Profoto B1x vs Westcott FJ 400 // Studio Strobe Comparison

[@ChipDizard]

I recently switched to Wescott since Shutterfest 2023 and I couldn't be happier. I rented the FJ400 and after one day of using it, I went and bought it and the 3 flashes. The support and talking to someone is great. Thanks for this review and having them at Shutterfest.

[@Zetaphotography]

What do you Shoot?

[@ChipDizard]

@@Zetaphotography Wescott FJ 400.

[@Keith80027]

I bought my first Profoto lights I think in 2001, three lights that plug into the power pack. I used them a lot, replaced a few modeling lights and one flash tube. I also have 3 500w mono lights. I have bought two B1 and a B2 with two lights. Because I have so much Profoto now, I wouldn't change. All work fantastic and would buy them again back in time. If I was starting out again, I believe I would go with Westcott's lights because of price. I would like to rent them first to do my own tests, and I do believe Sal is giving a good evaluation of the FJ400.

[@crystaleisenhofer8365]

I have been using FJ400 in my studio and at events for about 2 years now. I love them and find them great to work with. Make sure if you by more to add to the existing you make sure all components are upgraded tot he same levels. Such as all lights should be the same software version and triggers should also be upgraded. This will keep them working!

[@WAPhoto]

According to Westcott Here’s a little more information to clarify the differences between the FJ400 and Jinbei’s HD400. The FJ400 has a similar body, with very updated features. We worked tirelessly for months with an established engineering team to fine-tune the internal elements so we could offer a flash unit that was up to our standards. • The FJ400 has more flashes per charge (480+ compared to Jinbei’s 400). • The FJ400 can be charged while using (AC/DC capabilities) with no additional adapters needed. • The FJ400 has a faster recycling time (0.9 seconds at full power compared to Jinbei’s 1.6 seconds). • The FJ400 has a daylight-balanced 20w LED modeling lamp (compared to Jinbei’s15w 3000k lamp). • The FJ400 has optimized flash tube positioning (the tube placement is customized to output an even spread of light in modifiers). • The FJ400 offers ± 150k in color consistency over the entire power range (levels 1-9). Jinbei market’s over “normal range” which appears to be 1/1-1/32 power (levels 4-9). • The FJ400 features an umbrella tensioner/screw mechanism for quick yet solid mounting of umbrellas and umbrella-style modifiers (including the Westcott 7’ umbrellas). • The FJ400 receives strict Westcott Quality Control. • The FJ400 is backed by Westcott’s USA-based service and support. We noticed some incorrect information in your specs sheet here that we'd also like to clarify... • The FJ400’s lithium polymer battery provides has 480+ full power flashes on a single charge (not 400). • The is an audible and adjustable Flash Ready Beep Indicator as well as a visual indicator on the test button.

[@pianofinger]

I love my fj400’s. I am fully invested in the Wesctott system. Currently using 4 fj400’s, 1 fj200 and a fj80. I will say that i have had issues with a couple of 400’s but the company was always quick to answer their phones. Last year I had one blow into a waterfall and take a 5 minute swim. After a few days i decided to try and see if it would come back on and it did. I am definitely sticking with them.

[@ddartemio]

I just have to say that we update our lights to Westcott. Got one FJ400 & the set of three FJ200. Very happy with the investment. Thank you Sal for great information very valuable. Got them at SF23!!

[@karlweb1]

Thank you Sal I have been Leary about that system to be honest. Their whole system is just rebranded Jenbei. Adorama carried the orlit which is identical to all of these including the trigger. The first year with the orlit they were great then then started to malfunction. I tried to reticent them and they had no longer supported them. A few year back I had a rival football game. I set that light up or was 32-34 degrees and the light would not work. Got it back to my studio and it fired up. A year later I was in the same situation but this time I had two profoto lights and they worked flawlessly. I may revisit but I would probably get a used b10 instead of a new FJ Thanks for all that you do. We head to our other home in Augusta in July. Looking forward to getting back to MO

[@davefoc]

