what is flash for

I want to start with the fact that Godox flashes are currently the best in terms of price / quality ratio. Native Canon / Nikon flashes certainly have their advantages, which we will talk about later, but globally they are not worth the overpayment for most users.

So, when choosing a flash, you need to answer a few questions:

• do you need TTL mode?
• finger or battery flash
• how much power will be enough?

TTL or E-TTL (English Evaluative-Through The Lens) - a system that measures the illumination of the scene, calculates the distance to the subject and sets the flash settings in automatic mode. TTL controls the flash instead of the photographer. Is it necessary? My opinion is no. Sometimes TTL works correctly, sometimes not. Moreover, I am based on the experience of working with Canon's native flash on Canon cameras. In fact, it's like shooting in P mode on a camera. Sometimes he hits, sometimes he makes mistakes, but you lose control of the situation. Therefore, I personally always shoot in the manual and advise most people to do the same. There are some scenarios where TTL will be more convenient, but these are more isolated cases than a rule. See the video at the end of this article for more details. General recommendation - you can safely take a flash without TTL.

Model examples:

Godox V850 - manual without TTL

Godox V860  - flash with TTL

Pentac batteries/batteries or specialized batteries

Godox has two flash series. One has TT at the beginning, for example Godox TT 685, the second has V at the beginning, for example Godox V850.

• TT-series uses AA batteries/accumulators.
• Series V uses its batteries from Godox.

In general, if you shoot a lot and intensively, AA batteries are less convenient. There are a lot of them, you do not see the charge level and they recharge more slowly if you shoot in bursts. Also, if you need to buy several spare sets of batteries, then AA batteries will cost more, because. more will be needed. Therefore, for intensive work, it is recommended to take flashes on native batteries. But these models are more expensive. If you shoot only from time to time, then you can not overpay and take a flash on AA batteries.

Flash power

Top flashes have a guide number of 55-60. And for an on-camera flash, this is even with a margin. In most situations, you won't be using all that power.

Junior models such as Godox TT 350 have a guide number of only 35, but this will be enough for reportage work. Such a flash can be safely used as an on-camera flash or even put in a manual softbox. Enough power, but there is one BUT. Low power flashes are slow to recharge. Therefore, if you have to work intensively with a large flow of people, this can be inconvenient.

Plus, there are situations when you still need more power. If you want to shoot a group of people in a dark room, then you will need to move away and put your flash on high power. In addition, shooting group portraits requires a quick flash recycle, because. you definitely need to take a series of shots so that people do not have their eyes closed. This series needs to be done quickly, otherwise you will make people stand for too long, and half the frames will be dark, because. the flash failed to fire. But this applies to intensive professional work.

If you need a flash to keep you light, then the Godox TT 350 low-power flash will please you not only with its price, but also with its weight. You will not notice it and will be able to be on your feet for a long time without experiencing discomfort from the large weight of your equipment. By the way, it is also convenient if you shoot with a compact softbox in your hand in a nightclub - your hand will not get very tired from a heavy flash.

In general,

Just like with a camera and lenses, the more precise you are in your task, the better you can choose a particular model. Often, beginners take the coolest and most expensive - in reserve, and suddenly come in handy. This approach can be understood, because without experience, it is impossible to predict which functions will be needed and which ones will not.

If you want full stuffing then this will be the model Godox V860.

Further descending:

• the same but without TTL = Godox V850
• with TTL but with AA batteries = Godox TT685
• without TTL, with AA batteries = Godox TT660
• the simplest and least powerful = Godox TT350

This is not an exhaustive list of models from Godox, there are first, second versions, there are intermediate ones. It doesn't make the weather. The main three parameters have been described above − TTL, batteries, power.

About synchronizers

All Godox flashes have a built-in radio trigger, which is very convenient. It remains only to buy a camera transmitter so that the flash works separately from the camera (e.g. in the Triopo handheld softbox).

Get a synchronizer for your system. If you have a Canon, take it for Canon, Fujifilm - a synchronizer for Fujifilm, and so on. There are situations where non-native synchronizers can work on other systems - but this is a lottery that you should not rely on.

If you have flashes from other brands, there are several options here to get it all puffed from one camera:

• by light trap. Unreliable, because this may not work under some conditions.
• hoping that one synchronizer will work with flashes from different brands - more likely no than yes.
• use a pass-through sync shoe. That is, you put on two synchronizers from different brands one on top of the other, like a sandwich.

General recommendation - do not suffer this crap. It is much more convenient to have all the flashes from the same brand.

Optimal synchronizer - Godox X Pro - it has a large convenient screen and maximum functionality.

Differences between non-native flashes and native ones

Non-native flashes have a plus in price, but they also have disadvantages. They may have a different color temperature from their native ones. Although, in my tests, very little. Also, non-native ones can give a different color temperature during a series of pulses. Non-natives reload slightly slower.

Watch my flash videos:

There's bad sound here, but very good content:

Another article about choosing a flash

Article how to choose a softbox