External Flash Battery Pack

[KevinBarrett]

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.

[Dusty]

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

[KevinBarrett]

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.

[KevinBarrett]

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.

[Greg Beetham]

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

[Dusty]

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

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!

Dusty

[KevinBarrett]

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.

[Dusty]

Dang! Too late again with my ideas!

Dusty

[KevinBarrett]

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.