Godox photo flashes and triggers - article header
14.12.2017

Perfect flashes Godox for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Lumix, Olympus, Fujifilm

By Andrew Lazarev

System flashes and trigger by Godox – perfect choise for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Lumix, Olympus and Fujifilm DSLR and mirrorless system cameras.

Hello! Everyone who likes to take photos faced with the situation that in the shade or in dark indoors we have to photograph with a flash. In this case, the flash built into the camera gives a flat picture with an over-exposed foreground and hard shadows behind the subject of shooting.

If you decide to purchase a flash, you have three options for buying:

  1. Brand speedlights
  2. No name  speedlights as with TTL mode and without it
  3. System speedhlights of the already proven Chinese manufacturers.

Brand speedlights are fully compatible with the respective cameras and if you have sufficient funds to purchase a brand speedlight, you can stop on this option.

If your amount of money for buying a speedlight is limited, you can stop on option number 2. And in this variant the most acceptable trademark will be Meike. These flashes at a reasonable price in some models provide some TTL functionality.

And the optimal on the ratio of functionality/price are system flashes of third-party manufacturers. At a lower price they also have full or almost full compatibility with your camera, but often offer even more functionality than brand speedlights.

Among the proven Chinese brands are interesting system flashes of the following brands:

In this article I will tell you a little about system flashes of the Godox trademark.

godox-logo

First – a couple of words about the company GODOX Photo Equipment Co. LTD.

GODOX Photo Equipment Co. LTD was founded in 1993. The main office of the company is located in Shenzhen, China. Name of company Godox – 神牛 may be translated as Lady Bird or Holy Cow (that can hint at the target sales market – India).

Godox offers a full line of studio equipment, including studio flash units and portable inverters, outdoor flashlights, permanent lighting, flash accessories, camera flashes, macro photography flashes, flash units with power supplies, synchronizers, triggers etc.

From all variety of products manufactured Godox, for a wide range of people involved in photography, three flashes: TT350, TT685, V860II and synchronizer X1T will be interesting.

These products support TTL operation mode and are produced by the manufacturer for the next systems:

    • Canon,
    • Nikon,
    • Sony,
    • Lumix/Olympus,
    • Fujifilm.

The flash units and synchronizers are marked: model + letter at the end, where C is Canon, N is Nikon, S is Sony, O is Panasonic (Lumix) and Olympus, F is Fujifilm.

It’s interesting that the older (professional) speedlights have multisystem functionality, i.e. can switch between the above systems to provide the TTL functionality.

It can also be noted that the TT350, TT685 and V860II support work with X1T synchronizer, as well as they can work in (only)  synchronizer mode.

Godox TT350

The flash Godox TT350 is attractive for its small size. It will suit the owners of small cameras such as mirrorless system cameras and premium compact cameras.

Godox-tt350Godox TT350 has a guide number of 30 meters and is powered by two AA-size batteries or rechargeable batteries.

  • Maximum guide number – 36 (ISO 100, 105 mm)
  • Radio sync  Master – yes
  • Radio sync Slave – yes
  • Optical sync Master TTL – yes
  • Optical sync Slave TTL – yes 
  • High-speed sync – yes: (up to 1/8000 sec)
ManufacturerGodox
Guid number36 (ISO 100, 105 mm)
TTL functionalityYes
HSS/FP up to 1/8000 secYes
Light pulse power adjustment1/128 – 1/1
Flash Exposure Bracketing± 3 stops, in steps of 1/3 stop
Synchronization on the 2nd curtainYes
AF-assist illuminationYes
Automatic zoom of reflectorYes
Zoom range of the reflector24 – 105 mm
Recharge time0.1 – 2.2 sec
Turn of the head0-270°
Built-in radioYes
Compatibility with radio transmittersGodox X1T
Radio “Master”Yes
Radio “Slave”Yes
Optical light trapsS1, S2
Power supply2xAA batteries or rechargeable batteries

Godox V350

godox-v350This flash differs from the TT350 in that it is powered not from AA batteries, but from a proprietary Li-ion battery. Using this type of battery allows you to increase the number of flash firing and reduces flash recharge time.

And if you are ready to put almost two times more expensive, compared to Godox TT350, for this flash, then it will be very convenient for sequential shooting in small rooms or at short distances to the subject.

Basics

ManufacturerGodox

Guide No.

(1/1 output @ 105mm)

36 m (ISO 100)
Flash coverage

24 to 105mm

*  Auto zoom (Flash coverage set automatically to match the lens focal length and image size)

*  Manual zoom

*  Swinging/tilting flash head (bounce flash): 0 to 270° horizontally and -7° to +90° vertically

Flash duration1/350 to 1/20000 seconds

Exposure Control

Exposure control system Flash exposure

TTL autoflash and manual flash

Manual. FEB: +3 stops in 1/3 stop increments

compensation (FEC)(Manual FEC.)
Sync modeHigh-speed sync (up to 1/8000 seconds), first-curtain sync, and rear-curtain sync
Multi flashProvided (up to 90 times, 99 Hz)
Wireless flash functionMaster, Slave, Off
Controllable slave groups3 (A, В and C)
Transmission range (approx.)≤ 50 m
Channels16 (1-16)

Auto Focus Assist Beam

Effective range (approx.)Center: 0.6~4 m / Periphery: 0.6~2.5 m

Power Supply

Lithium batteries7.2 V / 2000 mA·h
Recycle time0.1 s~l .7 s (Red LED indicator will light up when the flash is ready).
Full power flashesOver 500
Power savingPower off automatically after approx. 90 seconds of idle operation. (60 minutes if set as slave)
* Sync triggering modeHotshoe, Optic triggering

Dimensions

WxHxD150*62*38 mm
Weight without battery210 g
Weight with battery290 g

Godox TT685

godox-tt685The Godox TT685 has an optimal ratio of functionality / price. This is the most “classical” of the three speedlights from this review.

