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Westcott FJ400 is a sleek 400ws portable flash head with cross-platform radio trigger

30 Sep

Lighting and accessory manufacturer Westcott has announced a studio-style battery operated portable flash head that it claims has a recycle time of less than a second at full power, and which can be triggered by a wireless controller that’s compatible with the TTL flash system of ‘virtually any camera brand’. The Westcott FJ400 is a mono-block style head that takes Bowens S mount modifiers and which is powered by a 4400mAh lithium polymer battery that is said to deliver more than 480 full power bursts per charge. The heads also come with an AC power lead.

A dial on the side of the unit allows the power to be adjusted over a 9-stop range in full or 1/10th stop increments, and flash duration varies between 1/1280sec and 1/19,000sec depending on output levels and the mode set. The head can pulse to match a 20fps camera drive and allows high speed sync with shutter speeds as short as 1/8000sec. The wireless system in driven by a particularly powerful 2.4GHz radio communication network that the company says has a range of 300m/985ft, and heads can be organised in 10 groups over 16 channels.

A large display panel on the side of the flash allows users to see at the glance the unit’s settings and a 20W LED modelling lamp helps to preview the look of the light before the shutter is pressed. Westcott has mounted the flash tube well away from the body of the housing to push light out at a wide angle and a diffuser dome is supplied in kits as an accessory to soften the light before it enters the modifier.

Westcott has also introduced wireless controller for the head that it says is compatible with a wide range of flash systems from different camera manufacturers. Each Westcott FJ-X2m Universal Wireless Flash Trigger is said to work with Canon, Nikon, Sony (with adapter), Fuji, Panasonic Lumix, and Olympus cameras, as well as the Canon RT flash system. It is powered by its own lithium ion battery that is good for over 200,000 triggers per charge, and sits in the camera’s hotshoe. The controller is also supplied with a Bluetooth connection that allows it to be adjusted remotely using a smartphone app.

The Westcott FJ400 basic kit costs $ 569.90 and the FJ-X2m controller costs $ 99.90, and both are due to ship in late October. For more information see the Westcott website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Kenko’s new flash automatically moves its own head for optional bounce lighting

25 Sep

Accessories manufacturer Kenko has introduced a flash unit that automatically rotates and tilts its own head to bounce its output from ceilings and walls to provide the ideal soft lighting. The Kenko AB600-R follows the lead of Canon’s Speedlite 470EX-AI by using motors to move its own head into the ideal position to suit the room and the subject, as well as the orientation of the camera.

The new flash unit measures the distance between itself and the subject, as well as between itself and the bounce surface, and automatically calculates the best angle from which to direct its light. The user can also position the head manually and have the flash unit rotate itself when the camera is turned to be used in a different orientation or at an angle.

Where the Kenko flash differs from the Canon model is that it has a guide number of 60m/197ft at ISO 100 (using the 200mm setting) and it offers radio control for wireless operation as well as optical. In wireless mode the unit can act as a master or slave, and can be controlled additionally via the WTR-1 wireless transceiver.

The zoom head can track focal lengths of between 24mm and 200mm, and with the built-in diffuser lowered it will cover the angle of view of an 18mm lens. First and second curtain triggering options can be set, and strobe and high speed sync modes are also available.

The head is powered by 4 AA batteries, but can also be powered by the BP-1 external battery pack and comes with a two-year guarantee. At the moment it comes with i-TTL compatibility for Nikon users (though B&H is advertising a Canon version – but showing the Nikon one), and costs $ 400 / £400. It is expected in stores in November. For more information see the Kenko website.

Manufacturer information

New: AI Flash AB600-R

An electronic flash with Auto Bounce and Angle Lock functions.

The Kenko AB600-R is a high-power, ‘Advanced Intelligence’ flashgun which enables photographers to raise their game to another level, helping them automate the lighting process and get the best results every time.

Amongst its many features, the Kenko AI flash AB600-R incorporates an ‘AI’ Auto-Bounce function that takes care of the most difficult part in the shooting process: Bounce flash. By automatically calculating and moving to the optimum bounce angle, it enables the photographer to concentrate on the artistic part of the process, achieving better results in a more efficient way.

