I see a lot of photogs using them. I have the Canon pack but never use it... I change the batteries in my flash once or twice during the day and never have an issue... what do you do?

The battery pack reduced recycle time by about 2/3, while at the same time almost tripling the life of the batteries in your flash. It is very well worth the investment. I use the Canon CP-E3.

deepbluejh wrote:
The battery pack reduced recycle time by about 2/3, while at the same time almost tripling the life of the batteries in your flash. It is very well worth the investment. I use the Canon CP-E3.

I have the CP-E4... don't use it. I haven't had much of an issue with recycle time, nor battery life. I don't like being tethered to the camera like that and haven't figured out a better way to use it. Where do you strap it? I would use it if I found an effective method, but I can say that I only find maybe one or two shots where the flash didn't cycle fast enough. When it starts getting iffy, I just change to a fresh set of rechargeables.

I'm the same as Lucky_dog. I have one, don't use it much. I've never really been slowed down by recycle times by just using the four batteries in the flash. However, I doubt I'll ever sell it since I know that one day I'll need it.

Lucky_Dog wrote:
deepbluejh wrote:
The battery pack reduced recycle time by about 2/3, while at the same time almost tripling the life of the batteries in your flash. It is very well worth the investment. I use the Canon CP-E3.

I have the CP-E3... don't use it. I haven't had much of an issue with recycle time, nor battery life. I don't like being tethered to the camera like that and haven't figured out a better way to use it. Where do you strap it? I would use it if I found an effective method, but I can say that I only find maybe one or two shots where the flash didn't cycle fast enough. When it starts getting iffy, I just change to a fresh set of rechargeables.




I stick it in my left pants pocket.

After going through 8 sets of batteries for a shoot on Saturday, I'll be buying or making one. The CP-E3 has an attractive price, but I believe I can make one twice as nice for half the cost.

Jon Smith wrote:
After going through 8 sets of batteries for a shoot on Saturday, I'll be buying or making one. The CP-E3 has an attractive price, but I believe I can make one twice as nice for half the cost.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/754595/

Jon Smith wrote:
After going through 8 sets of batteries for a shoot on Saturday, I'll be buying or making one. The CP-E3 has an attractive price, but I believe I can make one twice as nice for half the cost.
While you could make something "twice as nice", why not just spring for a quantum turbo sc, particularly if you regularly go through 8 sets of batteries.

Just went and read Scott Clark's DIY thread. While it's not a bad idea, if you had a failure during a paid event, wedding or otherwise, what do you tell your clients, insurance company? People love when everything goes well and look for every reason they can think of for it to be your fault when it does not (go well).

I use one but not all the time, just whenever I know that there will be a series of faster shots in a row, like the garter toss, or bride coming down stairs, or the recessional, or first dance, or first kiss, etc.

Nothing worse that waiting for a flash to recycle, or missing a shot because of it. You can pick up a CPE4 clone (better actually) on ebay for about seventy bucks.

I strap mine onto the shoulder strap of my camera bag, which is always around my shoulder, and plug it in when needed.

Also use it during formals with two 580's into one umbrella setup.

I won't buy a Quantum simply b/c of it's overinflated price. It is a VERY simple circuit, and no more prone to failure than anything produced by a pre-made product.

Very often -

I have used - through the millenia - Quantum Turbo, Turbo 2x2, Turbo SC, Jackrabbit, AL Jacobs ....

Then finally got smart an use the Canon CP-E4. This is the best of the bunch by far. It is too boring to enumerate all of the reasons why these are better than the after-market batteries - but trust me.

Though - most people will go through some kind of a battery arc and try a zillion batteries and have honeymoons, love and break up with all kinds of batteries.

The Canon battery for Canon flashes is a no brainer.

Mike Mahoney wrote:


Nothing worse that waiting for a flash to recycle, or missing a shot because of it. You can pick up a CPE4 clone (better actually) on ebay for about seventy bucks.


The ebay battery packs are actually a copy of the CP-E2...they look like they might actually come out of the same factory. I have an original Canon CP-E2...no complaints, works great. If you've seen the Nikon version, it looks exactly the same...even the case. I think these were probably all made by the same third party, just with different connectors and branding.

I have two CP-E4's. They are fantastic. Never change batteries during a wedding, and the flash recycles quicker. I put one on my belt and one on my light stand. As for being tethered, I connect and disconnect the plug many times during the day. It's not always necessary to be connected. They may be overpriced, but they work perfectly.

I just use duracell rechargeables... They last a long time. I swap batteries once during the day probably and even that is rare. However, I mostly shoot ambient or use ac powered strobes. For some reason, it feels like the SB flashes I use last longer than the EX ones.

Scott Clark wrote:
The ebay battery packs are actually a copy of the CP-E2...they look like they might actually come out of the same factory.

There are dozens of CPEX versions offered on ebay, the one I have is sold by GreenLife (although you can probably get the same elsewhere on ebay) and is model SF-18 manufactured by Yongnuo. Side by side you cannot tell it apart from the Canon branded CPE4.

RedWhiteandRed wrote:
Very often -

I have used - through the millenia - Quantum Turbo, Turbo 2x2, Turbo SC, Jackrabbit, AL Jacobs ....

Then finally got smart an use the Canon CP-E4. This is the best of the bunch by far. It is too boring to enumerate all of the reasons why these are better than the after-market batteries - but trust me.

Though - most people will go through some kind of a battery arc and try a zillion batteries and have honeymoons, love and break up with all kinds of batteries.

The Canon battery for Canon flashes is a no brainer.

I can't tell if red is being serious here or sarcastic...

Mike Mahoney wrote:
Scott Clark wrote:
The ebay battery packs are actually a copy of the CP-E2...they look like they might actually come out of the same factory.

There are dozens of CPEX versions offered on ebay, the one I have is sold by GreenLife (although you can probably get the same elsewhere on ebay) and is model SF-18 manufactured by Yongnuo. Side by side you cannot tell it apart from the Canon branded CPE4.


Nice...last time I checked only the older style was available, but that was like six months ago. I might have to check it out.

RichardLavigne wrote:
RedWhiteandRed wrote:
Very often -

I have used - through the millenia - Quantum Turbo, Turbo 2x2, Turbo SC, Jackrabbit, AL Jacobs ....

Then finally got smart an use the Canon CP-E4. This is the best of the bunch by far. It is too boring to enumerate all of the reasons why these are better than the after-market batteries - but trust me.

Though - most people will go through some kind of a battery arc and try a zillion batteries and have honeymoons, love and break up with all kinds of batteries.

The Canon battery for Canon flashes is a no brainer.

I can't tell if red is being serious here or sarcastic...

He's serious. I actually own his old Jackrabbit...I got it to hang on a stand with my SB-28s.

I have one and don't use it because my flash recycles plenty fast on it's own since when I'm using flash I'm usually around iso800-6400 and f1.4-2.8