Flash Noob....Guidance needed.

[Belmondo]

I just bought a Quantum Qflash 4D along with the Quantum Turbo 2X2 battery. It's an amazing unit, but I've noticed the whole setup is a lot heavier than any of my Canon flashes.

The battery has a belt clip on it, so clearly that's how they intend for me to carry it. Unfortunately, I have no waist, so there is a tendency for it to pull my pants down. The workaround is to tighten the belt another couple notches creating a waist by forcibly displacing some of the well-seasoned baby fat that resides around my middle. The downside is that it will cut off circulation to my legs, and after a couple minutes, I will no longer be able to walk.

Accordingly, my options appear to be:
a. Haul the battery around in some sort of cart, perhaps one borrowed from Home Depot.
b. Sit in one place and let the subjects come to me (ideal, but not likely to produce the best results).
c. Use the aforementioned belt-tightening procedure and shoot as fast as I can until I fall over. (The other variation on this theme would be to wear my pants very high in which case over-tightening the belt will cut off blood to my brain. This would have me on my feet a little longer, but would probably have an adverse affect on my judgment.)
d. Ignore the problem and do the best I can to ignore the fact that my pants are bunched up around my ankles.

By a stroke of pure luck, the battery also has a pair of loops on it, and I attached my extra POTN neck strap to it. I find that I can carry it around my neck quite comfortably, but feel that it makes me look too amateurish. I’ve never seen a real professional carrying a battery around their neck.

Looking cool is so hard.

Suggestions?

[scottbergerphoto]

I have 2 Turbo Z's. Lumiquest sells a shoulder harness that looks like a cross between a pair of suspenders and a shoulder holster, except that two ends on one side go into the hooks on the battery and the other 2 go onto your pants waist.
http://www.adorama.com/LQBE.html?sid=11183758423195861

[Titus213]

Funniest read all week. Love it!

Lowe Pro MiniTrekker. Put it all on your back. In fact I find the MiniTrekker will hold a ton of gear that I can't get to without help so converting it to a battery carrier would be a great idea. I could take it off once a day to recharge....

It also will hold a bunch of the stuff that keeps me from having a waist too - like snacks to keep up the energy levels while I haul this equipment around.

[robertwgross]

Tom, one word.

Suspenders.

Hold your pants up with suspenders. Then cover that with a tasteful photographer's vest. Then, between the suspenders and the vest, you should be able to hang all sorts of batteries and gadgets. That, or else hang it on your tripod.

---Bob Gross---

[IanD]

One word......caddie.:):):):):):):):)

[PhotosGuy]

:D:D Some "images' there I'd rather not think about! ;)
I like, & have used, the 2nd neck strap option. Hang it across your body so it's at your side & out of the way.

[Belmondo]

I like, & have used, the 2nd neck strap option. Hang it across your body so it's at your side & out of the way.

I was playing around with that yesterday, and it seems to work okay, although it keeps the battery a little higher than I'd like. Center of gravity is very important to me.

As for the suspenders suggestion, remember, I live in the desert, and the standard attire here is shorts. Unfortunately, although there is no absolute rule on the subject, the fact is, you just don't wear suspenders with Bermuda shorts. This, however does plant the seed of an idea........How about photographer's lederhosen? I must suggest that as the next POTN product for Phil and the boys to sell.

[PhotosGuy]

How about photographer's lederhosen? The phrase, "NO f**king WAY!" comes to mind. :D:D

[Belmondo]

The phrase, "NO f**king WAY!" comes to mind. :D:D


If you saw the photos of the guys at the GMOS weekend event, you'd see at least 4 candidates that might find this product highly desireable. Those are some bad looking legs in that group.

[PhotosGuy]

:D:D Remember when someone took shots of dog owners & they looked a lot like the dogs? The phrase "Bird legs" also comes to mind! :D;)

[ayotnoms]

Go with the low riding pants.
Take a new marketing approach targeting the Hip Hop crowd. They wear their pants like that and wouldn't notice.
Do business under the name: Masta Bell-Mondo Flash

Peace out
:-) :-)

[Belmondo]

Go with the low riding pants.
Take a new marketing approach targeting the Hip Hop crowd. They wear their pants like that and wouldn't notice.
Do business under the name: Masta Bell-Mondo Flash

Peace out
:-) :-)

:lol: :lol: :lol:

That is truly inspired! I’m working on my rhyming as I write this.

[Titus213]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

That is truly inspired! I’m working on my rhyming as I write this.

Aw yes, very good, but might I suggest a slight tweak to the name - Masta BM Flash?

[nat869]

Aw yes, very good, but might I suggest a slight tweak to the name - Masta BM Flash?

That is pretty good, however, to anyone who has ever worked in the medical field, BM is short for......um......not sure how to say it in polite company LOL :)

How about Masta flasha.....hmm.......that does not seem flattering either. ;-)

[ayotnoms]

That is pretty good, however, to anyone who has ever worked in the medical field, BM is short for......um......not sure how to say it in polite company LOL :)

How about Masta flasha.....hmm.......that does not seem flattering either. ;-)

Bel Masta Smoov

...I got a million of 'em LOL

[Titus213]

That is pretty good, however, to anyone who has ever worked in the medical field, BM is short for......um......not sure how to say it in polite company LOL :)

I would have to think you are not tuned in to the hip-hop movement. In your face and rude seems to be the only way to go...:lol:

[ayotnoms]

Now I feel bad. Aided by my lame hip hop joke, Belmondo's thread has been hijacked.

Back to the topic at hand...cuz I don't want the big dawg all up in my grille, know what I'm sayin?

Do you suppose a gun holster (like those plain clothes cops wear) could be modified to do the job? I also thought of somekind of vest, but perhaps it would get uncomfortable if you're moving around alot during a shoot...or something like what the workers at Home Depot wear.

Oh hell, let's go back to the hip hop names :lol::lol: ummm Snoop Fuddy Dudd?

[Belmondo]

As one who has hijacked my share of threads, I see nothing wrong with any of this. If you guys can handle the vision of me with my pants down around my ankles, I can take anything you throw at me.

[SkipD]

Speaking of ankles, why not an ankle holster for the battery (joking, of course)......

A custom across-the-chest strap with hooks on the end - similar to that provided for many laptop cases - comes to mind. It would be long enough to hang the battery well below your waist, if that's necessary, and the battery would then be out of the way. You could then get creative and possibly connect a little wallet for extra memory cards or other small accessories to the strap.

The battery I used to carry for my old Honeywell Strobonar (the disposable 300V battery that was common in the late '60s and early 70's) was carried in a leather case with an across-the-shoulder strap. It hung below my belt line. The coiled cord to the flash unit was long enough to use easily with the battery in that position. Worked great while I was working night-time drag racing events or weddings.