Retro Future - Godox Lux Master Review

[@ilkoallexandroff]

Probably the first strobe that can be used while plugged in a USBC battery back! I’ve been using it for couple of months already too and it has its strong points! Cheers!

[@WesPerry]

I wouldn’t recommend using this Hard while plugged into usb power, as it would slowly build up a Lot of heat inside the battery, but it’s definitely a possibility.

[@andyvan5692]

one feature you didn't mention overly well was that of including a pc sync cable, a boon for us film photographers, esp. since this and the bracket means us hasselblad users can use it straight out of the box, no separate transmitters/pocket wizards to get, so keeps costs down, same as the bracket, allowing camera attachment, so no light stands required. also thanks for the shutter speed sync demo, it shows us film users that 1/2000 and 1/500 are usable (max shutter speeds for 200 and 500 hasselblad users due to the leaf and curtain shutters).

[@jacopoabbruscato9271]

A PC sync? I'll buy one for my Rolleiflex, that's amazing

[@WesPerry]

I did Mention it. I just don’t have any leaf shutter cameras to have any Real fun with it lol (My a9 has a pc sync port, but the mechanical shutter is awful. No fun at all. Almost any other modern camera can have PC sync adapters mounted to their hotshoes). I still haven’t whipped this out and plugged it into one of my film cameras yet. Soon…

[@andyvan5692]

@@jacopoabbruscato9271 yes, certainly and in 2024 no less, good that Godox is thinking of us film shooters these days, esp. how cheap some film cameras are, nice not to have to get expensive flashes for them. PS a PC-Sync is NOTHING to do with a computer, it is the power / signal cable for flashguns to fire, its simply the name of it, NOT an acronym for Personal Computer {PC} which is a ubiquitous term nowadays as EVERYTHING must be a digital reference today.

[@WesPerry]

@andyvan5692 short for Prontor-Compur, two German companies that once made camera shutters 🤓

[@duncanknifton6613]

I wish they made that fan reflector for the AD200... would be ideal for my photobooth

[@prasadpawar3391]

Nice suggestion 👌🏻👍🏻

[@dandline3535]

I own Godox flashes and I have zero issues . I recently love this new flash and watch Francisco Joel Hernandez videos on KZbin . He did amazing job doing photoshoot with this flash and explained very well

[@OliverReinhard]

Thanks for this very helpful review, Wes!

[@NorCal-yeti]

I own quite a bit of Godox products and I have never had a problem with their products. I really like the new trigger it synced up with the master lux really easy on my Sony a7rv

[@ost1517]

I've watched tons of reviews and I still don't know if there is a distance chart or indication in manual mode

[@monodistortion]

Cool review! One thing I worry about with all these new electronics with built in rechargeable batteries is-- what do you do a few years down the line when the internal battery dies? Can you replace the battery or will Godox have a battery replacement service? I'd hate to have to throw out a working flash just because the battery died.

[@WesPerry]

I suspect the battery inside is a pretty standard 18650 Lithium Ion cell. In which case it would be a bit of trouble getting the thing open, then it should be Somewhat replaceable. It's obviously not Designed for that to take place, though. That being said, I always like to remind people that the life cycle of a medium quality li-ion cell is 300 charges at full capacity, and 1000 charges to get to 50% capacity. I strongly suspect there would be a Very small subset of people who would get this far into the life cycle of this battery for that to matter. I think I'm about 30 charge cycles into my two Lux Masters, which means that at this rate I have about 5 years of full capacity, and 16 years to hit 50%. How many flashes have I had in my life for more than five years, let alone 15+? It's not a terribly common scenario. And let's face it, this is more of a statement flash than a work horse, so again the target market would be more likely to damage the cells through a Lack of use than overuse (which is a possibility, but hopefully an unlikely one, as 18650 cells tend to be much more shelf stable than more compact cells are).

[@thomasjpg12]

So for me to use the flash I have to have a transmitter? I use an X-pro 3 and x100VI.

[@ared18t]

8:10 Wow a broken screen on one and settings that were different from factory on the other? I think you got two used devices haha

[@WesPerry]

Seems pretty unlikely when I received one before it even came out, and the other on release day haha

[@wilsentwins]

Does it has zoom range?

[@WesPerry]

Just the two ways of wrapping the reflector as shown in the video.

[@jamesmgreen15]

Nice and thorough - Thanks. You said the light was fantastic out of it. I guess that's if people don't mind that still head-on look mostly ?? I appreciate you additionally demonstrated it angled up.

[@WesPerry]

Yeah I’m definitely not a fan of the head on look myself, but it is super trendy right now, and it’s definitely no sepia tone haha I was more pleased with how my straight on shots came out than expected. But I guess you need someone with the right look and style to match the vibe.

[@fabianherrerasolorzano]

Funcionará para eventos??????