3D Auto Bounce function – The auto-bounce function of the Kenko AI flash AB600-R automatically calculates the most appropriate angle of light-bounce from the wall (left or right side) or from the ceiling. With the help of the auto bounce function, the photographer can accomplish a perfect shot with just a single shutter release; no more wasting time thinking and testing the optimal light path during the photo session. This function is invaluable for wedding photographers or anyone shooting portraits to a tight schedule, when the photographer has no time for failure. Auto Lock function – Allows the photographer to adjust the desired bounce angle, based on the automatically calculated one, in manual mode and lets the system remember this angle when the camera is turned from horizontal to vertical format. This allows the photographer to really focus on the artistic part of the shooting process, like composition and interaction with the model, making the process of getting the ideal shot so much quicker and easier.

Guide number: 60 – With a maximum guide number 60 (ISO 100 at 200mm), the Kenko AI flash AB600-R has all the power it needs to deal with wide range of scenes and situations.

Master to slave flash angle remote control – The built-in radio transmitting and receiving unit allows a master flash to control the bounce angle of the slave flash remotely.

Optical and radio (2.4GHz) wireless control – For off-camera and multiple flash shooting. Sync terminal is also supported.

Auto and manual zoom adjustment – Light coverage angle equal to the 18-200mm range (18mm achieved when used with the wide diffuser panel). External power supply – The optional BP-1 battery pack supports longer shooting sessions and delivers faster recycling times. Firmware updates – The Kenko AI Flash AB600-R firmware can be updated via micro USB port.

Zoom Range: 20-200mm (18mm using wide diffuser panel)
Flash Modes: i-TTL-BL / i-TTL / Manual / Strobe (1-200Hz), 1st/2nd curtain sync, high-speed sync
Power: 4x AA type batteries (alkaline / Nickel Metal Hydride), or external BP-1 battery pack
Recycling Time: Approx. 0.1-3.5 sec (using NiMH batteries)
AF beam assist: 29 point AF
Exposure adjustment: -3.0 to +3.0 stops (TTL mode), Full power to 1/128 power (Manual mode)
Wireless Communication Systems: Optical and Radio (2.4GHz)
Bounce Mode: AI Auto bounce / Manual bounce (both with angle lock function)
External Connections: Micro USB (for firmware updates) / Sync terminal / External power supply
Dimensions (HxWxD): 196 x 80 x 62mm

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Ways to Modify Your Flash for More Controlled Lighting

13 Aug

The post Ways to Modify Your Flash for More Controlled Lighting appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.

Flash can be a confusing addition for many new photographers. But there’s really only one way to gain experience. Learning to use your flash well takes practice.

Using your flash without modifying its output often produces unsatisfactory results. These can be very discouraging. With little modification, you can achieve more acceptable results pretty easily. Controlling the output of your flash based on the style of light you want for your photos is not hard to do.

Ways to Modify Your Flash for More Controlled Lighting Northern Thai Sausage

Your unmodified flash is a small light source

The smaller your light source is in relation to your subject, the harder the light will be. An unmodified flash produces strong light and high contrast for most subjects. This creates a hard-edged shadow which is often undesirable. The only difference is with macro photography because the light source will be larger than the subject.

Modifying the output of your flash by using a diffuser softens the light which falls on your subject.

Using a diffuser does a couple of things. It subdues the output, so less light hits your subject. It also spreads the light, effectively making the active light source larger. The light falling on your subject will be softer. So will the shadows they create.

Ways to Modify Your Flash for More Controlled Lighting Young Woman in the Park

The benefits of using modified flash

Diffusing the light from your flash will produce more flattering results when taking portraits. Soft light falling on the skin reduces the appearance of texture and gives it a more even tone. There are a number of techniques and accessories you can employ to diffuse the light from your flash. I will discuss some of these in the next section.

Hard light from an unmodified flash is more likely to show up skin blemishes. It also produces unsightly hot spots.

These bright patches occur with all but the most light absorbent surfaces when using an undiffused light. The more reflective the surface, the more light from a small light source will reflect.