It provides a guid number of 60 meters and is powered by four AA batteries or rechargeable batteries. At the same time, it has a quite democratic price tag – just over 100 USD.

  • Maximum guide number – 60 (ISO 100, 200 mm)
  • Radio sync  Master – yes
  • Radio sync Slave – yes
  • Optical sync Master TTL – yes
  • Optical sync Slave TTL – yes 
  • High-speed sync – yes: (up to 1/8000 sec)
ManufacturerGodox
Guid number60 (ISO 100, 200 mm)
TTL functionalityYes
HSS/FP up to 1/8000 secYes
Light pulse power adjustment1/128 – 1/1
Flash Exposure Bracketing± 3 stops, in steps of 1/3 stop
Synchronization on the 2nd curtainYes
AF-assist illuminationYes
Automatic zoom of reflectorYes
Zoom range of the reflector20 – 200 mm
Recharge time0.05-2.8 sec
Turn of the head±180°
Built-in radioYes
Compatibility with radio transmittersGodox X1T
Radio “Master”Yes
Radio “Slave”Yes
Optical light trapsS1, S2
Power supply4xAA batteries or rechargeable batteries

Godox V860II

Godox-V860IIThe Godox V860II is the most advanced and modern of these three flashes. It provides all the same 60 meters guid number.

But! It does not power on AA-type elements, but on a proprietary Li-ion battery with a voltage of 11.2 V, and this battery provides the flash with a recharge time of less than 1.5 seconds at full light pulse power!

And such functionality brand flashes from famous manufacturers in most cases can not offer.

  • Maximum guide number – 60 (ISO 100, 200 mm)
  • Power supply – 11.1V, 2000mAh Li-ion Battery (charger included)
  • HSS up to 1/8000 sec
  • Radio Master & Slave for Godox 2.4GHz X Radio System
ManufacturerGodox
Guid number60 (ISO 100, 200 mm)
TTL functionalityYes
HSS/FP up to 1/8000 secYes
Light pulse power adjustment1/128 – 1/1
Flash Exposure Bracketing± 3 stops, in steps of 1/3 stop
Synchronization on the 2nd curtainYes
AF-assist illuminationYes
Automatic zoom of reflectorYes
Zoom range of the reflector20 – 200 mm
Recharge time0.1 – 1.5 sec
Turn of the head±180°
Built-in radioYes
Compatibility with radio transmittersGodox X1T
Radio “Master”Yes
Radio “Slave”Yes
Optical light trapsS1, S2
Power supply11.1V, 2000 mA·h Li-ion Battery

Godox X1T

Godox-X1TGodox X1T TTL transmitter:

  • 2.4G Wireless Synchronization Support

Support for the 2.4G synchronization system provides control of Godox flashes with the 2.4 wireless X synchronization system. In combination with the XTR-16 receiver it can control flashes that do not have a built-in 2.4 wireless X.

  • Full TTL support

Supports TTL 1/8000 sec high-speed synchronization, flash exposure compensation, flash exposure lock, simulation pulses, second curtain sync, etc.

  • The wireless remote control and control groups

Equipped with a system for grouping GR flashes and wireless control up to 5 groups of 32 channels, and ignition flashes.

  • Large and clear LCD panel

The transmitter is equipped with an LCD panel on the back side, which makes it convenient to work with the settings.

  • More functions

There is the possibility of working with additional functions, such as: synchronization delay, wireless shutter release, zoom control. It has connector for PC synchronization for incoming and outgoing data. It is possible to update the software via USB.

There is also a function of storing settings and restoring after a restart.

In addition, I suggest a diagram of the use of the Godox X1T synchronizer with various lighting equipment of the Godox company:

Синхронизатор Godox X1t - схема синхронизации устройств
ManufacturerGodox
Compatible camerasCanon, Nikon, Sony, Lumix, Olympus, Fuji
TTL functionalityYes
HSS/FP up to 1/8000 secYes
LCD displayYes
AF-assist illuminationYes
Synchronization on the 2nd curtainYes
Flash Zoom ControlYes
Flash Exposure Bracketing± 3 stops, in steps of 1/3 stop
Power supply2xAA batteries or rechargeable batteries
Tripping distance100 m

Underneath there is a video review of the unpacking of the Godox 685S flash, which I purchased on 11/11/2016 on the sale at Aliexpress for 100 USD. The speedlight by the time of this writing has justified every dollar invested in it. It has never failed in reportage commercial photography so far.

This article should be especially interesting for owners of Lumix, Olympus and Fujifilm cameras, as for these systems the flash and synchronizers Godox is hardly the only offer at the time of this writing.

   You can buy flash data on trading platforms such as Aliexpress and eBay.

© 2017 Andrew Lazarev Production. Videography, photography, video editing in Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region, Ukraine.