Every review I am reminded that this is a photographer's channel for photographers, and not just another market segment review 😁💪. Any gear disrupting the space is always a benefit to the consumer, so this is very cool. I love my lil Q20 for street & candids, but I've always wished for a AD100Pro + smaller trigger. And here we are! Thank you!
You have no idea how much that comment means, I’ve been in the slow lane for growth for 7 years just to try and maintain that perspective! So I appreciate when people see that difference.
@@robhallphoto just reiterating it. Every time I see one of your videos I know it's a "working pro" dropping real advice, not a "sponsored review after 1 hour of using the product i was sent for free". I have learned so much from you, even going back to the blue gels when shooting outdoors 🔥🔥 Thanks so much for your content, it is very appreciated from Gold Coast, Australia!
You are my GOTO person for anything flash related. I especially love your testing and comparisons between different models. Your channel is invaluable. Melbourne Australia, here.
I've eshewed using a flash unit with the photography I do, because I found the triggers and flash units fidgety. But this trigger and a AD 100 pro looks a nice simple combo to use.
I agree with you on the change of the screen outlay. On all points. It makes sense and to me would be very intuitive. I use my flash in a studio setting for mainly portrait and product. So I think this device would work well for me after they make the changes you suggest.
I mean anyone that is remotely a professional will understand that these changes are for the better and nowadays money talks 😂 make the change and you get my money. Don’t make the change and I start looking at competitors.🤷🏽♂️
I would also go as far as to say I think the screen should be a little bit bigger. not too much bigger but at least a little bigger but I know it’s probably too late in development for that maybe the x3 version two
Great presentation! It often takes a minute for the rough edges to be smooth, and you hit all the major points. I think the more Godox listens, the better!
We often work with expensive models and locations. Being fast is very important, as is "staying in the moment". As such, I prefer actual buttons. After a while, you just know where they are by touch, without looking.
I like your ideas to change the screen icons for more real estate. We pre-ordered a unit which will work of our finger size and type of shooting we do. Seeing the screen info outdoors is a big plus for us.
I agree with you on all the changes you suggested for the screen interface. Also, including the APP Mode is important to me becuase I use the Sekonic L-858D-U with Godox transmitter. Controlling the flashes through the large screen of the meter and having a very small trigger on the camera would be a great conbination.
Rob, I agree with your redesign of the UI. I am an architectural and portrait photographer with a studio. I am experimenting with the Xnano as a remote control of my strobe output when shooting twilight shots. I leave the R2 Pro 2 on the camera and fire it with my Camranger 2. I also use the Godox Flash app on my Android phone to adjust my strobe lights, especially in my studio.
I love that suggestion Rob! I still shoot weddings, but this trigger would likely stay in my travel bag as the smallest trigger. The size is the most appealing aspect to me. One other suggestion I’d love to see is single pin mode, then I can really replace my Flashpoint Single pin tx/rx to eke out some extra flash FPS from my cameras. Sad that they didn’t include Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for an app connection. Great review overall! Can’t wait to get my hands on the flashpoint version from Adorama.
I have a feeling that we'll see some additions considering mine is firmware version .72. I can't imagine they'll go backwards on any options so hopefully we'll see both of those.
im a wedding photographer and i have pre-ordered two of these. Thanks for the info about battery life, you have reassured me that it will last long enough for my needs - It's incredibly rare I would use it the entirety of a 10 hour day, and with a big break in the middle to charge from a power bank or swap out I think it will be great. I also have like 10 legacy triggers now as super backups. Your ideas about the touch screen interface are great tell godox I agree - in particular the zoom function does need to be more prominent in the menu (and with similar ALL or SINGLE group adjustment like the pro trigger has) as it's a great feature that had me move over to godox from neewer back in the day.
