Shot a wedding Saturday - LESSON LEARNED

Glad to read that your shoot worked out OK. Heer is my view on the battery situation. First, buy the CP-E3 pack. It is awesome, as well as cheap. It comes with a nice nylon holster that can slip in a pocet, attach to a belt, a strobe bracket, or the tripod mount of your camera. It also includes a long and secure cord to connect to your 580 flash unit. Did I mention that it is cheap for what it deliveres?

Don't worry about the number of full power flashes it can deliver. I can deliver a full nights worth of light with one set of 2600 MaH batteries, and it makes a HUGE difference in charge time. It's sweet. Buy one.

As for batteries, go for the new hybrid types if it floats your boat, but I think they are a waste of money. High capacity NiMh batteries are a very mature technolgy, which means that you can buy a brick of high capacity batteries for a song on the net. If you use them often, they are good for a little more than a year of service, The new hybrids are no better in that respect. Buy a brick of 24 2600 batteries for a few Dollars, and cycle through them regularly. Cycle them through your charger once every month or so, and you will never be without full power.

After about a year goes by, buy a new set, and dump the old batteries. Never wait until a battery fails before you dump it. That is rule number one. At the current price of batteries, you should always buy new before the old ones ruin your day. Never allow a battery of any kind with fuzzy electrodes power your equipment.

As far as the BP-511 is concerned, it will shoot more than 600-700 shots with an IS lens before giving up the ghost. I use a battery grip with two Calcellular SP-511 types installed, and have shot well over 1200 shots with IS lenses, and external flash, and never felt that the camera was running low on battery power at any time.

--
Voyager

Snyper77 said:

I'm using a 30D, 24-70L, 580EX with Fong lightsphere and Chuck
Gardner's $2 attachment (2 modifiers, swapped out as needed). By
the way, thanks Chuck! You saved the day with the home made
attachment. Back to the "lesson learned", I have 2 sets of 2500mha
batteries for my 580ex. After 200 shots, my flash began to die (was
shooting formals at this time and groups were having to wait 20
seconds between shots for my flash to recharge). So I asked "please
give me a second to change batteries". Inserted the "fresh" set....
and they were worse than the first set! I can't explain why. Other
than I'd noticed one battery showing some corrosion on each end, so
I'm guessing that battery didn't charge properly. Yes, it's my
fault. Things happen (and lesson is learned. Luckily I did make it
through and got the shots needed for the day. I'm throwing the
"bad" set away and buying 2 more sets of Energizer 2500mha. This
will give me 3 sets at 2500mha each. The camera battery is a TANK!
I rarely have to use my backup BP-511. How many shots is that thing
good for? 500?

Click to expand...

I have the Energizer 2500mAh batteries too and they are the worst NIMH batteries I have ever come across. You can only use them reliably directly after charging. These batteries loose 30% of their charge in the first 24 hours after charging. Mine are just able to make the display of my 430EX come up after 7 days on the shelf. The display then faints slowly away after a few seconds.
When they are fresh however they go forever.

Much better batteries are the Sanyos especially the Eneloop type. I borrowed a set of Sanyo 2700mAh and left them on the shelf for 3 weeks. They were still like new. The Energizers needed 3 charges during that time even when they were unused.

My advice, stay away from the Energizer NIMH batteries and go for Sanyo.

They may cost a little more but you don't have to go through that experience again.

Eric Sorensen said:

... The CP-E3 batter pack for your flash, and a MAHA batter charger.

The battery pack will re-fresh your flash 5 times faster and make
it last for about 600-800 shots. Get an optional battery tray for
quick replacements. Pretty expensive piece of plastic - $150 plus
$35 for an additional tray - but worth every penny. Most of the
time you can shoot as fast as you camera can and the flash will
keep up with every shot.

Click to expand...

The CP-E3 is a fantastic power pack. I have the CP-E2 and also a Quantum Turbo 2x2 and have been using the CP-E3 with GP 2700mAh batteries for a year now and the last of the flimsy plastic tabs had also broke two days ago. Without the tabs, batteries would not be held inside the tray making exchanges inconvenient.

--
Jan Shim
Web: http://www.janshim.com

I have not one but two Quantum Turbo 2x2 and have given them up in favour of the CP-E3. I bought the Turbos in the days of the CP-E2 which for some reason (two batteries less than the CP-E3) didn't work that well and after I picked up the CP-E3, reluctant at first, and found that it can provide surprisingly long usage, I kept the Turbos for product shoots only where I can simultaneously power two Flashes.

When you use the CP-3 with the Speedlite 580EX flash, there's a Custom Function that allows you to switch between recycling the flash from external power pack only or draw from the combined cells.

JimStrutz said:

I used to use a Quantum Turbo for flash at weddings, but they are
expensive and heavy. The work great, and will recycle your flash in
about 1 second after a full power pop. Most of the time there is no
delay. However...

