The Godox V1 Pro Flash Offers Double the Light in Half the Space
The recently released $329 Godox V1 Pro is a round-head design speedlight that brings some subtle, and not-so-subtle updates to the already popular V1 system. The new flash adds features like an improved battery and charging system, the ability to take up to 100 continuous shots at full power, and it also has a detachable sub-flash for fill light use that effectively makes the system two lights in one.
Full disclosure: This sponsored article is brought to you by Godox.
Usually when a new flash is released, it is labeled a successor to the previous version, yet with the V1 Pro, it seems like a new side-by-side use sort of system to help creatives fully build out their lighting kits. The new light from Godox continues the circular head design from the V1 (as well as the industry as a whole) which the company says helps provide a more uniform light distribution and quality for both on-camera/direct lighting, as well as with bounced / indirect lighting. Just like its sibling, the 76W V1 Pro supports high-speed sync up to 1/8000 sec with a flash duration of 1/300 to 1/20,000 second, offers a swivel head that provides 330-degree coverage, and a bounce head that offers -7 to 120-degrees, a 28 to 105mm zoom range.
Both have an approximate recycle time of 1.5 seconds. In fact, from a distance, the V1 and V1 Pro look incredibly similar. Still, despite the few visible differences on the outside, there’s a lot more going on inside with the V1 Pro which makes it incredibly more useful for on-camera-flash users in situations like weddings, event coverage, nightlife, and even for some creative portraiture.
Build Quality and Key Features
As I mentioned above, the V1 Pro does look incredibly similar to the V1 Flash. Side by side the V1 Pro has a slightly larger/longer flash head coming in at 580 grams compared to the 530 grams of the V1. So what’s the big difference between them then? First off, the slightly increased size and weight are due to an improved inductor and thermal protection system that is nearly double the size of the previous generation which allows the light to keep popping for longer (up to 100 continuous shots) before entering into a thermal protection mode to cool down. This means for almost every situation, you can be sure you won’t miss capturing that perfect shot when the pressure is on. In addition to this internal improvement, the Godox V1 Pro has also improved its flash color by addressing the slightly green color cast of the V1 and providing users with a perfectly neutral flash.
On the outside, users may notice a few other visible differences between the V1 and V1 Pro. Firstly, the V1 Pro has added a battery pack port so users (when leveraging the optional PB960 power pack) can get a faster recycling time and up to an additional 900 full-powered flashes if they choose to leverage it. Second, the improved VB300 batteries for the V1 Pro now have a USB-C port built directly into the battery so users can charge it by leveraging the familiar VC26 Charger or using a USB-C connection to charge directly, even while in use using a power bank. The new VB30 battery will also provide users with up to 500 full-powered shots per charge, a slight improvement over the 480 available with the V1.
Users will also notice a useful switch on the side to flip between TTL and Manual modes for greater control when shooting on the move making it incredibly easy to switch between modes. Is this a game-changing feature? Probably not. But honestly, it really is incredibly useful to have on the side of the flash to help save you time navigating through a few menu pages to get to like in several other flashes.
Next, the biggest visible new feature found on the Godox V1 Pro is the detachable SUB Flash (SU-1) with power ranging from 1/1 to 1/128 adjustable and accessible through a new Sub Menu when connected to the V1 Pro Flash Head.
The optional fill flash is enabled by raising the V1 Head to 45 degrees or higher, triggering the sub flash automatically on shutter click. This detachable design allows for a more travel-friendly and discreet bounce and fill flash simultaneously from a single light source, useful in fast-paced situations like sporting events, corporate events, photo booths, red carpets, weddings, parties/birthdays, and more.
Finally, the V1 Pro supports 2.4G wireless transmission and receiving so it can be seamlessly integrated with additional Godox flashes, controlling them directly from the flash head or being controlled using the $89 X3 TTL Wireless Flash trigger. It’s also worth noting that the Sub Flash does not work when using the flash controlled remotely (using the wireless controller) and it currently does not support high-speed sync. Additionally, all of the magnetic accessories for the V1 flash system (AK-R1, AK-R21, and AK-R22), including the barn doors, snoot, honeycomb grid, gels, and bounce cards will all work with the V1 Pro.
How It Feels To Use
Honestly, I was shocked. Going into the testing I kind of begrudgingly wanted to hate it, but after using the system for a little bit I realized just how useful the sub-flash could be in an event situation, or even for quick on-camera-flash portraits.
The round head design of the flash provides users with a uniform and evenly distributed light pattern with very soft and smooth falloff along the edges. I was also very much enjoying the use of the LED modeling light (which is adjustable by ten levels of intensity) to help me hit focus quickly in low-light situations at home and at the studio while testing.
The combined features in the updated V1 Pro allowed me to be stress-free while shooting a surprise engagement, several corporate events, and even an Oscar celebration for the film American Fiction (Sadly I can’t share those images with you, but I can honestly say the flash worked like a dream) which was an incredibly fast-paced environment with shifting and mixed lighting around every corner. The additional Sub-Flash is worth the price of admission.
Some Examples
Ramp up your OCF Game with the V1 Pro Speedlight and the SU-1 Sub Flash
The updated V1 Pro with Sub Flash from Godox may not seem like it, but it is an absolute game changer for photographers working in sports, weddings, and event spaces who need to travel and work as light and minimalistic as possible. Adding this simple attachment can save OCF photographers an incredibly large amount of time by not having to carry additional external light sources and modifiers in their kit. This gives you the freedom to take their portrait game practically anywhere on Earth and can save you a lot of money in the process.
The $329 Godox V1 Pro is available for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and Olympus camera systems.
Full disclosure: This sponsored article was brought to you by Godox.
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