Yes, I'll definitely wish the pause function can be access on the through the home screen, either hold down or double tap to pause light will be handy, that's function that's stopping from getting the x3
Your interface idea would definitely be better! I really wanted to upgrade my XPro1 trigger for a bluetooth app controllable version for so long. I was super happy when I saw this little new trigger because I really like the new more simple and easy to read interface, but it's so sad they didn't put the app support in it. I really really hope the bluetooth app function will be in the final production unit, that would make it an instant buy for me :)
I used one of these for the first time yesterday and even though I have HSS enabled on the remote and HHS enabled on my camera, I couldn't increase the shutter speed past 1/250. I checked multiple times that HSS was enabled on both, but no matter what I did, I could not get the shutter speed to increase. This was using a Nikon btw.
I like your suggestions and feel they need to be added. I have two of these preorderd and if I had known these features weren’t available I probably would have held off on buying them.
I agree with your changes to the interface! I'll admit I saw this and got 😍. I love small and sleek equipment, but I'll stick to the X-Pro for now. Thank you for preventing me from making a GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) purchase. However, based on your previous review, I purchased the BFP gobo projector, and it is a substantial upgrade from the S-AP. The S-AP isn't bad, per se, but the lack of built-in cutters, the sagging, and the terrible Gobo holder did not always make it a joy to work with. It was way better than the MagBeam or using a cookie/cucoloris.
Thanks for sharing. I'm excited to see that Godox has finally moved beyond 90s LCD displays, but I'm turned off by the size and the touch screen. I was hoping for something that looked more like the Westcott FJ80 II but with some physical buttons. Maybe next time.
I appreciate that you touched on the tactile vs touch in a fast pace environment like a wedding. Even though I haven't shot weddings for years, any potential new equipment still gets its function and feature set ran through the 'Wedding Filter' so to speak. The vast majority of my photography is in studio, and is more planned out vs the fly by the seat of your pants problem solving done at a wedding. The visibility of this remote looks great, and I was waiting for its actual working battery life. The changes you are suggesting are valid. But, everything I've seen on this indicates that it doesn't have a legacy or single pin mode. Going forward, I don't think I would consider a remote without that feature. I have specific remotes to do that, but I want a single solution. Thanks for a great review.
One reason I miss profoto is compact connect trigger with battery that lasted forever, my use is a lot more basic and the app on my phone to change parameters on all my lights worked amazingly. This trigger is just as compact and has built in long lasting battery so 2 out 3 things from the profoto. I’m sold I’ll still keep my other triggers but must likely will switch all of them to these
i drooled over the screen when i saw this cute little f*cker then instantly changed my mind when you said it didnt have zoom control. that is by far the best feature of a transmitter, especially for the outdoor OCF guys, in this current stante it seems that it was intended to be an indoor studio trigger (just because it prioritised the modeling light over the more usefull zoom feature)... tell godox ill get it when they add individual zoom control :D
I agree with your changes in UI and UX. Another change I would make is the ability to display 4 groups at once. Or at least have the ability to choose to display, 1, 2, 3, or 4 groups. However, I don’t know just how small the screen is so I can’t really say if this is a good idea. Thank you so much for looking out for us photographers, keep up the good work!
Having used the multi group screen for 2 weeks now, you don’t want more than 3 groups on it. Even my very medium hands occasionally slide into the wrong group.
Wow! I'm super-impressed with this new trigger from Godox! I've been envious of Profoto's trigger display which Godox looked to have gotten inspiration from. And the Godox is so superior with its touch/dynamic screen. They did a super job with the interface. It looks so intuitive. I love that they give you the knob functionality. Super smart thinking. I do think your ideas for the interface would be good ones. Not too big deal for me because I always use modifiers and use the same setting for all of them. But it would be nice to have that control. Personally, I would like to see the unit 50% bigger. It would still be tiny but just have more space so you don't accidentally touch another button while making adjustments. Especially in a hurry. I only use a dedicated trigger when I'm in the studio. So this would totally work for me. I was A LITTLE concerned about battery life... But after your testimony... Should not be a problem. I charge everything before a shoot so that issue is out of the way. And that little guy should take less than an hour to charge I bet. I've been using Flashpoint products (AWESOME Godox rebrand) for years and equipment has been absolutely fantastic. ZERO issues whatsoever. Six years and everything still working perfectly. Well done Godox! Thanks for the news and video!
That thing is pretty cool. I have one on preorder. The hot shoe mount self destructed on my MK2 under warranty and they replaced it, the plastic broke that retained the springs inside, I’m hoping this shoe mount is more durable.
