Godox 2.4GHz Wireless Flash System

Godox is revolutionizing flash photography. Their offering constitutes a systems based approach for through the lens (TTL), high speed sync (HSS) and remote manual mode flash photography with state of the art 2.4GHz wireless communication between transmitter on camera and remote flashes. This enables unrivaled flexibility in working on location and in the studio.

This tutorial describes the Godox 2.4GHz wireless flash system. Although Godox offers this system for many different camera systems, the tutorial focuses on using it with Nikon cameras to simplify the description. However, the concepts apply to all supported camera systems equally.

At the time of writing the Godox 2.4GHz wireless flash system is available for Nikon, Canon and Sony (Figure 1-1). Godox strives to expand it to even more camera systems.

Overview

In principle, a wireless flash system consists of two parts: One unit mounted on camera that controls remote flashes, called transmitter or master flash and many flash units called slave flashes. The transmitter or master flash mounted on the camera serves two purposes: first to set up the remote flash units, selecting flash mode & flash power and second to trigger the remote slave flashes.

The Godox 2.4GHz wireless flash system consists of two parts (Figure 2-1):

1. Transmitter: The offering consists of transmitters or master flashes (flash with integrated transmitter) to control the slave flashes. Some Godox flashes can be used as either master flash on camera or remote slave flash.
2. Slave flashes: The offering consists of a whole range of wireless flash units including speed lights, portable flash units and studio flash units. It is also possible to control Nikon speedlights through the Godox X1R-N receiver.

Godox 2.4GHz Transmitters and Master Flashes

The Godox 2.4GHz wireless flash system offers three options to control and trigger slave flashes (Figure 3-1):

1. Godox Transmitter X1T-N: The transmitter mounted on camera allows to set flash power & mode of the slave flashes and triggers the slave flashes through wireless communication.
2. Godox Speedlight TT685-N and v860ii-N: The speed light mounted on camera in master flash mode allows to set flash mode and flash power of the slave flashes and triggers the slave flashes through wireless communication.
3. Godox WITSTRO AD360iiN: The portable flash mounted on camera (or connected through a i-TTL cable to camera) in master flash mode allows to set flash mode and flash power of the slave flashes and triggers the slave flashes through wireless communication.

In studio settings the preferred way to control and trigger the slave flashes is by using the transmitter X1T-N as it adds only little weight to the camera. However, in event photography a speedlight, TT685-N or V860ii-N on camera is in most situations extremely valuable. The possibility to control and trigger the slave flashes from the on camera flash through wireless communication adds incredible flexibility. In some situation, the flash on camera is all that is needed. In other situations where remote flashes are added they can be set up from the speedlight mounted on camera; there is no need to change to a trigger unit.

Godox 2.4GHz Flashes

The Godox 2.4GHz flash system enables flash units to be set up and triggered through wireless communication. It includes a large range of flash units covering a broad range of flash power both, battery powered and line voltage powered (Figure 4-1):

1. Portable flash unit (speedlight type) – TT685 and V860II
2. Portable flash unit – WITSTRO AD360ii
3. Portable monolight – WITSTRO AD600
4. Studio monolight – QT400ii and QT600ii

Organizing Flashes into Channels and Groups

The slave flash units are controlled and triggered by either a transmitter or a master flash mounted on camera. In order to address the remote flash units from the transmitter or master flash a concept of channels and groups is used. Each remote flash can be assigned to one channel and to one group:

• Channels: Channels are used to assign flashes to one specific lighting setup used by a photographer. Different channels separate control of flash units between photographers in proximity. Each photographer uses a different channel setting to not interfere with one another in the same proximity. Therefore, the channel setting is set to the same specific number on all flashes and on the transmitter or the master flash.
• Groups: Groups are used to assign flashes to a set of flashes that can be controlled independently of each other within a channel.

Any flash unit assigned the same channel number as set on the transmitter or master flash will receive the trigger signal to fire the flash when a picture is taken. All flashes within the channel will fire, except if the group was set to disabled (off) mode.

The Godox 2.4GHz wireless flash system accounts for:

• 32 Channels: 1, 2, 3, … 32
• 5 Groups: A, B, C, D, E (where channel D and E do not support TTL)

Consider the lighting setup in Figure 5-1. There are four lights organized into three groups within one channel, set to channel number 01:

• Main light: Group A
• Hair light: Group B
• Background lights: Group C

The flash mode and flash power of each flash in the group are set from on the transmitter unit. The transmitter unit communicates these settings to the slave flashes through wireless communications. The settings on the commander unit are:

• Main light: Group A set to TTL with a +0.7 step compensation
• Hair light: Group B set to manual power of 1/32
• Background light: Group C set to manual power of 1/16

Setting up Flash Units

Short setup time is crucial in any shooting. Therefore, usability of the slave flashes, master flashes and transmitters are of high importance. Godox designed the user interfaces very concise and well aligned across the product family. The key functions are easily accessible.
Setting up the flash units and the transmitter for a lighting set includes four simple steps (See Figure 6-1):

1. Plan the lighting setup
   • Select flash units
2. Setup slave flash units:
   • Set flash units to wireless slave mode
   • Set flash units to a specific channel; e.g. Channel = 01
   • Set individual flash units to belong to a specific group for control from the transmitter or master flash
3. Setup transmitter or master flash:
   • In case of a master flash set master flash to wireless master mode
   • Set channel to the same channel number as slave flashes; e.g. Channel = 01
   • Set flash mode and compensation or power level for all groups
4. Test the communication to see that the wireless communication is working
   • Press the test button on the transmitter or the master flash

Nikon Speedlights as Part of the Godox System

Nikon speedlights can easily be integrated into the Godox 2.4GHz system. This is accomplished by connecting a Nikon speedlight to a Godox X1R-N receiver. This enables the transmitter or the master flash to control the Nikon speedlight through the receiver.

