Godox Lux Senior Flash Evaluate

Should you’re somebody who started their pictures with digital cameras, we are able to safely say you’ve in all probability by no means used a flash that appears like this. With a exact intention to be an attention-grabbing dialog starter, the Godox Lux Senior is a pocket-sized flash that appears nice when opened up. It may be a bit daunting to make use of for novices, however I doubt this product is aimed toward them. You might want to work inside and across the flash’s limitations to get the perfect out of it. General, it’s in all probability one thing you’d use for the enjoyment of difficult your self than as knowledgeable accent.

Subscribers get some candy perks and are routinely entered into contests! Obtain our app for iOS, iPad, and Android and get no banner adverts for $24.99/12 months.

When Godox introduced their Lux Senior and Lux Junior flashes, editor-in-chief Chris Gampat and I instantly knew we needed to check these out. I do know Chris in all probability retains his on his X-Professional 3 on a regular basis when he goes out. Each these items look superior and, difficult as they’re, they’re a lot of enjoyable to make use of. They’re devoid of most helpful flash options we’re used to, like TTL and high-speed sync. This implies you’ll must step up your gentle metering abilities whereas utilizing them.

I obtained a whole lot of curious appears to be like when individuals noticed the Godox Lux Senior opened up on my digital camera. That reflector actually will get individuals questioning what you’re planning with the flash. Present them what it does and make some new mates or admirers. However have enjoyable with it no matter you do. And recognize the skilled photographers from many years in the past who solely had handbook flashes to work with however nonetheless made nice footage.

The Massive Image

A pocket-sized flash that’s enjoyable to make use of and challenges you every time you click on, the Godox Lux Senior isn’t for everybody. Should you’re somebody who’s used handbook flashes loads after which moved on to computerized ones, you’ll benefit from the throwback the expertise of utilizing this one offers. Should you’ve by no means used a type of earlier than, then the preliminary few days with it may be irritating. However I can’t say it is a flash to be taken significantly. Very similar to you’d use an Instax digital camera at a celebration or a household gathering, it’s extra for the enjoyment of utilizing one and the quirky outcomes it offers than the rest.

It will possibly produce the precise outcomes when used within the acceptable situations. And it’s USB-C rechargeable, so there’s no fumbling round to search out the batteries for it in your drawer stuffed with spares. It’s an extremely good dialog starter and will provide you with a strong appreciation for the struggles that film-era photographers would undergo every day.

The Godox Lux Senior receives 4 out of 5 stars. Need one? Examine them out on Amazon.

Professionals

• Head-turning design whenever you open up the reflector
• Pocket-sized and weighing simply 227 grams/8 ounces
• S1 and S2 optical slave modes can be found (however I don’t actually see anybody utilizing this flash as one)
• Guide and Auto modes
• Enjoyable to make use of when you perceive set the metering panel
• Not digital camera mannequin particular. It will possibly work with just about any digital camera that has a scorching shoe
• Constructed-in rechargeable battery
• Rated to work even in 122F temperatures

Cons

• No TTL or high-speed sync
• Flash head can’t tilt or rotate to bounce off ceilings or partitions.

If Godox makes a smartphone app for the Senior and Junior flashes, that may assist individuals perceive accurately set the flash energy primarily based on their digital camera settings. It’s not rocket science in fact. However I can see many newbie photographers and non-strobists may discover the metering dial on the Godox Lux Senior a little bit complicated.

Gear Used

The Godox Lux Senior unit we acquired is for retains. We examined the flash with the next:

• Nikon Z6 II
• Nikkor Z 50mm f1.8 S lens
• Nikkor Z 24-120 f4 S lens

Improvements

If something in right here could be thought-about modern, it’s the truth that Godox managed to suit a naked flash bulb and a spherical reflector right into a pocket-sized flash. It’s not a lot larger (when folded) than their TT350 mannequin. The design is a pleasant homage to the flashes of yesteryear, and Godox ought to be applauded for doing one thing completely different than everybody else.

Ergonomics

It’s small. It’s not a lot larger than a standard-sized Swiss Military knife. You may even mistake this for a pockets or coin holder of some form for those who don’t flip it round to see the again.

The entrance and sides are lined with artificial leather-based, which isn’t notably tender. I assume this was added extra for the look of it.

On the rear, you might have the flash take a look at button, which additionally acts because the indicator for when the flash is able to fireplace.

You even have the S1 and S2 optical slave modes. For the aim of this assessment, this was switched to the OFF place.

The ability change means that you can set it to Automated or Guide mode, and also you even have the flash energy dial in addition to the Metering Ring.

Open up the primary compartment, and also you’ll be greeted by the primary flash bulb and the folded reflector. The bulb doesn’t routinely tuck away whenever you’re performed, so that you’ll must press on it as you shut the flash for storage.

One aspect is apparent, whereas the opposite has USB-C charging and sync ports.

Ease of Use

Godox features a pocket-sized printed handbook contained in the field of the Godox Lux Senior. You may also obtain a pdf of the manualvoff the product web page on their web site. However sadly, you may’t seek for textual content in that pdf; it seems to only be photographs of the handbook inside it.

I might flip the ability change to ON solely after opening the flash to keep away from unintentionally triggering it whereas it’s closed. It’s not probably the most highly effective of flashes, however I wouldn’t need to expose the inside to any warmth the flash may generate if triggered.

As a result of the new shoe doesn’t have the contact factors wanted to switch data between the flash and digital camera, it’s finest to show publicity preview off in your digital camera. That is normally the d8 or d9 menu setting on Nikon Z cameras. When utilizing flashes just like the SB910 or the Godox V1, your digital camera adjusts the LCD/EVF preview primarily based in your flash setting and the digital camera settings. Let’s say you have been indoors and needed to make use of your Godox Lux Senior flash at 1/200s, f4, and ISO 100. Should you had publicity preview turned on, you’d in all probability get a darkish EVF end result utilizing the digital camera indoors with these settings.

