Flash battery pack for weddings

Do you guys shoot at ISO200 indoors or something? I have never had the recycle times leave me dry before... ok well... maybe a couple times, but not enough to make me carry an even heavier kit than usual. My back hurts enough as it is...

picturecrazy wrote in post #3963414
Do you guys shoot at ISO200 indoors or something? I have never had the recycle times leave me dry before... ok well... maybe a couple times, but not enough to make me carry an even heavier kit than usual. My back hurts enough as it is...

Agree, extra weight really hurt! The only time I need to change the batteries was one time I was doing a BBQ reception at night, no light just camp fire. I shoot ISO 3200 on dance floor and yes no light on dance floor...

I use a Jackrabbit by Dynalite http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …krabbit_Pack_II​_with.html.

Got it after shooting a ceremony and reception in April which was inside in front of panoramic windows outside of which was snow - intense backlight. I found my flash was throwing out inconsistant power due to recycling times and so shots were inconsistantly exposed. Made extra pp work.

I'm interested in Lloyd's batteries and charger for sure, but I LOVE the rabbit.

Wear it clipped to my belt. Don't really notice the weight but the cord can take a little getting used to.

I use a Quantum Turbo 2x2 powering 2 580Ex's on two bodies. In darkest of halls, there is still a 4 second delay in charging. For outdoor stuff, in bright sun, I now use a Metz 76 mor e often than not.

picturecrazy wrote in post #3963414
Do you guys shoot at ISO200 indoors or something? I have never had the recycle times leave me dry before... ok well... maybe a couple times, but not enough to make me carry an even heavier kit than usual. My back hurts enough as it is...

I don't shoot ISO200 but I use flash all day for everything I can. Recycle times have hurt me before and I'd rather add a few ounces to my kit than go through that again...

Another happy CP-E3 user here. I flash at 800-1600 when I'm indoors, so the 4AA's in the flash do pretty well, but outdoor fill is another matter alltogether. I can really tell the weddings where I have had to overpower the sun with my flash by my recycle times when I get to the reception. The flash with the CP-E3 is usually still going strong, the flash without it is usually tired. Besides, it's cheap, and powerful. I'd never roll without one!

I'm seriously considering a CP-E4 to stick under the 1D so I can move the CP-E3 to the 10D...love it that much.

You guys must have pipes of steel to hold that extra weight all day. I guess it also depends on your shooting style. If you like to shoot many frames in succession then the 4AA might leave you dry.

CP-E3 all the way. I shot at 1250 - 1600 during receptions, and never miss a heartbeat with this in my pocket. Love it for fill during outdoor formals... no "hold on a second guys while my flash gets ready."

I never found the weight of a CP-E3 to be an issue, and I carry around 2 cameras: 1 w/17-55 the other with a 70-200. Maybe I just have more pumpatude than others

picturecrazy wrote in post #3964439
You guys must have pipes of steel to hold that extra weight all day. I guess it also depends on your shooting style. If you like to shoot many frames in succession then the 4AA might leave you dry.

Not sure about my pipes, but my spheres...

I figure I'm already lugging a heavy 1D, 24-70, 580EX, and bracket. Adding the CP-E3 makes very little difference. I'd put it on my waist but my luck says I get strangled before the formals...

cdifoto wrote in post #3964464
I figure I'm already lugging a heavy 1D, 24-70, 580EX, and bracket. Adding the CP-E3 makes very little difference. I'd put it on my waist but my luck says I get strangled before the formals...

I carry the 1D3, 580, and 24-70 all day and that's bad enough. I think the cp-e3 would be the straw that breaks the camel's back. I didn't even entertain buying a 1D2 because of the weight. When I heard the 1D3 dropped a half pound of weight, it became an option to me.

picturecrazy wrote in post #3964481
I carry the 1D3, 580, and 24-70 all day and that's bad enough. I think the cp-e3 would be the straw that breaks the camel's back. I didn't even entertain buying a 1D2 because of the weight. When I heard the 1D3 dropped a half pound of weight, it became an option to me.

Nah it adds almost nothing perceivable. I have to strip it down to just the 1D and 24-70 before it starts to feel light. And the rare times that happens, it's featherweight! Of course it helps to have the battery pack strapped to the bottom of the rig, so it's balanced evenly. Flash on top and CP-E3 on bottom almost even either other out. Balance is more crucial than mass, imho. Case in point...the "rig" as a 1D and Takumar 50mm feels heavier than the 1D and 24-70 combination because the former is all in my right hand. The latter is in both hands.

CP-E3 either on my belt or on my strobo-frame. Either way I don't have to worry about my flash keeping up. And I usually shoot at 400iso.

picturecrazy wrote in post #3963414
Do you guys shoot at ISO200 indoors or something? I have never had the recycle times leave me dry before... ok well... maybe a couple times, but not enough to make me carry an even heavier kit than usual. My back hurts enough as it is...

Indoors nope, but I use umbrellas which eat power. I just want really fast recharge times.

picturecrazy wrote in post #3964439
You guys must have pipes of steel to hold that extra weight all day. I guess it also depends on your shooting style. If you like to shoot many frames in succession then the 4AA might leave you dry.

Battery pack goes in my pocket, no extra weight at all.