I'm an amateur photographer and two of the FJ-400 strobes was a major splurge for me. I got here because I watched a video where the Profoto strobe was used and I looked up the price. Good friggin grief. $1700. What the heck do you get for $1700 that you don't get for less than $600? This video answered that question. Spoiler alert: From my perspective it sounded like not much. But maybe if you're a high end photographer where strobes are part of your tool set then marginally better is enough to justify the $1000 or so for Profoto strobes. An anecdotal piece of evidence on the FJ-400 toughness. One of mine dropped about five feet when it fell off the light stand. I was afraid that I had wrecked it. Nope. The glass came out, but it didn't break and it snapped right back in place. Electrical engineer quibbling: Watts is a measure of energy per second and it makes sense as a way to describe the strength of the strobe light. If you want to measure the total energy of the flashes possible from a single battery charge, watt hours might make more sense. Watt hours is a measurement of energy. In this case you would multiply the length of a flash (in fractions of an hour), the power of the flash, and the number of the flashes to get the total energy emitted from the strobe by the complete discharge of the battery.

[@MrCameraShy]

I shoot with Godox/Flashpoint right now just because of budget and they do just fine. But eventually I'll make the jump to Westcott.

[@art_by_adrian2913]

I have a whole godox system ad 600 200 v1s 300 and all the plug in ones, but I found a westscott fj400 for 200$ at a local amazon resale store auction and I can't wait to see how it performs, I almost got it for 60 but someone tried to beat me at the last second

[@SpyderBlackOfficial]

I use the m2 tripod mount and use the FJ400 on a video tripod with wheel attach that slides & locks on to the tripod legs. Windproof!

[@peterlong8913]

Thanks for this video. I have been doing a lot of research on this exact topic and honestly could not understand the pricing differences. It had me very concerned that I was missing something. This was so helpful. While I understand the Profoto durability advantage - for me - the use case and abuse case does not support that being a concern for me. I was very interested in the WestCott FJ400 system but I was just very concerned that the price being so much lower I was not understanding some sort of huge limitation. This video sold me.

[@lloydterryjr.bodygraphicsphoto]

Just curious why didn't you compare the Westcott to the Profoto B10 Plus?

[@ConnieEtter]

totally looking for something new. I have had HUGE problems lately with my b1x (and I have two of them). makes me so sad.

[@orion2250]

Thanks for your time and showing this!

[@marvinbluephotographyandfilm]

I am digging my Westcott setup and the purchase cost has been bearable on my bank account

[@billford723]

Have both, see no difference in the photos. After using both I have falling in love with Westcott. Less money, can buy more, less expensive softboxes/accessories. Would highly recommend getting two FJ400s and one FJ200 to start.

[@SalCincotta1]

Couldn’t agree more

[@GreatLakesCanon]

Why not a B10xplus?

[@noelmarcantel8927]

After using 5 FJ 400s in the studio and in the field for the last four years, I’m looking to switch to Profoto because the recycle time when shooting action or dance is so unreliable on the FJs.

[@jorgealbertorojasluzardo12]

Olvidó mencionar que wescott también es compatible con el sistema RT de canon‼️😻👍

[@Zetaphotography]

Did you say when talking about falling that the Profoto will some “watt” be protected

[@johnpeterka8355]

Thank you for your video, Sal! We started with Profoto B1’s and an A1 with all the modifiers, but sold the lights. Then, I tried the Godox V1 with Fujifilm, Canon, and Nikon Pro triggers. I wanted to find adapters that would enable us to continue using our Profoto light shaping modifiers. I assumed Bowen’s speed rings would do the trick on soft boxes, but snoots and barn doors were out or I had no solution for them. I recently saw a photographer test the Westcott, Godox Ad600 Pro, and Profoto B1X. Amazingly, the Westcott held its own. If I migrated to Westcott, could we adapt all our Profoto modifiers? If so, what adapters would be required? I really like the idea of using products made and supported in the USA as well as a trigger that works on so many cameras. Thank you!

[@SalCincotta1]

thanks for watching. i have personally not found a solution for using all my profoto modifiers. ive switched everything over to westcott and use their switch system which allows you to swap mounts to work with bowens, profoto, godox, westcott etc. i think westcott makes superior modifiers in their cost, flexibility across platforms, AND HANDS DOWN ease of use. putting a profoto modifier together is a test of patience like no other. :)

[@johnpeterka8355]

@@SalCincotta1- thank you!

