Retra has announced a new lithium-ion battery pack for the Retra Flash: the Power Vault. Compared to a Booster-enabled setup using eight-AA Eneloop PRO batteries—which is currently the highest power configuration for the Retra Flash—the Power Vault doubles the battery life as well improving recycle time by more than 10%. According to Retra, that will give you up to 4,000 shots at 25% power and up to 2,000 shots at half power on a single charge.
Housed in an anodized aluminum shell, the Power Vault works with the latest, 4th-generation models (Flash Pro Max, Flash Prime+, and Flash Pure), but it can also be used with the 2nd- and 3rd-generation models by using an adapter (which adds $20 to the purchase price). The battery pack features a USB-C port for charging, though there’s no charging cable included in the box.
Commendably, alongside the release of the Power Vault, Retra is introducing a “lifetime battery renewal program.” This means that when the Power Vault reaches the end of its life, you will be able to send the battery pack back to Retra for an exchange of batteries (service and shipping costs apply). Retra says the old batteries will then be sent to a “state-of-the-art battery recycling plant to ensure minimal (near zero) pollution.”
To celebrate the launch of the Power Vault, Retra is offering $50 off the regular prices—$400 instead of $450 for the 4th-gen version or $420 instead of $470 for the 2nd/3rd-gen version—if you pre-order before July 8th. Note that shipping is scheduled for the end of November. You can also purchase the Power Vault as part of a special kit called the Retra Flash Power Bundle, which includes a Retra Flash Pro Max, a Power Vault, a Booster, and two USB battery chargers for $2,100. All prices exclude VAT.
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