Using some method of scattering the light from your flash will help end these problems.

Another option to modify your flash is to do the opposite of spreading the light. Narrowing the dispersion of the light produces a completely different look. You can better control what area of your composition the light from your flash will affect. This is usually achieved by the use of a snoot or honeycomb grid.

Ways to Modify Your Flash for More Controlled Lighting Rabbit Time Costume

How to control your flash using modifiers

The most simple way to alter the light from your flash is to turn your flash head so it’s not pointing where your lens is focused. Indoors you can point it up to the ceiling. The light will reflect off the ceiling and scatter. You can alternatively point your flash towards a wall beside or behind you.

Ceilings are often white or light neutral colors, so your photo is not likely to be affected by an odd toning. Bouncing your flash off a colored wall or other surfaces can cause that color to affect the light.

Depending on how close your flash is to the surface you’re bouncing it off will determine how much it is diffused. The closer you are to the surface, the less diffusion there will be.

When you turn your flash head to bounce it off another surface, the light and shadows it creates will be softer. Shadows may still be evident. You need to be careful of shadows under people’s chins and around their eyes when you bounce your flash off a ceiling.

Using a piece of whiteboard, plastic or a fold-out reflector to bounce your flash off will give you more control. You can move your reflector further away or closer and determine the best position for it.

Ways to Modify Your Flash for More Controlled Lighting Young Woman in Red

Clip-on hard diffuser

Most flash units come with a clip-on hard plastic diffuser. This is a small attachment that fits over the front of the flash head. It scatters and softens the light when the flash is fired.

Because this attachment is small, about the same size as your flash lens, it will not do a lot to soften the light. It is often better than nothing if you have not other option and it is small and convenient.

ways-to-modify-your-flash-for-more-controlled-lighting-Clip-on-Diffuser

Flash with a clip-on diffuser © Kevin Landwer-Johan

Bounce cards and other compact modifiers

A white piece of cardboard about 20cm (8 in) square with a tab on one edge and a couple of good strong elastic bands. This was a standard kit for photographers when I worked in newspapers. It was back before the proliferation of flash modifiers were available to buy.

Adding a bounce card to a flash pointed at a ceiling or wall spreads and softens the light even more. This will help further reduce the strength of the shadows.

Nowadays there are so many types of bounce cards and other diffusers available. They’re all designed to modify your flash in slightly different ways. Kits of modifiers can include:

Softboxes,
Barn doors,
Snoots,
Honeycomb grids and all manner of variations.

ways-to-modify-your-flash-for-more-controlled-lighting-Bounce-Card

Flash with a bounce card © Kevin Landwer-Johan

Snoots and grids

Most accessories which modify flash output are designed to soften the light. Snoots and honeycomb grids are two pieces of kit which can help you control the direction of the light.

Each works to narrow the spread of light from your flash. This allows you to control which part of your composition is most affected.

Ways to Modify Your Flash for More Controlled Lighting Snoot Lighting

Gobos and colored gels

Two more accessories which modify flash output are gobos and gels.

A gobo is a stencil or template placed in front of your flash head to create a shadow of a shape or pattern.

Any color gel can be used to affect the color of light which emits from your flash. This can be used for creative effect or to balance your flash with the ambient light.

Electric light sources often emit a colored light that is not as white as the light from your flash. Tungsten light is a warm tone. Fluorescent is often quite cool. Using the correct color gel can produce the right color to balance with an existing light source.

Small flash softbox

ways-to-modify-your-flash-for-more-controlled-lighting

Small Softbox © Kevin Landwer-Johan

My favorite flash modifier is a small softbox. It’s not the smallest or most convenient, but it produces a soft, pleasant light.

Mine’s about 60cm (2 ft) square and has a bracket to mount the flash at the back. The biggest drawback in using it is that you need to place it on a stand or have someone hold it for you.

I find I like the results best when using it as a fill light.

Ways to Modify Your Flash for More Controlled Lighting Temple Tourist Sunset

Controlling the amount of light

Whichever method you use to you modify the light from your flash there will always be a reduced output. You must compensate for this.

