Canon 550EX flash - refresh rate

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Hi All

I have a 550EX flash that I need to use in bursts - perhaps 5 shots in 10
seconds. I have it attached to Canon's 6xAA battery pack. I find that the
first flash and the next is fine, but after that the flash quality falls off
rapidly so that the fourth and fifth are almost useless. I have tried using
alkaline (Eveready and Duracell) and NiMH (2400 mA) but neither seem to
refresh the flash capacitor quickly enough.

Any suggestions about how to get enough ampage/voltage back into the flash?
Are there external pack, such as Quantum, that will allow me to shoot 5
shots in 10 seconds or better?

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Gremlin <not-here@all.mate> wrote:

> Are there external pack, such as Quantum, that will allow me to shoot 5
> shots in 10 seconds or better?

Yep, as you said...Quantum. Have a look at their website <www.qtm.com>.

My 15 year old Turbo still works beautifully and would happily recharge
the flash into meltdown!

Another manfacturer favoured by professionals is 'Digital Camera
Battery' at <http://www.digitalcamerabattery.com/>, but I have no
experience of their products except nice things being said about them.

Cheers,
Tony
--
Newcastle upon Tyne, England

(Email address is valid ... for now)

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

In message <430c62f9$1@duster.adelaide.on.net>,
"Gremlin" <not-here@all.mate> wrote:

>Hi All

>I have a 550EX flash that I need to use in bursts - perhaps 5 shots in 10
>seconds. I have it attached to Canon's 6xAA battery pack. I find that the
>first flash and the next is fine, but after that the flash quality falls off
>rapidly so that the fourth and fifth are almost useless. I have tried using
>alkaline (Eveready and Duracell) and NiMH (2400 mA) but neither seem to
>refresh the flash capacitor quickly enough.

>Any suggestions about how to get enough ampage/voltage back into the flash?
>Are there external pack, such as Quantum, that will allow me to shoot 5
>shots in 10 seconds or better?

Without spending any more money, you could try opening the lens a little
more, or using a higher ISO setting on the camera. ISO 100 is
functionally worthless on most Canon DSLRs, except as a "neutral
density" setting. 200 is just as good, and has more headroom sometimes
(the 20D, for instance, has about 1/4 stop less highlight headroom at
ISO 100 than at the other ISOs). 400 is only a tiny bit noisier, if you
are giving full, saturated exposures without dark highlight areas.

The less you drain the flash, the faster it recharges. I use a "better
beamer" on my 550EX, which is a fresnel that concentrates the beam (only
useful for angles of view of 300mm on a 35mm, or smaller), for instance,
and the light is red on the flash immediately after taking a picture,
unless the all of the scene is a hundred feet away or more.
--

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>
John P Sheehy <JPS@no.komm>
><<> <>>< <>>< ><<> <>>< ><<> ><<> <>><

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Gremlin" <not-here@all.mate> wrote in message
news:430d27a2@duster.adelaide.on.net...
> Thanks for the suggestions.
>
> As it is, much of the shooting is done at ISO400/800 at f2.8 because of
the
> distance between me and the subjects, and I need to get about shots in 10
> seconds - it is purely the cycle time which is inadequate.
>
> <JPS@no.komm> wrote in message
> news:uk5qg1paa71bo593gk1k8h642rt34btq31@4ax.com...
> > In message <430c62f9$1@duster.adelaide.on.net>,
> > "Gremlin" <not-here@all.mate> wrote:
> >
> >>Hi All
> >
> >>I have a 550EX flash that I need to use in bursts - perhaps 5 shots in
10
> >>seconds. I have it attached to Canon's 6xAA battery pack. I find that
> >>the
> >>first flash and the next is fine, but after that the flash quality falls
> >>off
> >>rapidly so that the fourth and fifth are almost useless. I have tried
> >>using
> >>alkaline (Eveready and Duracell) and NiMH (2400 mA) but neither seem to
> >>refresh the flash capacitor quickly enough.
> >
> >>Any suggestions about how to get enough ampage/voltage back into the
> >>flash?
> >>Are there external pack, such as Quantum, that will allow me to shoot 5
> >>shots in 10 seconds or better?
> >
> > Without spending any more money, you could try opening the lens a little
> > more, or using a higher ISO setting on the camera. ISO 100 is
> > functionally worthless on most Canon DSLRs, except as a "neutral
> > density" setting. 200 is just as good, and has more headroom sometimes
> > (the 20D, for instance, has about 1/4 stop less highlight headroom at
> > ISO 100 than at the other ISOs). 400 is only a tiny bit noisier, if you
> > are giving full, saturated exposures without dark highlight areas.
> >
> > The less you drain the flash, the faster it recharges. I use a "better
> > beamer" on my 550EX, which is a fresnel that concentrates the beam (only
> > useful for angles of view of 300mm on a 35mm, or smaller), for instance,
> > and the light is red on the flash immediately after taking a picture,
> > unless the all of the scene is a hundred feet away or more.
> > --
> >
> > <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>
> > John P Sheehy <JPS@no.komm>
> > ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<> <>>< ><<> ><<> <>><

Could you mount the flash somewhere off camera and use the IR
transmitter/trigger to set it off while still keeping yourself 10 feet away?

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

I have the CP-E3 which I find useless - is the CP-E2 that much better?

"Skip M" <shadowcatcher@cox.net> wrote in message
newsIbPe.2495$sw6.123@fed1read05...
> "Gremlin" <not-here@all.mate> wrote in message
> news:430c62f9$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
>> Hi All
>>
>> I have a 550EX flash that I need to use in bursts - perhaps 5 shots in 10
>> seconds. I have it attached to Canon's 6xAA battery pack. I find that
>> the first flash and the next is fine, but after that the flash quality
>> falls off rapidly so that the fourth and fifth are almost useless. I
>> have tried using alkaline (Eveready and Duracell) and NiMH (2400 mA) but
>> neither seem to refresh the flash capacitor quickly enough.
>>
>> Any suggestions about how to get enough ampage/voltage back into the
>> flash? Are there external pack, such as Quantum, that will allow me to
>> shoot 5 shots in 10 seconds or better?
>>
> Canon makes an external pack, the CP-E2, B&H has it for 124.95, a LOT less
> than a Quantum battery pack.
>
> --
> Skip Middleton
> http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
>

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Gremlin wrote:

> I have the CP-E3 which I find useless - is the CP-E2 that much better?

Stop top-posting and use google. Hint: after grepping the web, add
"sitehoto.net" to any photographic googling:

www.google.com: canon CP-E2 quantum sitehoto.net

The first hit sez the CP-E3 is better than the CP-E2. If you find the
CP-E3 useless, that may be your answer. The 550EX specs suggest an -E2
or -E3 full-power recharge in O(one second), which appears to be out of
spec for your application. Supporting evidence for your answer.

I've seen people with the Quantum and DigitalCameraBattery equipment.
They like the stuff, but hate the high prices. If I was in the market
for this (at times I feel like I am), I would first check people that
make high-power DC->DC converters. There is almost certainly a
12V->~300V, ~100W brick made by someone, and probably for _alot_ less
than what Quantum will demand. But I know how to solder, etc: if you
don't, or want a solution with plenty of polish to it (blinking LED's!
knobs! dials!), or you need something Right Now, well, just whip out
that credit card and start crying.