Amateur Photographer & What Digital Camera: Quantum Q-Flash

Ian,

I use Q-Flash extensively for location sessions. I've opted for all Q-Flashes, in order to interface with the FreeXwire for remote radio control that does not require line-of-sight. You will get excellent results using the on-camera Canon flash along with the Q-nexus modules on the Q-Flash to allow the Q-Flash to "read" the Canon remote signal.

I use a T-FDr on-camera, which then transmits TTL signals via FreeXwire to a T-3 (a T-2D upgrade for compatiblity with the T-5Dr). The T-3 is mounted on a light stand and fires into a semi-silver 42-inch umbrella for portrait work. I choose semi-silver because of the lower power of the Q-Flash compared to a true studio mono-light. The silver umbrella creates too sharp a transition from highlight to shadow for portraits, while the white umbrella requires far more power than the Q-Flash can deliver.

I use another Q-Flash for a background light, and still another Q-Flash as either a kicker, a separation light, or a hair light, depending on needs.

When using the umbrella, I set the Q-Flash on a manual settings, dialed in with a lightmeter.

For weddings or other location work, I use the on-camera and the off-camera Q-Flash in a linked TTL mode- both aimed straight at the subject. My lightman stands 45-degrees off the lens axis, at the same distance from my subject as me. This provides an acceptable 2:1 lighting ratio, since both strobes fire at the same power. ISO setting is 400, f-stop between 4 and 8, depending on distance to subject.

Nathan T.

I've had bad luck with Quantum's TTL ratio settings. Sadly, poor engineering on Quantum's part makes for unreliable settings when trying for anything more than the basic settings.

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