I just got my Godox X3 and here are my UI comments. 1. The reason I got in your YT channel is because I am looking for a way to set individual group Zoom. 2. I got curious what the hamburger is for. I tried pressing it but nothing happens. Turns out, that's the settings "instruction" for me to swipe down to go to settings. 3.1 I can agree to your design for the modeling lamp being full width. 3.2 The modeling lamp you made is a good spot. 4. The pause icon can be combined with the M mode and TTL mode. Consider it as options M, TTL, or || modes. This way, you can use the knob to turn it on/off. I can't agree to make the pause a 1 sec touch-hold from the home since no one would know it unless they read the manual, and that will conflict with the knob's long press. The changes need to accommodate both touch screen and physical buttons. In home screen, between the parameters - and +, there is a square icon (at the very beginning). Then when you press the parameter, it then changes to a value. I don't understand what the square is for. I thought I could press it. As of version 1.16, the arrow down icon beside the hamburger is now gone.
your ideas about the UI make sense. i went and pre-ordered it, so i guess we'll see if they listen to you. I primarily shoot studio and mostly been switching to LED. I wanted to give this a try because i've been experimenting with light painting so having a small unit with that led screen might make it easier to adda flash at the end of my painting. I also like the low profile of the unit compared to the x-pro
I'd go one step further, I think the interface changes you suggested are great, however, maybe an onscreen UI editor with options to move buttons where you like them. Firmware will drive the functionality but UI will enable/disable/move functions as you please. Great video.
I think your points on the zoom function on the layout is super valid and would be nice to see that implemented, one thing I’d like to know what is the hot shoe connection is like on the Sony does it still have the pins on the front to connect to the camera? As I’ve bent the pins on my xpro2 somehow so would be nice to have the standard pin on the base for connection
YES! to the screen layout change. For the “hold” function to turn a group on/off, I would also love to see them include in deeper settings an option for the user to choose how long to hold, such as ¼ sec, ½ sec, 1 sec, and even 2 seconds, as just a simple tap really is a very short length of time, and some of us would love to have a very short hold time for that function. Even better (for MY “needs,” at least): One day in a future hardware iteration, implement some kind of 3D touch, such as light touches and hard presses/mashes to perform different functions, like we’ve seen on iPhone, which could be great for group on/off (hard mash could allow for quicker on/off, without accidentally doing so), but also for multiple functions that could use a pop-up submenu/list, etc. I’d be more than happy for the unit/screen to grow 1-3” larger (plus larger battery size to support larger screen) and to pay a reasonable premium, if necessary, in order to make accurate hard presses easy, if 3D touch allowed them to implement a more streamlined interface, overall. Quibble: Why put the crown/jog dial/button on the right side, when the right hand is already busy holding the camera!? Yeah, I get that most people are right-handed, so they might be more comfortable navigating quickly with it using the right hand. But they’d get used to it on the left side, and wouldn’t it allow for easier uninterrupted right-handed operation of the camera while making occasional adjustments with the crown? Maybe one day they can add a “Hey Godox” function (like Siri/Alexa) with optional whisper mode, so I can work in the dark without looking OR touching the trigger, simply by saying, “Hey, Godox: Group A ½, Group B ¼, Group C off” (while still having touch options, in case I’m in a quiet wedding ceremony or loud reception/concert). Come on, Godox, spoil me! 😂 For winter outdoor shoots here in MN, I’ll stick with the tactile buttons (but would love to have a beefy, oversized version of the new crown/dial) when wearing gloves. But for everything indoor, or at least above 15°F, or when traveling and condensing my gear as much as possible, I’d love to have this touch screen one with your layout changes! -Mostly commercial, + some trad portraits, lifestyle, events
Thank you for yet another outstanding video! I'm fully on board with your suggestions for enhancing the user interface. I fully share your views on the importance of allowing per-channel zoom settings and the implementation of an 'app' mode. It would be definitely beneficial if the X3 could integrate with the Godox module in my light meter…
and for people who shoot portrait on a tripod, if they could make a square version that automatically orientates itself between landscape and portrait, that would be great!
