Battery Pack for Speedlight

I have a couple of CP-E4s, not cheap but thay can be relied on, unlike the L-cheepie ebay copies.
 
I also use CP-E4's and haven't had any problemss with them.

Bob
 
I have a 'Pixel' one for my 550EX...and it works a treat...I want another for the second one...

STEVIER
 
THE-BIG-MAN-SAYS said:
I have a 'Pixel' one for my 550EX...and it works a treat...I want another for the second one...

STEVIER
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I have proper nikon sd-9s for my sb900s, they are pricey but very good. I also have a cheap pixel SD-9 knockoff and its been just as good.

I also have a quantum turbo 3 which can run 2 speedlights at the same time, really nice pack but even more expensive.
 
lensflair said:
I have proper nikon sd-9s for my sb900s, they are pricey but very good. I also have a cheap pixel SD-9 knockoff and its been just as good.

I also have a quantum turbo 3 which can run 2 speedlights at the same time, really nice pack but even more expensive.
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BTW I bought the pixel one from dealextreme online, it was $40 AUD and free shipping, but it took over a month to arrive even though it said it was in stock, when I ordered I received an email that said they were waiting on supplier.
 
I use a YongNuo CP-E4 Clone and it works a charm, never had any problems with it at all.
 
Still using Canon CP-E3 that I brought 4/5 years ago, heavily used them when shooting fast till they are hot to touch and still working (famous last words). If you are going to use a lot or professionally then always think worth buying genuine but if only for occasionally use and not critical then a good copy does save a fair chunk of money.
 
DuncanH said:
Still using Canon CP-E3 that I brought 4/5 years ago, heavily used them when shooting fast till they are hot to touch and still working (famous last words). If you are going to use a lot or professionally then always think worth buying genuine but if only for occasionally use and not critical then a good copy does save a fair chunk of money.
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Good point, even though the pixel one works fine I don't rely on it, I always use my nikon ones for the hard work and the pixel one gets used at home when I need an extra pack.
 
So I got a pixel one today, and im confused

I've put 8 brand new Duracell Ultra Power AA Alkaline batteries in the pixel, and 4 of the same batteries in my flash.

I connect Pixel to my 580EXII flash and switch on flash. I get 2 lights on the Pixel fickering constantly. Book says The 1st indicator will stay bright when the pack is working correct, and the 2nd indicator will twinkle if i have low batteries or no battery in this group.

So anyone know why both are flickering? Is it actually my flash that doesn't like battery packs I wonder?
 
Most battery packs only kick in once the batteries in the speedlite are exhusted. I would suggest trying to put dead batteries in the speedlite and see if this solves your problem.
 
Kemble3 said:
Most battery packs only kick in once the batteries in the speedlite are exhusted. I would suggest trying to put dead batteries in the speedlite and see if this solves your problem.
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I think you'll find that the Speedlite has a custom function which allows you to decide whether to draw from all batteries or just the auxilliary pack. The Speedlite will always use internal batteries for the control functions.

Bob
 
Kemble3 said:
Most battery packs only kick in once the batteries in the speedlite are exhusted. I would suggest trying to put dead batteries in the speedlite and see if this solves your problem.
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No this isn't the way these packs should work. the pack plugs into the high voltage input in the front of the speedlight, it significantly reduces recycle time, it wont work without good batteries in the speedlight because the ones in the flash power the electronics, the pack only charges the capacitor.

If the only thing these packs did was give you longer battery life theres no way I would lug one around attached by a cable, I would just carry extra batteries. Also the batteries don't overheat like the ones in the flash will when you drive it hard, thats the other reason for using them.
 
OK I just checked my pixel one so I could tell you what heappens with the lights. When I plug it in the lights flash for a second or two then go off. When I fire the flash one red light stays on and the red one on the right flashes for a few a moment until the it is ready to fire again. Then they are both on.

But if I dont fire it for a few seconds they both go off again and don't come back on until I fire it again.

So it seems the left one shows the flash has fired, the right one shows the status (ready to fire) by flashing while the capacitor is charged. But just having it plugged in they should both be off until you fire it.

And top the person who asked about a swith, no switch, just the 2 indicator lights.

BTW I am using it with an SB900, like I said I got mine from deal extreme, they are in China and do free shipping, it was 50 AUD which is just under a 1/3 the price I paid for my Nikon equivilents. But it did take me a long time to recieve it. I also dont like the pouch it came with as much as the Nikon one which has velcro so the belt clip thing on the back can open up and you can attach it easily to a light stand or whatever.

If you want a really nice pack look at the quantum ones, they make some great stuff, its expensive though (800 USD) but I also use a quantum flash off camera so needed one anyway. I got the optional camera cable with the turbo 3 pack, that will power my D3 in a pinch. This bad boy will power 2 speed lights, or a speed light and camera at the same time and has a built in fuel gauge. The have smaller packs like the SC and they are really good too.
 
lensflair said:
OK I just checked my pixel one so I could tell you what heappens with the lights. When I plug it in the lights flash for a second or two then go off. When I fire the flash one red light stays on and the red one on the right flashes for a few a moment until the it is ready to fire again. Then they are both on.

But if I dont fire it for a few seconds they both go off again and don't come back on until I fire it again.

So it seems the left one shows the flash has fired, the right one shows the status (ready to fire) by flashing while the capacitor is charged. But just having it plugged in they should both be off until you fire it.
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From what I remember the Canon version works in a slightly different way from the Nikon one, there's something to that effect in the manual that comes with them....
 
Flash In The Pan said:
The only Pixel battery packs I ever had returned were the Canon-fit versions...
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Thats interesting - Not used it much yet but seems to be like a disco with the 2 flashing lights on it, they seem to flash all the time. Ill try a shoot with it during the week and see if its any good at all.
 
My yongnuo works fine... i doubt there is much more to it that a case with a parallel connection for the +4
 
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