[@joecapasso3741]

Profoto vs Jenbei - wow

[@skillcubator1]

I got Westcott FJ 400 but it seems on the wireless trigger, I see Canon. Does that mean it's not compatible with Nikon body?

[@SalCincotta1]

no not at all... actually thats one of the benefits of the westcott trigger - it has the ability to work on multiple cameras... just toggle the option and you will see other camera manf.

[@skillcubator1]

@@SalCincotta1 Thanks Sal. Appreciate your response.

[@davefoc]

One more comment to add to my overly long post below: Compatibility of the radio remotes might be an issue. It is annoying that none of my flash remotes are compatible with anything else other than the flashes they were made for. What about remote compatibility in this case? Is there a way to get one brand of strobes to work with the other company's strobes? Is there any movement to make a standard strobe remote? Maybe the world will move to the Sony standard in the long term? I have the Westcott FJ-X3. I've had mixed results with that and it's still annoying to need to add an adapter to the off brand flash even if it works.

[@SalCincotta1]

check out westcotts FJ X3m - its a multi brand trigger system thaty will allow you to integrate other flashes using an adapter.

[@davefoc]

@@SalCincotta1 Thank you very much for the response. I own both the FJ-X3m and the FJ-X3s (for Sony). They allow you to use different camera brands, but can they trigger different flash brands? I have the FJ-XR for non Westcott flashes, but that only will trigger the flash it doesn't allow for remote control of flash functions. The FJ-XR did work for me to control a Pixel X800C flash and I was happy until I tried to take the adapter cable out. It was really stuck. I thought that it might be screwed in somehow or there was some other secret for getting it out. If there was one, I didn't find it and I just used a lot of force to pull the cable out. And now I can't get it back in. I've sent away for a new PC-sync cable to see if that won't fix it. I had a Wescott PC-sync cable adapter and I'm going to try a different brand. I tried it on a Godox V860II flash. That flash has a 2.5 mm input. I got an adapter cable to go from the FJ-XR 3.5 mm male output to the 2.5 mm Godox input. It didn't work. I thought the cable might not have been wired incorrectly and I cut it in two to connect the wires as I thought they might need to be connected. That didn't work either. I think the FJ-XR electrical output wasn't quite right for the Godox flash. Either way, what I'd like is a universal Flash remote control technique. Is it possible that the remote flash control in some of the new cameras might force standardization on the flash/strobe manufacturers to support one remote flash interface.

[@SalCincotta1]

@@davefoc i dont see that ever happening. each has their own standards and sony is NOTORIOUS for creating their own standards that match no one else. youre wanting an XML, blue tooth, wifi, style of standard, but i truly dont see that happening any time soon. think about it... they dont want to play nice with others... they want you on their complete system. :)

[@StephenRansom]

Any significant Wescott advantage over the Flashpoint equivalents?

[@Neopulse00]

I think Fstoppers did a comparison. And as I recall, the Flashpoint had a slight advantage in recycle, but what the Westcott was more color consistency as I recall. For Flashpoint you need to purchase different triggers depending in your camera while with the Westcott it's all in one, and the Sony adapter requires an extra $10 if anything rather than needing to buy an entirely new trigger.

[@richardgollar6300]

Can you comment on if the profoto has better reliability as far as missed flash’s go. Like in the summer heat my profoto never misfire or over heat. Because if the reliability is just as good then I’m sold but profoto never lets me down and that’s hard to give up. But if these newer lights are catching up might be worth considering.

[@SalCincotta1]

Great question! I found the Westcott FJ 400 to be on point with rapid firing. The only time I’ve run into an issue with the Westcott is when the firmware is not up-to-date with the trigger so that’s definitely something you want to keep an ion.

[@richardgollar6300]

@@SalCincotta1 thank you for the honest review. I don’t mind so much paying more for the lights but I hate what they charge for modifiers.

