The FlashQ Q20 is an interesting flash unit which doesn't have to be used on top of your camera. The flash is different from most others in that it features a detachable hot shoe radio transmitter which allows it to be used either on-camera, or wirelessly. Currently vying for funding on Indiegogo, the FlashQ Q20 also boasts a tilting flash head and an LED video/modeling light.
At first glance, the FlashQ Q20 from LightPix Labs looks like a typical external flash unit, and when on the hot shoe on the top of your camera, that's exactly what this flash is. The various buttons on the rear of the unit can be used to manually set the power and control the flash, which will then automatically fire as you would expect.
However, the interesting part of the flash is that the top of the unit can be detached from the hot shoe attachment, which is actually one of the firm's FlashQ radio transmitters. Because the main body of the Q20 features a 2.4GHz low-power digital radio receiver, this allows the flash to be used wirelessly within a 10 meter operating range.
When in wireless mode, the power output of the FlashQ Q20 can be controlled via the buttons on the transmitter unit. One click increases the power ratio one step increment (1/128 to 1/1 in seven steps), while a double click decreases power by one step. One transmitter can also be used to trigger up to eight paired Q20 main bodies.
The flash unit itself, which will come in black or white, features a tiltable head which can be angled up to 90 degrees and an LED video/modeling light on the front. It measures 59 x 92 x 29 mm (2.3 x 3.6 x 1.1 in) and weighs 115 g (4 oz) before its two AA batteries are inserted. There's also a handy tripod mount of the bottom of the unit.
If you've already got a FlashQ radio transmitter, a pledge of US$50 is currently enough to put you in line for a FlashQ Q20 main body to go with it, rising to $60 once the early bird quantities run out. Early birds can also get a kit of transmitter and main flash unit for $65, rising to $75. If funding is successful, the FlashQ Q20 should start shipping in November.
You can check out the promo video for the FlashQ Q20 below.
Source: LightPix Labs, Indiegogo
