Quantum 5D flash, any users out there?

[NickSimcheck]

Quantum has a very nice looking flash called the Qflash (http://www.qtm.com/QFlash/?res_set=yes&res=1280&resh=1024) T5D/X5D (http://www.qtm.com/QFlash/?res_set=yes&res=1280&resh=1024).

I was looking at this and the Metz 54 series, but the Quantum seem like they are the best on-camera flashes avaible. I know these a lot more mu-lah but I would rather send the bucks and focus on my skills and not if I have the right equipment.

Are there any users can comment on them? I searched, but only turned up a couple of threads.

[J Rabin]

I'm a QFlash user. It's not "on camera," rather on bracket or on a light stand. It's a rather amazing time tested ungainly big honking piece of engineering because you can have Canon E-TTL/II controlling flash metering with a parabolic reflector studio quality flash output sitting over your camera on a bracket. No small hot shoe flash has light output quality approaching parabolic reflector flash heads.

But, QFlash's other strengths include that in some ways it's old-fashion "Auto" mode (remember great reliable old Vivitar Thyristor hot shoe flash?) is superior to fancy Canon E-TTL metered flash. For example, QFlash Auto Mode has a distance sensor. One of E-TTL/II weaknesses is that in a big catering hall, or late evening outdoors, it meters for the ambient background, and over exposes the person's foreground subject skin, unless you phutz with -FEC. With QFlash distance sensor set, you get a far more reliable decent balanced exposure in these tough situations.

I would say QFlash is NOT for everyone. Not even for very many. For the cost of one Qflash T5D, you can buy Canon 580EX x1, Canon 430EX x2, Manfrotto superclamps x2, and do interesting things. But, when you want TRUE studio quality parabolic light output, and BIG light output, WALKING AROUND with the camera, with battery on location, QFlash has few equals.

I have even found a way to integrate my QFlash operating in Auto, with Canon wireless E-TTL/II. In this shot in a dark barn,
http://aesop.rutgers.edu/~rabin/Wildlife%20Damage/Deer%20Fertility%20Research/slides/DeerFertilityResearch_14.htm
blood sampling our deer herd for fertility research, I had a 580EX on camera, remote 580 and 430 clamped in the rafters, and QFlash on a stand, in Auto, bare bulb, pointing straight up, to create "ambient light," triggered by a Wein Digital Super Slave that recognizes, and ignores, the Canon E-TTL/II pre-flash metering flash.
In most of these shots, there are hardly any bad shadows. QFlash output dwarfs on camera hot shoe flash. All hot shoe flash really is "fill-flash," not ambient light output. QFlash, Lumedyne, Norman, and Dyna-Lite Uni400 Jr. are ambient light output producers. Most times you have to temper using it at lower power.

Anyway, I digress, but QFlash, Lumedyne, Norman, are mostly used by wedding and "environmental portrait" on location photogs. I don't do that, and have my own "field" use for QFlash in odd remote field locations.

You ultimately need to judge for yourself what it is your trying to accomplish, whether QFlash will get you there, and if it's worth it.

If you just need a battery powered mono-light that goes "pop" at the right time on location, there are cheaper, better options. If you need it walking around on your camera, or integrated into complex wireless setups, well...
Jack

[NickSimcheck]

Thanks for the long detailed post, and the link.

I plan on slowly working my way to wedding photography, I've delt with the stress good enough on my first to consider having another go. I do find that I have a hard time herding the drunken sheep and fear that I would be short on time setting up strobes.

Which is where I think the Qflash would work wonderfully - large group in poor lighting, that will only stand still for a "quick shot".

Also, I find the "Auto" mode more reliable then E-TTL which is why I was also considering the Metz unit. The wink flash on the Metz also intrested me.

Also, I like their battery packs and the idea of the pack powering the flash and camera. I have a fear of forgetting to charge one my battery and find myself with a dead camera and a live flash, or vise-versa. If you use the packs you could get a second as a backup "just in case" and only have to worry about charging two packs.

I have to agree, it's most likely overkill for a lot of shooters. But I think it will be money well spent for myself.

[NickSimcheck]

P.S. By "on camera" I was implying on bracket, not that it makes any difference.