Canon CPM-E4 8 AA Battery Magazine for Battery Pack CP-E4

Comments about Canon CPM-E4 8 AA Battery Magazine:

by the time I need to change batteries, every little
time and effort saved is welcome. Out with discharged and in with the fresh batch....CLICK - DONE!!!
this is a must!

Comments about Canon CPM-E4 8 AA Battery Magazine:

You should have several of these for use with the CP-E4. Downside is they are silly expensive.

Comments about Canon CPM-E4 8 AA Battery Magazine:

Saves time reloading batteries, sometimes every second counts! Not as poorly constructed a some have claimed. You have to handle it with care but it was constructed better than I had expected, although it is way over priced in my opinion. It is basically all plastic, but most photo equipment IS over priced these days so it doesn't surprise me.

Comments about Canon CPM-E4 8 AA Battery Magazine:

Perfect for a quick change out. A must have for weddings :)

Comments about Canon CPM-E4 8 AA Battery Magazine:

I shoot some long hours and having the battery pack is great for your confidence. I've only once run my battery pack down, but having the magazine preloaded so I can just swap it out in a few seconds makes the cost pretty well worth it!

Comments about Canon CPM-E4 8 AA Battery Magazine:

Fast, easy and worth every penny......

Comments about Canon CPM-E4 8 AA Battery Magazine:

I didn't buy an "extra CPM-E4", I am basing my comments on the one that came with the CP-E4.

One of the tabs broke off in less than a year of light use. It was one of the interior ones, so I doubt that I manhandled it. The bad news is that Canon does extend a warranty on these. The good news is that the battery contacts do hold the battery in place somewhat, so the magazine remains somewhat usable after tabs break off.

I expect Canon accessories to be high priced, but I also expect them to be durable and well supported.

Comments about Canon CPM-E4 8 AA Battery Magazine:

I have owned four of these inserts; the original that came with the pack; one that Canon replaced for me (because of the breaking tabs); and two others that I have purchased myself (both of these, as well, suffered from the battery hold-down tabs breaking off).
The only one that has stood the test of time (almost two years from date of purchase) has been the original one that came with the battery pack itself.
However, being a working Wedding Photographer, I must rely on having dependable backup equipment. Often, after the tabs break, the insert is incapable of holding all eight batterys in without one or more of them falling out during a battery change. Unacceptable.
Long story short ... I've given up on the CP-E4 Battery system all together and have gone to Quantum.
I own two of the CP-E4's predecessors, the CP-E3 series battery packs so had high hopes for the CP-E4 Pack.
If Canon can do something about the breaking battery tabs, I'd be happy to return to using the Pack.

Comments about Canon CPM-E4 8 AA Battery Magazine:

I use it as a spare pack preloaded with charged batteries. Actually I carry 2 spare magazines with me -all ready to go-. That way you can never get cramped by dealing with battery cooling down, swapping to fresh batteries, and charging times.

Look out when you install the magazine into the holder. The clip locking mechanism isn't that foolproof. In the excitement of the shoot, you might not lock the clip properly and it's going to fly out right onto the floor making you look inept and stupid.

Upon reading the other testimonies about the plastic battery tangs breaking off, I was a little unsure about buying this item. But after reading the cautions in the 580 mark II flash instruction sheet, I see how the tangs could become brittle. If you do several rapid successive shots the batteries will get hot. This is understandable. If you don't allow the unit to cool down for 10 minutes or so, you'll make the tangs become brittle and eventually they will loose their flexability and crack when you pull the batteries out.

For the inventors out there, ATTENTION CANON, a good improvement would be to have a way of recharging the batteries while they are still loaded in the battery pack magazine.

Comments about Canon CPM-E4 8 AA Battery Magazine:

Great to have, even though I haven't had to use it yet!

Comments about Canon CPM-E4 8 AA Battery Magazine:

I bought an extra holder for quick changes. The little tabs that hold the batteries securely have broken off of both inserts that I own. One needs to be replaced totally. If you have this pack, you have to have this insert, so buy an extra, you'll need it.

Comments about Canon CPM-E4 8 AA Battery Magazine:

I have two of these. The things that I didn't like were:
1. the magazine that holds the batteries break so easily.
2. It's designed to wear on your belt, but not attach to the camera's body. Otherwise, it's small, and compact.