Light Weight Battery for Speedlights...?

Aressem wrote in post #16026060
Welcome to 9 hours ago hehe

Haha... welcome indeed. You guys are too quick.
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If this pack is as advertised and stays at this price it will change the way wedding photographers power their speedlites. I have one on the way to confirm its capabilities.

dmward wrote in post #16026124
If this pack is as advertised and stays at this price it will change the way wedding photographers power their speedlites. I have one on the way to confirm its capabilities.

Excellent! Keep us posted David

I would have picked up a couple for myself but I just sold off my 580EX II and YN-560 to fund 2x YN-568 which, sadly, do not have an external power port

Aressem wrote in post #16026130
Excellent! Keep us posted David

I would have picked up a couple for myself but I just sold off my 580EX II and YN-560 to fund 2x YN-568 which, sadly, do not have an external power port

I ordered on of those to test and when I found out it didn't have an external power port sent it back. Speedlite without external power option is hard for me to justify.

I use speedlites without packs when lighting interiors for architectural photography and composites but still consider them a requirement.

dmward wrote in post #16026143
I ordered on of those to test and when I found out it didn't have an external power port sent it back. Speedlite without external power option is hard for me to justify.

I use speedlites without packs when lighting interiors for architectural photography and composites but still consider them a requirement.

See, I find that interesting because for me, I used speedlites for their portability and ease of setup and use. Having to plug in another accessory (per speedlite) isn't my idea of fun what-so-ever. It's extra gear to lug around, setup, fasten to a light stand, take down, and carry away in my eyes. Just not necessary. I always have a zip lock bag full of eneloops ready to go in the event one runs outta juice (very rare for me). Having never used, or seeing the need for a battery pack, it was pretty much a no-brainer for me to pick up a couple YN-568's along with the YN-622's. I'll likely pick up a third in the next month or two.

Its a technique and experience thing. I use speedlites for events. Primarily weddings. The main reason for the battery pack is to shorten recycle time. I remember more than one occasion when recycle times got longer than I could afford, that motivated me to get my first external pack. I've never looked back.

I have 4 600EX-RTs that are my primary kit. Along with 4 Pixel packs and at least 2 complete sets of batteries for the speedlites and the packs. The pack for the on camera flash goes in my pocket and the others are velcroed to the stands.

If recycle time is not a concern, as with architectural work, I leave the packs in the case.

I'm actually looking to use the pack for my first wedding in july, so having a battery pack would be great... But I only got the YN560 (NO ETTL, which I need) and Canon 430EXII (ETTL/HSS).. so it looks like I may have to get the YN565 that has ETTL, just need ETTL with the pack for the weddings...

dmward wrote in post #16026260
Its a technique and experience thing. I use speedlites for events. Primarily weddings. The main reason for the battery pack is to shorten recycle time. I remember more than one occasion when recycle times got longer than I could afford, that motivated me to get my first external pack. I've never looked back.

I have 4 600EX-RTs that are my primary kit. Along with 4 Pixel packs and at least 2 complete sets of batteries for the speedlites and the packs. The pack for the on camera flash goes in my pocket and the others are velcroed to the stands.

If recycle time is not a concern, as with architectural work, I leave the packs in the case.

Totally understandable. I mainly use them for sports and portraits. The recycle time is no slower than my ranger which I am used to now. When an athlete chucks him/herself off a jump, pack or no pack, my lights aren't keeping up with my 7D. I get one shot and that's it. So really, recycle times aren't a deal breaker. Same with portait work. I don't shoot models on a run way. 2 seconds is plenty fast enough for my needs.

ChrisAdval wrote in post #16026302
I'm actually looking to use the pack for my first wedding in july, so having a battery pack would be great... But I only got the YN560 (NO ETTL, which I need) and Canon 430EXII (ETTL/HSS).. so it looks like I may have to get the YN565 that has ETTL, just need ETTL with the pack for the weddings...

Looks like you've got it all figured out

Aressem wrote in post #16026307
Looks like you've got it all figured out

not sure, on that page it doesn't mention it supports YN565, only mentions the YN560 II...

ChrisAdval wrote in post #16026320
not sure, on that page it doesn't mention it supports YN565, only mentions the YN560 II...

It should! The YN-565 does indeed have an ext power port.

Aressem wrote in post #16026328
It should! The YN-565 does indeed have an ext power port.

when it says to buy one for nikon or canon, for a YN canon flash, does that mean I get the canon one?

I too have a couple of PB3000 on the way. I am going to compare the results against my Pixel TD-381. If it's comparable in performance, it's a killer deal.

ChrisAdval wrote in post #16026342
when it says to buy one for nikon or canon, for a YN canon flash, does that mean I get the canon one?

That would be my conclusion, get the Canon-fit one for a Canon-socketted YN flash.

Working SOLELY on the illustration (ie conjecture based on surmise, firmly founded on pure guesswork ) , it would appear that this pack uses the DIN45326 leading out to marque-specific flashgun plug which we've seen in the CheetahStand L4500 / Godox PB820 / Godox PB960 packs plus certain of the Quantums. However, it looks to me as though Pin 3 is blocked on the Sky Eagle PB3000 so it may not necessarily follow that cables for the other makes would physically fit - I know the Cheetah / Godox ones would as they use a 5 pin arrangement within the DIN45326 configuration so they'd physically go in the socket. If other makes did fit, that would open up all sorts of possibilities of cross-brand 'pick n mix' which could be interesting.

HOWEVER, we have no way of knowing what wiring configuration has been used inside the Sea Eagle so I'd hesitate to just plug and go without considerable further testing. If the internal pin-out wiring differs from what we have come to regard as the norm, the question then arises - "Which goes bang, the $55 power pack or the $550 flashgun?". You never can tell; and who wants to be the first to find out!

As it stands though, this looks to be a rather interesting offering in it's own right. And there's the possibility of cutting off the US plug and replacing with a country-specific one to avoid the dreaded adapter - something which you can't do with the Cheetah / Godox charger. No need with the Cheetah version as it's targetted solely at the US, the rest of the world just get an EU moulded-on plug and have to use adapters - less than ideal. In this respect, the Sea Eagle PB3000 charger could be seen as an improvement.

Not sure if I like the 'charge your phone' idea though - it removes the wonderful excuse of "Oh, my phone must have run out of battery" when you want a little bit of "Me" time. Do not disturb.
Personally, I'll not be indulging - I love my PB960 and the older Pixel TD-381s and couldn't justify yet another power pack. I'll just let the phone go dead (actually, you can get a USB lead for the PB960 if you're really that keen)

Received the PB3000 today and fired it up side by side against PIxel TD-381, TOTALLY IMPRESSED!! Recycle at full power just about the same time, about 1 second. Can't believe the PB3000 costs cheaper than the TD-381 including lithium battery.