Correcting EVERY ERROR in my Speedlight Review Video

[@boikel]

Your original video was fantastic, and thank you for this update. Godox has been my favorite flashes for years now.

[@kqschwarz]

The two flash videos are the best comparison videos ever.

[@cirmothe9]

Great coverage. I really appreciate the amount of work that went into this and the previous speedlight video. Just bought a new godox light myself.

[@ChaitanyaShukla2503]

Hopefully you will update the video with new Godox V1 pro and Canon EL 5 included in comparison.

[@jrppll]

Very honest of you, to point out and qualify a magnificent review in itself.

[@RicanStudio]

I think I may have mentioned this on the last video. 1.) As an event photographer overheating resistance is hugely important. 2.) Godox has the TCM button which is very very useful. Don’t know if other brands have it. This button toggle’s between ttl and manual, and importantly when toggling sets the manual power to what was last used in ttl. So you have the best of ttl and manual at the same time: Enter new scene, flash ttl, toggle to manual with TCM button and shoot away without having to use ttl overheating the flash. New angle? Toggle back to ttl and repeat. Even works with multiple OCF as a way to set a starting point for manual settings.

[@FStoppers]

Interesting, I've never heard of this although I've shot hundreds of weddings and never once has a Nikon flash overheated. If the Godox does, it seems like that is a major flaw, and another reason to buy the V1 "Pro"

[@RicanStudio]

That said, godox also has a known autonwhite balance issue with Sony bodies. I think it still exists with the V2. Makes everything look too warm. I don’t notice this a lot because of the way I batch edit in LR but new photographers may struggle to get a true to life look.

[@RicanStudio]

One more thing, the Godox V1 had a weak hot shoe. During weddings, if the camera / flash was hanging from your hip and bumped, the flash head could be easily broken clean off. The fix was easy, a $20 part on Amazon, and while this did protect the cameras hot shoe from being bent, the new V2 seems to be more robust.

[@RicanStudio]

@@FStoppers Cameras are a lot faster now, maybe that's it??? The SB900 et al would also overheat but I think it was more rare because things moved a little slower. Just googled it, Wes Perry did a test 5 months ago, and you'll see that it doesn't take too many shots to get them to overheat. Also I don't remember having the issue at weddings, because I usually have OFC setup. For corporate events and other events where I need a flash, shoot a lot, and can't use OCF, overheating must be managed.

[@tonyaleman6938]

That was one of the things that helped me decide on the V-1. It's a great time saver.

[@mariuspetrephotography]

The Neewer front led light helps wedding photographers who shoot during night or in dark inviroments to better focus mirorless camera, same as older DSLR Af asistent. The Godox V860III also has that front led light and is fantastic.

[@FStoppers]

True but I personally hate the LED lights because they are distracting to your subjects and it lets them know you are always pointing a camera to their face. It also messes with video more than the IR auto focus illuminator. -P

[@Cinders7]

Wait ... what a cliffhanger at the end! Is something brewing behind the scenes? Thanks for the additional info based on questions received from your initial comparison. It's very helpful.

[@waynedennyphoto]

Yeah, l'm curious about that too! Is there some mini LED coming out that renders an on camera flash pointless?

[@rafserrano2164]

I love both videos which helped me decide to try out the Neewer flash so I bought the Neewer Z2 for Sony and here are my observations (with latest firmware update) coming from a Godox V1 which I have been using for more than 2 years. -AF assist light doesn't work even when in manual mode (tested side by side with the V1) -Transmitter mode is disabled as soon as the flash is attached to the hot shoe, which defeats its purpose - TTL mode is good, I find provides better exposure than the V1 which overexposes a lot of times - I miss the Godox V1's power setting where you will just push the up or down wheel button and it will move one whole stop up or down when in manual mode - the led light is good especially the one in the body but it would be good if there is a mode where it will only activate during focusing like a focus assist light The Neewer Z2 could use a good bug fixing and an update on the UI. It has great potential.

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

Thank you for putting out this update. Watch with great interest. I think the one thing you did not cover was your rating of how each company provides support. A friend recommends Westcott because the have support directly here in the US. For some of were support is available is important. Take care.

[@tonyaleman6938]

Godox has US support via Adorama. Although you need to refer to them using the Adorama branded names.

[@inhaler97]

Thanks for following up with these updates!

[@peterjackhandy]

Back a few ,when I was an active member of a camera club, several of us bought into Godox gear so any one of us had access to a huge strobe inventory & each only needed a single wiireless trigger for our individual brand camera

[@ruff1draft]

Have not watched a Fstoppers video in a loooong while

[@FStoppers]

Welcome back! -P

[@lawrencekatz2229]

My experience with some of the godox flashes is that the settings can jump around after long times not using them and even during usage, the manual mode can switch to TTL without any explanation so stability on all of these flashes would be interesting to know.