The added receiver integrates the Nikon speedlight fully into the Godox 2.4GHz system supporting remote manual, through the lens (TTL), and high speed sync (HSS) flash mode. Nikon speedlights with the attached X1R-N receiver can be used together with any Godox 2.4GHz wireless flash unit.

Using Nikon, Canon and Sony Cameras in same Lighting Setup

The Godox WITSTRO AD360ii and WITSTRO AD600 portable flashes offer great flexibility when shooting with Nikon, Canon or Sony camera system on the same set. These flash units can be controlled from a Nikon X1T-N, a X1T-C and a X1T-S without changing any settings.

Imagine you are taking pictures with a Nikon camera with attached Godox X1T-N transceiver controlling two remote Godox WITSTRO AD600 flashes. A second photographer one the set has a Canon camera with a X1T-C transceiver mounted on the camera. Without changing anything on the slave flashes he or she can control the flashes and take pictures with the Canon camera. All flash modes including TTL are supported.

The AD360ii and AD600 flash units interoperate with X1T-N, X1T-C, or X1T-S transmitter mounted on a respective Nikon, Canon or Sony camera’s hot shoe. This means a photographer, or photographers, using Nikon, Canon and Sony cameras can effectively share the same set of flash units on the set without changing any setting on the flash units.
Of course, Godox 2.4GHz TTL enabled master hot shoe flashes can be used in the same way as the transmitter unit on camera to control the slave flash units.

Adding Light Modifiers

A very broad spectrum of light modifiers can be attached to Godox flash units due to the Bowens mount connector interface. There are many manufacturers that offer their light modifiers with a Bowens speeding:

• Godox studio and portable monolights come with a Bowens mount connector. Light modifiers attach directly to the monolight.
• Godox portable flash units AD360ii and Godox speedlights TT685, V860ii and other Godox speedlights do not directly have the capability to be attached to light modifiers. However, they can be attached to light modifiers indirectly through a Godox S bracket. The Godox S Bracket provides a nice mount for the speedlights and portable flash units to a light stand and includes a very well-engineered tilt function.
• Nikon speedlights do not directly have the capability to be attached to light modifiers. However, they can also be attached to light modifiers indirectly through a Godox S bracket.

Light modifiers with Bowens mount are ubiquitous and there are modifiers for almost all lighting circumstances available. In case you do already own light modifiers with another mount, you might be able to convert them to Bowens mount by replacing the speedring with a Bowens type speedring.

Using Speedlights with Godox Flash Brackets

Godox flash brackets add extreme flexibility in adding light modifiers to portable flash units and to speedlights. It allows for light modifiers with Bowens speedring, for umbrellas with shaft, and for light modifiers that directly snap on the 150mm front disk of bracket.
For even greater flexibility, Godox manufactures flash brackets for three different light modifier mounts:

• S type: Bowens,
• S-EC type: Elinchrom, and
• S-C: Comet.

Although the Bowens mount is the preferred option because it is the same mount as on the monolights and studio lights, the other options just increase the flexibility.

Outlook

Godox continuously adds features to their product line and expands their product line with new and innovative products. At the time of writing, these two innovations are rumored to be available soon:

• Camera Support: As far as I know, Godox is working on extending the 2.4GHz wireless system to Fuji camera system.

Godox FlashPoint Branding

The Godox 2.4GHz wireless flash system is sold by Adorama in the US, rebranded under the brand name Flashpoint R2 TTL wireless. At the time of writing the flash units are essentially the same, only differentiated by naming. The following table translates between Godox and Adorama naming.

Stores

If you plan on buying Godox flashes, I recommend the following stores. All these stores offers stellar service, both before and after sales.

• Adorama – Adorama sells the Godox flashes rebranded under the FlashPoint brand (USA).
• Fotichästli – Fotichästli sells original Godox flashes (Switzerland).
• Goodboy Studio Photography Equipment – Goodboy Studio sells original Godox flashes (Hong Kong).
• UCOLOR – UCOLOR sells original Godox flashes (China).

Disclaimer

I do own the following Godox equipment which I purchased from Adorama (USA), Fotichästli (Switzerland) and sellers in China and Hong Kong. I use them together with Nikon cameras. I do not have any relationship with Godox.

• 1 x Godox Flash WITSTRO AD600B (Flashpoint Explore 600)
• 1 x Godox Extension Head H600B
• 1 x Godox AD600 AC Power Adapter
• 2 x Godox Flash WITSTRO AD360iiN (FlashPoint StreakLight 360)
• 2 x Godox Flash V860iiN (Flashpoint Zoom Li-on)
• 1 x Godox Flash TT685N (Flashpoint Zoom)
• 2 x Godox Transmitter X1T-N
• 2 x Godox Receiver X1R-N
• 4 x Godox Bracket S type; Bowens
• 2 x Godox Bracket S-EC type; Elinchrom