Godox has constructed a popularity for delivering succesful and inexpensive lighting, with flashes just like the Godox V1 and Godox AD200 changing into go-to workhorses for numerous photographers. However with each new product, the query arises: is it only a minor spec bump or a real leap ahead? The brand new Godox V100, the corporate’s flagship on-camera flash, arrived promising two main developments: a big energy enhance to 100 Ws and a contemporary touchscreen interface. Is that sufficient to make it price an improve?
Taken collectively, the options intention to handle the core wants of photographers who require a flexible on-camera mild that may deal with all the things from fast-paced occasions to portrait classes. I took a better look to see if the V100’s efficiency and usefulness dwell as much as its spectacular spec sheet.
Construct and Design
From the second you choose up the V100, it’s clear it is a premium strobe. The construct high quality is strong, with a smooth design that appears skilled. It weighs 619 grams with its battery, which is hefty however not overly burdensome as soon as it’s on the new shoe. Probably the most outstanding characteristic is the massive and vibrant touchscreen on the again, which instantly units it aside from the button-and-dial interfaces of its predecessors.
Godox has redesigned the new shoe, and I like the brand new design, because it seems a bit extra rugged. It is a welcome change for anybody who has skilled the frustration of a damaged or malfunctioning scorching shoe mount on previous fashions. Whereas I didn’t run into the identical diploma of points with the previous shoe design, I used to be additionally utilizing my gear in a slower-paced studio-shooting setting. Whereas long-term sturdiness is but to be confirmed, the brand new design (and a focus paid to this half) conjures up confidence.
Maybe essentially the most sensible new design alternative is on the VB30 lithium-ion battery. It may be charged straight by way of a built-in USB-C port, lowering the necessity for the proprietary charging dock of earlier battery fashions. The flexibility to high up a battery from an influence financial institution, laptop computer, or normal USB-C wall adapter is a large quality-of-life enchancment for anybody engaged on location.
Energy and Efficiency
The headline characteristic of the V100 is its 100 Ws energy output. This represents a significant enhance over the 76 Ws present in fashions just like the V1 and Godox V860III. For occasion photographers in unaccommodating and darkish venues, it means extra attain and the flexibility to keep up decrease ISOs. For portrait shooters working outside, it affords extra juice to open up shadows or form mild by way of barely bigger modifiers than you’ll count on from a scorching shoe strobe.
This additional energy is paired with good thermal administration. Godox claims the V100 can hearth between 70 and 100 consecutive full-power flashes earlier than its thermal safety engages. For photographers masking prolonged motion sequences, this implies the flash is much much less more likely to decelerate or shut off at a vital second. The complete-power recycle time is a still-respectable 1.7 seconds, however on the partial energy ranges used extra generally, recycling feels principally instantaneous.
For these with flagship world shutter cameras, such because the Sony a9 III, the V100 can be appropriate with this new tech. This permits for flash synchronization at shutter speeds as much as an astounding 1/80,000 of a second, opening up new artistic prospects for freezing movement in brightly lit environments.
The Touchscreen Interface
The transfer to a touchscreen interface might be divisive (simply see the talk over touchscreens in automobiles), however Godox has carried out it effectively right here. The display screen is responsive, and the menu system is essentially intuitive. Fundamental operations are fluid and harking back to different good touchscreen UIs, with solely just a little little bit of a studying curve. Swipe gestures provide you with fast entry to the important thing controls photographers would need: energy, settings, flash modes. Energy, scrolling, and flash testing all get devoted guide buttons.
Whereas photographers accustomed to the muscle reminiscence of bodily buttons may have a shoot or two to regulate, the visible interface is straightforward to know. Total, the additional performance enabled by the touchscreen outweighs considerations over muscle reminiscence, notably for flash workflows which are set-and-forget.
Options and the Godox Ecosystem
The V100 comes with a small, removable sub-flash designed to offer a catchlight or a contact of direct fill when the primary head is bounced. It’s an fascinating thought, however I didn’t discover myself too excited to make use of it. Manually setting its energy for each shot is unfeasible in dynamic taking pictures environments, so TTL help could be a giant win in a future mannequin.
Off-camera, the V100 excels. It integrates completely into Godox’s well-established 2.4 GHz wi-fi system, functioning reliably as a receiver unit. It may be managed from any Godox X-series set off or one other flash set to grasp mode. This versatility solely provides to the V100’s worth, and the 100 Ws output makes it a reputable supply to be used on a stand at a little bit of distance or by way of a modifier.
Total, it’s clear the Godox V100 is extra than simply an incremental replace. The mixture of class-leading 100 Ws energy, sturdy thermal efficiency, and the comfort of USB-C charging makes it an awesome possibility for lively photographers. Whereas the sub-flash feels underdeveloped, that doesn’t detract from the flash’s excellent core efficiency.
For occasion, marriage ceremony, and portrait photographers who want a robust, dependable, and versatile flash that works seamlessly each on and off digicam, the V100 presents a compelling package deal. It’s a contemporary, highly effective mild and one more nice entry in Godox’s flash ecosystem.
The Godox V100 is obtainable for buy now for Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, and Sony.
What I Favored
Class-leading 100 Ws of energy supplies flexibility for a strobe
Wonderful thermal efficiency retains up throughout intense taking pictures conditions
Direct USB-C battery charging is a good comfort
The massive, responsive touchscreen is sweet trying and intuitive to make use of
Seamless integration with the sturdy Godox wi-fi ecosystem
International shutter sync help supplies future-proofing for high-end cameras
What May Be Improved