Using the TTL setting your camera and flash should calculate the correct amount of light. This should also be true with the auto settings.

In some circumstances, you may notice not enough light from your flash is illuminating your subject. At these times, you must adjust your compensation. This can be done by opening your aperture more or increasing your ISO.

Ways to Modify Your Flash for More Controlled Lighting Rag Doll Girl

Conclusion

Unmodified flash is not often the best light source. Modification allows you to control its output to suit the style of photograph you are making.

Experimentation and practice are required to master the type of lighting you want.

A practical exercise to help you understand and see what you can achieve is worth spending some time with. Set up a still life composition or find a willing model to work with. In the same setting, take a series of photos using various modifiers so you can compare the way the light looks with each one.

The post Ways to Modify Your Flash for More Controlled Lighting appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.

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Godox SL60W Review – A Light for Those that Don’t Like Flash

07 Jul

The post Godox SL60W Review – A Light for Those that Don’t Like Flash appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sean McCormack.

The SL60W is a monobloc-style LED continuous light from Godox. Godox is probably more well known for its excellent flash systems, which incorporates everything from small Speedlites to 600W battery flashes. We’ll see if they can also match this excellence in continuous light with the Godox SL60W.

About the light

While taking the look of a monobloc, the Godox SL60W is actually smaller than a typical studio flash head. It still weighs in at a hefty 1.6kg. First impressions of this light in the box were that it was a little smaller than I expected and that although it looked plastic, it looked well made.

Removing the light hood revealed the LED itself and the aluminum heatsink. It gave the light an immediate hi-tech look – instantly increasing the perceived build of the lamp. The heatsink, combined with the internal fan, keeps the LED chip cool.

As the LED lamp is a combined controller chip and LED, it means the light has a high CRI, translating to accurate and consistent color in use. Rated at 5600k ±300, this is daylight balanced, which matches your midday light and any flashes you may have.

In the box are a long IEC cable, a Bowens mount reflector and remote control. The remote needs AAA batteries (not included). The remote can be set to 16 channels with 4 groups, the same as the light. This allows for a large number of lights to be controlled remotely. While the remote does appear to allow temperature changes, this light is white light only. You can dim the light from 100-10%. A single pushes give 1% changes while holding down the + or – buttons speeds this up. You can also turn the LED off from the remote, while the light remains powered up.

As well as the remote, you can dim the light from the dial on the back, and power on and off.

The included reflector has a pop-out hole that allows an umbrella shaft to run through, for better on-axis light modification.

Specifications

The Godox SL60W has the following specifications:

AC Power Supply: AC 100~240V 50/60Hz
Channels: 16
Groups: 6 Groups (A-F)
Power: 60W
Color Temperature: 5600k ± 200K
100% Illuminance (LUX): 4100 (1M)
100% Luminous Flux: 4500
Color Rendering Index: >93
TLCI (Qa): >95
R9: >80
Light Brightness Range: 10%-100%
Operation Temperature: 10-50ºC
Safe Temperature: <70ºC
Dimension: 23X24X14cm (without lamp cover)
Net Weight: 1.61kg approx

The key things to note are that the light can be used worldwide and has high color accuracy.

Why continuous light?

Despite having years of experience with flash, I get that it takes time to learn. You’re effectively guessing what the light will look like, every time. With continuous light, there is no guessing. You turn it on and modify it as you see fit. Every change you make is there before your eyes. You can immediately see if it’s bright enough, and whether or not moving the light will improve the shot.

The first and foremost thought about using the SL60W is that what you see is quite literally what you get. No guessing or external metering required. Your in-camera meter will give an accurate reading and those on mirrorless with preview simulation on will see the shot in-camera before shooting (same for Live View users with Exposure Simulation on).

You’re reading this article at a photography site, but it’s worth mentioning that this light is perfect for basic lighting applications for video such as YouTube channels. Yes, it has a fan, but the light position behind camera mixed with directional mics should minimize this during recording.

Changing the look

You may be considering this light for food or product photography, so here’s how you can change the look of the light to get a variety of photo options. There are a few ways of getting modifiers onto the light. The most basic is the umbrella slot in the stand mount, coupled with the standard reflector. You can use either bounce or shoot-through umbrellas for this.