[@FStoppers]

Patrick Here, I have a Godox AD400 Pro and it was sitting in my studio for about 9 months when I went to use it for an additional light. I found out the battery was dead so I charged it over night. The next day the battery was still dead. After researching it online I found that other users have had this issue and the work around is you have to short some connection to ground to get it to reset. I didn't feel comfortable opening the battery and doing that so I had a friend of mine come over who is an electrical engineer. Luckily he was able to reset the battery and it was working again...but of course recently I went to use it again and the same issue happened. I've never owned a flash that required shorting out the flash to get it back up and running. Super weird and yet not all that uncommon apparently. -P

[@daveboyle5751]

Plugging in the PB960 power pack with the Y cable gives you almost instant recycling at full power. it's more than just the hipster look.

[@FStoppers]

Yeah this has been a thing for decades, but you still have to carry that extra battery around with the cable. IMO if you are having to fire a flash at full power so fast that you need that extra battery pack, you are using the wrong flash head. Just upgrade to a larger mono light and don't risk blowing out your speedlight. When I'm shooting with small speedlights, if I'm at full power, that tells me I can do this just to get a shot but I probably need to reconsider my scene, ambient light, and approach in general. -P

[@daveboyle5751]

@@FStoppers It's more then just full power, it's recycling times doing 7-10 fps and stay ability during a full dat of BMX races in dim forests etc, your not carrying an AD600 into those locations, there's plenty of other uses for the PB960 power pack, just because you don't need it doesn't mean it isn't needed by others, and that's the problem with you tubers.

[@351linzdoctor]

@@daveboyle5751 Yea he doesn't get it! Using the battery pack also puts less drain on the internal batteries which in turn doesn't over heat the flash when you are shooting reportage style! Used Quantum batteries for 30 plus years and now using the PB960 power pack and I never had a flash over heat! Just look at those Hollywood Paparazzi's and you don't see them using a Monolight on their camera when doing Red Carpet events!

[@MrsGrens]

Dying over Godox’s email response! 😂 When my hot shoe broke off my V1, I got a response back that was kind of lost in translation. I’ve since switched to Flashpoint for Sony, which is interchangeable with Godox but made in the US and has much better customer service. Thanks for these great videos!

[@EvilSardine084]

Flashpoint is certainly not made in the US. Both Godox and Flashpoint units are from the same place in China.

[@MrsGrens]

@@EvilSardine084 I stand corrected. Flashpoint is sold in the US by Adorama. Emailing with Godox's customer service was so frustrating and I ended up buying a metal hotshoe replacement that has worked well since. Just my experience:)

[@peterjackhandy]

Only the screenprinting is different - Rebranding rocks {:0)

[@seanlucious]

Wonderful update from the original. I saw the original so to know you went back and corrected the mistakes is good reporting on your end. That been said, how do Pye feel about this 😆? We both know he is a ProPhoto user.

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

Very useful updates, thanks!

[@lukasf5256]

The front LED helps to focus if you are bouncing of the flash and I believe Godox and Neewer are the same company that´s why they know they can bring it to the same level.

[@FStoppers]

LEDs are horrible for AF because they illuminate your entire scene which can cause you to be a distraction but also prevent you from capturing candid moments. The older IR illuminator grids are way better but most of these flashes have that as well I believe. I've seen it fire when using most of these flashes. -P

[@351linzdoctor]

Yea if you shoot with the Sony A9iii the only choice would be the Sony HVL-60RM2 to use the Global Shutter to it's maximum automatically unless you want to fool around with manual flash timing! Not having to worry about HSS anymore is awesome!

[@Ozhtube]

I am new to flash. So can I use this Sony flash to overpower the sun? Can I use this Sony flash off camera with soft umbrella or soft box? It might do ok indoors but will it be usable for off camera flash for outdoors portraits?

[@marclabro]

very pro approach, thanks for feedback. I purchased V1S pro for my a7r5 and X3 new transmitter (now upgradable to L-858D flashmeter). TTL is still not good in my case (indoor, manual reducing ambiant light before using ttl). sub flash is an additional feature to take care an sometimes too bright or too weak. Itry to keep it between 1/2 and 1/8. not sure it is better than bounce white card or rogue flashbender V3 small, bigger. With V1S pro we are now sure receiving a metal shoe easier to plug in sony on-camera shoe and more robust to break at base of godox flash body, very weak part of flash. V1S pro is a nice product for all things you mentioned. Just a pity they didn't implement touch screen like X3 at same time. In general, when will we have a flash we can trigger with an iphone ? Profoto did one but stopped selling it.

[@alial-hassan1261]

thanks for the video and the effort

[@ohwowcreate]

GODOX IS KING!

