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Archive 2018 · Godox alternatives ...

RustyBug
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p.1 #1 · Godox alternatives ...

Late to the party and been away from using lighting for a few years, but recently learned of the Godox lineup.

Godox has caught my attention for a variety of reasons.

Way back when, I had an Armatar (Viivtar 283 fitted with studio tube) and loved it's output with the interchangeable reflector / bare bulb (Norman mount, iirc). So, the Godox system has an appeal to me for its similar approach. It strikes me as an Armatar / Norman style ... but with Li battery systems and remotes.

So ... my question is if they are "good" pieces of equipment, or good idea, but cheaped out just a bit too much to hit the "you get what you pay for" price point?

And, if they did "cheap" out a bit much ... does anyone else have a similar system (i.e. Armatar-ish), but maybe with a better build?

I haven't found all the specs yet, but I'm curious to know the t 0.1 and 0.5 times. For this price, I don't expect it to perform like Profoto or Broncolor, but I don't want something that is scrapin' the bottom, either.

Reading the other threads, it strikes me that as long as you don't expect them to work like a Ferrari running at Lemans, they're suitable for a degree of mobility / field lighting.

TIA

Jan 09, 2018 at 10:00 PM

dmacmillan
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p.1 #2 · Godox alternatives ...

Can't help you Kent, but I'm also interested, especially in the AD200 with the dual unit attachment. I've rad good reviews. Go to YouTube and do a search. There's some really interesting videos, especially concerning high speed synch.

Jan 09, 2018 at 11:05 PM

RustyBug
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p.1 #3 · Godox alternatives ...

dmacmillan wrote:
Can't help you Kent, but I'm also interested, especially in the AD200 with the dual unit attachment. I've rad good reviews. Go to YouTube and do a search. There's some really interesting videos, especially concerning high speed synch.

Doug, thanks. I'll continue to look into it.

Jan 09, 2018 at 11:16 PM

johnvanr
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p.1 #4 · Godox alternatives ...

I just bought some Godox stuff from Adorama (where it�s called Flashpoint). No real use yet, but looks and feels solid. I went with Flashpoint, because apparently the customer service is better than some of the other iterations of the same gear. Tons of positive reviews on the Adorama site.

Jan 09, 2018 at 11:39 PM

jlafferty
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p.1 #5 · Godox alternatives ...

I have used the AD360's for a while now, and have loved them. Moved through a lot of lighting setups - Speedotron 805 with a DIY battery & inverter; Speedotron 1500 Explore; various speedlights; all while working with Profoto gear when client budgets permit.

The Godox stuff, via the Adorama Flashpoint brand, are hands-down my favorite lighting tool to date. They are - for my workflow and needs - the perfect overlap of compact, light weight, clean, high output, good modifier ecosystem, ease of use, reliability.

You can read about my experiences using the 360 in Japan here: https://www.adorama.com/alc/jim-lafferty

The next two articles, in the current series on studio lighting, should go live soon... the final installment being lighting setups and output all using Godox/Flashpoint: beauty, full length fashion, and action.

I'm now in possession of review units of the Xplor600 as well as two Evolv200s with the twin bracket, and am shooting and prepping material for an in depth series on the Evolv200 which should be rolling out in the next 4-6 weeks.

In short, while I love the 360s, and especially the 360TTLs, they have sat in my bag largely unused since getting the Evolvs with the twin adapter. The 360s are there now for backups or when I need rim/environment lighting. For much of my work I'm moving to playing the 200s with the twin adapter in a large soft source, against the Xplor in either a soft or hard source, fill and key; or reversing. The setup is so stupid easy; the batteries last forever, 2... sometimes 3 shoots; the workflow is so fluid, especially with the new XPro transmitter. Photography, even under time pressures and other shoot dynamics, has become a really fluid experience.

Build quality is above the threshold I need in order to walk into a gig confidently, but honestly I don't pride myself on kicking or dropping my gear to show how rugged it is - I take care.

I've so far shot 3 covers (4?), and a handful of editorials, plus a lot of personal work, all with the Flashpoint line. And TBH, don't see myself switching for a loooong time. Profoto, Bron, Elinchrom all get respect as premium brands, but TBH if given the choice, even if money were no object, I'd shoot with Flashpoint over any of them.

Jan 09, 2018 at 11:45 PM

RustyBug
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p.1 #6 · Godox alternatives ...

Thanks for the info.

The "fluid" aspect is part of the draw, as well as what I'd call "mid-size" (others may call small) modifiers.

The AD360 is what caught my attention first (being Armatar-ish), but seeing that the same modifiers work on the AD200, I'm starting to think the AD200 route (to your point) is looking

a bit more and more for my needs.

