Godox MF12 Macro Ring Light System Review

Dustin Abbott

December 2nd, 2021

Macro photographer is a blast. It opens up a whole new world of details that the naked eye simply can’t see, and the resulting images are often ones that delight viewers. But macro photography has a major challenge: the laws of physics dictate that as you get into macro range your effective aperture closes down by multiple stops. If that is a little too technical for you, let me put it this way: you need at least three times as much light at macro range as you would with the same camera settings and a subject that was, say, a meter or more away from the camera. Add to this the challenge that sometimes your equipment gets so close to the subject that it actually shadows it, effectively removing even more light. Many macro photographers find the simplest and best solution is to introduce more light to the subject, but this can get expensive. Enter Godox, a company that has built a great reputation for developing quality lighting at a reasonable price. In this case, that lighting comes from their wireless MF12 Macro lights.

The Godox MF12 system works best off of Godox’s 2.4ghz wireless system. You can purchase/control a single unit, or you can add many units to get the job done.

These MF12 units are very compact, but they are fairly powerful. Each unit has a guide number of 16, and the built-in lithium battery gives you up to 500 full power flashes before needing a recharge. I liked the fact that they also have a built-in modeling light, which further extends the usefulness of the units when working in a very dim environment. There is a ring mounting kit available, of you can put them on either their traditional flash “feet” (see below) or even mount them on light stands with the included adapter.

So how do you trigger these flash units? The best way (by far!) is via one of Godox’s wireless flash triggers/command units. I used the Godox X-Pro unit for these shots. It gives you full TTL control, allows you to control the flashes in groups (you can attach as many as six to the bracket), and also gives you on the fly adjustability right in front of you. I found the wireless triggering reliable and effective. They can be triggered optically (using the on-board flash, for example), but that’s a much cruder approach.

Above all, though, I love the Godox flashes and wireless systems because they just work. I find the light output and temperature to be extremely consistent, and I also get more consistent TTL results than I used to get in times past. I often went to manual with strobes in the past because TTL wasn’t consistent enough to rely on. TTL performance is much more consistent with the Godox system, and all of the shots shown in this review or gallery were shot in TTL mode. I was particularly impressed when shooting the product shots I show in this series, as it can be easy for those to get blown out by lighting that’s not correctly controlled. In the shot below I was able to get light right inside a tiny flower, and get a unique view of the inside.

So is there anything that I don’t like about the MF12? Some people have complained about the bracket mounting system on the ring and that the units don’t stay in the right spot, but I couldn’t recreate that issue myself. As long as they were in the detents on the circular bracket, they stayed where I put them. I did find that the white balance of my shots tended towards the warmer side, though that’s easy to fix in post. Every now and then I have to cycle through the settings on the units because the wireless communication isn’t working properly, but that was fortunately very rare, and the menus on the MF12 units are pretty straightforward. I would also have liked there to be a wired sync option considering that these units will mostly be used very close to the camera.

But these are mostly nitpicks. I really enjoyed the lighting potential of these little flash units, and I got some great photos with them. You can check out my full thoughts in the video review below, or just enjoy the photos in the gallery!

Thank you to Pergear for getting me a review sample of the MF12 unit. As always, this is a completely independent review. The opinions here are completely my own.

Sample Photos from the Godox MF12

Gear Used:

Purchase the Godox MF12 Macro Lights @ B&H Photo | Pergear | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany

You can purchase the X-Pro Control Unit for around $70 for Sony | Canon | Nikon | or Fuji

Purchase the Sony Alpha 1 @ Camera Canada | B&H Photo | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Buy DA Merchandise https://bit.ly/TWIMerch

Purchase a Sony a7C @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Peak Design Leash Strap: Peak Design Store | B&H Photo | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK
BenQ SW271 4K Photo Editing Monitor – B&H Photo | Amazon | Amazon.ca | Amazon UK
Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud 1-Year Subscription
Exposure Software X6 (Use Code “dustinabbott” to get 10% anything and everything)
Visit Dustin’s Amazon Storefront and see his favorite gear

Purchasing your gear through B&H and these links helps fund this website and keeps the articles coming. You can also make a donation here if you would like. Visit my Amazon page for some of my gear of choice! Thank you for your support.