[@graxxor]

Maybe not but it does have amazing cost performance. The fact that Westcott and Neewar are obsessed with comparing against Godox speaks volumes.

[@rolandpeddle9049]

Great review. Thanks.

[@Lukas-h7e]

I am not a photographer and yes is weird but i like wach your videos

[@FStoppers]

Haha well we are glad to have you

[@YogueDaddy]

"Everything that I've learned might become completely obsolete in the next few days"... what a tease! Let me guess : New Profoto speedlite update will be announced?

[@ahmedahmolla]

godox assistant light work with sony but not for nikon

[@nickwilliams7867]

Does the new V1 pro work off camera in ettl below f4 ?

[@lukakoprivica]

I'm still very surprised to hear NOW that some flashes have AF assist??? Do they work with Canon? Canon has serious issues with AF light assist, even with their owns...

[@JPG-Sweden]

Will you test Canon EL-5 in the same way?

[@SaitoGray]

The Westcott representative seems like a huge whinny baby.

[@MrDvaz]

You got a hold of godox?..who are you?..Vito Corleone?

[@johnshetron5087]

Any word on what might make all of this obsolete? 🤔

[@FStoppers]

I don't think anything will make this obsolete. High ISO only amplifies existing light and if existing light is bad or not even present, then you need to add your own light. Faster apertures, ISOs and maybe even a global shutter will help produce better natural light photos but well produced images still often require flash. -P

[@johnshetron5087]

@@FStoppers At the end of the video (11:37), you said "........everything I've learned and everything that I've taught you guys might become obsolete in the next few days...." What are you talking about?

[@johnshetron5087]

@FStoppers any word on my comment above? Thanks!

[@phaskellhall]

@@johnshetron5087 He was referring to the next video which compared mono lights and how they might be the better deal for someone looking to buy a single flash unit.

[@WAPhoto]

Try calling Godox for customer support………then try calling Westcott.

[@FStoppers]

Great point

[@paigeofstylez]

No its not... i called Flashpoint and they fixed my ad600 ​@FStoppers

[@I922sParkCir]

Good reason to buy the Adorama version, Flashpoint.

[@yonis8325]

Godox from B&H _with the included B&H warranty_ FTW!

[@WAPhoto]

As an example. I live in Canada and bought an FJ80II flash that I needed for an Event job on a Friday. The flash was purchased on a Wednesday but the battery was defective right out of the box. I could have returned the flash and tried to get another one, but supply was limited and I had to have it shipped and it would likely not arrive in time. So I called Westcott and spoke with Amanda. She was extremely helpful and understood that I needed the flash for the Friday. She arranged for a new battery to be shipped to me overnight from Ohio to Ontario Canada. At no cost! It arrived right on time the Thursday. Not just a battery but a second charger! Few companies will match or beat that.

[@Distinctly.Average]

At around 5:15 you said who would use two flashes vastly different powers? Many do. For product shots I may have a couple of flashes behind a scrim, and another behind the product creating highlights. How about in portrait photography when you have a couple of main lights and a rim light? Whether the temp difference is enough to notice is often down to the beholder, but it can be an issue.

[@FStoppers]

I agree but I think Lee means you never have a flash set to full power and then another one set 7 stops lower. Maybe 3-5 stops lower but at 7 stops that's pretty rare in most cases except maybe product photography. For most portaits, a flash set that low won't even register on the exposure. -P

[@MartinV.]

Great Video!

[@Linealo]

"Have a nice day!"?

[@FStoppers]

"Have a nice day too!"

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

This is hilarious 😂

[@Ozhtube]

I am new to flash. So can I use this Sony flash to overpower the sun? Can I use this Sony flash off camera with soft umbrella or soft box? It might do ok indoors but will it be usable for off camera flash for outdoors portraits?

[@FStoppers]

Yes to all. You will need a second speed light or a Sony trigger to fire it off camera but you can def mount it into a soft box. Overpowering the sun is a pretty vague term. You won’t be able to shoot into the sun and over power a silhouette but you can def get a correct exposure in lower ambient light situations like in the shade or during the early and late parts of the day. Distance also matters so you’ll probably need to be 3-8 feet away from your subject and not trying to light up a huge group of people. -P

[@joerunge3915]

It is actually insane to me that a company as big as westcott or profoto let alone SONY wouldn't be doing these tests.

