Quantum Lighting for Weddings - DPChallenge Forums

03/23/2009 07:00:14 PM · #1

Hi Friends,

I was just at the Pro Photo Expo CA, and I am really intrigued by the Quantum lighting system!

Does anyone here use this for weddings? I was thinking of going with the 580exII w/pocket wizards and a light stand route, but then I saw this system! I already have the 580ex.

This seems much more powerful and can handle shooting for hours and hours without needing a "rest." I would love some thoughts and opinions from those who use this system.

//www.qtm.com/Trio/

03/23/2009 10:02:13 PM · #2

I would also like to know if my 580ex is compatible with the Qflashes. Any advice at all would be helpful before I dive into these! :)

Prof_Fate

03/23/2009 10:07:03 PM · #3

a friend uses them and he loves them. he's got the quantum eTTL bit and has a love-hate relationship with it - but it's a canon thing more than a quantum issue.
eTTL reads from the camera lens' perspective so when you position off-camera lights the camera isn't smart enough to know that (be it a 580 or anything else) so you pretty much go manual mode on the flash which is easy once you get it figured out.
I use an older Metz speedlight as my off-camera fired via PW and keep it 1/8 to 1/4 range 98% of the time.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

03/23/2009 11:32:02 PM · #4

I have always wanted QFlashes, but since I've already invested in Canon, I've just kept adding to it.

I use the Canon battery pack to give my 580EXII's longer life and faster recycle times. I use RadioPoppers to get them off-camera and be able to place them anywhere in the room and have them reliably fire every time I shoot. With the battery pack and RadioPoppers, I don't know that I'm really missing anything as compared to the QFlash system.

Message edited by author 2009-03-23 23:32:16.

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/24/2009 12:00:15 AM · #5

Originally posted by dwterry:

David--don't the radiopoppers require you to keep a master flash on the hot shoe?

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

03/24/2009 12:55:43 AM · #6

Originally posted by mpeters:

David--don't the radiopoppers require you to keep a master flash on the hot shoe?

Yes. On the hot shoe, or at least connected to the camera through a hot-shoe adapter cable which I often use.

But I don't really mind. I tend to use the on-camera flash as either: 1) "fill light" (1:4 ratio) so that very little straight-on light is used, or 2) I configure it so that it does not flash during the exposure itself (it flashes before the exposure to tell the slaves what to do, but does not fire while the shutter is open).

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

03/24/2009 01:12:12 AM · #7

Thanks everyone! My goal is to have the most flexibility and growth for years to come with my lighting system. I want it to be diverse and also simplistic! It looks like the Qflash system is complex to learn, but easy once you learn it...

The easiest is to have two canon speedlights and pocketwizards, but I really do have a recycle issue. Maybe a battery pack for each is the way to go; but, I have a feeling that the Qflash may take me further into the future than a speedlight will.

Any other thoughts?

lentil

Canon EOS-5D

03/24/2009 01:33:20 AM · #8

I have also been thinking about this kind of lighting system. I am the type of person that needs to be shown how it works rather than try and read it. There is a shop in Sydney that sells them, I may have a look next time I am down there.

03/24/2009 01:52:32 AM · #9

Yeah, I might go down to Samy's Camera in Pasadena soon!

Prof_Fate

03/24/2009 09:43:51 AM · #10

Studio lights (mono or pack and head system) are the most simplistic and versatile - but are not the most portable.

A couple of ABs with their vagabond battery, umbrellas or folding soft box, etc are the most verstile - more power than speedlights, more accessories for more options, etc.
PWs are the gold standard for remote triggering - you can fire through walls and down halls and outside, etc. More versatility, more reliable too. And the new PW flex system allows you to mix Plus and Max and still keep your on-camera flash as well!

Quantums come close in many ways to studio lights but are more portable - but they are not cheap. Last I checked on prices you could do two Abs, stands, vagabond and some accessories for the cost of one quantum, and you'll want 2 at least if not 3 (or backup of some kind).

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

03/24/2009 02:22:03 PM · #11

Prof_Fate has a point. It's mainly the cost of the QFlash system which has kept me away. If I remember right, by the time you get a full 2-flash setup (flashes, batteries, remotes, etc) you're into the system about $2500. Not an easy pill to swallow.

On the other hand, you might consider the Strobist Kits that are available from mpex.com .. look at the bottom half of the screen here. For just $999 you get two flashes, three pocket wizards, two umbrellas and stands, and just about everything else you will need to set up a portable studio.