Quantum QFlash and D60, Anyone?

A pro photog I met a few weeks ago just got a Qflash from Quantum for his D60. He sent me an image he took with his QFlash with a Norman Head and I really liked the quality of light in the shot I saw.

I'm going to try it out but was wondering if anyone here has tried the QFlash with thier D60/D30 and what you think of it. To get all set up with a QFlash Kit is a bit of cash but it would be worth it to me if I could get really consistent results with this flash setup. No ETTL - but should I care?

Any input is appreciated.

You probably won't get too many replies for questions related to Qflash or Norman. I don't know why because these are two of the best portable strobe unit on the market. I asked similar questions regarding these flash units a while back. I got no replies so I went ahead and rented them to see for myself.

Norman A200C:
Pros:

It's probably has the best light quality from a portable strobe unit due to the parabollic diffusing dome. The light is nice and soft.
See examples here:
http://www.imageevent.com/d30photo/cuongkim2002april20pm
Very powerful at 200W.
Cons:
Only three settings: 50/100/200W, no aperature priority
I tends to get overeposed image often the first time using it.

Qflash T2:
Pros:
Automatic flash output base on variable apperature setting.
Can do rapid flashes at low output.
Light quality (with standard head) is good, but not as good as the Norman.

Cons:
Very heavy and bulky.

Overall, I prefer the Norman A200C for the light quality and the smaller size.

The downside is that you got to constantly change your apperature settings to adjust to the flash output for correct exposure.

david hickey said:

A pro photog I met a few weeks ago just got a Qflash from Quantum
for his D60. He sent me an image he took with his QFlash with a
Norman Head and I really liked the quality of light in the shot I
saw.

I'm going to try it out but was wondering if anyone here has tried
the QFlash with thier D60/D30 and what you think of it. To get all
set up with a QFlash Kit is a bit of cash but it would be worth it
to me if I could get really consistent results with this flash
setup. No ETTL - but should I care?

Any input is appreciated.

Click to expand...

--
TN

http://www.photovideodisc.com

The phographer I met is using the QFlash with a Norman Head and the light was nice and even and clean on the image I saw.

It seems to me that many on this forum use the 550 or Metz flash but I think the QFlash w/Quantum Battery Pack and Norman Head along with gels and diffusers might be the hot ticket for me. I figure it's going to cost me the price of an L lens! I have a 420 EX but that does not give enough control or put out enough diffused light to do a high quality family portrait at the beach, just for an example.

Hi David,

I'd be interested to find out how the Qflash works with the Norman head, especially which parts you need to buy to put it together.

Anyway...please give some feedbacks and pictures once you get the flash.

Thanks,

david hickey said:

The phographer I met is using the QFlash with a Norman Head and the
light was nice and even and clean on the image I saw.

It seems to me that many on this forum use the 550 or Metz flash
but I think the QFlash w/Quantum Battery Pack and Norman Head along
with gels and diffusers might be the hot ticket for me. I figure
it's going to cost me the price of an L lens! I have a 420 EX but
that does not give enough control or put out enough diffused light
to do a high quality family portrait at the beach, just for an
example.

Click to expand...

--
TN

http://www.photovideodisc.com

I have used the qflash for a few years with my film cameras, works great, use it with the lumedyne power pack myself, like to shoot it either bare bulb, or with digital, a small softbox works well, keeps the light nice and soft.

I personally find the light too hard and parabolic with the reflector for digital use especially (even with film, I much prefer the evenness and un-flash like look of bare bulb to reflector use).

BTW, the quantum with use norman reflectors, so if you like that look, just buy one and stick it on, should pretty much duplicate the look of the norman and with better control (auto vs manual).

I generally found with my d30 that I was best off setting the flash to give one stop less output than the camera. So if the camera was set to, say 1/60th at 5.6, I'd set the flash to give me f 4.

Hope this helps.

Brent

Hi Brent - This helps a lot. I am going to try it out on Thursday and figure out if this is the route I want to take. I don't mind spending the money if I like the results I get with whatever setup I choose.

Brent Pederson said:

I have used the qflash for a few years with my film cameras, works
great, use it with the lumedyne power pack myself, like to shoot it
either bare bulb, or with digital, a small softbox works well,
keeps the light nice and soft.

I personally find the light too hard and parabolic with the
reflector for digital use especially (even with film, I much prefer
the evenness and un-flash like look of bare bulb to reflector use).

BTW, the quantum with use norman reflectors, so if you like that
look, just buy one and stick it on, should pretty much duplicate
the look of the norman and with better control (auto vs manual).

I generally found with my d30 that I was best off setting the flash
to give one stop less output than the camera. So if the camera was
set to, say 1/60th at 5.6, I'd set the flash to give me f 4.

Hope this helps.

Brent

Click to expand...

Brent Pederson said:

BTW, the quantum with use norman reflectors, so if you like that
look, just buy one and stick it on, should pretty much duplicate
the look of the norman and with better control (auto vs manual).

Brent

Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback Brent. So what you are saying is that I could put the Norman reflector on the Qflash. Cool! I was thinking about doing that too, but I had the Qflash on rental so I didn't get a chance to. When I talked to many of the wedding photographers here in San Jose, they said the Norman's 5" frosted diffusing reflector is the major reason why they go with the Norman flash.

I might end up getting the Qflash with the Norman reflecotr some time down the road, being I already have the Quantum Turbo that currently powering my 550EX. The only thing that stopped me so far is the weight. For my need, I use it on a flash bracket, and I can tell you that the whole combination is alot to carry around all day. But when I start doing wedding regularly, it's probably the flash of choice.

--
TN

http://www.photovideodisc.com

This forum moves pretty fast and this thread slipped fast but I'm still looking for input. The only way this thread could have stayed on the front page is if I would have posted images of scantily clad women. Kind of a sad commentary, IMHO.

I have nothing against images of scantily clad women either. Interesting subject matter for sure and I believe it's appropriate to post D60/1D/D30 images of beautiful women here! It's just a shame that "flames and dames" threads get the bulk of the responses on the Canon SLR Talk Forum. Still a great resource here and I appreciate the people who have answered this thread.

I'm surprised there are not more photographers with any experience with the QFlash setup.