Flash battery pack for weddings

fyi...for those of us in the US. You can find the charger that Lloyd's talking about at Thomas distributing. Here's the link:

http://thomasdistribut​ing.com …c9000-battery-charger.php

It's on sale by the way!

turbo 2x2 and I am so happy with it.

Those of you that dropped the $500 clams for the Quantum packs, did you try the CP-E3 first? Not ridiculing anyone here, just wondering if there's some benefit that I'm not aware of...

jamiewexler wrote in post #3972364
Those of you that dropped the $500 clams for the Quantum packs, did you try the CP-E3 first? Not ridiculing anyone here, just wondering if there's some benefit that I'm not aware of...

Wondering also.

jamiewexler wrote in post #3972364
Those of you that dropped the $500 clams for the Quantum packs, did you try the CP-E3 first? Not ridiculing anyone here, just wondering if there's some benefit that I'm not aware of...

I guess the advantage is that you do not have to spend money buying AA's (cleaner environment), or charging many batteries just before the events (as NiMH will loose charge even not used.)

I do not own the Quantum, can't afford one, and do not need one (I only shoot for families / relatives / friends once in a while, and do not have to shoot every second during peak moments of the events). But I imagine the recycle time would be faster than using CP-E3, and has substantially more power, and can be recharged for a long time before buying a new pack.

But if you do not feel the need to shoot 30+ FPS at full power (who would be that crazy ?), you do not need the Quantum pack. And for some people (speaking of Lloy), they don't even need a batter pack!

That's why you charge AAs the day before the event. Lead acid do hold their charge longer and are higher capacity. Quantum might give you a bit faster recharge time, but remember you can burn a flash head out if you use it too fast/often.

jamiewexler wrote in post #3972364
Those of you that dropped the $500 clams for the Quantum packs, did you try the CP-E3 first? Not ridiculing anyone here, just wondering if there's some benefit that I'm not aware of...

I chose the Jackrabbit because I wanted something like, NOW and I couldn't find anyone here (Vancouver) who stocked the CP-E3 which was what I originally wanted.

The Jackrabbit is about $350 compared to the CP-E3 at $150 but does have faster recycle and I can get a monolight to attach to it later (if I ever have any spare $$$ haha).

Well, for me it is just the fast recharge for some special moment of the wedding. I can't afford to miss the emotions, I can't never tell myself "Well, next wedding". One second or less to recharge my flash for me is priceless!.
And I will never burn my flash out, because like I said I use continuous shooting just for few moments during the day and never go beyond that my camera speed.

If everybody else is happy with the CP-E3 that’s ok with me.

And for those complaining about the weight and how tired they are at the end of the day, that's it not a problem for me. Since, I have to keep myself in good shape, because I love ski, backcountry and golf, and I didn't find a wedding yet that can be as demanding as a whole day in the mountain, a round of golf carrying the golf bag full of clubs or a day walking miles carrying the same equipment I use in weddings (ok, except the battery jejeje).

Jmm7 wrote in post #3979890
And for those complaining about the weight and how tired they are at the end of the day, that's it not a problem for me. Since, I have to keep myself in good shape, because I love ski, backcountry and golf, and I didn't find a wedding yet that can be as demanding as a whole day in the mountain, a round of golf carrying the golf bag full of clubs or a day walking miles carrying the same equipment I use in weddings (ok, except the battery jejeje).

I take it you have never shot a 4 day indian wedding... shooting like 28 hours within the span of 1.5 days.... see if your arms are tired after that. Taking a battery pack off after that will feel like you're removing a 400lb weight.

picturecrazy wrote in post #3980043
I take it you have never shot a 4 day indian wedding... shooting like 28 hours within the span of 1.5 days.... see if your arms are tired after that. Taking a battery pack off after that will feel like you're removing a 400lb weight.

That's why you're paid the big bucks.

For $5,000 a day I wouldn't consider anything heavy.

TXLEBER wrote in post #3967178
fyi...for those of us in the US. You can find the charger that Lloyd's talking about at Thomas distributing. Here's the link:

http://thomasdistribut​ing.com …c9000-battery-charger.php

It's on sale by the way!

darn - that charger is just what i need...but i'm in the UK.
any places in florida near disney where i can get this from?

i have two of the turbo packs and they have proven very useful. Long Long life quick recharge times. I cant fault them and never found the extra weight a problem . I didnt try anything else to be fair. Build quality is excellent and 15 months after purchase they still behave themselves with great capacity ( i.e no diminishing the charge they will hold ). I found swopping batteries and recharging aa batteries a pain in the derrier especially if something was happening that I really wanted to shoot. All that being said i did have a few bob burning a hole in my pocket at the time , so there may be cheaper alternatives.

4 days Lloyd!!!!??????

Wow, ok i will reconsidering my post! jejejeje
but like CDIFOTO said, for the money you get paid I will still not consider it heavy at all. jejeje

+1 for maha. I don't have that new charger (looks slick tho!), but I have the basic one, which also does the reconditioning.

+1 for cpe3 as well.

I shoot with Quantum Turbo and 580EX & 24-105 on one 30D as main camera and have 30D with 70-200 2.8L IS and 550EX hanging over the other shoulder for those tight crop shots. Both cameras also have grips.
You can well imagine the relief at getting that load off at the end of the day as I'am only 140lbs.
Seriously though the Quantum batteries are excellent if you dont mind the extra weight.