The Canon CP-E3 will recycle my 550EX in under 1.2 seconds, and I
get well over 800 flash pictures before it starts to fade. When it
does I have a spare set of 2100 mAhr NiMH AA's ready to go. The
thing weighs less than half what the Turbo did, and costs less than
a 1/3. The money I made selling the Turbo more than paid for the
CP-E3.

The Turbo makes sense if you really think you need that 0.2
seconds, or if you are powering something other than a Canon
Speedlite. Otherwise the CP-E3 is the better buy.

Click to expand...

--
Jan Shim
Web: http://www.janshim.com

I had similar problem with my Sanyo. There was a recall on the 2500mAHr a while back I think. Now I use the Eneloop that stays charged for a long time. Its only 2000mAHr. Also keep some alkalines/lithium as back up.

one thing with bouncing / using diffuser / fong thong thing

is that the flash needs more power than when you use it directly (because lots of the light is going up and all over the place -- there is a diagram on dpreview somewhere showing you how much light it being chucked about) this is one reason why you batteries drain quicker

also, it is always worth having a fully charged spare set (if not more than one!) ... just like, for important work, it is essential you have a backup of everything (because if your flash / camera / lenses / cards / batteries stop working, it is not nice to be left in the lurch)
--
AJ
http://www.pbase.com/manjade

While the flash batteries will discharge first your recycle times will decrease and you will get longer time between changes. From my limited experience with the flash and taking lots of photos, 2 sets of batteries for the flash and one set for the battery pack go a long way.

I use a 550ex and a CPE-2. The newer battery packs have more batteries and should recycle even faster.

--
Ian the RF Cat.



RFCat (Vee Kay three Y A Y) aka irm
LOVE MY tenD
Melbourne - Oz
Have fun while learning photography. Always learning.
http://www.pbase.com/ianm_au
equipment in profile

Great suggestions.....

It's been mentioned before, but stick a pack of Lithium AAs in your bag as an emergency set..they last a LONG time, and they are so light you won't notice the extra wait. Though, hopefully you don't need to resort to them.
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.jordansteele.com

I wouldn't use the Energizer batteries if I were u, they seem to be one of the most unreliable battery ever.
--
Bosh

Ok, you guys talked me into it! I'll grab a CP-E2. But someone said the "have been using the CP-E3 with GP 2700mAh batteries". What does that mean? Do you have to buy batteries FOR the pack? or is it an "all in one" battery pack that comes with a cord? (complete, nothing else to buy)?

I can vouch for the Eneloops.

The lower rated capacity is of no consequence because the thing that matters is how much power you actually get to use from the battery. If the battery self-discharges before you even put it into the flash, then what good is that extra alleged capacity?

I like the energizer 2500mAh units, but you must charge them immediately before you use them or they can disappoint. They do self-discharge fairly quickly (as do most conventional NiMHs).

With the Eneloops, you can be confident that they'll hold their charge for quite a long time. I've been happy with mine so far. They seem to do exactly what they're advertised to do. But they have not been available long enough to know how they'll be in a few years.

--
Jim H.

Snyper77 said:

Ok, you guys talked me into it! I'll grab a CP-E2. But someone
said the "have been using the CP-E3 with GP 2700mAh batteries".
What does that mean? Do you have to buy batteries FOR the pack? or
is it an "all in one" battery pack that comes with a cord?
(complete, nothing else to buy)?

Click to expand...

Grab the CP-E3 not E2. The Canon CP-E3 does not contain batteries. You're welcome to use either Alkalines or rechareables in the CP-E3 Battery Pack. Hope this is clear.

--
Jan Shim
Web: http://www.janshim.com

Amazon says it will work with the 420. Does anyone know for sure?

Jan_Shim said:

Snyper77 said:

Ok, you guys talked me into it! I'll grab a CP-E2. But someone
said the "have been using the CP-E3 with GP 2700mAh batteries".
What does that mean? Do you have to buy batteries FOR the pack? or
is it an "all in one" battery pack that comes with a cord?
(complete, nothing else to buy)?

Click to expand...

Grab the CP-E3 not E2. The Canon CP-E3 does not contain batteries.
You're welcome to use either Alkalines or rechareables in the CP-E3
Battery Pack. Hope this is clear.

--
Jan Shim
Web: http://www.janshim.com

Click to expand...

--
What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about!
Photo Gallery @ http://www.Digitalmike.smugmug.com

Cool sites: http://www.theguitarsuite.com/
http://www.wildwoodcarver.com/
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More than 500, I suspect. I just got back from Spain where I took about 1200 shots. Charged the battery once, when it was around three quarters to a half dead, and returned home with it around half. That was with an old 511 from my 300D too, not the higher capacity 511A that comes with the 30D.

That's a HUGE improvement on my 300D, which would drain a battery during a 50 shot outing.

