I've got 2 580 EX II's and I'm sick of using batteries by the boat load. I rented a Quantum SC Turbo just to see how it worked. Seemed pretty good but I'm just so over sticker shock all the time. Another $444 each for those. And yes, I know, average out the cost of AA's, I get it.

So what are you guys happy with? Is there any unit you'd recommend?

Thanks in advance!

I've used Quantum battery packs for over 15 years. Yeah...I've owned 5 of them in that time (3 of them are still going strong)...but I've found that to be easier than 20,000+ alkaline batteries in a landfill somewhere! I recommend the Turbo 2x2 over the Turbo...you'll get longer charge cycles out of the 2x2.

+1 for the 2x2. or then would that be 5? haha.

anyway, suck it up and get a 2x2... its worth it man!

Trevor and Daniel, can the 2x2 power 2 flashes at once? Am I reading those specs right?

Mark,

The black box is something you should check out, and if you order one, tell Al you want to power two strobes, and he will install the 2nd plug so you may do so.

http://www.aljacobs.com/THE%20BLACK%20BOX.htm

yes, or a flash and a camera. or two cameras. or whatever. its really a bitchin pack... you'll never have to buy another one

Canon CP-E4 Compact Battery Pack. 12 rechargeable AA batteries (4 flash + 8 battery pack) will get me through a wedding. I'm a heavy flash user. Not as powerful as a Turbo, but cheaper and smaller.

You can get two of these for less than the cost of most turbos.

You can actually power 2 flashes with any turbo battery if you use the 'Y' adapter. But I guess the question is will your setup allow you to power both flashes off the same battery or do you need two batteries?

Ryan

Ryan anyone using the turbo professionally is saving toNs of money over the canon packs... If I had to reload aa batteries every time I shot a wedding I'd be going crazy, not to mention the harm to the environment. To compare the 2x2 and cp-e4 is like comparing apples and oranges.

Oh and by the way, I use 4 aa batteries per wedding.

I shoot Nikon (Hey! Nobody is perfect) and I use the Sunpak TR-2000 for my SBB-800 flashes. At $250 including the cable, it is a good compromise between price and performance. It may not be as capable as the Quantums, but is costs far less. It has more features and lower weight than Al's black box, but costs more, too.
I like:
It is rechargable, saving me money.
-A single rechargeable battery, that is hot swapable...you can get extra batteries and in about a second snap a new battery in the pack, so it is easier than multiple AA rechargables to keep track of.
-Has a "fuel" gage to let me know how much power I have left. Sure, it is just a guesstimate, but it is better than none
-Has a belt clip and a shoulder strap. choice on how you can carry it.
-Uses Quantam compatible cords. Buy once and use the cord when you upgrade, or easily replace anywhere with the Quantam standard.
-Low initial cost. Low is a perspective. It is still almost as much as the flash...Al's black box or the other Low Voltage DIY options are a better value though.
-And the number one thing I love about it....it goes both ways. It does both high voltage and low voltage with the flip of a switch. Worried you will fry your flash? Does high voltage scare you? Use the LV option. Want to see if you can get 6 frames per second of a bride tossing her flowers in the dark? Use HV...but then let the flash rest for awhile and cool down!

Trevor,

I own 2 turbo's and they are great. Currently I only use them for Quantum flashes (room lights / second light), over the years I have found that they were just too bulky for me to carry around all day. I wear a suit when I work and the canon pack fits nicely on my belt or out of it's sleeve it fits in my inside suit pocket.

As far as the AA's go, I ONLY use rechargeable batteries. I've been shooting weddings for over 10 years and using rechargeable batteries for probably the last 4 years. By rotating my batteries I have been able to maximize their life. I have never disposed of one of these rechargeable battery. When they are retired from my camera bag they find another life in remote controls and other products.

But if I read your remarks correctly, you are doing more damage to the environment than I am. As it appears you are disposing of 4 batteries a wedding. Multiply that by the number of weddings you shoot per year. I'm would guess you dispose of more AA batteries in a year than I own.

Recharging and reloading batteries is a small price to pay to save the environment wouldn't you say?

Ryan

LOL - he's got you there Trevor - so suck it up and go down to costco for a pack of these.

They'll last you all year for only $25 and no landfill fodder.

got me there, but I still hate rechargeable AA batteries - they aren't reliable enough honestly and I don't want to have to worry about that when I'm photographing a wedding. Stuff should just work. And it does... sure maybe I'm throwing away more AAs a year than you own, but it's significantly less than the 12 per wedding that ryan is throwing away. Either way, batteries are bad for the environment, but I still do everything I can do dispose of them properly (i try to take them and get them recycled when I can)

Good times though. No problems with the 2x2 here.... it works for me, lasts forever and I get rid of a third of the number of AAs that you would with a CP-E4....