AF Is Higher When Publicity Preview Is Turned Off

I used to be making an attempt this out inside a dimly lit espresso store, and it was powerful for my Z6II to get the eye-tracking AF to work. I sometimes go away publicity preview on even when my common speedlights are connected, because the digital camera compensates for the flash energy settings. Turning publicity preview off makes the EVF and LCD operate like an optical viewfinder. When utilizing Godox Lux Senior, hold the publicity preview turned off. You’d must meter manually or use trial and error for the right energy output, however you may focus loads simpler with the flash connected and publicity preview off.

The primary time I opened up the reflector, I couldn’t fan it again in accurately. By some means, the rearmost reflector petal (if we are able to name it that) obtained caught on the 1 o’clock place. Whereas I used to be in a position to flip all the opposite petals again over the bottom one, I couldn’t shut the flash since this wants the petals to be within the 12 o’clock place. Light nudging didn’t assist repair it, so I gave it a bit extra strain than I might use to attempt to transfer it. Fortunately it popped again into place, and I may shut the flash. I believe the bottom petal could have been moved out of place the primary time. It’s finest to not use an excessive amount of power whereas fanning out the reflector for taking images, simply in case this isn’t simply a difficulty with my unit alone.

Godox says the Lux Senior offers 150 flashes at full energy. This additionally signifies that the recycle time then drops to only beneath three seconds.

Guide Mode

That is in all probability the easiest way to make use of the Godox Lux Senior flash. I couldn’t instantly work out how the dials on the again of the flash labored. Certainly one of them was for setting the ability output, however the internal dial simply appeared to show a bit too easily to have any impact on settings. It seems that this dial really doesn’t do something besides make it easier to calculate the ability output extra effectively.

So the best way to do that proper is to first choose your digital camera settings, particularly ISO and aperture. Then make an approximation of the topic’s distance out of your digital camera. You don’t have to contemplate your focal size, simply the precise distance of your topic. Flip the metering dial in the back of the flash in order that the ISO worth in your digital camera traces up with the space worth. You’ll now see the assorted aperture values aligning with the beneficial energy settings, however that is simply an indicator. See what energy worth corresponds with the aperture setting you’ve dialed in in your digital camera. Then flip the ability dial to match this worth.

Sounds sophisticated? Will probably be for those who’re not used to utilizing older handbook flashes. However for those who suppose it is a time-consuming approach, then go forward and do what I do, even with most newer flashes. Begin with an influence worth that feels proper to you. Take a snap and dial up or down the ability energy till you get a correctly uncovered picture. As a rule, this shall be a faster approach to make use of this flash.

Auto Mode

There may be an optical sensor on the entrance of the flash, which I consider is what does the ability output calculations for the Godox Lux Senior in auto mode. I ran a number of trials the place I alternated between handbook mode and auto, to see if the auto mode actually did modify the ability by itself. It positively gave me brighter photographs in comparison with the handbook setting it was on. However in my assessments, I discovered that the output was underexposed. Whereas it wasn’t erratic, I most well-liked to make use of the handbook mode for higher management over the output.

Picture High quality

In case your white steadiness is about to auto, you may see your photographs having a blue tinge. Dial in Flash WB, and also you’d be seeing your outcomes trying extra impartial or heat.

Now the dearth of a tiltable head means you could’t bounce the sunshine output off partitions and ceilings, which I sometimes like to do to get softer outcomes when utilizing speedlights. Bear in mind the look that tiny flashes in compact cameras used to offer when used with group footage? It’s not fairly as harsh as that, however the Godox Lux Senior can provide that look for those who’ve dialed in energy output that’s increased than wanted. Anticipate blown highlights and harsh shadows whereas utilizing the Godox Lux Senior for those who use TTL in your flashes more often than not. That doesn’t imply you may’t get good outcomes utilizing the Godox Lux Senior. It’s simply that you simply’d must do just about all of the work to get the publicity proper when doing so.

In case your digital camera has built-in image profiles or can use customized ones that mimic movie inventory, that might make your photographs look much more nostalgic.

Additional Picture Samples

From day one, The Phoblographer has been big on transparency with our viewers. Nothing from this assessment is sponsored. Additional, a lot of of us will submit evaluations and present a lot of modifying within the images. The issue then turns into that anybody and everybody can do the identical factor. They’re not exhibiting what the lens can do. So we have now a piece in our Additional Picture Samples space to indicate edited and unedited images. From this, you can also make a choice for your self.

Unedited

Edited

Who Ought to Purchase it?

Should you’re right into a barely harsher flash output look, reminiscent of what some style photographers are into as of late, then the Godox Lux Senior would work fairly nicely for you. It gave me higher outcomes outside when used as a fill flash. Indoors, it actually wants persistence. Should you’re the one who’s at all times requested to deliver a digital camera to events and occasions, slip this flash into your again pocket. It’ll get a whole lot of fascinating questions and make you the star of the night. Pair it with an honest digital camera, and also you’ll get photographs that rival any instantaneous digital camera’s output. Or, if you wish to channel your internal Bruce Gilden and do some close-up avenue portraits on the go, add this to your arsenal. It’ll problem you with each click on, and also you’ll enhance the images you’re taking with it. I’m eager to see what else Godox has lined up for launch.

Tech Specs

Taken from the Godox Lux Senior product web page:

The Phoblographer could obtain affiliate compensation for merchandise bought utilizing hyperlinks on this weblog submit.