's quite a dramatic difference in cost, despite the obvious non-brand element; do I really need to pay for an official Canon branded product at such a massive cost difference?

Yongnuo makes one, and superior to the canon product in that the tabs holding the batteries in place do not snap off.

Physically you cannot tell the Yongnuo pack from the Canon .. exact in all respects except it seems the Yongnuo is made of slightly more robust plastic.

Canon undoubtedly outsources the manufacture of these low volume, low value components so they are made in the same factory anways.

Just make sure you get the right one .. there are several different models offered by Yongnuo.

I have only tried Canon's CP-E4, which works well (it should). There is a control of the battery pack from the flash, and there is a special connector to maintain the weather resistance of the 580 EX II when the CP-E4 is connected. I assume that especially the latter thing is perhaps not as efficient on something that costs 1/10th.

Pixel makes a version for canon that recycles faster than Canon's CP-E4 and much cheaper, but at the sacrifice of a light clicking noise. I'm satisfied with mine. The clicking is not a problem in any wedding I have shot with it, as most of the ambient noise is much louder.

mmahoney wrote in post #11452440
Yongnuo makes one, and superior to the canon product in that the tabs holding the batteries in place do not snap off.

Physically you cannot tell the Yongnuo pack from the Canon .. exact in all respects except it seems the Yongnuo is made of slightly more robust plastic.

Very helpful, thanks mate; I shall investigate a bit more before anything is ordered

I've had some quality issues with the Pixel units. They are cheerfully replaced so the only cost is mail back to HK.
Both they and the Yongnuo units are as good as, or better built than the Canon product.

Pixel version has added benefit of a duplex circuit so if one side (4 cells) goes bad the other side (4 cells) keeps working. Just a slightly longer recycle time. Still shorter than without an external pack.

You can pixel ones from Edward of cheetah stand.

And you can get the Yongnuo units from Flash Zebra.
Not sure what either US source brings to the party for the $20 or so premium per unit.
It costs about $12 to ship 2 units back if there is a problem and they are replaced with HK supplier paying shipping.

Probably almost as much to send a defective unit back to Edward or Lon.

Dave - Turn around time and customer service. Not sure how long for HK suppliers but flashzebra will send you the new stuff befor eyou return your old one. I bet Edward does similar. I had small issue with miniphone splitter and Lon took care of it quickly. This is for a < $5 item.

Guys, I'm still reeling that an 'official' Canon product can cost £150, and apparently a third party product can sale at such a huge cost difference. Am I being simply naive, or is this a case of that Canon logo simply slapping on a rather mental price difference?

don't know the answer to your question. All I know is I just got the CPE4 as a present.

I'm not sure if there are widespread reports of the battery tabs cracking or breaking off. If there are, the I will stand corrected. But I also owned the almost identical product for my Nikon flashes.

Both are well made and unless you treat it poorly or like a bull in a china shop, I don't see anything breaking on it.

I like it for what it is. I'm sure a relatively simple product such as this can probably be duplicated much cheaper by aftermarket suppliers.

I however follow the credo: Pay me now or pay me later. I buy quality to begin with so I don't wind up buying again later. ymmv.

MARK

MDJAK wrote in post #11458793
I buy quality to begin with so I don't wind up buying again later. ymmv.

MARK

That's the philosophy i've tried to follow so far, but £150 to £18 on amazon was jaw dropping yesterday, so I had to pose the question

Don't know UK prices but here in US canon is $150 and pixel one is $70 or so. Roughly half.

Jahled wrote in post #11458445
Guys, I'm still reeling that an 'official' Canon product can cost £150, and apparently a third party product can sale at such a huge cost difference. Am I being simply naive, or is this a case of that Canon logo simply slapping on a rather mental price difference?

No reeling required

Think it through and realize that Canon outsources such small items and the same manufacturer also makes for others, such as Yongnuo.

I use this stuff every day, for many tens of thousands of frames every year and can tell you that the Yongnuo CPE4 is the Canon equal in every respect .. and it's superior in construction of the battery holding tabs. And the Yongnuo is durable .. it's been with me on hundreds (that's not an exaggeration) of event shoots and has been suitably abused. And comes back for more. A strong piece of kit.

Buy your wife a nice dinner with the money you save

PS .. post a link to the one you're looking at on Amazon.

This is the one I have:
http://cgi.ebay.ca …m1c17ef2760#ht_​2691wt_783

PPS .. edit to add that this applies even more to the off camera cords. The Canon OC-E3 is famous for breaking (the plastic holding the small set screws breaks) and if you're unlucky when it breaks your 580 will find itself falling to the floor. Not funny. I bought two of the Canon ones and both broke so I tried the Yongnuo cord and it is identical to the Canon cord EXCEPT the plastic does not break. So I own two Yongnuo cords (different lengths) and both have worked flawlessly. Again this is in everyday, professional use over a two year period.