I've got the Vagabond mini and an AB400 that I've used (been a while) in the past, but it just got cumbersome after a bit. As to the "care" of my gear, scuffs are no biggie, but I don't go bangin' it around too much either. But, otoh I don't care for rickety (i.e. read good plastic is different from cheap plastic, even if not metal).

Not a pressing decision, but they've caught my attention in a way that I wasn't expecting. I've never liked speedlights (AA batteries, modifier challenged), but I know I could benefit from some portable field lighting. Studio lights, packs, monolights, VBM, etc. seem to bulky for the hiking trail.

AD200 ... is it Goldilocks between the two

Jan 10, 2018 at 12:08 AM

c102690
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p.1 #7 · Godox alternatives ...

I'm looking at eVOLV200 myself.

@jlafferty - thanks for the great article on these products...Looking forward to part #2 and #3 of your article.

Jan 10, 2018 at 12:27 AM

jlafferty
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p.1 #8 · Godox alternatives ...

Thanks!

Check this out�

https://www.pdnonline.com/gear/techniques/lighting/11-minutes-with-bruce-springsteen/#gallery-1

"In the garage, Derballa had Springsteen lean against one of his old cars. Visible in the background is a window that reveals other windows in the stalls inside the garage. Another small, high window was at camera right. Just outside the window, Hall held up a monopod with a Flashpoint Streaklight 360 and a Photek SoftLighter attached. The SoftLighter is �basically an umbrella with a sock,� says Derballa. �It�s probably one of my favorites.� With the Streaklight, he notes, �You can change the power on the transmitter from the hot shoe on my camera, so I don�t have to tell Perry to power up or down.�

Jan 10, 2018 at 08:28 AM

hijazist
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p.1 #9 · Godox alternatives ...

I've been using Flashpoint for 2 years coming from Profoto, and Elinchrom before that. I was honestly very happy with Profoto, but it was a serious financial decision every time I wanted to expand my kit.

I have a couple of Xplor 600's and 5 Flashpoint R2 Lion speedlights. Maybe I am lucky, but I haven't had a single issue since purchasing them. They're very well built even compared to more expensive brands. The R2 system is better than anything I've seen from other brands with regards to compatibility within the system; one remote controls all your lights (strobes, speedlights, streaklight etc...) with no wire or receivers.

More importantly, I noticed that they listen to their customer base judging by the updates and the products they introduce. The only thing I don't like is the Bowens mounts.

Jan 10, 2018 at 12:12 PM

Fotografpaul
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p.1 #10 · Godox alternatives ...

The phottix is better built, compare the Indra 500 to the AD600 and it's not even funny. The Swivel is normal height and in metal, the display is large and clear and a lot easier to see outdoors.

Phottix has similar S brackets (for their speed lights), but all better built and with spring tension and well padded to not scratch the speedlights etc, all better than the Godox imo.

So in terms of build, the Phottix is a lot better from my experience.

Jan 10, 2018 at 02:59 PM

jzucker
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p.1 #11 · Godox alternatives ...

Not so sure about that. I know a number of photographers that have switched from Phottix to godox saying that the godox is much more reliable.

Fotografpaul wrote:
The phottix is better built, compare the Indra 500 to the AD600 and it's not even funny. The Swivel is normal height and in metal, the display is large and clear and a lot easier to see outdoors.

Phottix has similar S brackets (for their speed lights), but all better built and with spring tension and well padded to not scratch the speedlights etc, all better than the Godox imo.

So in terms of build, the Phottix is a lot better from my experience.

Jan 10, 2018 at 08:51 PM

RustyBug
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p.1 #12 · Godox alternatives ...

Took a peak at the Phottix site. I didn't see anything that compares with the form factor of the AD200 concept (modular battery, "slip over" modifiers) or the Armatar style mount.

Looks like Phottix is just another "wired battery pack" AC/DC option.

Jan 10, 2018 at 09:08 PM

Fotografpaul
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p.1 #13 · Godox alternatives ...

jzucker wrote:
Not so sure about that. I know a number of photographers that have switched from Phottix to godox saying that the godox is much more reliable.

Iv worked with both so in my opinion, the Phottix is superior (comparing Indra 500 to AD600E) in every way.

I don't use either for work, as i have no use for them. But if I was forced I would pick the Phottix any day of the week.

Jan 10, 2018 at 09:11 PM

Jay Ford
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p.1 #14 · Godox alternatives ...

Yeah. We keep hearing about how horribly unreliable and terribly built the Godox line is, and wonderful imagery continues to be shot with them.

