Dave Ziser Lighting System, is there a comparable but cheaper way?

I recently went the Dave Ziser's seminar "Captured by the Light." I love his lighting system, but the price is . Any ideas on something comparable, but cheaper? Here is his system: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …avid_Ziser_Make​_Your.html

Depending on if you want the high speed recycle of the quantum turbo pack you could just get any cheaper manual flash like a vivitar 285 and a set of pocket wizards or cheaper ebay triggers and any number of diffusers.

Sto-Fin $9.15 http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …695-REG/Sto_Fen_OM_B.html
Vivitar 285 $89.95 http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …1-REG/Vivitar_233965.htm​l
2x Pocket Wizards $340 http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …II_Transceiver_​Radio.html
Total =$439.10

or

Elinchrom Ranger Quadra S which has more than twice the output $1494.90 http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Ranger_Quadra_H​ead_S.html

Don't get me wrong the Quantum makes really nice flashes but at that price and with the release of the Ranger Quadra which doesn't weigh much more.

Thanks for suggestions!!

The QFlash, the way he is using it is a radio controlled off camera flash.
Just about anything will work.
The biggist consideration is the power it delivers for use with shoot through umbrellas etc.

Quantum is not a company i would invest money is, just a glance on their website screams stay away. Not to mention the various bugs they have had with their ttl compatibility. Which is the only thing that speaks in it's favour for those who dont want manual flash.

MR do little wrote in post #11228538
Quantum is not a company i would invest money is, just a glance on their website screams stay away. Not to mention the various bugs they have had with their ttl compatibility. Which is the only thing that speaks in it's favour for those who dont want manual flash.

Really?? What about their site screams stay away? They have A+ customer service and offer cheap upgrades for existing customers. How many companies can say that?? Have you ever even owned one of their products? They have one of the best and most reliable solutions for wireless TTL and come highly recommended by numerous well known photographers.

Joe

I agree with Paul on this one. One of their core demographics are wedding photographers. Some like em, some hate em. I just don't see the need, especially now with the Quadra. It's more versatile, has a ranger of modifiers and if you look in the Elinchrom thread, you'll see how people are mounting it to camera brackets and walking around with it.

You can get a larger number of shots at the same power levels.... it's a win-win in my book. Unless you are really tied to TTL, which i never use.

Yeah even without weighing in with my opinion on Quantum flashes I just think it is too expensive for $100 less you can get a 580exII with a quantum turbo pack and a set of pocketwizard Flex5's if you want TTL

Why not a canon battery pack. -
Somewhere in here, I stumbled over someone who made there own external power source for canon lights.

The OP asked if there was less expensive route.

What did you think of his version of the Westcott umbrellA- does it diffuse the light more than a normal umbrella or let more light through.

Personally, I don't have any concerns about Quantum, but I've never bought one of their flashes because it doesn't represent a good value for me. I get what I need (excpet for radio) with my pair of 580's and when I need more juice, I still make good use of a pair of old Sunpaks 544's.

I think you may be too equipment focused and not solutions focused. I've been to Ziser's events and I'm very familiar with what he does. There's nothing there that you can't reproduce with different equipment for much less cost. Don't worry about the gear, focus on how he creates and controls light. That's what his seminar is really about. Well, that and making too much money selling other people's stuff.

TopHatMoments wrote in post #11229330
Why not a canon battery pack. -
Somewhere in here, I stumbled over someone who made there own external power source for canon lights.

The OP asked if there was less expensive route.

I listed it with the Quantum Turbo pack to be more of an apples for apples, while the canon pack is great for long shoots and not having to change batteries the turbo packs will fire at full power and come damn close to keeping up with the frame rate on a 1D Mk III

mumbles wrote in post #11229067
especially now with the Quadra. It's more versatile, has a ranger of modifiers

OK, I laughed

Yeah, the really really smart and talented ones

joe_it wrote in post #11228948
Really?? What about their site screams stay away?

The design, the colors, the fonts, the product codes.

joe_it wrote in post #11228948
They have A+ customer service and offer cheap upgrades for existing customers. How many companies can say that??

Excellent customer service i could say about a lot of companies i deal with, i know it's more rare in the states. As for cheap upgrades, well that's the least they can do while they let their user base beta test for the next firmware.

joe_it wrote in post #11228948
Have you ever even owned one of their products?

Now your just being ignorant, read my post and you have your answer.

joe_it wrote in post #11228948
They have one of the best and most reliable solutions for wireless TTL and come highly recommended by numerous well known photographers.

Joe

Can you say Trio ?

Its a small company with a user base mainly located in the US. Some people seems to think they are the hottest thing since sliced bread just because they where innovative once upon a time.

Okay I'm asking again because I really want to know. Half of that system he uses is that umbrella, al umbrellas are not alike, some not even close. Westcott makes his and I'm under the impression that it is indifferent fabric which is not as dense as the standard double fold Westcott umbrella which is my favorite shoot through for speedlights. But chatting with a Westcott rep at an event here last summer , he mentioned it was more dense, which I would not be interested in- which is it? His umbrella costs about twice as much as the standard Westcot's so I'd like to know more before I but-to-try with the possibility of it ending up in the closet with about ten other umbrellas I don't use. And yes I really do like the light from that cheap strobist Westcott double fold umbrella when using it as a shoot through