Quantum or Canon Flash System?

I currently have an ST-E2, 580EX and 580EX II with one Canon External battery pack. I am likely to get into glamor "location" shoots and eventually weddings or the like, although that is a couple of years off. I am looking at alternatives and am currently considering either a couple of more 580EX II's with battery packs and RadioPoppers or some sort of Quantum system. I'd like to have at least three heads with E-TTL and radio wireless. I have 1DMIII and 1DsMIII bodies. Among other things there is a pretty significant difference in price since each QFlash requires a Quantum battery (so maybe $1000 per head.) The 580EX II's are also very compact. OTOH I presume the QFlash are much more powerful and have better light quality.

Having read a couple of threads in here, I can't really get a handle on it. One thread talked about using both the ST-E2 w/580EX and Quantum. And we all know the Quantum website does a horrid job of explaining the equipment and alternatives. Long ago I had a Quantum 2x2 battery and just figuring out the cables I needed for my body and flash was an ordeal.

I would appreciate advice, explanations and observations.

Quantum and Metz share the product characteristic of being brand/model agnostic (except Metz 58AF)...they work with multiple brands and models of cameras, and they have modules which permit dedication to one specific brand, and this can be changed to permit dedication to a different brand at any time. Canon flash will forever be dedicated to Canon only!

Canon and Metz share the inability to significantly alter the flash head configuration, whereas Quantum changes flash head configuration similar to what studio flashes often do. And Quantum 5 can have real modelling light.

One model of Quantum is about the same power as a 580EX or 58AF; another model is about 25% more powerful.

Thanks, Wilt. Since I already have high end studio strobes I'm not in that market at all but it is simply too hard to lug that stuff with a portable battery pack or two off into 'the woods.' Just saying that makes me think I'll lean towards the much lighter Canon gear.

Please do not be misled...the Quantum is very portable, like the Canon or the Metz. It simply is more powerful and has a wider range of head configurations. It is not bulky and heavy as studio units.

Quantum..

Dwight, there are several configuration options available with the Qflash as described below:

1) Standalone manual or Auto mode triggered via sync cable, RF remotes or optical slave triggers.

This configuration (not counting the triggering cable/device) is the lowest cost option (Qflash + battery pack) if you only need one Qflash but the cost will add up if you need more than one unit.

2) Qflash as a IR remote slave in an ETTL wireless remote configuration.

With the optional QNexus module that attaches to the Qflash, you can use the Qflash as a slave, most likely the key light slave, triggered by your ST-E2 or 580EX.

The pros of this configuration is that you're using ETTL so you can use your existing Canon flashes and transmitter with the Qflash.

The cons is that the configuration uses IR so using it outdoors in bright sun might pose a challenge.

Although QNexus provides ETTL compatibility to the Qflash, it does not support all the features that are available on Canon EX flashes, like high speed sync.

3) Qflash as an RF remote slave operating in ETTL mode using Quantums proprietary wireless system.

This is a better setup outdoors but is also the most expensive. You'll need a QTTL module (D23wR) that sits on top of the camera hotshoe and a FreeXwire transmitter (FW9T) or transceiver (FW10w) on the camera end. And a receiver (FW8R or FW7Q) connected to each remote QFlash. Since the wireless protocol used is proprietary, only Qflashes ahd Quantum accessories can be used in this configuration.

Leo, that's a super summary. Thanks. I can see that I'm going to have think about this for a while.

A couple of things: (1) QNexus allows QFlash to be used with Canon IR for triggering, ETTL and ratio control? So QFlash, Turbo and QNexus per head? (2) QFlash heads come with or without a builtin RF receiver?

Price is not the main consideration. Probably ease-of-use is first consideration. It looks like one could have a very versatile setup with mix-n-match Canon/Quantum. But I guess I'll price out the various components and think about it. Thanks, again.

DwightMcCann wrote in post #5560195
Leo, that's a super summary. Thanks. I can see that I'm going to have think about this for a while.

A couple of things: (1) QNexus allows QFlash to be used with Canon IR for triggering, ETTL and ratio control? So QFlash, Turbo and QNexus per head? (2) QFlash heads come with or without a builtin RF receiver?

Price is not the main consideration. Probably ease-of-use is first consideration. It looks like one could have a very versatile setup with mix-n-match Canon/Quantum. But I guess I'll price out the various components and think about it. Thanks, again.

1) Yes and yes.
2) Without. You'll need to get an external RF receiver, either the conventional units, like the PWs, that only provide a sync trigger to fire the flash, or the Quantum FreeXwire which provides full QTTL (ETTL with the Canons) capabilities (when used in conjunction with a QTTL Module that sits on the hotshoe).

hit up ebay with quantum!

I wonder how the new Radiopoppers work with the Quantum systems for translating the IR signals... Could be a interesting experiment.

Faolan wrote in post #5561152
I wonder how the new Radiopoppers work with the Quantum systems for translating the IR signals... Could be a interesting experiment.

Without an ST-E2 or another flash, like the 580EX, to serve as the master, the Qflash isn't going to work very well with the Radio Popper.

I know hence why I said translating, I should have made it more clearer. The point is still valid in regards to it being an interesting way to use the Quantum system and give a lot more flexibility outdoors... Particularly for weddings.

Faolan wrote in post #5561205
I know hence why I said translating, I should have made it more clearer. The point is still valid in regards to it being an interesting way to use the Quantum system and give a lot more flexibility outdoors... Particularly for weddings.

Sorry, but I guess I'm missing your point. The Radio Popper doesn't translate anything. It "sees" the IR signals from the master and conveys it, via radio, to the receiving unit which, in turn, lights up it's own IR LED, mimicing the flash pattern of the master. What ETTL compatible flash unit is on the receiving end is irrelevant and should have no bearing on how the Radio Popper works as long as the flash can read the IR signal from the Radio Popper receiver.

BTW, Quantum does not have a system which allows their flash units to operate independently in an IR wireless mode. The Qflash can only join an existing Canon or Nikon IR wireless system as slaves (not masters).

IR to Radio = Translating

I think we are all on the same page here. So the question is, will RadioPoppers work with QNexus units on the QFlash units from an ST-E2 with RadioPopper transmitter? An interesting question that might ought to be put to the RadioPopper folks. If so, that would allow one to combine Canon and Quantum flash units using RF links and avoid the QTTL ($129), FW10W/FW9T ($244/$185), and FW7Q/FW8R ($148/$185) per QFlash.

Are there other combinations or accessories that we might discuss? What about Quantum light modifiers for these heads?

I again want to thank the participants here. I think I am beginning to understand the options and limitations.