external battery for flash

[briandee]

Does anyone have experience with these ? does the cycle time drop with external packs because of more power ? Or rather than cycle time faster, do they just last longer ? or both ?

Any input is helpful, I have a 580EX ii just FYI.


Brian

[sk66]

quicker recycle and longer life....
But less convenient because larger and weigh more.

Pretty much any 6v battery (motorcycle etc) can be adapted easily.

[OsmosisStudios]

I saw a press photog working a fashion show the other day. 3 Canon 1D mkIIIs, 16-35 f/2.8, 24-70 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8IS, each camera with a 580EXII and each connected to a beltpack that had canon external battery sources.

He said he was going to need a good relaxing bath later.

The external batteries are great on-site for shoots with speedlights, because they last longer and mean the flash can be fired more often. Other than that, or weddings, I dont know if it'd be worth it really.

[sk66]

Oh yeah, you also need to be careful not to melt your flash with these....
They can recycle so fast and so many times that the heat buildup can be too much for the flash head/lens.

I have one...haven't used it yet. Plan on using it for a wedding in late January.

I bought it after the last wedding I shot. During the garter toss, I took a quick shot right before the toss and one during the toss. The flash didn't fire on the second shot (luckily the first shot turned out really well).

The external pack I bought is Yougnou (or something like that), ebay for $60. Holds 8 AA batteries. Rumor has it that the battery packs that hold 6 AA batteries aren't worth crap, so stay away from those. I think the Canon equivalent is about $120 or so.

General idea is that it takes the 12 volts (8x1.5volts) that the batteries put out to 300 volts to charge the capacitor in your flash faster. Plugs into the side of your flash (I have a 580exII as well). You can mount it on the bottom of your camera, but some people believe the magnetic field messes with the sensor. Better to stick it in your pocket.

As said above, rumor has it you can fry your flash if you fire off too many at one time.

Oh yeah, and to answer your question, you get longer battery life and much shorter cycle times. I bought it for the shorter cycle times.