Update:
If you are happy with your current triggers by all means keep using them. They are great. Me?
I really like this trigger. Now that I have used it for an event I will eventually buy a back up and will retire my two existing Godox triggers. Why? Many reasons are outlined in the initial post below, but I will summarize:
- Small size.
- Non obtrusive. Caught on nothing.
- Build.
- A solid little monoblock of a thing with a metal foot that inspired confidence.
- Ergonomics/Controls.
- So much easier to adjust anything with just a few taps, swipes, and button presses and spins. Never slowed me down.
- Looks.
- What? It matters. A cool looking little thing.
That completes the update part of this post. If you want to read on the original preview post text is below.
The Godox X3. I like it. More? I am glad I imagined you asked.
First off I had no plans to pick one up. But… I had a minor windfall. Not much in camera gear terms. So I walked into SE Camera thinking there was a large likelihood that nothing of interest would be found. But I was wrong.
The X3 was on my radar but I already had two triggers, one ancient one admittedly, so I was in no rush to get one. But my minor windfall allowed me to indulge. Probably for the best since my older unit, that has served me well, had issues.
- Some corrosion on the battery terminals courtesy of some batteries. User error. I should not have left the batteries in it for so long.
- It does decide occasionally not to power on without some fiddling.
- Small screen and near inscrutable menu structure.
- After buying a larger, newer model with a larger screen and dedicated buttons I do find myself staring at this older model when trying to sort out what I must do to get it to do what I want it to do.
- Normally not a big deal since I do not change my workflow often but this bit me recently when I needed to change the channel at a workshop.
Now my other trigger is the star of the show. It is a bit large but who cares amiright? It does everything I need it to do and it is easy to work out how to do what I need to do. That being said on to the new kid on the block.
Tried it out last night. My first thoughts are that it is way more intuitive to operate than either of my other two triggers or flashes used as triggers. Even the larger model mentioned above. After some swipes around and using the push buttons and dials I was up and running in no time. It took me longer to change channels on the triggers and flashes that I have owned for years at the workshop I mentioned above. Did not expect that.
Will wait until I use it in the field before I go too far but I would like to mention a few things that stood out right away.
- That top menu in the pic above is pretty cool.
- Turning the sound off/on and turning the modeling light on/off are right there instead of requiring menu diving, and you can quickly lock the touch screen and access other settings right there.
- The ergonomics are great.
- What I had thought was just a pushbutton on the right side is also a dial allowing for quick adjustments.
- The second button on the right side is the power button and the third is the test button.
- Switching between Manual and TTL, adjusting levels, changing between views, etc. are quick and easy taps and swipes.
- Touch screen is well implemented.
- Taps and swipes are very responsive and after only a few moments I found everything I was looking for and found a couple of things that I had not thought of changing.
- Rechargeable.
- Nice. Mark this down as a feature I did not know I wanted until I had it part 1.
- No batteries. No separate charger. I simply plugged it in to a chord I already had plugged in.
- Carrying case.
- Nice. Mark this down as a feature I did not know I wanted until I had it part 2.
- I keep my current triggers in makeshift bags I found to keep them from getting jacked up bouncing around in my bag. This is better.
- Small size.
- Nice. Mark this down as a feature I did not know I wanted until I had it part 3.
- I will often use camera straps or a two camera harness. Both of my other triggers have nearly been sheared off of my camera due to the size or shape. I do not see that happening here. Much smaller and seems much less likely to catch on something.
- Build.
- The trigger foot is metal rather than plastic and has a push release button rather than a wheel to tighten. Nice.
- Looks cool.
- …what? That matters. To me anyway.
- Reasonably priced.
- $89 is not a lot for what you are getting in my opinion.
Do I recommend it?
A qualified yes.
If you have triggers that serve you well as is it is not needed.
But if you have need for a trigger… are simply looking for an upgrade… or find yourself with a few coins in your pocket I do not think you will be disappointed.
If this were another brand I might hesitate writing such a positive post day one. But Godox/Flashpoint has never disappointed me. From my start with TT350 flashes to AD200s to V1 flashes to dual AD200 bootleg AD400 adapter to AD300 everyone of them performed above and beyond my expectations without a single failure by any of them. Add in things like reasonable prices, long battery life, and being a brand agnostic system I am close to being a fan of a for profit entity as I can be. That being said as always… you do you, whatever floats your boat, etc. so on and so forth. But for me and my house… Alright… That is going too far. But it is the system I regularly recommend when asked.
Well done Godox.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 