Photoclubalpha

Sony's own packs are a bit expensive. I have always used Quantum, and my original 1990s Turbo still goes strong - it's powered all sorts of guns and the 6v lead acid gel battery just seems to last for ever.

You sound as if you will have a good working kit.

David

The Pixel TD-384 Power Pack works well with the Sony F56 and F58 flashes. It comes with a handy nylon belt pouch and works with either 4 or 8 AA batteries (in addition to the 4 batteries the flash requires). Pixel states on the package that the flash recycling time is twice as fast with 8 batteries vs. 4

I'm not sure how you can use a power pack with the F43 as it does not have an external power terminal to connect a power pack.

http://www.amazon.com/Pixel-flashgun-HV ... B0054HH24Q

For more detailed product specs, see:

http://www.pixelhk.com/Proshow.aspx?id=73

Andy B wrote:The Pixel TD-384 Power Pack works well with the Sony F56 and F58 flashes, and it works with either 4 or 8 AA batteries. I'm not sure how you can use a power pack with the F43 as it does not have an external power terminal to connect a power pack.

http://www.amazon.com/Pixel-flashgun-HV ... B0054HH24Q

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FL ... 00_s00_i01 is basically the same but way cheaper (I have it and use it or about a year, no other complain than the fact the cable doesn't look that strong)
BTW, it takes 6 AA batteries, not 8.
The F43 doesn't support this kind battery pack. Another annoyance is that the flash have a "security alert" when the bulb become too hot, and it just stop working... good for protecting the unit, you might think. I would prefer a stronger unit that support heavy use -I will never expect less from a 350$ flash...

Actually, if I could get the lead for the flash, I'd just connect it to my home made unit that uses 4 "D" cell batteries. It can go a whole wedding without ever having to change batts, and it's WAY cheaper than the Quantum or others.

Dusty

Thanks to everyone for the input!!! I'm still in drooling mode, but it looks like a 58 is going to be the first round of B&H-ing. David's 2-head asymmetrical Elinchrome suggestion feels good too, as does an Elinchrome ring flash.

The big deal has been; do I really want to buy an A900 and FX glass? The answer is coming to a pleasant "no" closing. I wrote to Kurt @ http://kurtmunger.com/ who also has a very well presented Sony Alpha review site and it was his opinion to let go of investing in an A900 'now' with the A77 doing so nicely since the most recent firmware update. Yes, I will own an FX body somewhere along the way, but given the alternatives to $8k worth of Zeiss glass, I can buff out an A77 bag 'o goodies and have more room for strobes.

Given the bit of light loss of the translucent mirror, it would seem that fast glass is still in fashion, but lighting is still a major budgetary consideration. Looks like things just need to be lit better to get the most out of the A77, adding credibility to the old saying "it's always something".

Even with the following glass on my B&H wish-list:
Sony - SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM
Sony - 16-50mm f/2.8 Standard Zoom Lens
Sigma - 10-20mm f/4-5.6D EX DC HSM
Sigma - 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM

And, adding external mics, wind-fuzzies, cards, extra battery & charger, external monitor, vertical battery grip, yada-yada, I am well under $10k, so with the Elinchrome strobes and accessories, I'll come out with a full stills/video kit for $11k-ish. I'll happily wait for the next FX body and one or two primes for the occasion...

I'm Ebaying my NEX5 and all the OSS glass and accessories as soon as I get back to the USA in a couple of weeks and picking up a G1X for a walk-around piece. The thought of a no-fuss fixed zoom cam really is appealing. Still, I was on the beach on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica today shooting my friend's first surf lesson. Ye olde NEX5 kinda gets it... well, sort of...