Great News! I can now offer a 5% discount on all purchases at Amplis Foto, Canada’s Leading Photographic Supplier. Please enter discount code: AMPLIS52018DA in your cart. It is good for everything in your cart, and is stackable with other coupons, too! It will take 5% off your entire order! Proceeds go towards keeping this site going and providing you with new reviews!

Keywords: Godox, Godox MF12, Godox MF12 Macro, Godox MF12Review, Godox MF12 Macro Review, Godox MF12 Wireless, MF12, Macro, 2.4ghz, wireless, letthelightin, Flash, Camera Flash, Dustin Abbott, Photography, HSS, Wireless, Godox X, X-Pro, X-ProS, Sony, Portrait, Sample Images

DISCLAIMER: This article and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Godox V860III Camera Flash Review and Gallery

Dustin Abbott

October 4th, 2021

Godox has become one of the few companies that reliably pumps out new flash and strobe options on a regular basis. I did my first Godox review in mid-2019, and, since that point, I’ve done at least a half dozen others. I’ve used bargain flashes in the past, and the bargain origins of the gear is usually pretty obvious. Godox products, however, are inexpensive compared to first party flash units, but they aren’t cheap in either build or performance. That’s true of the new Godox V860III on camera flash unit that has recently been released. There are a number of new key improvements that make the Godox V860III 76w/s camera flash worthy of your consideration if you are looking for a new TTL lighting option for your Sony, Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, or Fuji camera system.

Let’s break down those key upgrades in bullet form, and, if you want more details, you can watch the video review below.

Inclusion of a new 2W LED modeling light, controllable in ten stages. I actually prefer this modeling light to the one on the excellent Godox V1 flashes because of the color temperature (5300k) and that it is located on the front of the flash unit rather than on the flash head, which means that it continues to work properly even if the flash is set up in bounce mode.

New quick release locking mechanism rather than rotary locking dial. This is much quicker and less clunky than the old style locking dial.
Switch to the VB26 2600 mAh lithium-ion battery pack from the V1. I love this battery pack and also the compatibility across a lot of other Godox flashes (including some of the small AD series flashes). It makes sharing batteries and/or chargers easy. The battery pack is (conservatively) rated at 480 full strength flashes and has a 1.5 second recycle time.
New switch that allows you to instantly change between Manual Flash or TTL.

The new features are all welcome ones to me that add to the real world usability of the V860III. It is also worth considering a few of the existing strengths of the flash as well. First of all, I love the Godox’ Wireless X system where wireless capability is baked into the flash unit itself. I’ve used flash triggers and receivers for years, and being able to ditch some of those components really simplifies the workflow. The Godox V860III can either be used as a command unit to control a variety of other light products from up to 100 meters away:

It can also be controlled as a wireless slave unit from a command unit on camera like the Godox X-Pro. This allows one to control multiple light units in a variety of ways and to get far more pleasing lighting results (and also total control over the direction and intensity of the light). I used the X-Pro to get the V860III off camera and to allow for more pleasing light for this shot:

And yes, it did help that I was using the brilliant Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM for this shot as well!

The V860III is a powerful unit, with a guide rating of of 60m (197′) at 1SO 100. You can zoom from between 20-200mm, giving you flexibility for the kind of coverage you need. I had plenty of power to front fill my model while using powerful evening sun behind her to rim light her hair:

Above all, though, I love the Godox flashes and wireless systems because they just work. I find the light output and temperature to be extremely consistent, and I also get more consistent TTL results than I used to get in times past. I often went to manual with strobes in the past because TTL wasn’t consistent enough to rely on. TTL performance is much more consistent with the Godox system, and all of the shots shown in this review or gallery were shot in TTL mode. I was particularly impressed when shooting the product shots I did in this series for two reasons. First of all, I focused using the modeling light on the V860III in an otherwise dark environment (very helpful!), but I was also impressed that the lighting was soft and flattering and without blowing out the subject.

So is there anything that I don’t like about the V860III? A couple of things still could use some improvement. First of all, while I like the quick release hot shoe lock, it feels quite “plasticky” and vulnerable to breakage (though that hasn’t happened with any of my Godox flashes, fortunately). I also find that the menus are still a little confusing until you get familiar with them. I’ve tested and used about six Godox strobes, and it still took me 5-10 minutes to figure out how to wirelessly trigger the flash as a slave unit. I would like them to make the menus less obscure.