Further options open up with the Bowens mount. Any modifier than can fit a studio light with a Bowens S-type mount will work. As most studio lights have modeling bulbs that heat up inside the modifier, it should work no bother with the SL60W.

Hard light

With just the included reflector you get a crisp hard light. Placing the edge of the light roughly 2-feet from the side of the plate gives you an in-camera reading of 1/400sec ISO200 at f/2.4. (My Fuji has a default ISO of 200).

By bringing in a white foamcore card from the opposite side, it fills in the shadows. While the hard shadows from the reflector are still visible, the bounced light softened the overall look.

Soft light

By placing a shoothru umbrella on the light, you’ll get a softer light, but at the expense of lower power. This is because you tend to lose about two-stops of light when using any kind of diffuser modifier.

I’m using a Westcott double fold with the black back removed. The umbrella edge is also about 6-inches closer to the plate than the reflector, giving you a reading of 1/160 ISO200 at f/2.4. Not quite a full two-stop drop, but close. Notice how much softer the shadows are, even without a bounce card.

Adding your card again makes a difference. You could increase the shutter speed to compensate, but this sample hasn’t changed to show the increased light in the scene

Lighting product

With photographing products, it’s similar. Here’s the hard light scene on some colorful products. The high CRI means that you know you have good color accuracy here.

First, the reflector.

Using the white reflector card:

And the umbrella:

Finally, here’s how the umbrella looks with the foamcore card.

If you’re shooting for e-commerce, or even like this situation where you need to create product shots for reviews or tutorials, the SL60W makes it remarkably easy.

Here are a few random shots in this vein.

I’ve started making camera wrist straps and bracelets, so this light makes it easy to capture shots of my work.

Portraits

Again, the “what you see is what you get” factor is great. Using Fuji’s iOS app, I could pose myself easily for this self-portrait. Here I’ve used a Neewer 26″ Octagonal Softbox. This is now my go-to YouTube video setup.

Conclusions

The Godox SL60W is a keenly-priced continuous light with accurate color, good remote control, and more than adequate output for most of your indoor lighting applications. As well as photo applications, you’ll find it’s also usable for video – something more and more photographers are involved in.

If you need more light, the Godox SL200W is a higher-powered option.

I can’t speak to the long term reliability of the product yet, but I do own quite a few Godox products – some for quite a few years – and they still function perfectly.

The post Godox SL60W Review – A Light for Those that Don’t Like Flash appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sean McCormack.

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Profoto’s B10 Plus flash with twice the power—and half the battery life—of its predecessor

06 Jun

Lighting manufacturer Profoto has launched a new version of its B10 miniature flash head that offers twice the output of the original model. The Profoto B10 Plus weighs only a pound more than the original and is just over two inches longer, but it provides a maximum output of 500Ws compared to the 250Ws of the B10.

The new head runs off the same lithium ion battery and accepts the same accessories as the B10, and has the same 2500 lumen modeling light with adjustable color to suit videographers working in a range of lighting conditions. In fact, all the features are the same including wireless radio control, TTL exposure and high speed sync with shutter speeds as short as 1/8000sec. The only other difference, of course, is the number of full power bursts achievable per charge – which drops from 400 in the B10 to 200 in the B10 Plus.

The Profoto B10 Plus weighs 1.9kg (4.2lbs), measures 10 x 23.5cm (3.9 x 9.3in) and costs $ 2095 / £1795. For more information see the Profoto website.

Specification
Flash power	500Ws
Flash recycling	0.05-2.5 sec
Continuous light	2500 lumens
Battery capacity	200 full power flashes
	75 minutes continuous light
Total weight	1.9 kg / 4.2 lbs
Diameter	10cm / 3.9″
Length	23.5cm / 9.3

Press release:

Profoto B10 Plus – More power of small

With the B10 Plus, shooting on location isn’t about problems, it’s about opportunities.

Because shooting on location forces you to make choices.

For the most part, those choices inevitably come down to how much gear to bring and how much gear to leave behind.

