Can someone recommend a battery pack for a 550EX?

I'd like to get a battery pack for my flash, and have no experience shopping for these. If any wedding photographers can help me, I'd appreciate it. I can't afford the Quantum Turbo, so that's not an option.

power for your 550ex flash

buy "underdog" (mounts bottom of your camera) from robertsimaging.com or underdog.com, two batteries for two flashes and charger $150-?, plenty of power.

Thanks, but no can do. I'm on a tripod.

Try here and modify to suit your voltage and needs

http://www.aljacobs.co​m/universal_battery_pa​cks.htm

Last time I checked, you could get gel cell batteries and a good charger (Battery Minder) at this place:

http://www.batteryweb.​com/batteryminder.cfm

Quantum makes a number of battery packs that will work with the 550EX via the high voltage jack. You buy the pack and the corresponding cable for the 550. I use two Turbo Z's for my Nikon, Canon and Quantum flashes. You can find them at
http://www.qtm.com/
Regards,
Scott

Try this one too: http://www.digitalcame​rabattery.com/ Kinda pricey but supposed to be the cat's meow.

Thanks for both replies. Quantum seems like a good company which supports its products.

http://www.powersource​.org …ce/files/35mmba​ttery.html

charges in 15 mins - car charger - lasts all day

I use the Canon Transistor Pack

It works GREAT ! here is the pointer to B & H photo;


http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …=&O=productlist​&sku=13061

Great power source.

Rod

i second the transistor pack from Canon. It takes 6 AA batteries in the pack.

I usually put Alkaline AA in the flash itself, and NiMH rechargeables in to the transistor pack. Between the two I've gone as far as shooting 500+ images with flash and recycle time of about 2 seconds with full-power shots without the need to change batteries.

The beauty is that you can always get more AA batteries while "special" batteries can't be easily obtained in a hurry and recharging takes time.

Perhaps, but that makes the total cost over $200, after buying batteries and recharging unit, and you can only re-charge 4 batteries at a time, leaving you with two more to do afterward.

http://www.radioshack.​com …=CTLG&product%5​Fid=23-422

Recharges 8 AA at a time (anything between 2 and 8 - in even numbers).

Edited:

I've started shooting with ELan II, and with a vertical grip, Elan II can be powered by 4 AA batteries. I went with AA power pack because the batteries for the whole system were interchangeable (all AA).

WHen I got 10D, I solved the problem with getting a grip for it and a second battery to double the capacity of (in my experience) 900+ shots on a full charge, with out using built in flash.

What you get with other bateries is capacity. In other words - biggger number of flashes. Transistor pack gives out higher mAh that is fed directly to the capacitor (it plugs in from the side plug on the 550EX) and not only gives you more flashes but also gives you a recycle of 1-2 seconds at full power - something only Quantum's TURBO batery does, and it's not cheaper than $200 - it's $450+. Quantum's also plugs in from the side and is fed directly to the main capacitor's circuit.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ails&Q=&sku=268​860&is=REG

I'm referring to the six "C" batteries, not AA.

this is the one i use.... btw - 6 C cells is like a decent tripod in weight....

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ails&Q=&sku=164​265&is=REG

Isn't the Canon transistor pack simply a big set of batteries running into a current source transistor circuit?

---Bob Gross---