But these are mostly nitpicks. The truth of the matter is that this is a LOT of flash of $230, and gives you 95% of the performance of many first party flashes for less than 50% of the price. It’s no wonder that Godox flashes are a favorite with so many real world photographers who have to consider budget as a part of their purchasing decisions. If you want more details and footage of the V860III in action, check out my video review below…or just check out the photos in the gallery.

Thank you to Pergear for getting me a review sample of the V860III. As always, this is a completely independent review. The opinions here are completely my own.

Portraits taken with the V860III

Product Shots taken with the V860III

Gear Used:

Purchase the Godox V860III @ Pergear | B&H Photo | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany

The Godox V1 is available for Canon | Nikon | Sony | Fuji | and Olympus

Purchase the Sony 50mm F1.2 GM @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Purchase the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 Planar @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon.ca | Amazon UK | Ebay

Purchase the Sony Alpha 1 @ Camera Canada | B&H Photo | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Buy DA Merchandise https://bit.ly/TWIMerch

Purchase a Sony a7C @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Peak Design Leash Strap: Peak Design Store | B&H Photo | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK
BenQ SW271 4K Photo Editing Monitor – B&H Photo | Amazon | Amazon.ca | Amazon UK
Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud 1-Year Subscription
Exposure Software X6 (Use Code “dustinabbott” to get 10% anything and everything)
Visit Dustin’s Amazon Storefront and see his favorite gear

Purchasing your gear through B&H and these links helps fund this website and keeps the articles coming. You can also make a donation here if you would like. Visit my Amazon page for some of my gear of choice! Thank you for your support.

Great News! I can now offer a 5% discount on all purchases at Amplis Foto, Canada’s Leading Photographic Supplier. Please enter discount code: AMPLIS52018DA in your cart. It is good for everything in your cart, and is stackable with other coupons, too! It will take 5% off your entire order! Proceeds go towards keeping this site going and providing you with new reviews!

Keywords: Godox, Godox V860III, Godox V860 III, Godox V860III Review, Godox V860 III Review, Godox V1, V1-S, V1-C, V1-F, V1-O, V1-N, letthelightin, Flash, Camera Flash, Dustin Abbott, Photography, HSS, Wireless, Godox X, X-Pro, X-ProS, Sony, Portrait, Sample Images, Godox V1 Review, Godox V1-S Review, AK-R1, VB-26A1

DISCLAIMER: This article and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Godox AD 300 Pro Review

Dustin Abbott

December 7th, 2020

Godox has developed a strong following for their lighting products due to a winning combination of good engineering, reliable performance, and reasonable pricing. They saw a gap between their “pocketable” Godox AD200 Pro Flash unit and the considerably larger AD400/600 units. The solution is the AD300 Pro, a versatile wireless flash that makes for a great location light and packs a nice combination of size (1.25kg in weight and 190mm in length) while also packing a tremendous punch (300Ws of power). This is a 50% power increase over the AD200 Pro without a whole lot of extra size and bulk, and I think it will hit a sweet spot for a lot of users. It comes in a very nice carrying case with some accessories and provides a lot of versatility.

This is a slave only flash (you cannot mount it on a camera hotshoe), but the great amount of power and control via one of Godox’s wireless triggers allows you to really shape the light. You can choose to overpower your environment to give a cutout look:

…or blend in more with the ambient lighting to create a natural look:

The ability to control the flash in 1/256th increments even means that you can use this very powerful flash for more subtle lighting indoors:

The lithium-ion battery (batteries from the AD200 Pro will also work here) will give you up to 300 full power flashes with recycle times from 0.01 to 1.5 seconds. There is a built-in fan, so there is little risk of overheating, and this also allows for a useful second function. There is a 13Ws modeling light that you can also use for video due to being able to choose from 3000 to 6000 kelvin white balances in ten steps. You can use high-speed sync times up to 1/8000 second. It additionally has action-stopping flash durations from 1/220 to 1/10200 seconds.

The native accessory mount on the flash is the smaller Godox mount, but there is a broad range of reasonably priced accessories and modifiers in that mount, or you can use an adapter like the S2 to move up to the Bowens standard.

In real world use I found the light a joy to use. The power output was consistent and predictable, giving me highly repeatable results.