--
Robb

Snyper77 said:

I'm using a 30D, 24-70L, 580EX with Fong lightsphere and Chuck
Gardner's $2 attachment (2 modifiers, swapped out as needed). By
the way, thanks Chuck! You saved the day with the home made
attachment. Back to the "lesson learned", I have 2 sets of 2500mha
batteries for my 580ex. After 200 shots, my flash began to die (was
shooting formals at this time and groups were having to wait 20
seconds between shots for my flash to recharge). So I asked "please
give me a second to change batteries". Inserted the "fresh" set....
and they were worse than the first set! I can't explain why. Other
than I'd noticed one battery showing some corrosion on each end, so
I'm guessing that battery didn't charge properly. Yes, it's my
fault. Things happen (and lesson is learned. Luckily I did make it
through and got the shots needed for the day. I'm throwing the
"bad" set away and buying 2 more sets of Energizer 2500mha. This
will give me 3 sets at 2500mha each. The camera battery is a TANK!
I rarely have to use my backup BP-511. How many shots is that thing
good for? 500?

Click to expand...

1. Don't get Energizer 2500mAh batteries. They're good, but there's a better alternative: Maha PowerEx 2700mAh. The extra 200mAh isn't why these are so much better. It's the fact that these PowerEx batteries have a much, much, much lower self-discharge rate than the Energizers that makes the PowerEx batteries so awesome. When I first got them last year, I charged them up and didn't get around to using them for a month. Then just for kicks I tested them, and they still held almost a full charge. If you've paid attention to typical self-discharge rates of older design NiMH like the Energizers, you know how amazing this is--the Energizer would be fully or nearly fully self-discharged after a month. I don't know if it'll continue to be like this as I recharge it a few times, but so far I'm very impressed.

2. Look into an external battery pack. Lots of posters here suggesting the CP-E3, which is a good suggestion from all I've read about it. I use a Digital Camera Battery 40W battery pack:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-4059-4084

It's quite a bit more expensive and you have to buy accessories like the cord separately, but I've never run out of juice when I start shooting an event with a fully charged one--1000+ shots easily. It compares very favorably in size, weight, price, and power to the more common household name brand battery packs, beating many of them in various aspects.

Ok, I'm still confused. The CP-E3 is a batter HOLDER? Not an actual BATTERY? $140 for a batter HOLDER? What does it do besides "hold 8 AA batteries"? It's got to do SOMETHING for $140 right? Manage the output somehow.... ??

I always buy a fresh set of 8 or 16 batteries, and have a fresh charged quantum battery.
--
http://www.pbase.com/ewhalen

The CP-E3 connects to a special connector on the side of the flash, NOT to where the batteries connect.

The CP-E3 accepts a pack of batteries and takes that relatively low voltage and steps it up to the high voltage that the flash head requires (more or less 200 Volts). It has a higher capacity inverter circuit than the flash itself has, so it can convert the low battery voltage up to the higher flash capacitor voltage at a higher rate (it can produce the HV at a higher current than can the small inverter built into the flash itself).

So the CP-E3 not only holds eight AA cells to give you more capacity between battery swaps, but it also directly generates the HV for the flash, bypassing the weaker HV inverter in the flash itself.

This is what gives you the faster recycling between shots.

You must still put 4 AAs in the flash itself to power the rest of its circuitry.

In the menu of the flash, you have a custom function that allows you to select whether or not the AAs that are in the flash itself (and the built-in HV inverter) will also contribute to the generation of the high voltage.

If you set it to NOT use the batteries in the flash for this function, you'll get very long life out of those batteries (in the flash) because they are only operating the logic and other low-powered functions of the flash unit. But I suspect that if you allow the internal batteries and inverter to assist in the generation of the HV, then you'll get even faster recycle times because you'll have both inverters helping to recharge the flash capacitor.

So it's a lot more than just a "battery holder" although most of the advertising for the unit doesn't make this clear at all.

--
Jim H.

... I use the exclusively and they are long lasting, quickly recharge the flash, and store forever. Also, when they die, they let you know right away, so I can switch them out very quickly. In cost per battery, the Lithium disposables are by far a better choice. Also, they are so much lighter and allow for my flash to shed some of its weight (nice for long shoots requiring a flash). Finally, they are safe and completely compatible. They were designed for electronics, cameras, etc. I try to keep 8 fresh in my bag at all times and leave 4 in the flash. I usually recharge my 30D battery 2, sometimes 3, times before replacing these.

http://www.energizer.com/products/lithium/default.aspx

Just my 2 cents!

--
Robert (Phoenix, AZ) - Canon EOS 30D

Since the beauty of this world is a reflection the Creator's brushstroke, then my hope is to capture but a glimpse of that exquisiteness.

Hello again,

I have a canon 420EX. Will the CP-E3 work with this flash? I can't find a plug on the flash, so i assume that it would take some sort of adapter. Canon (1800-okcanon) says the CP-E3 will work with all the speedlight flashes, but you need a 3rd party adapter. A hot shoe adapter. Does anyone know what I need? If not, is there a power adapter that will work with the 420 EX? Also does the 430 EX have a port for this power pac?

thanks
--
What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about!
Photo Gallery @ http://www.Digitalmike.smugmug.com

Cool sites: http://www.theguitarsuite.com/
http://www.wildwoodcarver.com/
http://www.lulu.com/content/709999