Im mainly video these days, so using my leds to light my on location food shots, but could do with a small flash set up. The AD100 pro and this trigger maybe a good start.
I was dead against this but for my work I don't think the internal battery would really be an issue. Tend to run my X Pro triggers on 1.2V rechargeable which I know folk say don't do but they work, would remove that potential issue using this trigger. May reach out to Godoix / Pixapro here in the UK to get hands on one.
It would be pretty sweet if they would add the ability to adjust things on a smart watch. Specific use case scenario, but still a pretty sweet idea IMO
Godox, I hope you will be reading these comments for improvements. I have two X2 triggers and I have just pre-ordered two of these X3. With a small screen, you should optimize your icon size, layout and placement. Thanks :)
I love the X2 Pro and the physical buttons but for my mobile kit when I want to keep things compact this would be perfect because I typically only use one OCF with my minimal kit. I am with you that a few years ago I would have passed on this because of the integrated battery but a small power bank and/or block is part of all my bags to charge everything. I don't see this being my go-to trigger for studio work with more than 3 groups but, believe it or not, I've been wrong before. I've got one on preorder so we shall see how well it works with my fat fingers lol. Having the physical dial to help make adjustments should help with any potential issues there.
Haven't tried the X3 yet, but something that I'm sorely missing from the XPro and the XPro II I'm using is a way to quickly toggle whole sets of groups. I'm a concert photographer and very often I have a setup of two flashes (A and B) pointed at the stage and a third flash (C) pointed at the crowd; so 95% of the time I'm looking at the stage, but from time to time something interesting happens in the crowd and I wish there was a quick way to turn off A and B and turn on C; with the current implementation on the XPro II - say I have A and B enabled and I want to switch to C only - I have to double tap A, double tap B, double tap C - and for that time the moment might be gone. If I have group C enabled all the time, it might be annoying to the crowd. If there was something like user banks through which I could switch quickly, it would address the problem. I know there is a preset menu, but going through it is even slower than what I described. On the XPro II I can see this doable by sacrificing one of the soft buttons - I very rarely use modelling lights; the HSS toggle can probably also sit in the menu.
Wish they came with a universal hot shoe mount like the wescott fj-x3. I have a few godox flashes and both Sony and Panasonic cameras having a universal trigger would have been the selling point for me
You have almost the same functions with the Flashpoint X2 Pro or any other Godox trigger that has Bluetooth capability when connected to a phone using the Godox app for iPhone and Android. The difference is an extremely tiny screen vs a phone's much larger screen 🙂
Equating those two things is ridiculous. One is on the camera which you already have your hands on. The other is in your pocket, screen real estate doesn’t matter much when you have to dig in your pocket and use Face ID to go +.3 on a group.
@@robhallphoto True but irl it is a lot easier to use the R2 Pro and X2"s buttons than to fiddle with a tiny screen and if you want touch controls just point you phone to your face and you can choose and modify ant light without having to scroll from light to light because of the phone apps real estate, in the tiny screen you have to change one, then scroll to another and change that one, and so on unless you are modifying all at once, in most cases is one mainly adjusts only one light because it might be over under exposing
We had talked about this exact style years ago. Around the time Profoto came out with their Connect. I had said I'd love a tiny transmitter and control from the app. You were adamant about being able to adjust flashes on the transmitter for weddings and didn't see a use for the Connect. Which I saw a benefit too of the larger transmitter for weddings. Being 2 different style photographers showed the differences and for good reasons. I'm wondering if app control will be available. Or if I can adjust on a Sekonic light meter. Both are a benefit. Also, as I already tether most of the time, having a second window with light control while having capture one up for large pics for the shoot would be wonderful. Look at large shot, adjust lighting at the tripod. Re shoot. I mount a Surface Pro to my tripod. I can still walk away from the tripod to shoot freestyle but it's there to hold the surface pro and camera for slow stills. We shall see what the future holds. I now try to use the smaller transmitters. I don't have a direct line to Godox anymore. But have 2 of these on order. Next wish. An AD2400pro battery flash with 2 outputs. And fix the Godox Focusable Parabolic by using a more reflective inner liner instead of the dispersion liner. I love the Broncolor Para's. Godox got the shape right, and the liner wrong. Down the line step. A great wireless transfer option from camera to Surface Pro built in. The camera then stays as small as can be. I hate the large transmitters hanging off it. I would love great wireless transfer. Canon are you listening? Build it in. It's 2024 for christ sake. P.S. tried this with my M6II that they are no longer making. It works. A tiny pro level camera with tiny transmitter and a couple Ad100 pros. When I don't want to haul out the R5.