The menu system on the triggers and the flash unit itself are reasonably intuitive, though if you are a flash novice it will take some time to figure everything out (though I’m afraid that’s true for any flash system I’ve ever used).

Bottom line is that the AD300 Pro is like other Godox flash units that I’ve used – it delivers great results at a reasonable price point…though in this case that price still isn’t cheap. The AD300 Pro will set you back about $500 USD…but it’s most natural competitor in terms of specs – the Profoto B10 – runs more like $1700 USD! It’s all relative!

If you would like the full review, watch this video here:

Godox AD300 Pro Sample Photos

Gear Used:

Purchase the Godox AD300 Pro @ Pergear | Amazon | B&H Photo | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany

Purchase the S2 Adapter @ Pergear | Amazon | B&H Photo | Amazon Canada

Purchase Godox X2T Trigger @ Pergear | Amazon | B&H Photo | Amazon Canada

Purchase the X-Pro Control Unit for: Sony | Canon | Nikon | Fuji

Purchase the Godox AD200 Pro @ Pergear (use code DUSTIN to get 20% off) | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | B&H Photo

Purchase the Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Purchase a Sony a7C @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Purchase a Canon EOS R5 @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Purchase a Canon EOS R6 @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Purchase a Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud 1-Year Subscription
Exposure Software X6 (Use Code “dustinabbott” to get 10% anything and everything)
Visit Dustin’s Amazon Storefront and see his favorite gear

Purchasing your gear through B&H and these links helps fund this website and keeps the articles coming. You can also make a donation here if you would like. Visit my Amazon page for some of my gear of choice! Thank you for your support.

Great News! I can now offer a 5% discount on all purchases at Amplis Foto, Canada’s Leading Photographic Supplier. Please enter discount code: AMPLIS52018DA in your cart. It is good for everything in your cart, and is stackable with other coupons, too! It will take 5% off your entire order! Proceeds go towards keeping this site going and providing you with new reviews!

Use Code “DUSTINHDR” to get $10 off ($15 CDN) any Skylum product: Luminar, Aurora, or AirMagic

Keywords: Godox, Godox AD300 Pro, AD300, Pro, Godox, Godox AD300 Review, Flash, Camera Flash, Dustin Abbott, Photography, HSS, Wireless, Godox X, X-Pro, X-ProS, X2T, Canon, Sony, Portrait, Sample Images, Godox AD 300 Review, Strobing, Video Test

DISCLAIMER: This article and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Godox AD200 Pro Review

Dustin Abbott

August 5th, 2019

Godox has developed a strong following for their lighting products due to a winning combination of good engineering, reliable performance, and reasonable pricing. That trend continues to the Godox AD200 Pro Flash unit. While Godox styles this a “pocket flash”, that is only relative to the larger flash heads (AD400/600) in their lineups that are larger (and squarer). Let’s just say one’s pocket would be quite full with this flash, but, more importantly, the unit is definitely compact and portable. It comes in a very nice carrying case with some accessories and provides a lot of versatility.

If you would like the full review, watch this video here:

Godox AD200 Pro Review

The AD series is not to be confused with a traditional speedlite unit that can be mounted on a camera hotshoe. It has no hotshoe connection, so must be controlled either via sync cable (3.5mm or USB wireless control port) or (better option) Godox’s 2.4ghz Wireless-X system. This comes either through a master flash unit (like the V1 unit I recently reviewed) or via a wireless flash trigger (I use the X-Pro).

The AD200 Pro comes with a couple of different heads (a traditional Fresnel along with a bare bulb option), though you can also use a round head (H200R) or LED Light Head (AD-L). The latter two are sold separately. The round head gives you a softer light spread than the traditional Fresnel, and the LED head is actually a way to get fixed lighting from the AD200 units, though the actual amount of light produced from 60 LEDs (3.6W) isn’t very impressive. The AD200 Pro produces 200WS of light using the included heads, which rates to a guide number of 52m (Fresnel) or 60m (Bare bulb). Here are the specs for the unit:

The bare bulb option is most useful for when one wants a big, softer spread of light that is less focused than with the Fresnel head. While the total light output is greater with the bare bulb, the light is also less focused, so in a shot with a single subject like this the same settings produce a dimmer image (at least for a big environmental portrait like this).

