Quantum T5D owners, I need your help!!!

[JX]

I am about to order a Q T5D.
The Turbo 2x2 battery
Quantum Instruments D13W Wireless QTTL

Can anyone tell me what else I would need.
I am not familiar with the Quantum line. I have a 1D MK2. Any suggestions on what to order would be appreciated.

Thanks

Jim

[ssim]

An excellent choice for a flash. I bought the exact same setup a few months ago.

I think that you have the basics of the unit covered but here is some food for thought.

Are you planning on using this on camera (bracket) or off. If on camera you need to make sure that you have a bracket that this will fit onto. This flash does not have the traditional slide on hotshoe type attachment. It has a screw base the same as a standard tripod mount. It should be easy enough to cobble up an existing bracket with this type of screw but I just wasn't that inclined so I ended up buying their bracket, which is grossly over priced.

Are you planning on using this off camera on a light stand. If so then are you going to operate it via hard wire or wirelessly. If wirelessly, the pocket wizards do work (which is what I have) but then you lose the QTTL operation. You can go to their Freewire system and maintain QTTL but you need a transmitter and a receiver. If you are going to run it via hardwire you should pick up one of their extension cords as the cord that comes with it is pretty short.

About the only other things that I bought was the wide angle diffuser for head and a extra bulb.

If you are planning on carrying the battery pack over your shoulder you will have to find your own strap for this. As odd as it may seem they don't ship one with it even though they have the spot on there for one.

This thing has a ton of options on the controls and takes some time to get used to them, which I still am not. The manual is substandard in my opinion. They send you a manual for the T4D and then a few sheets that tell you the difference between the two. Given what you pay for one of these you would think they could do a new manual.

A good choice if you want something that has the power to double up as a mobile studio light and a on camera unit. Be prepared for a learning curve that is longer than your traditional 580 type of flash. I am seriously considering adding another one and also picking up one of their soft boxes, though I am going to hunt to see if there is a third party softbox that I can make fit this. It is a solidly built product that looks and feels very professional.

I also have their battery for running the 580 which I like allot though the system of running the cord into the 580 is somewhat odd but this is partly due to the design of the 580 by Canon.

Feel free to ask anything else or you can pm me.

[Curtis N]

Nick Simcheck posted a review of this unit a few weeks ago. This thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=210589)is in the EOS Flash sticky.

You may want to PM Nick for more info.