I don't have the 580EXII, but as a 580 EX user I am getting fed up with feeding it 4 AA's 3-4 times during a wedding. I think they must be frying my flash because when I take them out they almost burn my hand.

If I bite the bullet and buy a Quantum or Black Box, will the 4 batteries I keep in the flash still overheat like that?

No, I shoot 8+ hour weddings on the quantum + 4AA batteries with no problems.

The black box does not require AA's as the cord from the box goes to "where the AA's go. You will get between 800 and 1200 shots with the black box.

Wow

that's pretty weak compared to the quantum 2x2!

Read all of this, then you tell me who offers a better product, service and value.

http://www.aljacobs.com/THE%20BLACK%20BOX.htm

whatever man. i've used quantums for years, no problems, their product is proven, as im sure the black box is (along with all the hype the guy gives it on the site)

either way i know what works for me and many many many others. not trying to argue, just sharing what works for me. i also don't want to have to worry about a black box dying on me during a wedding... 800-1200 flashes doesn't quite cut it for me, so i personally opt for the well-known quantum.

Using the CP-E4 with 8x 2650 mAh batteries, I got an easy 2075 flash photos out of it this past weekend, and it was still going fairly strong by the end of the evening. Key is if you're going AAs, make sure to have a good charger (Lacrosse BC-900 for me) and condition your batteries. Make sure they are all performing at their peak and you're set!

I like the fact that the with the CP-E4 you will never run out of power. If the first set of 8 batteries aren't enough, you can just swap out the magazine that holds the batteries with 8 more that are fresh and ready to go. Endless supply. With any other battery pack, you have a limited supply of juice so...when you run out, you're really out.

The only inconvinience (if you call it that) is having to keep up with your AAs. Multiple chargers make it easy though, and you won't have to worry about cells dying over time, as rechargable AAs are pretty inexpensive to replace.

+1 on the CP-E4 w/ rechargables.

Bob Davis uses them, Mike Colon uses the Nikon version, and I've been using them for years. Never any problems with heavy duty rechargable AAs.

We had 3 weddings this weekend, 12 hours, 16 hours, and an outdoor 11 hour. The only time I ever had to change a pack was the outdoor wedding, late in the evening (burning much more power as fill flash).

9000+ shots on 3 1/2 packs of AAs - good enough for me!

I agree with Jimmy too - if I DID ever have a problem, I could always use regular AAs. I couldn't have charged a SLA type (quantum / Al Jacobs) fast enough. Granted, they probably would have lasted longer - SLA batteries are usually rated for 4.5 AH, vs 2700 MAH / 2.7AH for the AAs.

Al Jacobs does have a point on his website about "high voltage" type battery packs, they can overheat the head, the capacitor, or both (I've sent 2 flashes back to canon so far) but in the end, it all comes down to you either got the shot or you didn't. I'll sacrifice some equipment longevity for the extra seconds it gets me in recycle time.

Shan

Lol, hey trevor, if you weren't trying to argue you wouldn't be peeing (or attempting to) in the kool aid of everyone who suggested something other than the 2x2.

As for the topic at hand. Mark you're not going to be dissappointed if you go wtih the quantums. If you get some solid re-chargeables and go with the cp-e4 you won't be dissappointed, and if you go with the black box, i'm going to bet you won't be dissappointed. Considering you seem to be saying you're just tired of changing batteries all of these products will solve this problem.

I use the Canon external battery pack... the one that holds 8 AAs (and 4 AAs go in my flash).

It refreshes my flash well. Problem is, yeah, it eats AAs. I got the rechargable AAs finally, and they've worked well. (Just don't lose them... they're expensive!). Also, I dropped the insert once when I was trying to change the batteries in a hurry, and a plastic part broke, so it's a little tricky to fit back in now-- so if you just get one, just be aware that the insert is easily breakable.

It cost me $175 and I think it was really worth it.

I go through... 24-28 batteries a wedding? That's why it's good to have the rechargable.

Whoever is using AAs--- You CAN recycle them-- find out how you can in your area! It's really bad to just throw them away.

Ususally easiest it to put them in a jar and contact your local girl/boy scout troop and see when they're holding a collection. It's ususally a pretty common/easy project that the younger ones do.