If I raise the ambient light in the same shot, however, you’ll find that the bare bulb result is more natural (less “strobed”).

And that’s kind of the point of the bare bulb approach. It allows you to light a group or environment with light that seems more natural and less artificial. It’s great that you have the option to use both with the AD200 Pro. It’s easy to change the heads:

The LCD screen and controls on the back of the unit are logical and fairly easy to use (though a quick scan through the manual never hurts).

Power comes from a 2900mAh Lithium battery pack (included along with a charger). It’s good for over 500 full power flashes, so for most shoots you’ll have no issue with running out of power. I also like the ability to have a confirmation beep (or not). Refresh cycles are between 0.01-1.8s, depending on intensity.

Another nice aspect of the AD200 Pro is a very nice flash holder. It’s solidly made of metals, and allows you to tilt the flash in a variety of positions. You can easily mount it to the flash unit on two different sides so that the AD200 can be setup in either a horizontal or vertical position. There’s a nicely designed locking knob that’s easy (and quick) to connect/disconnect. The flash holder also has a port to attach an umbrella or soft box.

I like using an umbrella with the AD200 to give a nice, soft light spread. Using an umbrella with the bare bulb will give a very soft and natural light pattern.

Shooting with the AD200 Pro

At the end of the day, however, it’s about the light…and the AD200 Pro gives you plenty to play with. There’s plenty of power on tap here to overpower the sun (my subject is strongly backlit by the sun in this shot).

The setup and the end result:

Hiding the AD200 Pro in bare bulb mode (the light is hidden behind the large boulder) allowed me to create a little drama in the shadowy basin near these rapids.

The setup and the end result:

Switching to the Fresnel head provides more intense, focused light, which I’ve used to pull down the amount of ambient light in the scene and allow the subject to be strobed in a more dramatic (but visually appealing) style.

I found the AD200 Pro worked seamlessly with my X-ProS control unit, allowing me to make easy changes on the fly. The working range is 100 meters (over 300 feet), which is more than plenty for most of us. I was roughly 50 feet away when shooting this shot:

I got good results whether shooting tighter headshots and just adding a bit of fill:

…to really ramping up the power to help overpower the sun:

You can do strobing (up to 90 times @99hz), HSS up to 1/8000th, and both front and rear curtain sync. There’s a lot of ways to play with the light, and the combination of power, portability, and not having to deal with a separate power pack makes these a nice location light.

So what’s changed from the Godox AD200 to the AD200 Pro? I haven’t used the original AD200, so I’m relying on what I can glean from the spec list, but here’s what I’ve spotted:

Improved flash holder
Slightly improved refresh cycles (upper limit is 1.8 vs 2.1s)
9 stop (1/256th to 1/1) output control vs 8 stop (1/128th to 1/1)
Slightly expanded flash duration options (up to 1/15380s vs 1/13000)
Compatible with more TTL systems (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Pentax, and Panasonic vs Canon, Nikon, and Sony)

The tradeoff is a very slightly larger and heavier unit: 172x54x75mm (590g) vs 168x50x75mm (560g). The price is also about $50 higher, but that could be market forces due to the AD200 Pro being newer.

All in all, this is a very versatile, powerful flash unit at a reasonable price (around $349 USD). If you want an on-camera flash unit, I recommend the Godox V1 (which I love), but the AD200 Pro is a great option for either studio or environmental portraiture.

Godox AD200 Product Shots

Godox AD200 Pro Image Gallery

Other gear used in photo shoots:

BenQ SW271 4K Photo Editing Monitor – B&H Photo | Amazon | Amazon.ca | Amazon UK
Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud 1-Year Subscription
Alien Skin Exposure X4 (Use Code “dustinabbott” to get 10% anything and everything)
Visit Dustin’s Amazon Storefront and see his favorite gear

Purchasing your gear through B&H and these links helps fund this website and keeps the articles coming. You can also make a donation here if you would like. Visit my Amazon page for some of my gear of choice! Thank you for your support.

Great News! I can now offer a 5% discount on all purchases at Amplis Foto, Canada’s Leading Photographic Supplier. Please enter discount code: AMPLIS52018DA in your cart. It is good for everything in your cart, and is stackable with other coupons, too! It will take 5% off your entire order! Proceeds go towards keeping this site going and providing you with new reviews!