Jan 10, 2018 at 10:15 PM

jlafferty
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p.1 #15 · Godox alternatives ...

The Indra looks nice and if Godox didn't exist I'd probably buy it and be a fan. That said, how a handle swivels, how a bracket feels, degrees of screen clarity� past a certain minimum build quality the differences aren't, to me, worth $150-300 dollars (20-40%).

I absolutely get why people are irritated by the clackety swivel on the Bowens S brackets, or the surprisingly dim screen on the 200s, but let's be real: it's not going to keep me from making a gig happen. And nothing else at the moment allows me to make gigs happen quite like the Flashpoint gear.

As I've said before, put anything in a Softlighter and watch - in real world use, not just shooting charts or a wall - how quickly the differences between a $750 light and a $2500 light shrink to almost nothing. In fact, if you compare the AD200 in a Photek to anything else, the only significant variable is output power, and in some cases recycle time - quality and character of light is the same. It's a shame to think you might have to rely on the same kind of light Leibovitz uses to get work done, but somehow I have a feeling we could all scrape by with it

Simply put the Godox stuff sits on a spectrum of "good enough" to "class leading at any price" and still comes in less expensive than Phottix. The AD200/Evolv200, paired with the twin bracket, has totally rewritten how people can relate to a 400ws, dual head setup. Try and find anything that packs like it. If you're doing environmental portraiture, beauty/headshots, even full length motion, you can make a lot happen with the twin AD200 setup.

Fotografpaul wrote:
The phottix is better built, compare the Indra 500 to the AD600 and it's not even funny. The Swivel is normal height and in metal, the display is large and clear and a lot easier to see outdoors.

Phottix has similar S brackets (for their speed lights), but all better built and with spring tension and well padded to not scratch the speedlights etc, all better than the Godox imo.

So in terms of build, the Phottix is a lot better from my experience.

Jan 10, 2018 at 11:08 PM

hijazist
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p.1 #16 · Godox alternatives ...

I've never used Phottix but heard good things about it, so I can't compare. However, I've used Elinchrom (RX 600, D-Lite and BRX) and Flashpoint, and they're both built at the same level IMHO. The problem with Godox used to be warranty and I don't that problem exists with Flashpoint (Adorama).

Jan 11, 2018 at 12:12 AM

Fotografpaul
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p.1 #17 · Godox alternatives ...

So when asked for an alternative I suggest phottix which offers similar products and better built from my experience, then you get all defensive?

The whole point was to suggest alternatives.

Yes, Jim, we know the Godox is good enough for you, it's simply not good enough for me.

I don't work with stuff just because I can get it to work in a pinch. I work with the tools that give me what I need and allow me to work the way I want.

That means I don't rely on a single modifier or rely on subquality gear like the AD600 which simply lacks in build, consistency, and handling.

Jan 11, 2018 at 02:43 AM

hijazist
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p.1 #18 · Godox alternatives ...

Fotografpaul wrote:
So when asked for an alternative I suggest phottix which offers similar products and better built from my experience, then you get all defensive?

The whole point was to suggest alternatives.

Yes, Jim, we know the Godox is good enough for you, it's simply not good enough for me.

I don't work with stuff just because I can get it to work in a pinch. I work with the tools that give me what I need and allow me to work the way I want.

That means I don't rely on a single modifier or rely on subquality gear like the AD600 which...Show more →

No one got defensive except you honestly. It's a discussion thread and each is offering their 2 cents. The only thing is that you're a little condescending and elitist with your word choice and approach, it doesn't offend me or bother me really, but it might trigger others.

Jan 11, 2018 at 02:58 AM

Fotografpaul
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p.1 #19 · Godox alternatives ...

RustyBug wrote:
Took a peak at the Phottix site. I didn't see anything that compares with the form factor of the AD200 concept (modular battery, "slip over" modifiers) or the Armatar style mount.

Looks like Phottix is just another "wired battery pack" AC/DC option.

Well if you want something in the formfactor of the AD200 you better get that, and live with it.

Personally i don't see the formfactor as a benefit, not sure how removing the swivel of a speed light would improve it.

The flashtube (bare bulb) still acts more like a speedlight (creating a hotspot) then a traditional horse shoe flash tube.

Jan 11, 2018 at 02:59 AM

Fotografpaul
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p.1 #20 · Godox alternatives ...

hijazist wrote:
you're a little condescending and elitist with your word choice and approach, it doesn't offend me or bother me really, but it might trigger others.

So when I say my two cents I'm an elitist?

What's condescending and elitist? That I don't agree? Or that I actually have experience with the products I refer to?

Jan 11, 2018 at 03:04 AM

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