Opteka External Flash Battery Pack for Sony HVL-F58AM, HVL-F56AM, & Minolta 5600HS Electronic Flash Units
Sony FA-EB1AM External Battery Adapter for Flash
I was thinking that it might be wise to pick up one of these before I shoot my next wedding. Does anybody have experience with either? The Opteka Unit is $54, while the Sony unit is $249 (as low at $199.95 from Adorama at this time), so my decision is all but made. However, I wondered whether there were any concerns about the Opteka unit that have kept its price so low.
External Flash Battery Pack
- KevinBarrett
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External Flash Battery Pack
Kevin Barrett
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- Dusty
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Re: External Flash Battery Pack
No experience with either but $55 makes it worth a try.
I used to shoot weddings with a "Potato Masher" flash that took AAs with no means for external power. I took the end caps off of 4 AAs, soldered wires to them and put them all small cardboard tubes (could have used wooden dowels). The wires ran out of the battery compartment thru a small notch I cut in it and ended up at a 9 volt battery connector. A Radio Shack plastic 4 D cell batty holder was then wired up with a long wire and another 9 volt connector.
The result was as many shots as I could ever use in a day and super fast recycling times!
For $55 bucks I don't think I would try that again, but if I ever got a good flash w/o externam power hook-up I might do it again.
Dusty
I used to shoot weddings with a "Potato Masher" flash that took AAs with no means for external power. I took the end caps off of 4 AAs, soldered wires to them and put them all small cardboard tubes (could have used wooden dowels). The wires ran out of the battery compartment thru a small notch I cut in it and ended up at a 9 volt battery connector. A Radio Shack plastic 4 D cell batty holder was then wired up with a long wire and another 9 volt connector.
The result was as many shots as I could ever use in a day and super fast recycling times!
For $55 bucks I don't think I would try that again, but if I ever got a good flash w/o externam power hook-up I might do it again.
Dusty
- KevinBarrett
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Re: External Flash Battery Pack
I just did my indoors wedding this weekend, and let me tell you--I should have got the external battery pack! To get the shots often enough, and in the very difficult light, I found myself limited by flash recharging time very often. You're right, for $55 I shouldn't have passed it up. Next time.
Kevin Barrett
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- KevinBarrett
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Re: External Flash Battery Pack
Yet another option from LINKdelight (which I've never heard of) for even less.
Flash External Battery Pack for Sony HVL-F56AM as FA-EB1AM
I also found a very helpful and reassuring Dyxum thread concerning "knock-off" external battery packs. If anybody has any experience with these, please chime in! I'll probably be buying the Opteka unit very soon, so I'll report back when I've tried it.
Flash External Battery Pack for Sony HVL-F56AM as FA-EB1AM
I also found a very helpful and reassuring Dyxum thread concerning "knock-off" external battery packs. If anybody has any experience with these, please chime in! I'll probably be buying the Opteka unit very soon, so I'll report back when I've tried it.
Kevin Barrett
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- Greg Beetham
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Re: External Flash Battery Pack
I've looked at the external power packs myself a couple of times but never quite made the plunge, I always thought that thing when connected and the dangling cord would be a blasted pest...anyway the problem was solved when the AA Lithiums became available (I know I know...expensive and non rechargable), BUT they do deliver and deliver and deliver, only thing is, if you do a lot of medium/strongish flash work in quick succession they can become quite warm and performance can suffer a tad till they cool down, an easy fix for that is just have a spare set to pop in, or even better, a spare flash.....(with lithiums inside of course)
Greg
Greg
- Dusty
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Re: External Flash Battery Pack
The solution would be for these guys to put a tripod screw on the battery pack, so that you could just attach it to the bottom of the camera. I've never seen that, so perhaps I should patent the idea!Greg Beetham wrote:I've looked at the external power packs myself a couple of times but never quite made the plunge, I always thought that thing when connected and the dangling cord would be a blasted pest...
Greg
Dusty
- KevinBarrett
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Re: External Flash Battery Pack
I believe they come with such a screw. There is a 1/4" threaded hole that passes through (some of, most of?) these packs so that it may be attached to the camera. I'll know in a few days when I get mine. I just ordered it with my Sandisk rebate card.
Kevin Barrett
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- Dusty
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Re: External Flash Battery Pack
Dang! Too late again with my ideas!
Dusty
Dusty
- KevinBarrett
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Re: External Flash Battery Pack
The Opteka unit works like a charm! My shooting now with off-camera flash is slower and more considered, so I haven't really pushed the pack yet. My observation after three outdoor shoots with lots of full-power flash: recycling time is fast enough that I never actually hear the whine of recharging any more.
Kevin Barrett
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