Update v1.13 brings back connecting the X3s to the Sekonic L-858. Updates on a Mac (M3 Max used) need to go through Godox G3 and a intermediate hub, but after connection simple and seamless. Use the unit for studio and mobile use. Battery is no factor. Even if battery was an issue, plugging in a power source - continues to operate/fire while on charging/outside power! (Yes, I've run it that way...continuing to check lighting on the Sekonic and shooting!)
This looks very appealing. Thank you for the quick bit very informative review. Love the size and form factor, interested in studio setting myself so don't mind the slower interaction with the touch ui. One more thing of interest that I wish you could have mentioned. Does it have focus assist lights?
The idea is great. Would be even greater if i could remove stuff i don't need, like the zoom and modeling lamp, making space for vertical power slider(giving more steps). The brightness slide should be on the drop down menu, i image some would love to change it really often. In the same drop down menu if one would do a long press on the modeling lamp it should display the modeling lamp power and allow the user to change it. We should be allowed to change what stuff we need there and what we don't. I would never lock my display for example, a slider for the screen brightness would be more help full in its place.
Customization would be awesome, and I do think a brightness slider would be helpful. The long press modeling lamp control in the drop down doesn’t make sense though, as it doesn’t apply to a specific group.
@@robhallphoto regarding modeling lamp I was referring to the fact that a long press would open the menu for all the groups and have the modeling light adjustments.
Just a thought; maybe it is good to combine the very small trigger with an ipad or so using the Bluetooth interface of the godox devices? Maybe an idea in the studio? On an ipad each group could be a vertical slider for power. Easy interface, fast; provide possibility to save a setup and name it in the App. Going crazy would be to have a file that can be used in Set.a.light.3D.
I would love to know if you could have it in use while charging with a power bank. I think your idea for the UI is spot on. I’m a wedding photographer. I actually think this trigger will be nice to use! I preordered one and I’m excited to try it. I’ve had the X2s and the Pro one, I got a lot of misfires with those and they were huge and often got caught on things while moving around a venue. The x3 being smaller will be nice.
Miss the "App"-Mode the most, always using it together with a Seconic L858D with Godox Transmitter. Plus One (+1) to your suggested menu changes, though I would miss the Pause-Button there. Found one problem with my X3: When using it with my Sony A1, and activating HSS-Mode, this setting reverts automatically back to "front curtain" after a while, meaning I get an over exposed shot and have to re-enable HSS. Did not find out yet what triggers the reset, perhaps toggling the camera off and on, or the X3 going to sleep and waking up, don't know yet
Hello first I want to say thank you for all of your information that you have given us over the years regarding Lighting. What I would like from you if you would please do a tutorial on the flashpoint 600 pro II or the godox 600 pro II . Especially regarding the high-speed sink scenario that they have for this light I am completely lost when you enter the realm of the 512 set up that they have and then the freeze mode that they have in the system unfortunately I have not seen any videos whatsoever at all regarding this or explaining how it actually works. There are a few other issues inside the menu that's a little elusive as well can you go over each one of those especially the odd ones you have your normal settings that are self-explanatory and then there's a couple settings in there that are confusing and I'm not sure exactly what there for. Once again thank you and I hope to see some information on this light in the future
My first impression of this was that it looked really cool. And then just about everything about it didn't really seem to improve over the Xpro 2, especially when I've already paid for that. I feel like the 3 strikes against it is that it's too small for something that I need to use often during a shoot, it could die on you during the shoot (maybe you can plug it into the camera?) with no fast way to remedy that, and it's $90 to replace something that does the same exact thing, only better.
