It Sucks... But I Love It - Godox Lux Junior Review

🖼️ This video is sponsored by PIC-TIME: geni.us/pictime (use code: MAGIC at checkout for extra month for free)
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Welcome back, everyone! Today, I’m diving into my experience with the Godox Lux Junior flash. Bought it for a party shoot in Vegas, but it fell short. Yet, I ended up find a way to make it useful for my wedding photography!
👋 If you’re new here, I’m Magic, a destination wedding photographer with 12+ years of experience. I share tips on cameras, lenses, and wedding photography weekly-subscribe for more! 🎥
✨ Make Sure to Check out my Flash Magic course for in-depth flash techniques and boost your wedding photography game - you can watch one FREE LESSON here: geni.us/flash-launch
📸 Gear Used:
• Godox Lux Junior - geni.us/XurG8
• Sony RX1RII - geni.us/eiUBVZN
• Sony A7CR - geni.us/XNBX
• 24/2.8 G lens - geni.us/Aba3sqj
• Sony HVL-F28RM flash - geni.us/kNH4x
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👨‍💻 AI EDITING TOOL I USE: geni.us/imagen-magic
👰🏼 📸 WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR:
MAIN KIT:
📷 My NEW Main Camera - geni.us/kzTm
🌠 My 24mm - geni.us/TW8pMQ
🌌 My 35mm - geni.us/JfbnyS
💫 My 50mm - geni.us/n9rBlwI
✨ My 85mm - geni.us/9TpzFt
FUN LENSES:
🌟 Adapted Tilt-Shift - geni.us/4d50
🌟 50mm for flares - geni.us/SVhvH8
🎥 Anamorphic - geni.us/sirui35lens
🌀 Cheap tilt - geni.us/tilt50
SOFTWARE:
🖼️ BEST ONLINE GALLERY: geni.us/pictime (use code: MAGIC at checkout for extra month for free)
👨‍💻 AI EDITING TOOL I USE: geni.us/imagen-magic
🔘 AI CULLING TOOL I USE (FREE) geni.us/narrative-magic
💼 straps and bags: geni.us/peakmagic
ACCESSORIES:
⚡ My main FLASH - geni.us/P-A10
⚡ My compact FLASH - geni.us/6azxsZ
💾 My main memory cards (1st slot) - geni.us/edPR
💾 My backup cards (2nd slot) - geni.us/angelbird1tb
🔗 My strap - HoldFast Camera Swagg (I use the orange one) - geni.us/holdfastmm
👜 My bag - HoldFast Small Sightseer - geni.us/holdfastbag
🎒 My backpack - geni.us/compagnonbackpack
HARDWARE:
🖥 My Computer - geni.us/f4UrVDg
📺 1st Monitor: geni.us/EB6j
📺 2nd Monitor: geni.us/A9jG
🎵 Speakers: geni.us/yAy0YJ
📚 Archive station - geni.us/Vmx8i9t
💾 Dual card reader - geni.us/Uo2jY
00:00 My journey with Lux Junior
01:21 Godox Lux Junior overview
03:11 Party Photos
07:05 Night Couple Portraits
08:55 Gallery I use
10:35 Sunny Day Direct Flash
12:55 My Recommendation
Some of the links are affiliate links, so I do profit whenever you buy trough the links - thank you for support!

[@benjhaisch]

“Piece of… technology” will be my new favorite insult.

[@MagicWeddingPhotographer]

I was doing my best to be polite 🙈

[@mattgunst]

Great video as usual! Thanks for sharing your experience and feedback 🎉

[@adrionnalyse9605]

I was just about to buy it. Thanks for saving me time and money.

[@MurrayMcMillan73]

I use it on my Leica Q3, it’s actually really nice and a good size for it.

[@MagicWeddingPhotographer]

Team #leafshutter !! But also - Leica and Godox 🙈

[@MurrayMcMillan73]

@@MagicWeddingPhotographer Yeah, opposites eh :) Was the price and size- I wish Leica would do a little flash for the Q series like they’ve just done for the new D-Lux but they haven’t. Also have the little Fuji EF-X20 or whatever it’s called, that recycles even slower

[@michaelmeissner1631]

I don't have the flash (and I am an amateur, not a pro), but when you use the term 'auto' (or more properly 'thyristor'), it goes back to the flashes back in the 1970's. It was 'auto' for the time. If you want a flash that communicates with the camera, you want to use the term 'TTL' (or through the lens). So in this case, auto doesn't mean what you might expect. I haven't shot with auto flashes in quite some time, but as I was thinking about getting the various Godox Lux Senior/Junior/Cadet/Elf flashes, I started thinking about the auto support. In general, Auto works when you have a background that reflects light behind your subjects and your subjects are fairly close to the background. I.e. if they are standing in front of a wall it works, but if they are standing in a large room away from the back wall or outdoors, it won't work as well, since the flash won't see the reflection of the light from the background. One advantage that Auto has over digital TTL flashes is that Auto only puts out the main flash pulse. It does not put out a pre-flash that digital TTL uses to figure out the exposure. Some people have very fast blink reflexes, and a lot of times, a digital TTL flash might cause that person to start blinking on the pre-flash, and always have their eyes closed when the picture is taken. FWIW, using film cameras, TTL did not do the pre-flash that digital cameras do, since the electronics within the camera would turn off the flash because it measured the amount of light being reflected from the film to judge when the photo was exposed properly. For fixed setups, I tend to think manual flashes is more consistent than auto, assuming the photographer can adequately judge the distance from the subject to the camera, you are using straight on shooting, and the photographer is willing to adjust the flash's distance/ISO dial during the shoot. Again, I don't have the flash in question, but I would have to imagine the 2 slave modes do not rely on a Godox specific trigger. Instead, the first slave mode is likely for on camera flashes that do not emit any pre-flash (i.e. you are typically shooting with the flash in manual mode). The second slave mode is likely for digital camera TTL modes that emits a single flash for the pre-flash and then the main flash (i.e., the flash skips the first burst of light that it sees, and triggers itself off on the second burst). Note, I have heard that some modern cameras now emit more than one pre-flash, which would not work the Lux flashes. FWIW, the Godox Lux Master has the same manual/auto support the Senior/Junior/Cadet/ELF flashes do, but it does add support for a Godox radio trigger that can do digital TTL support. But the Senior/Master flashes likely are too big for the way I see you using the Junior in the video where the smallness of the flash is a feature. Using cameras with leaf shutters are a good way to use low power flashes like the Junior. And yes, flashes that use 2 AAA batteries tend to not be made for shooting more than one photo in a row. I would suspect that if you use high quality rechargeable batteries, you might get better results about speed after the first few flashes. Of course in terms of pumping out the shots, I remember reading about photographers using flash bulbs would have to wait between shots so that the bulb would cool down and they wouldn't burn their fingers when changing bulbs.

