Long shot, but...

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Geektastic

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Topic # 184052 8-Nov-2015 22:40

Does anyone have a Nikon version of the Quantum Trio flash?

I need to hire one for a few days to avoid parting with $2300 for the full flash/battery setup.

Usually my Speedlight would be fine but I have a gig that is going to need a lot of repeated lighting over a couple of days and I do not want overheating problems etc.

RileyB

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Reply # 1423647 9-Nov-2015 12:58

Whites studio might have them, or something similar. Another option is to double your number of speed-lights and half the power. I've done all day event's with the Canon 600ex's, but then you might be doing more/higherpower shooting then I do?

If your looking to buy, the CL-180's are a fair bit cheaper then the Quantiums for essentially the same thing: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1270039&page=1

timmmay

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Reply # 1423658 9-Nov-2015 13:09

Can you describe your need rather than the exact product? For example would a studio flash with a portable battery pack do the job? Do you need a powerful hotshoe flash?

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Geektastic

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Reply # 1423668 9-Nov-2015 13:19

I have to shoot an event that will begin in Wellington and end in Auckland. There will be site visits, speeches, receptions and dinners to cover. VIP guests will include John Key.

For reasons of rapid portability I am thinking that a high power TTL unit on one body plus my Nikon SB 900 for the other if needed. Also Speedlights eat batteries and recycle time will get too low unless I use an external battery pack.

Speedlights also overheat when used heavily, causing them to shut down: not something I want to worry about.

Whilst I may not need flash all the time I am planning for worst case. Studio type lights would be too impractical I think.

timmmay

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Reply # 1423669 9-Nov-2015 13:22

I just turn the overheat protection on my SB900s off, and if I'm using them heavily I rotate them. I use a battery pack with 8xAA batteries, which last aaaaaggees - I've never managed to get even close to emptying them at a wedding. A hotshoe flash that will constantly fire all day may or may not be practical.

Hotshoe does sound most practical, but they are limited.

There's also this type of thing.

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RileyB

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Reply # 1423670 9-Nov-2015 13:30

If you want high power on camera flash then what your after or equivalent from other brands is probably the only way to go.

Depending on the lens your using a speedlite might be better, for example if you are using an 70-200 a speedlite will zoom it's head with the zoom of your lens and won't waste any power, where as a bare bulb flash is probably optimized at 24mm coverage depending on the modifier and if you are shooting at 100mm for example, wasting a whole lot of flash power.

Geektastic

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Reply # 1423760 9-Nov-2015 14:39

timmmay: I just turn the overheat protection on my SB900s off, and if I'm using them heavily I rotate them. I use a battery pack with 8xAA batteries, which last aaaaaggees - I've never managed to get even close to emptying them at a wedding. A hotshoe flash that will constantly fire all day may or may not be practical.

Hotshoe does sound most practical, but they are limited.

There's also this type of thing.

Yes - that is basically a Quantum in a slightly different form, which sadly does not seem to be easily available in NZ.

I have reserved a Nikon SB 910 (mine is a 900) and a Quantum battery pack from White Studios which should cover the power issue and give me a spare Nikon unit in case of overheat or failure.

I may get a Quantum or may not - the cost (around $1300 sans battery pack) is quite heavy. It's one of those things which (for me) rental would be the perfect solution but no one seems to rent them in NZ.

RileyB

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Reply # 1423764 9-Nov-2015 14:45

May I ask how much it's costing from Whites? Also for those Goddex lights, CheatahLight is the official USA importer who rebrands them and have better Quality control (apparently) who are happy to ship to NZ, although unfortunately our $ sucks at the moment. They call them the CL-150/300/600

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Reply # 1423768 9-Nov-2015 14:52

Turn off the overheat protection on the Nikon flash, it shuts it down way too early IMHO. Quantum batteries are pretty old school, the 8xAA packs are much lighter and as capable as most people need.

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RileyB

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Reply # 1423769 9-Nov-2015 14:53

There is also several 3rd party lithium battery packs that you can use with Nikon/Canon flashes which are even better then the 8xAA battery packs, although probably a bit more expensive.

timmmay

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Reply # 1423774 9-Nov-2015 14:57

RileyB: There is also several 3rd party lithium battery packs that you can use with Nikon/Canon flashes which are even better then the 8xAA battery packs, although probably a bit more expensive.

Got any links? Just curious, probably wouldn't buy one right now, but interested.

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RileyB

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Reply # 1423778 9-Nov-2015 15:07

This is the product page for the middle one, the 180/360 are both hotshot mountable, and the 600 is monolight style: https://www.cheetahstand.com/A-New-Bare-Bulb-Flash-Arrives-p/cl-360p-combo.htm

This is just the battery pack, it has two outputs, and they can be joined into one outlet for faster recycling, or the opposite to attach 4 speed-lights. You do need to grab an cable for the appropriate type of speed-light. They are rated for 1800 full power pop's from the high end canon/Nikon flashes: https://www.cheetahstand.com/product-p/cl-l4500.htm

Edit: there are also several other brands these are listed under such as Goddex, and 3rd party (4th party?) knock offs of these.

timmmay

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Reply # 1423857 9-Nov-2015 16:29

They look pretty cool. If I was buying a flash right now it would probably be one of those - higher power, ETTL, lithium battery. I use an Alien Bee B800 and a vagabond mini lithium, but that requires an assistant, which is fine because I have one.

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