Quantuum bring out touchscreen monolights with remote control

Touchscreens have already made it on to mobile phones, compact cameras and DSLRs so it was only a matter of time before they started encroaching on studio lighting territory too.

Quantuum T 800 Mk2 touchscreen interface

Touchscreens have already made it on to mobile phones, compact cameras and DSLRs so it was only a matter of time before they started encroaching on studio lighting territory too. At Photokina, Metz unveiled their Mecastudio line — including touch-controlled flash heads — while Sekonic showed off a light meter with a capacitative screen.

Quantuum T 800 Mk2 touchscreen interface

Now Quantuum, a Polish photographic lighting company (not to be confused with the U.S. firm Quantum) have updated their T-series of monolights. The original range came out a couple of years ago, offering large display screens with touch-sensitive controls. The two most powerful models, the T 800 and T 1200, have been upgraded to Mark II versions, which add wireless control.

Quantuum T 800 Mk2

Unlike the control panel on the monolight itself, the handheld remote has real buttons, so Quantuum might be missing a trick there. The interface looks fairly intuitive though, giving you control over flash power and modelling light intensity with a small LCD that synchronises with the settings of the flash.

ModelT 300T 500T 800 Mk2T 1200 Mk 2
Energy300J500J800J1200J
Guide number568088108
Recycle time0.1 – 2.0 sec0.1 – 2.0 sec0.1 – 2.0 sec0.1 – 3.0 sec
Power adjustmentFrom full power to 1/32 power in 1/10-stop increments
Modelling lamp150 W150 W150 W 150 W
Remote controlNoNoYesYes
Flash duration (t.5)1/850 – 1/2300 sec
Mains supply180 – 250 VAC, 50 Hz

Quantuum T 800 Mk2 with remote control

The Quantuum T 800 Mk2 costs about €405 (£330) and the powerful T 1200 Mk 2 will dent your wallet to the tune of €520 (£420). Quantuum products are distributed in Europe by Foto-Tip.pl. In China, where the lights are made, they may also be known as the Menik CM series.

Are you interested in touch-screen technology in the studio? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

David Selby
David is a keen photographer and has been editor of Lighting Rumours since 2010. When not writing about lighting, he works as a data scientist at the University of Manchester, UK.
selbydavid.com