Use Code “DUSTINHDR” to get $10 off ($15 CDN) any Skylum product: Luminar, Aurora, or AirMagic

Keywords: Godox, Godox AD200 Pro, AD200, Pro, Godox, Godox AD200 Review, Flash, Camera Flash, Dustin Abbott, Photography, HSS, Wireless, Godox X, X-Pro, X-ProS, Sony, Portrait, Sample Images, Godox AD 200 Review, Strobing, Video Test

DISCLAIMER: This article and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Godox V1 Round Head Flash Review

Dustin Abbott

June 19th, 2019

The Godox V1 is a unique take on the portable flash design. Instead of the traditional rectangular flash head, it has a round head that produces a softer light spread and more pleasing light pattern than competing flashes. Here’s how Godox illustrates it:

Does this bear out in real life? The short answer is yes…though with some limitations. I’ve been primarily shooting Canon in the past and now shoot a hybrid kit that features Sony, Canon, and Fuji bodies, though my primary tools are Sony. The one area that I hadn’t transitioned was in my portable flash units. I’ve been using Metz 64 AF-1 units for their extreme power output and also their ability to match zoom up to 200mm. But there’s no question that the light spread, the resulting color temperature, and even the TTL function was superior with the Godox V1 unit I used for a comparison:

I used identical settings (shutters speed, ISO), and an 85mm F1.8 lens on both, though I allowed the cameras (Canon 5D Mark IV for the Metz; Sony a7RIII for the Godox) to utilize their TTL function. Clearly the Godox delivered the far more nuanced lighting. One has to remember, however, that this is still a very small light source putting out a lot of power (78Ws), so there is a limit to how soft such light will be without modification.

My favorite thing about the Godox V1, however, is a Godox trait in that it utilizes Godox’ Wireless X system, meaning that wireless capability is baked into the flash unit itself. I’ve used flash triggers and receivers for years, and being able to ditch some of those components really simplifies the workflow. The Godox V1 can either be used as a command unit to control a variety of other light products:

It can also be controlled as a wireless slave unit from a command unit on camera like the Godox X-Pro. This allows one to control multiple light units in a variety of ways and to get far more pleasing lighting results (and also total control over the direction and intensity of the light).

The Godox V1 is compatible with the AK-R1 accessory kit, which gives you a lot of options for shaping and coloring the light:

Godox V1 Observations

I recommend that you watch this video for my full review, as this text companion piece is more of a mini-review and image gallery. The video will give you all the details and demonstrate the capabilities of the flash unit:

One other advantage of the Godox V1 that I do want to highlight is its ability to position the flash head in a broader range of positions than competing units. You can go from a -7 degree position to a 120 degrees, which definitely exceed the typical 0-90 degree range:

Here are a few images of the flash unit itself, showing off the round head, the built-in modeling light (which can be controlled off camera as well), and (thankfully!) a nice locking mechanism instead of a tightening dial!

Two others areas are worth highlighting. The Godox V1 utilizes a proprietary lithium ion battery pack. The pros of this include that the battery pack delivers 480 full power shots per charge, and, in my experience, delivers very stable power delivery. I’ve had at times inconsistent performance from my flashes utilizing AA batteries, but this battery pack seems more predictable in its run-time and power delivery. The downside is that if you are doing an intensive shoot (a wedding, for example), you might need a battery replacement. It’s not so simple as just feeding in more AAs; you are going to need a second power pack, and that will run you about $60. Good news is that the tiny charging cradle is USB-C powered, which means you could charge it off a portable power-bank on the fly if needed.

The Godox V1 is also firmware upgradable, so that helps to avert any “buggy” behavior and/or deal with any system changes.

Here are some examples of using the flash on camera for portraits:

The Godox V1 obviously gives you a lot of bounce angles, and if you are using the flash on camera and have something to bounce off of (above or even behind, now), this is a great approach:

I included a few shots where I was lighting a mantle that a friend built for us. I wanted to highlight the rich color and the grain, and the V1 did a great job of providing the light I needed without blowing out the subject.