Because if you’re shooting a wedding, for example, you can’t afford for your gear to slow you down. And if the location is remote there’s only so much you can realistically carry. Ultimately, there’s always a compromise.

Here at Profoto, we’re not big on compromise. That’s what drove us to create the Profoto B10 and now, it’s ever so slightly bigger brother, the Profoto B10 Plus.

“Like the Profoto B10, the B10 Plus is a seriously small flash.” Commented Göran Marén, Product Manager at Profoto.

“It’s around the size of a large lens. That means you can fit it in your bag with the rest of your gear and because it’s cordless and lightweight, it’s easy to bring and set up anywhere.”

Despite its small and lightweight appearance, the Profoto B10 Plus packs a considerable punch. Twice as powerful as the B10 the B10 Plus gives you ten times more light than a speedlight. And the quality of that light is exactly what you’d expect from a Profoto flash; completely natural with a beautifully soft fall off.

The B10 Plus is also a powerful light that you can use for both stills and video. And lt’s easy to use. A separate dial on the sleek B10 interface allows you to adjust both brightness and color temperature until it blends perfectly with the ambient light.

“The B10 Plus uses the same stand adapter and battery as the B10” Göran adds, “the stand adapter can be quickly removed allowing you to mount the B10 Plus on any camera tripod. The battery too is just as swiftly replaced, and you can charge it while you’re using it.”

The ‘no compromise’ approach continues with the huge range of compatible Profoto light-shaping tools. Profoto´s compact and lightweight OCF series is the perfect choice for light shaping on location. If they´re not enough, there are 120 more to choose from in the full Profoto range.

Controlling the B10 Plus off-camera is, again, easy. You can trigger and control the B10 Plus from any Profoto Air Remote, or from the Profoto A1 or A1X. Remotes are available for all major camera brands.

And you’ll also benefit from smart connectivity with the Profoto app. With the B10 Plus connected to the Profoto app you can view and control all the settings from your smartphone screen, experience creative capture with your smartphone, and download all the latest updates.

Ultimately, like it’s slightly smaller brother the B10, the B10 Plus is a big light in a small package. And the extra power means the possibilities are enormous.

Göran concluded. “we call it ‘more power of small.’ Because there are more possibilities to be creative with light in so many more ways. The opportunity to let your imagination run riot on any location.”

The Profoto B10 Plus; now, there’s no need to compromise.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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LIT wireless xenon flash Kickstarter campaign cancelled after project reevaluation

31 May

The Kickstarter funding campaign for the LIT wireless xenon flash has been canceled. The team behind the device detailed their decision to end the funding in a post published on the Kickstarter update page, where they state, ‘After doing some additional calculations during the campaign, we realized we won’t be able to make it a reality with just our initially set funding goal and newly uncovered product ambitions.’

As DPReview reported last month, the LIT wireless xenon 40W flash was intended for use with a smartphone, and would have—if everything had gone according to plan—included a built-in rechargeable battery capable of powering 200 full-power flashes. The device was also expected to feature HSS and support for smartphone shutter speeds as fast as 1/10,000s.

Though the Kickstarter campaign exceeded the $ 40,000 funding goal, the LIT team explains in the update post, ‘Based on the current funding rate, we might be able to push the product development and production through, but it would take considerably more funds to make it in a way that would meet our high standards.’

The LIT xenon flash Kickstarter project was canceled at just over $ 65,000 in pledged funding from 367 backers. The LIT team said in its post:

We don’t compromise and that’s why we’ve decided to cancel our campaign and maybe revisit Kickstarter at some later time with a new campaign. It feels so wrong doing the right thing.

Saying goodbye is the hardest solution to any problem. But sometimes it’s the only choice we have. It’s not forever, is not the end. It simply means we’ll miss you until we meet again.

We still believe that the future of image making is in your pocket. It is in our nature to work hard. To listen. To think. To question everything. To fail, stand up and change.

LIT will not collect the Kickstarter funds.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Yongnuo reveals YN560TX Pro TTL flash and EF-E II Adapter for Sony E-mount

31 May

Chinese camera gear manufacturer Yongnuo has announced two new products: the EF-E II Adapter for Sony E-mount cameras and the YN560TX Pro TTL flash. The new adapter is available to purchase from online retailers now for $ 99.99 USD, but the YN560TX Pro flash won’t be available to buy until some time in June.