[@harambesminion9266]

I actually just ordered this with the softbox and dome with the intent on using this little flash for courthouse JP weddings. I usually hold a speedlite in my hand with a Gary Fong dome but with the size and weight of this flash with a dome on top is TOTALLY right up my alley! Will make holding a flash up with a dome on it so much easier than my Godox speedlite and I don’t have to worry about tilt or any of that as I’m holding the light in my hand anyway. Wish you could have covered the additional diffusers but I do get that you focused more on what it came with rather than the additional goodies you can buy separately. Thanks for the review tho! Needed to hear more about the build quality so I know what to expect when it arrives. Now I’m nervous of it coming in with a broken screen 🤣

[@WesPerry]

Unfortunately the additional diffusers didn't exist when I was making this video (before the flash came to market)

[@escapedgoat]

I just bought this flash. Mainly because it was the only option for a >GN80', rechargeable, single contact universal flash I could find. Everything I see is either Canon, Nikon or Sony. As someone who switches between Fuji and Pentax, I have a hard time finding something that can do what I need it to and at a decent price. With a little hot shoe adapter for the pc sync this thing will work with anything. Even my old Pentax and Olympus film cameras. In the past I've used a handle and sometimes a short extension for flashes to be able to hand hold my own side light while shooting at festivals and fairs. This one does a way with all that extra stuff with the built-in handle. I'm thinking this is my new go to for walk around.

[@WesPerry]

Most of Godox’s flashes have a pc sync port!

[@madscienti11]

It's really annoying that the sensor for auto flash is not included in the box! To me, that's one of the biggest features of the Godox Lux series, the fact that they all have sensor-based auto mode. Flashes from the later film era all had little sensors on the front to give you auto exposure without knowing anything about the camera--just set the ISO of the film on the flash, and set the camera to the aperture the flash power requires, and the sensor does the rest. It's super versatile and works on pretty much any film camera that can sync with a flash. The fact that it *is* a remote sensor is pretty cool, because it means you can use different modifiers or bounce flash and still get the correct exposure, but the fact that they don't include it with the flash really sucks.

[@WesPerry]

Yeah that is a very odd omission for such an expensive flash

[@Photonees]

Uh? You say no TTL? I just saw on Godox site demo video it has TTL?

[@WesPerry]

Requires a wireless trigger with TTL built in, just can’t do it on its own.

[@WesPerry]

(disadvantage vs using an actual hot shoe mounted flash)

[@michaelgardner6687]

As much as I love this flash (it would look so good on my pen-f), I'll pass on buying one, simply because of the in-built battery. What happens when the battery dies, do you have to buy a new flash, or send it away to get the battery replaced? Another possible issue that I have is, I would rather mount the flash on the righthand side of the camera simply to have the flash higher when shooting portraits.

[@WesPerry]

At least on my Sony bodies, the included plate easily slides to reach the right side as well. As far as the battery goes, one of these days I’ll tear one open and see how easy that is. I suspect the biggest audience for these wouldn’t use it enough to wear out a modern battery in its lifetime anyway (300-600 cycles). I tried a bit before, but it does Not look easy. But perhaps there’s a trick I haven’t found yet…

[@kaizerkabir5152]

Great review!! I guess maybe this stuff not capable to serve all Purposes of photography need but it's a great collectable.

[@michaelgardner6687]

Great review, now I'm disappointed that my pen-f doesn't have a sync socket.

[@WesPerry]

@@michaelgardner6687 should be illegal for any camera with a retro vibe to not have one 😂

[@ArminHirmer]

yeah nice and would look good on my Nikon ZF, yet... I don't know :D

[@NeilMcAliece]

Thanks Wes. I kind of want one for my silver X-T5, but I use it and an X-H2 with a godox v860iii at events and use bounce flash a lot. It looks cool, with a retro style camera, but I probably wouldn't actually use it much.

[@RobNotANumber]

This was almost interesting but without wireless transmitter capability of other Godox flash units, it's a pass. Shame as it looks kinda cool.

[@WesPerry]

Would be a little difficult to implement that function with a screen this small. As it is, it certainly goes beyond the level of advanced functionality I was expecting from a “retro” product.

[@351linzdoctor]

I still have my Sunpak 120J!😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@WesPerry]

A classic!

[@fotonutzz]

Quality Control is definitely not one of Godox's strong points. My LCD screen on the Lux Master is not perfectly level. It is actually tilted at about 3 degrees from horizontal. 😩😩😩 Definitely not ideal for OCD people😖😖😖

[@HectorRiveraPhotography]

what the hell is that ? dear in the headlight light no thanks

[@jaym5938]

Wes has some good testing videos; but, this type of gimmick video is basically anti-photography at this point.

[@ared18t]

This is perfect for the way I take pictures at parties. I never have a flash on my camera. I can See Myself using this with something like a Rogue Flashbender V3 and a Belt loop that this would Slide into when I don't wanna carry it. Then Just quickly attacking the plate to it for those Low shutter Speed Drage shots. No removable battery for a flash is unacceptable though LOL hard pass.