[@HVRIS]

Yo, this flash works really well with my Q. It produces great chin shadow and there was lovely examples of that in your Rome photo set ☺Lovely work

[@sachaalleyne3459]

I have the flash and I love it. Yes. It is quite slow to recycle, especially at half and full power, but at lesser levels it can be quick. What sells it for me is how close the flash sits to the camera body making it much more on axis to the lens. Minimal side shadows behind the subject (I do a lot of shooting indoors )

[@rickbiessman6084]

Thanks Magic! I was considering this flash for typical dancefloor and other direct flash stuff, using my A7C II. I’ve been using another small Godox flash, but I don’t like that you can sometimes see too much of the shadow being cast by the flash because it doesn’t sit close enough to the lens for a convincing point-and-shoot look. Plus, the Lux Junior would look pretty cool on an A7C IMO. But if it takes that long to recycle, maybe I don’t want to rely on it.

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

Just got this flash but didn’t open and try it out yet. Was looking for a small flash for an A7CII or A7CR. I have my large Godox V1 but also got a Sony HVL-43m whose size I was looking to reduce. I guess I will stay with those at ~ $148 for now. Thanks.

[@MartinV.]

Great Video

[@MagicWeddingPhotographer]

Thanks!

[@WieHurra]

I use this flashlight with Ricoh GR III and after a few shots I found that the regular batteries were too weak and I replaced them with rechargeable batteries, which significantly accelerated the readiness of the lamp to work.

[@AlexandruVladutu]

Black Magic did it again and I'm left without 110 euros from my pocket (yes, I wanted the gray / whitish one).

[@ldmndz4652]

It's funny I actually got this initially for the Fuji X100VI as an added accessory..(for a camera which I am still waiting for since pre order day Feb 20! haha) and for me it works great!..for a nice little compact camera..cant wait to actually put it on the Fuji when it finally arrives!..lol Godox has been really good about their "retro style" flashes lately and their looks.. I like mine a lot!..I put it on my A7RV if I want to bring it for some casual everyday scenarios with friends etc..I see this more for casual moments but for actual paid client work like weddings I would not use this..it's too risky..recycle time, miss fires..etc and you need to use some rechargeable batteries and a few of them for sure!..lol but it's a cute fun flash..

[@thefriginals]

you'll love it, works awesome on the x100vi...

[@kitwilson9796]

hahaahahahahahah exactly the same. bought this flash for my fuji X100vi pre ordered on March 1st. Had the Godox flash on my shelf for 4 months, still waiting on the fuji!!!!

[@ldmndz4652]

@@kitwilson9796 right!..how many of us have other "accessories" screen protector, thumb grip, pro mist filter, hood, etc etc for the VI..and just waiting for the bloody camera!..haha

[@ldmndz4652]

@@thefriginals yeah thanks..I certainly seen some other videos that use this flash on the VI.the Lux Senior on some examples looked a bit less powerful and or the fall off of the light did not look good..thats why I went with the Junior....yeah seems like a nice complement to the camera beside the on board flash..lol

[@lucaschweitzer9821]

so it‘s not the power? Just the recycle tume that sucks. Would work for me

[@andyphotoandfilm]

oh how disappointing :( got one for the same reason and wanted to try on my next wedding... some time ago i used my (backup-backup)-Canon Eos M50 with its pop up flash and got some decent images on the dance floor.

[@MagicWeddingPhotographer]

Yeah not the greatest for dance floor! You can still try - let me know how it goes!

[@thefriginals]

So, are you saying that it SUX? get it? ;)

[@thefriginals]

by the way, awesome breakdown, thanks for sharing your experience. I got one of these too so I can use it with my x100vi. I had originally tried it with my rx1, but the first version. had some problems with it, because that camera has a built in flash, and I had a hard time getting the Lux to fire consistently, so I abandoned the idea. it was just easy enough to use the rx1's built in flash anyways. also, with the rx1, that leaf shutter can only sync up to 1/2000 when its wide open at f/2. but it can sync up to 1/4000, when I stop it down, I think to about f/5.6... is that the same case with the rx1r2 as well? I can see how it would be useful for the rx1r2 through. and the Lux works GREAT on the x100vi, especially when I have to use the wide conversion lens, because the x100vi's built in flash would cast a shadow. so having the Lux helped since it raised the flash up a bit so that the shadow wouldn't be a problem. anyways, enough rambling, awesome video again!