[@FStoppers]

I'm sure they are doing these tests and I've seen some of the BTS testing Profoto does in their HQ in Sweden. It made me appreciate what Profoto does to design their flashes and I'm sure all these companies are doing similar things. That said, not every flash can win a test like this (and I'm not even sure who is the winner on some of these) so they aren't going to publish the results if their flash fails against the competition. -P

[@abrahamamzalak2470]

Very interesting review. I appreciate so much. God Bless you. Jerusalém Israel

[@ranjankmsphotography]

Well Godox V1 has a green colour cast issue, that's reported through tests by several experts including Rob Hall, a known Godox Lover 😅. Godox AD100 Pro too had the same issues which were corrected probably in late 2023 but V1still has the colour cast issue ( V1 Pro fixed that issue )Have you been able to test that? Rob Hall's video claiming green colour cast issue - kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5zHp4mdpN-Klc0si=OLNICj8a9xe_14AK

[@FStoppers]

Well if you go to 5:39 you can see our magenta/green readings for all these flashes as well. The godox did have the greatest range on that scale so it performed the worst, but our meter showed .1 - .3 range in magenta. The only one worse was Westcott in Freeze mode but we all know Freeze mode (or color mode) is aimed at firing the fastest flash duration at the expense of correct color so that isn't shocking. Maybe the .3m reading means it needs magenta to balance it out? I'm not sure how to read that exactly, but yes, that flash did have the worst color cast of all. -P

[@ranjankmsphotography]

@@FStoppers Correct 👍 thanks for your detailed review. After a lot of consideration, I finally didn't think it wise to buy a Godox V1 Pro ( to get a better colour without green cast), as the cost of it isn't justified and even getting two Godox TT 685 flashes is better than buying one V1 Pro. Westcott FJ 80 II has a fabulous screen and the build quality too seems a bit better. Freeze mode isn't required frequently so that colour issue isn't a big deal. I have therefore purchased Westcott FJ 80 II M for on camera flash use and also purchased the Godox AD300 Pro with Godox X Pro II N Trigger, one Godox TT 685 II N and already have one more TT685 N, one Nissin Di866 Mark II with Godox X1R Receiver....all these Godox flashes for Off Camera Flash use.

[@christianvasquez3937]

As a godox owner short range is built in the flash.

[@AWAShowme]

I concur. I'm not sure what he means by he doesn't think it does - it's easy to check.

[@firstwitness5735]

CORECTING ? i guess attorneys of those brands have spoken. "CORRECT"it or we will sue you.

[@FStoppers]

I don't think you can sue for sharing your results. This was more about getting it right from our point of view than from any company telling us to fix it. That's the nice thing about getting gear from BH is you can run unbiased tests like these without any pressure. -P

[@jedmund]

Have a nice day!

[@Axelfre1988]

Godox us THE best company, when you consider price vs quality

[@VictorGee]

Has anyone heard anything about the upcoming Sunpak DF6000?

[@navpreetsingh8156]

That neweer led on the front is horrible, it shows in the photos and ruins anyone elses video

[@FStoppers]

This is why I prefer the IR focus illuminators. LEDs always ruin photos or at least ruin candid moments because people see the light firing on them. -P

[@everydaysamething]

WTF Westcott did not pull through with this one boy, president be clowning on himself 🤣I'm finna get a Godox if I can't get a Westcott for cheap. Where's the next video?

[@somewhatboxes]

if neewer is changing the hardware on a model, please encourage them to change the model itself, or at least call it a mk-2 or something. otherwise the used market is going to be a total mess of people pawning of 1st-gen versions of neewer products and letting the ambiguity under the same name totally mislead customers. that kind of confusion is enough to make me not want to touch neewer products at all, just to avoid finding out i got the version with terrible optical trigger performance characteristics or something. i understand minor hardware revisions happen all the time and i'm not saying they need to document every single change publicly, but something as major as an optical trigger redesign is definitely enough to warrant a new revision or something on the product name that people can search for.

[@FStoppers]

Agreed

[@macf1040]

They made you to correct

[@realmichaelcomeau]

Biggest takeaway: the Westcott CEO is obsessed with Godox.

[@FStoppers]

I think a lot of flash companies are obsessed with Godox. They definitely are changing the game. It's not my personal favorite flash but I can see why they are making waves in this space. -P

[@stickgarrote8582]

Ha, the joke's on you - all my travel photography is run & gun gonzo stuff. My family is not patient.

[@JEmmertz]

You are truly solidifying your scientific approach in these tests: "I just grabbed something out of the bag", measure with items without knowing how reliable they are in a series of measurements and fully without having a proper baseline. Add to that doing "comprehensive" tests with just a small subset of what is available in the market. Damn, one could almost think that you as an "influencer" wanted to reach a certain conclusion even before you tested various gear, and perhaps even be paid to reach that certain conclusion. I understand that we all need to be able to pay our bills and need income, but, I for one, won't sell my soul to get there.

[@FStoppers]

Profoto is the company currently sponsoring us. How did I skew the test toward their flash?

[@HectorRiveraPhotography]

na profoto is king ! godox junk

[@rubenwojcikiewicz2281]

11:46 😂😂😂😂