External Battery Pack Options for Canon Flashes [Archive] - BirdPhotographers.net

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Jeff Dyck

11-01-2010, 11:38 AM

Does anyone have any experience using the Canon 580EX/EXII with an external battery pack? I see Canon offers a "CP-E4" pack that uses "AA" batteries (+ there seem to be lots of cheap eBay knock-offs of said unit). Does anyone have any experience as to how these "AA" powered packs compare to a large rechargeable pack like one of the Quantum products (i.e. Turbo series)? The Canon pack is certainly a lot cheaper than the Quantum pack, but my experience with some of Canon's accessories has been hit and miss. I used to get a lot of use out of a couple of Quantum Battery 2 packs with Metz 45 flashes on my Hasselblads - I still have the packs and after many years they are still going (but sadly aren't compatible with the 6V Canon strobes)

As a follow-up - for those of you using battery packs with a gimbal head, where are you physically placing the battery? Are you zip-tying or taping to a trip leg / flash bracket / gimbal head itself?

Richard Sleeman

11-01-2010, 11:48 AM

Jeff, I've used the full Turbo and Turbo Z from Quantum for many years,with good success.
But, about a year ago, a photo buddy,clued me into the CPE-4. I was looking to reduce the overall weight of the rig,I was carrying. It worked. The Canon pack will not recycle as fast as the Quantums. For the most part that hasn't been a problem for me. I use the velcro strap on the pack and put it right on the flash arm. I bought rechareable batteries and an 8 battery recharger. Works very well.
So, I'm a satisfied user. If I know I'm going to be in a high frame shooting situation, I will go back to the Turbo Z. Hope this helps.

Richard

David Billingsley

11-02-2010, 08:04 AM

I also use the CP-E4 and it works fine for me. Batteries are rechargeable PowerEX plus the MaHa the eight slot charger. I attach the battery pack to the Wimberly II flash arm and all balances out very well.

Bob Ettinger

11-02-2010, 08:28 AM

I use the same setup as David and it works fine

Geraldo Hofmann

11-08-2010, 10:11 AM

We also use the CP-E4. A big benefit of it is that it is running on AAs so even if the rechargeable AAs are dead I can switch to normal batteries to power it up again. As I am quite regular away from a power outlet or the car for weeks this was the ideal solution. We also ordered three different cheap Chinese knockoffs of the CP-E4 they all looked the same but they did not provide the same fast recycling time … all three didn’t provide the high voltage power the CP-E4 or the Quantum do. So we send them back.

Jeff Dyck

11-08-2010, 11:17 AM

We also ordered three different cheap Chinese knockoffs of the CP-E4 they all looked the same but they did not provide the same fast recycling time … all three didn’t provide the high voltage power the CP-E4 or the Quantum do. So we send them back.

Thanks Geraldo - this is good to know.