About the equipment itself
The Quadralite Atlas 600 Pro TTL is the company's most flagship product, and the successor to the successful Atlas 600 TTL. How does such a versatile flash perform in practice after a few weeks of use?
In the equipment I use, I value reliability in a variety of conditions. Therefore, I wanted to test the lamp in the open air, as this is the main purpose of the ATLAS series, but also in the studio, as I appreciate working without additional cables.
The lamp is made of high-quality plastic. It has a clear LCD screen, which is bright enough to use even in strong sunlight. The modifier mount and tripod holder are made of metal, ensuring high durability.
The distinguishing feature of the Atlas 600 Pro TTL is undoubtedly the exceptional flash repeatability. During shooting, indeed, the flash quality and color temperature maintained at an excellent level In dedicated color priority mode ( Colore Mode) will be 5600±75K. This is a great result, which will certainly be appreciated by those with high color requirements.
In terms of speed, it is also very good - after triggering the flash at full power, it achieves readiness in 0.9 seconds. As a result, the flash will also work well for sports photography.
The flash has a built-in receiver for the Navigator X control system. When testing the lamp, I used it with the Navigator X2 transmitter. I had no problems at all to remotely control the most important parameters of the lamp. The system is very intuitive. Compared to the first generation of Navigator, there is a huge difference in use. Assigning groups and channels is child's play and everything is displayed on a clear and large display.
In addition to speed and convenience, Navigator X2 also offers several features not found in the standard version of the transmitter:
- ALL function - to quickly adjust the power settings of all lamps simultaneously,
- modeling light control - the ability to turn the modeling bulb on and off for Quadralite lamps equipped with such a light,
- TCM - quick transfer of automatic settings from TTL mode to manual control M,
- support for up to 16 lamp groups,
- adjustable working range of the transmitter - the possibility to weaken the signal so that it works in the range of 0-30m instead of the standard 1-100m (important when the transmitter is close to the lamp),
- diode AF assist from the Navigator X2,
Working with a flash in the open air
The lamp, weighing about 3 kg, undoubtedly requires a suitable tripod (in this case I used a Quadralite Air 275 tripod) and weighting, especially when wind is possible. During the session I used a backpack and a tripod as ballast, but it is worth noting that there was no strong wind. The flash worked with a parabolic umbrella Deep Space 130, a great modifier when you want a very diffused and soft light.
The effects of the photos were as follows:
Working with the lamp in the studio
I also had the opportunity to test the Atlas 600 Pro TTL in the studio. Here the Lamp's strongest point was working without wires. This is very convenient - especially when you have a small space at your disposal. During the session I combined the Atlas 600 Pro TTL flash with the mobile small Stroboss 60 TTL. The flash triggering system worked flawlessly together, and the control of the system from the Navigator X2 was just as I expected.
Summary
After several weeks of using the lamp, I have to admit that it is a piece of equipment that will certainly stand up to the most demanding photographers. High power and stable flash quality makes the impression of use as positive as possible. Efficient battery operation and the mobility of the equipment guarantee pleasant use of Atlas.
This is a piece of equipment that will be appreciated by those who photograph frequently in the open air, as well as in the studio. The TTL system works very well, hence the Atlas 600 Pro TTL is also a great idea for those who are starting to work with lights - this versatile lamp will certainly not limit photography adepts and will allow to obtain sensational results.
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Szymon Bialic @szymon_bialic
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