Quantum QFlash Trio vs Trio Basic

[kbutler84]

Posted this in another forum, but haven't gotten any answers.

Thinking about purchasing one of these flashes to go with my D300 and SB800. My question at the moment is, what would be the simplest way to achieve the following set ups:

D300 with QFlash on hotshoe remotely triggering SB800 while transmitting TTL info

D300 with SB800 on hotshoe remotely triggering QFlash while transmitting TTL info

D300 triggering both QFLash and SB800 off camera

Would it be cheaper in the long run to go with the Trio since it has the Freewire Transmitter built in, or with the Trio Basic and some radio transceivers? Also, is there a way I could sync both flashes (Qflash on, SB800 off) with a sync cable, and still keep TTL info?

[KdLaneJr]

Originally Posted by kbutler84

Posted this in another forum, but haven't gotten any answers.

Thinking about purchasing one of these flashes to go with my D300 and SB800. My question at the moment is, what would be the simplest way to achieve the following set ups:

D300 with QFlash on hotshoe remotely triggering SB800 while transmitting TTL info

D300 with SB800 on hotshoe remotely triggering QFlash while transmitting TTL info

D300 triggering both QFLash and SB800 off camera

Would it be cheaper in the long run to go with the Trio since it has the Freewire Transmitter built in, or with the Trio Basic and some radio transceivers? Also, is there a way I could sync both flashes (Qflash on, SB800 off) with a sync cable, and still keep TTL info?

I suggest to you that the simplest reliable method is to use another SB800 or SB900 and two PW FlexTT5's.(three for your last option)

Your three options rely on TTL info transmitted by light pulses. This works, but is know to have issues with distance and brightness of light. You can ignore these issues if you shoot indoors in small to medium size reflective rooms.

What are you thinking the trio gains you(in your configurations)?

[kbutler84]

I like the idea of a bare bulb flash. Plus I've always heard great things about the Qflash. Plus I don't know if another Sb800 would allow me to expand my flash capabilities as much as I would eventually like to.

[KdLaneJr]

The Trio is basically a weak T5D-R with nikon/canon compatibility built in. If you plan on moving to Qflash in the future, starting with a Trio woudn't hurt. Just look at the specs and know that it is not any more powerful than Nikon's or Canon's top end flashes.

The Trio will let you keep your HSS to use with your SB800. You won't be able to keep that if you move entirely to Qflash. You will not be able to do that when controlling a T5D-R either.

The primary "plus" of shooting with a Trio instead of Nikon/Canon speedlite is, you'll never overheat the unit. Second, the bulbs are user replaceable if you ever burn one out. The barebulb mode is nice, but better suited to the more powerful T5D-R or X5D-R.

There are a number of bulb accessories, including small softboxes that can be attached to the head of a qflash.

Looking into the qflash system can be daunting to start with. The Trio helps simplify that to a degree.

[kbutler84]

Ken,

You've given some good info. I appreciate it!