Getting the flash off the camera gives you all kinds of options for lighting a scene. Here’s a series where I used rim lighting, backlighting, remote bounce, and even a bit of mixed lighting with another light source at low power to give subtle variations on the scene:

One final mix that I love is the getting the flash off camera (on a stand), and then using one of my favorite light modifiers – the Lite Genius Super Scoop 3 – to help spread the light for a nice, natural group lighting that mixes well with the ambient light. I reviewed the Super Scoop here. Here’s a few of my and my family from Father’s Day.

The Godox V1 is available for Canon | Nikon | Sony (as tested here) | Fuji | and Olympus at a reasonable price point of $259 USD. That undercuts most competitors by a fair bit while adding more functionality. I’m really enjoying using the Godox V1S (the first Godox product I’ve used) along with the X-Pro control unit, and it will probably become a mainstay in my own personal workflow. I’m already considering letting those Metz 64 AF-1 units go…

You can purchase the X-Pro Control Unit for around $70 for Sony | Canon | Nikon | or Fuji

Purchase an additional VB-26 Battery:
Purchase the AK-R1 Accessory Kit:

Images from the Wireless X Portraits (2 V1S units + X-ProS)

The Portrait Machine (Zeiss Otus 100m F1.4)

Purchasing your gear through B&H and these links helps fund this website and keeps the articles coming. You can also make a donation here if you would like. Visit my Amazon page for some of my gear of choice! Thank you for your support.

Great News! I can now offer a 5% discount on all purchases at Amplis Foto, Canada’s Leading Photographic Supplier. Please enter discount code: AMPLIS52018DA in your cart. It is good for everything in your cart, and is stackable with other coupons, too! It will take 5% off your entire order! Proceeds go towards keeping this site going and providing you with new reviews!

Use Code “DUSTINHDR” to get $10 off ($15 CDN) any Skylum product: Luminar, Aurora, or AirMagic

Keywords: Godox, Godox V1, V1-S, V1-C, V1-F, V1-O, V1-N, Round Head, Godox V1 Review, Flash, Camera Flash, Dustin Abbott, Photography, HSS, Wireless, Godox X, X-Pro, X-ProS, Sony, Portrait, Sample Images, Godox V1 Review, Godox V1-S Review, AK-R1, VB-26

DISCLAIMER: This article and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Rotolight AEOS Dual-Mode Light Image Gallery

Dustin Abbott

March 2nd, 2019

I’ve spent time with a lot of different lights since becoming a reviewer. They typically fall into one of two categories. They are either A) portable flashes/strobes for photography or B) fixed or continuous lights for videography. Some of the more recent continuous lights have had the option to be run off batteries, which helps them to, at the least, provide some field value, though rarely anything like what a strobe can provide. But never before have I reviewed a light that has the capability of doing both continuous lighting and strobing…until now. The Rotolight AEOS lighting system is uniquely both a high end continuous broadcast quality light with a substantial light output while also functioning as a HSS strobe (complete with Elinchrom Skyport wireless built-in). In fact, my title image for this page is a self-portrait using an Elinchrom Skyport wireless trigger on the Sony a7RIII to strobe the shot. The flexibility of the Rotolight AEOS system for hybrid photographers/videographers or location photographers is endless, from various lighting modes and colors to even special effects like fire, lighting, strobing, police flashing lights, and more… I’ll cover more in my video review, but these image galleries pay tribute to the various ways you can use the AEOS for all kinds of photography along with video work.

Photos of the Rotolight AEOS

Rotolight AEOS Product Photography

Rotolight AEOS Portrait Photography

Rotolight AEOS Macro Photography

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Purchasing your gear through B&H and these links helps fund this website and keeps the articles coming. You can also make a donation here if you would like. Visit my Amazon page for some of my gear of choice! Thank you for your support.

Great News! I can now offer a 5% discount on all purchases at Amplis Foto, Canada’s Leading Photographic Supplier. Please enter discount code: AMPLIS52018DA in your cart. It is good for everything in your cart, and is stackable with other coupons, too! It will take 5% off your entire order! Proceeds go towards keeping this site going and providing you with new reviews!