The Yongnuo EF-E II adapter makes EF and EF-S series lenses compatable with Sony E-mount cameras. This model supports AF and mixed-focus systems, and also offers a function key, USB interface (for firmware updates) and a 1/4-in screw hole for tripods.

Joining the new adapter will be the YN560TX Pro scheduled for release in June. Yongnuo describes the product as ‘a new generation of flash signal transmitters’ that will integrate with the YN622 and YN560TX systems. There will be full support for ‘flash mode, focus control, high-speed synchronization and other functions such as GR/TTL/M/Multi,’ according to the company.

No pricing information for the YN560TX Pro TTL flash is currently available

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Godox TT350 Flash Review – the Little Flash that Can

22 May

The post Godox TT350 Flash Review – the Little Flash that Can appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sean McCormack.

Godox – the mighty Chinese brand that’s sweeping the lighting world, bringing fear to long-established premium brands. And their quality has reached the point where they can now be trusted.

Godox tt350 with box

One thing they’ve done well to push the brand forward is their system integration. Any of their X-series triggers will fire any light in the system. Not only that, their TTL speedlights can also act as masters for other lights in the system, from the mighty AD600Pro right through to the humble TT350.

That’s what we’re looking at today – the TT350.

This compact and pocketable unit is the smallest flash in the Godox range. It really is small – requiring noting more than two AA batteries.

The Specs

A Guide Number of 36 (rather than the typical 52 of most larger flashes).
Recycle time of 2.2 seconds at full power
210 full-power flashes available from two 2500maH AA batteries
TTL, Manual, Optical Slave, Optical Slave with Preflash, and Multiflash modes available
Coverage from 24–105mm in full-frame 35mm terms
High-speed sync up to 1/8000 sec
Built in 2.4G radio transmitter and receiver to act as either radio master or slave
Wide-angle diffuser and bounce card

On-Camera

The small size and weight of the TT350 make it the perfect on-camera flash for any camera system, particularly mirrorless systems. While I’m using them with a Fuji, they’re also available for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus/Panasonic and even Pentax.

As with any on-camera flash aimed directly at the subject, the light is hard and not particularly flattering.

Godox tt350 direct flash
While the flash does have a bounce card, I prefer using reverse bounce for on-camera situations to create a larger light source coming from behind me.

Godox tt350 bounce flash
On-camera, the TT350 can be used as a master for other off-camera flashes.

Now let’s look at off-camera flash.

Off-Camera

The benefits of using a flash off-camera are many. You get better placement to control shadows, and by extension the shape of the features in the shot. You also can use a larger range of modifiers to soften or shape the light itself. To go off-camera, you need a flash, a trigger and a stand (with a modifier being an additional option). In this case, our flash is the TT350.

Triggers

The TT350 can be powered from:

the X-16 for manual power
the X1T or XPro trigger for TTL and Manual.

It can also be triggered from:

another TT350 (and its lithium battery brother the V350)
the TT685 and V860II speedlights.

The trigger sits on-camera and relays information from the camera to the remote flash.

Stands

Any stand will do, even the cheap Photo-R stands . I find Neewer to be great value for money, although in the studio I prefer using C-Stands even with speedlights.

Master and Slave

To use the radio features, hold down the Sync button and then twist the dial when the antennae icon flashes.

The first option that appears is M, making your flash the Master.

Godox tt350 Master

A second twist brings you to S, which enables the Slave mode.

To change between TTL, Manual and Multi modes, press the Mode button.

Godox tt350 slave

In Master mode, press the Slave button to alternate between the Master group (M) and the A, B or C groups.

In Slave mode, pressing Slave chooses the group the flash is on (A, B or C).

Godox tt350 slave group c

The M group in Master dictates what the flash does on-camera. Press Mode to switch between flash off, TTL and Manual.

Here’s a video that takes you through the entire process.

Make sure all your flashes or triggers are on the same channel. To set the channel:

Hold down the Slave button until the CH number flashes
Use the dial to change channel
Press Set to make the change.

