Quantum is alive and well

Just got off the phone with Quantum Instruments, makers of the Quantum Qflash. First, they are still in business after being bought out by Promark about four years ago. They are still making the T5d-R and Trio Qflashes. And there is a T6 on the drawing board! For those of you who are new to Quantum, you may have hear of their Turbo batteries and Qflashes. The Qflash is a 150 watt flash that must be used with the Quantum (like) battery. It needs a camera bracket and while it will fire with a PC cord, there are TTL adapters to fit most cameras. The big thing about the Qflash is the quality of light it produces. It's just beautiful. Second thing is that they work, and work, and work some more. They don't over heat and shut down, they just keep on going. The regular Turbo batteries would give you about 225 full power shots, and many more if set to auto flash or ratcheted down to 1/4 or 1/8 power or more. The newer Turbo 3 battery uses the new NiHM technology and will give you more than 1000 full power flashes. Quantum still makes several different batteries to work with different makes of electronic flashes. Of course all this comes at a price; Quantum equipment ain't cheap. Their Qflash T5r-D cost around $700, and the Turbo 3 is about $625. You will also need a Quantum cord (around $50) for your flash if you use their battery. Qflashes come with the cord attached. And there are a bunch of odds and ends to complement the system. But, once you buy it, It will work and pay for itself in due time. I know this sounds like a commercial, but Quantum is an American company that got it right the first time. You can buy a Qflash T2 off Ebay.com and it will still work like it did brand new! Quantum was also the first flash company to really get TTL flash right. Also its wireless radio control of remote flashes is hard to beat. There are knock off flashes that look like Quantum's and I won't put them down, cause I haven't used them. One bad thing though, the Quantum T2 series is out of production and with the new owners, Quantum is not servicing or upgrading these units. The T4's and T5's are being repaired and updated when shipped back to the factory. Quantum also will refurbish and recycle its batteries and other equipment. Most of the time we hear of an American company being sold and soon after that being shut down. Quantum's continued existence is a boon for all serious and professional photographers. Check out their website, www.qtm.com.

I like Quantum's light meters. It's a pity they no longer make them. Although they'd have to be updated for today's market.<p><br>I don't think there's anything as compact, sensitive and versatile on the market today. If the 7 segment LED display were to be replaced with an LCD, and the old-fashioned PIC replaced with a modern one it could be made even more compact. Oh yes, and you'd have to replace the unreliable battery compartment with something better too.<p><br>It'll probably never happen though. I don't think there's much market for handheld meters these days.

I'd love to see a line similar to this from PCB. I'm currently running two lighting systems: PCB for higher power needs and Phottix/Lumopro for low power / travel needs. I like them both but would really prefer just one system.

But, once you buy it, It will work and pay for itself in due time. I know this sounds like a commercial, but Quantum is an American company that got it right the first time. You can buy a Qflash T2 off Ebay.com and it will still work like it did brand new! Quantum was also the first flash company to really get TTL flash right. Also its wireless radio control of remote flashes is hard to beat. There are knock off flashes that look like Quantum's and I won't put them down, cause I haven't used them. One bad thing though, the Quantum T2 series is out of production and with the new owners, Quantum is not servicing or upgrading these units. The T4's and T5's are being repaired and updated when shipped back to the factory. Quantum also will refurbish and recycle its batteries and other equipment. Most of the time we hear of an American company being sold and soon after that being shut down. Quantum's continued existence is a boon for all serious and professional photographers. Check out their website, www.qtm.com.

 

Agree.

 

Entirely.

 

Lets leave the T2 out of the equation as thats like saying the Ford motor company make a great 'Model T'. The Quantum T5dR is probably the most well known and aspired-to lighting addition of the the Quantum range , but I would wholeheartedly , 100% advocate the X5d-R range. 400Ws, Pack configuration, full camera and remote integration, battery options, expandable output to 2x 400Ws per pack. Beautiful. I have been a long time user of Quantum equipment after evaluating my needs and identifying the (Quantum) solution. This extends to control Speedlights and trigger studio packs too.

 

Note this: Models purchased in the year 2000 can STILL be up to date with modern day cameras via firmware updates and are still being use in professional applications. I have 10 Quantum units and they all work great today. Some ARE prior to 2000 units. ROI has never been equated.

 

There are things which could be changed for the better for working professionals but these changes would be down to 'attention to details' rather than pure function.

 

If, as you state there is a T6 coming out, then I hope it already has professional requirements priotised and it will retain the ROI offered by no other system.

Agree. I use Trio and 2 T5Dr on weddings. it works very well.

 

Glad to hear that the service desk is responsive. I bought a T5d when I was considering wedding work or portraits and did a few. Plus a large Turbo battery lead cell...loathe to sell this fine combo. I have to get them back in use more than I have even as they are not light to carry. The shift to Nickel Metal Hydride battery pack is encouraging. So. I take advantage on a sale price on one of those Turbo 3 which I can use with my Olympus FL 50 and Q flash...I have to see about powering camera for video but that is tempting with Quantum battery. I am very much a flash user, and maybe Quantum is overkill for amateurs like me but it does give a beautiful result. And totally reliable. That says something. Low obsolescence factor is valuable.

Glad to hear that the service desk is responsive. I bought a T5d when I was considering wedding work or portraits and did a few. Plus a large Turbo battery lead cell...loathe to sell this fine combo. I have to get them back in use more than I have even as they are not light to carry. The shift to Nickel Metal Hydride battery pack is encouraging. So. I take advantage on a sale price on one of those Turbo 3 which I can use with my Olympus FL 50 and Q flash...I have to see about powering camera for video but that is tempting with Quantum battery. I am very much a flash user, and maybe Quantum is overkill for amateurs like me but it does give a beautiful result. And totally reliable. That says something. Low obsolescence factor is valuable.

 

I am glad that we still have the Quantum and especially its Nickel Metal battery option since Li ion is not favored by airlines. It has one flaw that i will not call fatal,but annoying. And that is the attachment ring for the reflector and other accessories like the Octabox. It can be made tighter with tape wrap around, but for seven bills, the designers could have come up with a proper fitting. I have read this also from another professional user so I am not the only one to (gripe) or rather notice a flaw in what is a very sturdy and useful tool. So I give it four and a half stars. Bright ones though...aloha, gs

The Quantum Turbo 3 is a marvelous piece of gear. I can't believe how much juice it produces, the short recharge time, and the blazing fast recycle. I will use it with both my Q flash and my Olympus FL 50. Just a recommendation from a semi casual believer in the product. Was on a great DealZone sale and I bit.

I love my T2 and still use it everyday so there ;)

My "real" go to, when I was doing weddings was an original Quantum Q Flash and Turbo battery. While it didn't have the same output power as my Armatar 200WS unit, it provided great illumination, and it never failed. I even mounted it on a light stand for fill flash when I used power pack lights.