[@SalCincotta1]

@@richardgollar6300 you got it! and i 100% agree... in fact... i started using westcott modifiers years ago with my profoto lights because they are superior in my opinion.

[@noelmarcantel8927]

I get 5-10 misfires with the FJ 400s each shoot.

[@Getshotbybrian]

Did you ever do one with the Profoto vs Godox AD 600?

[@SalCincotta1]

i dont own any godox... so might have to borrow some for a future review..

[@Getshotbybrian]

@@SalCincotta1 it must have been another product review you did Im thinking of then w/the profoto.

[@willhawkinsphotography]

Nice review Sal. Whats the backdrop behind you?

[@SalCincotta1]

thank you my man! that is the harold from intuition backgrounds

[@willhawkinsphotography]

@@SalCincotta1 I appreciate you, man! You were monumental in starting my career. Those creative live classes changed my life.

[@Hadrorex]

Just having the slave trigger is worth the money. Thanks for the heads-up.

[@RoyalFrenchiesofLA]

Thank You So Much for the video & I am subscribing to your channel

[@arbull7264]

What about the Stella Pro led’s? Just curious

[@SalCincotta1]

Did a review on those I would check that out for sure.

[@MartinV.]

great video!

[@Gibsonmedia24]

When is the next photo challenge series

[@SalCincotta1]

Working on it as we speak.

[@shichaosun3298]

westcott fj400 is actually jinbei hd400 pro, a Chinese designed and made strobe.

[@SalCincotta1]

cool.

[@silverdoggg]

The Profoto is mostly to flex. I will say that I don't really like the interface on the westcott

[@LadyFairChildVideo]

no, they're actually good. i went to Profoto and never looked back . i'll take my now 5 year old profoto B1 over any chinese sourced cheap crap any time which is why they're able to cheap out on internal key components that make the price different. i know sal said in anothyer comment that its not a problem regarding misfires. there is some problem. a friend of mine has the FJ400 , and it has its drawbacks and misfires is one of them. is it an almost garbage light like neewer or its slightly better cousing , Godox? no, but it does misfire more than profoto. which to me , yet, no one has beat profoto in that department. i would probably say a 10% more misfire rate with FJ400 than Profoto , which when talking about a couple of thousand photos during a wedding , adds up to a good amount of possibly missed key shots. that you have to spend more hours on editing and trying to make look right. profoto just doesn't leave you in the dust like that in my experience.

[@paulkane7636]

The Jinbei HD400pro from Shanghai (yes...Jinbei.....the company that produces the Westcott FJ 400)...just saying !

[@ChiefDeadFrog]

O wow, I thought the fj400 was the spitting image of my Jinbei HD400 Pro and now I know why :-D. Too bad they don’t sell them in the US, since they are only about 400 USD… It’s good to live in Europe I guess ;-)

[@MrDan1509]

One week with Westcott was enough for me... What trash. The QC sucks azz.. I find it funny most all the Westcott fj400 videos are Westcott Ambassadors. They will say anything if a gear company will sponsor them.

[@SalCincotta1]

well i will have to respectfully disagree with you. i have over 100k of profoto gear in my studio. ive used almost every major brand in production environments. "trash"... sorry - cant get there with you. ive used the product, trveled the world with it, packed it in suit cases, and its performed. sounds like you had a different experience - but i cant agree with you at all.

[@MrDan1509]

@@SalCincotta1 "in my studio" Thats an easy spot to have issues. Can't have that during sporting events. No retakes. Portrait and Real Time Action Sports are two different things.

[@SalCincotta1]

@@MrDan1509 fair enough. To be clear I’m a location photographer shooting all over the world. Not “in studio” but I get your point. Also in all my uses I’ve never had missed shots etc. just my two cents vs what you’re implying

[@MrDan1509]

​@@SalCincotta1A studio is whatever you want it to be in my eyes. Not just indoors. If I had the opportunity to retake a shot these lights would be ok. But can't trust it when only shooting at 1/200 or 1/250 and it's struggling to keep up on 2-3 shot slow manual burst at night under arena lighting Missed shots don't make me money. nor can I pre-charge at an event if my gear can't keep up. I hate doing refunds!