The Quantum Qflash TRIO Good Thing Do Come in Smaller Packages

If you have been looking for a hot shoe mountable flash with power, fast recycling time and full compatibility with Nikon i-TTL or Canon E-TTL II flash metering, look no further. The Qflash TRIO is a barebulb flash that offers all this and more, in a smaller package than ever before. This newly designed hot shoe mountable flash from Quantum gives photographers rapid recycling — using any Quantum Turbo battery — without the worry of overheating that can lead to incorrect exposures. In addition, the Qflash TRIO includes features such as their FreeXWire wireless radio that can operate and control remote flashes, several modes of operation, and the capability to keep your TRIO up to date by updating its firmware via a standard USB connection in seconds.

FEATURES
The name TRIO signifies three important features: hot shoe mountability, Quantum’s QTTL full compatibility with Canon’s E-TTL II or Nikon’s iTTL and a built-in FreeXwire wireless TTL Radio. There are four TRIO models: the fully featured Qflash TRIO QF8C for Canon and TRIO QF8N for Nikon iTTL DSLRs, and Qflash TRIO basic models without the FreeXWire wireless radio. If you do buy a Qflash Basic and later decide you want to take advantage of what Quantum’s FreeXwire wireless radio offers, Quantum can upgraded your flash to include it.

Qflash TRIOs have the unique ability to add or enhance feature functionality through firmware updates. You do this using a USB connection on the Qflash TRIO with a standard USB cable that Quantum supplies with the flash. Firmware Loader programs and firmware — new and previous versions — can be found on Quantum’s Web site, www.qtm.com. Having updated the firmware in the Qflash TRIO used in this review, I can tell you firsthand that it is simple. First, you should find the firmware version currently installed in your Qflash TRIO by pressing the “OPT” soft key as indicated on the rear display of the Qflash TRIO. Then press the right or left arrow key twice to get to Options Screen 2 of 4. On that screen, you will see a “RESET” soft key on the right. Press it once and the LCD displays the firmware version currently installed on your TRIO.

Bear in mind that if your TRIO is in Q-TTL mode, the “OPT” soft key will not display unless your Trio is on camera with the camera turned on.

Now that you know the firmware version installed in your Qflash TRIO, and assuming you have downloaded the latest firmware and the PC or MAC Firmware Loader program, run the Loader program. Once the Loader appears, click on Update to navigate to and select the firmware you want to install. In seconds, your firmware is completely installed.

Another feature of the Qflash TRIO is Quantum’s built-in FreeXWire wireless radio. From the TRIO you can wirelessly control and trigger two other groups of flashes using QTTL Ratio mode control. Additionally, you can use the Remote Link feature to wirelessly trigger a remote flash that will provide the same output as your Qflash TRIO, or Remote Auto Wireless Mode to trigger remote flashes that use their own auto sensors to determine light output. In the latter mode exposure indicators and sensor limit function the same as they do in standard Auto mode.

The Qflash TRIO has many other features as well, including High Speed shutter sync, Auto Focus assist, Flash Exposure Lock and more. To better understand its capabilities, below is a short list of TRIO features.

THE QFLASH TRIO IN USE
With its built-in hot shoe and smaller size, the Quantum TRIO was very convenient to use. All you need to do is slide it into the camera’s hot shoe, turn the shoe lock wheel on the front of the flash just above the hot shoe to secure it in place, and then turn on the Quantum Turbo battery it is connected to. When the Qflash TRIO is first turned on in QTTL mode, the flash’s display may indicate it does not detect a camera. Ensure the camera is on and then touch the shutter button to send the proper signals to the TRIO. You will now see the TRIO’s display QTTL mode and related camera settings.

For photographers who use high-speed flash sync, the Qflash TRIO is fully compatible with this feature. Canon users will need to set the Qflash TRIO for HSS to use speeds above 1/250 Nikon users will need to enable high-speed sync from their camera’s menu, which will enable the Qflash for high sync speed that activates a shutter speed above 1/250 is selected.

In using the Qflash TRIO, I did find that with my Canon DSLRs, I had more accurate flash exposure when the camera’s external flash metering mode was set to Average instead of the default Evaluative. This setting has nothing to do with the ambient light metering of your camera but is a feature of E-TTL II. This option allows you to select an average or evaluative flash metering pattern for your external flash to use during pre-flash to determine the needed output of the actual flash exposure. This option is found in the camera’s Tools menu under External Flash function.

Overall, I found the TRIO to be simple to use and ideal for rapid shooting without the risk of overheating. Many photographers, including myself, have experience with flash units overheating and causing an image to be underexposed. The TRIO’s replaceable flash tube, like those found on professional studio monolights and other Qflash models, is designed to handle repeated firing and last more than 300 thousand flashes. Surprisingly light, the Qflash TRIO weighs only a few ounces more than comparable Canon and Nikon flash units. The size of the Qflash TRIO body is also similar, but the barebulb head with its reflector does require consideration when placing it in your camera bag. For me, I found it best to remove the reflector and bulb when transporting.

What I really like about the TRIO is its eight program settings that allowed me to program and instantly recall my most often used Qflash settings, including QTTL, Auto, Manual, etc. With the touch of a button I can shift between QTTL, remote wireless modes, Manual modes with specific GNs, Auto modes with different ISOs and f-stops and so on.

Quantum has always provided owners of their products investment protection and the Qflash TRIO is no exception, with firmware updates and product conversions for greater longevity. By creating a dependable barebulb flash that can provide studio quality lighting with the ability to wireless control remote flashes, Quantum has once again raised the bar.

QFLASH TRIO FEATURES

• Auto Fill ratio
• Auto focus assist
• Flash exposure lock
• High speed sync
• Rear Curtain Sync
• Flash ready indicator in viewfinder with Shutter Speed Control1
• Manual, Auto, Auto-fill & TTL remote radio control with Qflash PILOT.
• Wireless multiple ratio TTL2
• Wireless preflash TTL2
• Wireless remote Auto / Auto Fill mode
• Zone control of FW7Q from panel of Qflash

1. Camera detects flash, illuminates flash ready indicator and sets proper shutter sync speed as needed
2. Qflash 5d-R requires Dw-R Adapters & FreeXwire

Peter Kotsinadelis is a writer/photographer living in Pleasanton, CA. He may be reached at [email protected]