What should I look for in an external flash battery pack, and are they flash-specific?
Asked 7/5/2015
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I see external battery packs mounted on flash stands and assume they are used to increase capacity and improve recycle time. I’m considering one for my Nikon SB-910 flashes and a LumoPro LP180, but many packs seem to be made for specific flash models. Why is that? Are there universal options, or do external packs need a specific connector for each flash? Also, what do you gain or lose with a manufacturer pack versus a DIY or generic battery solution?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
5
There are two types of battery packs that you can get:
The first type is your readily available manufacturer packs. These are specific to flashes, as different flash manufacturers use different high voltage power sockets. (To keep you locked into the ecosystem and make you spend more money). The two most common type of plugs are Nikon and Canons three pin plugs. Which both offer faster flash recharge speeds and a higher capacity of possible flashes.
Your second type is your homebrew DIY option which uses Dummy AA batteries in order to connect bigger batteries, to a flash. The only benefit to these battery packs is the higher capacity of possible flashes that they provide. An example can be found here: http://www.diyphotography.net/the-external-flash-power-that-will-last-till-hell-freezes/
In terms of buying a manufacture battery pack, you don't have to limit it to buying Nikon's battery packs, you can also buy third party battery packs by manufacturers such as Godox and Yongnuo. Just ensure that you buy the correct cables / and or versions for use with your flashes. There is no benefit to staying with Nikon and buying there battery pack, at the end of the day all battery packs do the same regardless of who they are manufactured by. You'll just end up paying more money. Examples of these here: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=321512496826&alt=web http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=151021626385&alt=web
Hopefully that answers your question :)
Originally by user39420. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user39420
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—most external flash battery packs are flash-specific because they connect through a dedicated high-voltage power port, and manufacturers use different connectors. Common examples are Nikon and Canon 3-pin style plugs, so a pack made for one system usually won’t fit another without the proper connection.
There are basically two approaches:
- Manufacturer external packs
- Designed for compatible flashes
- Use the flash’s external power port
- Typically improve recycle time and increase the total number of flashes
- DIY/generic battery solutions using dummy AA batteries
- Feed power through the flash’s internal battery compartment instead of the dedicated external port
- Main benefit is higher shooting capacity
- They generally do not provide the same recycle-time advantage as a proper external high-voltage pack
So if your goal is faster recycle, look for a pack specifically made for your flash’s external power connection. If your main goal is just more shots before changing batteries, a dummy-AA style solution can work, but you give up the main convenience/performance benefit of a dedicated pack.
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