You’re now ready for off-camera flash.

Using the TT350 with modifiers

Moving the flash off-camera doesn’t automatically make it look better. But you do get to position the shadows better, as you can see in my article on lighting. I also have a list of cheap modifiers that won’t break the bank. The 120cm Octa is a good investment.

One light

Godox tt350 120cm Octa setup

With the TT350 inside a 120cm Octa (with the diffuser on), you’re ready to get some big light from a small flash. With the Octa between you and the subject, you’ll get flattering light in the ‘Butterfly’ position.

Godox tt350 120cm octa portrait

You can improve this further by adding a reflector underneath, such as the Lastolite Halo Compact.

Godox tt350 120cm octa portrait reflector

High-Speed Sync

To get really shallow depth of field with flash (especially outside), you need to use High-Speed Sync to overcome the limitation of the camera sync speed. To engage it, tap the Sync button once.

Here’s a shot at 1/2000sec and f/1.4, ISO400 with HSS on. (You’ll find bumping the ISO helps save battery life, which is why I’m using ISO400 here).

Two lights

Another way to help battery life (and the recycle time) is to use two flashes in the modifier.

Godox tt350 dual

Set both flashes to the same channel and group. This allows them to automatically match power when you make a change.

Godox tt350 120cm dual 120

You can get double flash brackets and aim them into the center with them positioned either close together or further out.

Godox tt350 120cm dual portrait

Here’s a portrait with this dual-light Octa box setup on the left (facing across the shot) and a white reflector on the right.

Godox tt350 120cm octa portrait dual setup

This is what the setup looks like.

Godox tt350 120cm cross light

Removing one of the lights and putting it on a stand behind our subject gives a good cross-light setup.

Should you get a TT350?

Clearly, a flash you have with you is better than one you leave behind because of the weight. So for general flash applications the TT350 is great. But, it’s never going to overpower the sun, and and its compact size makes it the lowest-power flash in the range (excluding their mobile phone flash unit).

However, you can buy two TT350s for the price of a V860II. And while they don’t have built-in batteries, combined they can provide more power for less weight.

Me? I bought two so I can use them in the configurations I’ve shown here, and as a master-slave setup if I have an issue with a trigger.

Overall, they’re great tools to have in the bag.

Have you used this flash? What are your thoughts? Please share with us and the dPS community in the comments below.

The post Godox TT350 Flash Review – the Little Flash that Can appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sean McCormack.

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Nissin MG80 Pro flash announced with command/slave modes, modeling light and more

07 May

On May 1, Nissin Digital unveiled its new MG80 Pro hot shoe flash with integrated Nissin Air System (NAS) radio commander and slave modes, support for multiple battery types, and a built-in color LCD. The GN60/83Ws flash packs a Quartz flash tube, heat-resistant head, 8W LED modelling light, removable Fresnel lens, and compatibility with both standard AA NiMH and Lithium-ion (Type 14500) batteries.

When used with four Li-ion Type 14500 batteries, the flash offers a 1.5s recycling time, which increases to 3.8s when used with four rechargeable AA batteries. Users can expect around 280 flashes when using four 650mAh Li-ion batteries, or around 320 flashes when using four 2450mAh rechargeable batteries.

The MG80 Pro supports TTL, manual control, and HSS, has a transmission range up to 100m (328ft), and a zoom mode covering focal length options from 24mm to 200mm. Other specs include a metal shoe with ring lock, tilt/swivel head, support for micro SD and SDHC cards for firmware updates, and a weight, without batteries, of 520g (18oz).

The flash will be available for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic and Olympus cameras. According to Flash Havoc, Nissin plans to release the MG80 Pro in ‘late May,’ but a price has not been revealed.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Godox AD200: An Amazing Flash— If You Tweak it a Little

01 May

The Godox AD200 has been much written about (and fawned over) for good reason: it's a legit 200ws flash in a near-speedlight form factor that has a lot going for it.

At $ 299, as packaged, it's a near-miss. But at $ 366 (including two specific accessories) it's a home run.Read more »

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