Use Code “DUSTINHDR” to get $10 off ($15 CDN) Luminar and/or AuroraHDR

Purchase the Rotolight AEOS Location Light @ B&H Photo https://bhpho.to/2IK7mqV | Amazon https://amzn.to/2EGy0wU | Amazon Canada https://amzn.to/2Sy3YiB | Amazon UK https://amzn.to/2C3sB1f | Amazon Germany https://amzn.to/2EGozh9 | Visit Rotolight.com for more information: https://www.rotolight.com/

Purchase the V-Mount Battery @ B&H Photo https://bhpho.to/2IM2Zfh | Amazon https://amzn.to/2EELXeH | Amazon UK https://amzn.to/2NFOGI0 | Amazon Germany https://amzn.to/2Xy2rg5

Keywords: Rotolight, Rotolight AEOS, AEOS Review, Rotolight AEOS Review, AEOS, Review, Dustin Abbott, HSS, Flash, Strobe, LED, Elinchrom, Skyport, Videography, Photography, Location Photography, Bi-color, Bi-Colour, Accu-Colour, Portrait, Video, Video Test, Product Photography, Macro, Broadcast Lighting, Portraiture, V-Mount, Effects, XFX

DISCLAIMER: This article and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Godox MF12 Macro Ring Light System Review

Dustin Abbott

December 2nd, 2021

Sample Photos from the Godox MF12

Purchase the Godox MF12 Macro Lights @ B&H Photo | Pergear | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany

You can purchase the X-Pro Control Unit for around $70 for Sony | Canon | Nikon | or Fuji

Purchase the Sony Alpha 1 @ Camera Canada | B&H Photo | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Buy DA Merchandise https://bit.ly/TWIMerch

Purchase a Sony a7C @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

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Godox V860III Camera Flash Review and Gallery

Dustin Abbott

October 4th, 2021

Portraits taken with the V860III

Product Shots taken with the V860III

Purchase the Godox V860III @ Pergear | B&H Photo | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany

The Godox V1 is available for Canon | Nikon | Sony | Fuji | and Olympus

Purchase the Sony 50mm F1.2 GM @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Purchase the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 Planar @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon.ca | Amazon UK | Ebay

Purchase the Sony Alpha 1 @ Camera Canada | B&H Photo | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Buy DA Merchandise https://bit.ly/TWIMerch

Purchase a Sony a7C @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

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Godox AD 300 Pro Review

Dustin Abbott

December 7th, 2020

Godox AD300 Pro Sample Photos

Purchase the Godox AD300 Pro @ Pergear | Amazon | B&H Photo | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany

Purchase the S2 Adapter @ Pergear | Amazon | B&H Photo | Amazon Canada

Purchase Godox X2T Trigger @ Pergear | Amazon | B&H Photo | Amazon Canada

Purchase the X-Pro Control Unit for: Sony | Canon | Nikon | Fuji

Purchase the Godox AD200 Pro @ Pergear (use code DUSTIN to get 20% off) | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | B&H Photo

Purchase the Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Purchase a Sony a7C @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Purchase a Canon EOS R5 @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Purchase a Canon EOS R6 @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Purchase a Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay

Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud 1-Year Subscription Exposure Software X6 (Use Code “dustinabbott” to get 10% anything and everything) Visit Dustin’s Amazon Storefront and see his favorite gear

Use Code “DUSTINHDR” to get $10 off ($15 CDN) any Skylum product: Luminar, Aurora, or AirMagic

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Godox AD200 Pro Review

Dustin Abbott

August 5th, 2019

Godox AD200 Pro Review

Shooting with the AD200 Pro

Godox AD200 Product Shots

Godox AD200 Pro Image Gallery

Use Code “DUSTINHDR” to get $10 off ($15 CDN) any Skylum product: Luminar, Aurora, or AirMagic

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Godox V1 Round Head Flash Review

Dustin Abbott

June 19th, 2019

Godox V1 Observations

Images from the Wireless X Portraits (2 V1S units + X-ProS)

Use Code “DUSTINHDR” to get $10 off ($15 CDN) any Skylum product: Luminar, Aurora, or AirMagic

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Rotolight AEOS Dual-Mode Light Image Gallery

Dustin Abbott

March 2nd, 2019

Photos of the Rotolight AEOS

Rotolight AEOS Product Photography

Rotolight AEOS Portrait Photography

Rotolight AEOS Macro Photography

Use Code “DUSTINHDR” to get $10 off ($15 CDN) Luminar and/or AuroraHDR

Related Articles at DustinAbbott.net

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Visit Dustin’s Amazon Storefront and see his favorite gear