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| |  | Film Cameras | Home » » Canon CP-E4 - Flash power pack | | | | | | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 73.23 inches | | Product Width:
| 38.98 inches | | Product Height:
| 25.98 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.49 pounds | | Package Length:
| 7.17 inches | | Package Width:
| 3.86 inches | | Package Height:
| 2.44 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.79 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 20 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 Great addition, but no longer the best option.Jul 18, 2010
I've had the CP-E4 for a couple years now, and use it every time I go out. It adds that extra bit of power to the 580EXII to get you through the day (or shoot, as the case may be)
It's a neat little item - an external battery pack that you keep by your side (it has a belt-loop on the carrier) and plugs into the high-voltage socket on your 580EXII (the little part covered in rubber on the side of the flash). Neat idea and very helpful (it adds an extra 8 AA's worth of power!), especially when you don't have time to change batteries (or you run out right when you need them most).
Usage is very straightforward (just plug it in!) but it can be a bit odd to work around, when you're holding a camera on a neckstrap with an off-camera flash cable connecting it to the 580EXII and then have another cable from your belt going to the flash, but it's never been too tough to deal with.
The benefits to the CP-E4 are faster recycle times (time from when you shoot until it's ready again) and longer battery life. Both of which are considered very important. Weight of the unit isn't too bad (depends on your definition I guess) - keep in mind it's holding 8 AA Batteries though.
In addition to the belt loop, you can take the CP-E4 out of its case and connect it to the tripod mount of the flash. I found this to be very odd as it's longer than most (all?) Canon DSLR Batteries. On the 40D it adds a noticeable bulge and hangs off the side (and makes the camera near impossible to use in portrait mode with a battery grip). Nice option for those who don't use a battery grip on their DSLR though.
The CP-E4 uses a slide-out magazine tray. Unlock it, pop it out, and add/remove the batteries as needed. Easier said than done, and the clips inside the magazine are known to easily break off (tip: use the hole on the bottom of the magazine to pop the batteries out to prevent the clips from breaking). Canon sells spare magazine trays: Canon CPM-E3 Battery Magazine , but at about 1/2 the price of the battery pack (just for a plastic tray!) it's a bit of a ripoff. If you're a pro though, it's probably worth it to have a spare tray ready to go at a moments notice.
One thing to note (I made the mistake when ordering mine alongside a 580EXII) is that it still needs 4AA in the 580EXII to operate (so you need 4 + 8 batteries - 12 total. You can't run off 4 in the flash and 4 in the CP-E4, or just 8 in the CP-E4).
As the review title suggests, this was a great option (and still is, actually) but in the years since it's release, other manufacturers have taken the idea and improved upon it (while keeping the price at about half (or as low as 1/3rd) what the Canon branded version comes in at. Versions like the PIXEL TD-381 allow you to use either 4 or 8 batteries in the adapter, and greatly speed up recycle times (even over the canon CP-E4). While reliability has yet to be proven on these yet, early tests show it to be an all-around improvement (both in price and design). If you're looking for a tested and proven product, the CP-E4 does a very good job. If you're willing to step outside of the canon-box, check out some of the alternatives for their improvements.
 Love the recycle timeMay 06, 2010
I got this because I read the reviews about the recycle time. After getting the pack and using it quite a few times, I must say, I LOVE the recycle time. I can click away and not really worry about the recycle time. I have probably shot at most 500 shots without changing batteries. But, I will say, if you are using rechargeable like I do, make sure they are fully charged before going out to shoot. Some not fully charged lowers your capability quite a bit.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
a must have for flash usersFeb 26, 2010
Well, if you do alot of strobist stuff you'll need one. All that you've read is true, recycle time, etc..
I was gonna buy one of those ebay looking battery packs for half the price, but i bought this instead (cant really compare the knockoff to the real)
Reason i gave this one less star, is i want an updated version with digital readout (at the same price) so i know the battery levels. But it will do what its meant to do
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
 expensive and i'm not sure how to tell when batteries are lowFeb 20, 2010
I have BOTH the Canon CP-E4 and some 8 battery power supply from a knockoff company named Yangshuo. I am writing because I have something very simple to say that can help lots of people...
THEY ARE IDENTICAL. So much so that I think the knockoff one must be the OEM for Canon. I mean the dimensions, the curve, the texture, the hole, the cord, the sleeve, the plastic hardness, etc. it's IDENTICAL (except for the label).
Do yourself a favor and save. This is not like some high-tech device, it just holds batteries. Pay $160 or pay $40. Even $40 is high for a rectangular piece of plastic.
Question to my fellow shooters... I don't know how to tell when the batteries are low (other than vague lag time). The problem is I have rechargeables in this thing to prevent drainage of my lithium batteries in the flash, but I end up killing the lithium because I was unaware the power was out from the battery pack. I guess I wish it had a select switch so I could clearly choose which power source to draw from.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Essential for heavy flash usersFeb 05, 2010
A solid product that dramatically decreases the time between flashes. My only gripe about the product is that the plug and corresponding port on the Canon flashes faces outward, causing the cord to extend towards the front of the camera instead of the back. It's not a huge deal and maybe I'm being a little picky.
It's a solid investment for event photographers. Also comes in handy if you happen to need an extra AA battery - as there are always 8 sitting in your camera bag.
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