I once started with the top of the line Canon flash with a remote controller. Even though those flashes very good, they can have too little light output for off camera flash. That is why I started looking for a portable studio flash system and I ended up with the expensive Profoto system.
I use flash for my wedding photography, cooperate portrait sessions, and an occasional on site model shoot. Especially for weddings I need a hot shoe flash gun with TTL possibilities, because I have to be flexible and I don’t have time to adjust flash output manually. For all other use of flash I can work manually and off camera. For this I owned a couple of Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT flashguns, together with the Canon ST-E3-RT remote trigger. This works perfectly but often I ran into the limited flash output of these flash guns, especially when I used a softbox or an umbrella. That is why I decided to buy a more powerful flash.
Strobist photo session in a magical place. The Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT inside the softbox was almost too weak for this setting. It worked, but I would have liked a more powerful light.
The Profoto B2 250 AirTTL Flash
The demands were simple. It had to be powerful, battery powered and easy to take with me. It also had to be robust, because I would take that flash everywhere. Flash modifiers needed to be small for transport, yet simple and quickly to set up. Then I was asked for a review of the Profoto B2 airTTL flash, with its Off Camera Flash (OCF) modifiers. Although the price was almost scary, I discovered this system to be extremely easy to use, with a very intuitive control, and a very robust build.
For the album art of the band Palais Ideal I used a Profoto B2 flash. It worked perfectly and I had no problems with a limited amount of light.
But I thought the flash output to be too low, so I decided to buy the more powerful B1 AirTTL and I loved it. There was only one downside to it. I still needed to use the Speedlite 600EX-RT flashguns for my flexible TTL shoot, and I used the Profoto for the stationary group portraits. So I had two separate systems that could not communicate with each other, although I could activate the Profoto by the light sensor and slave function.
The ridiculous expensive Profoto A1 flashgun. But it works seamingly with the other Profoto flashes. I no longer had to use two separate flash systems. I can even use the A1 as a trigger, if necessary.
Then Profoto introduced the A1 flashgun, with build in remote trigger and the possibility to work seamlessly with the other Profoto flashes. Now I used only one system, one remote trigger, and I never had to think of a workaround like slave flash triggering or other DIY solutions. It did not matter if I used it during a wedding, for cooperate shots, or a model shoot on location. It worked everywhere without problems and with amazing flexibility. Sure, it was very expensive, but it was worth it.
Working on location with the Profoto system turned out to be so much easier than a speedlite. In some situations it is possible to overpower the sunlight, something I could not do effectively with a speedlite.
But Profoto is not the only flash system available. There are others, and I think Godox is one of the best affordable systems available. Their systems are flexible, and everything the Profoto (or other expensive brand for that matter) can do, the Godox can. And in a much, much lower price range. That is why I often wondered if I had made a good choice. Many would say, and perhaps you too, that I am a fool to spend that amount of money on a flash system. Then I got a chance to review the Godox Witstro AD600B TTL flash and all my questions would be answered.
When I got my hands on the Godox Wittstro AD600 flash I was wondering if this is a better choice. It is much, much cheaper.
The Godox Witstro AD600B TTL Flash
Perhaps the Witstro AB600 flash can be best compared to the B1 flash of Profoto. On paper it has a little bit more power (600Ws vs 500Ws) and it too uses a battery to power the flash. That battery is perhaps larger than the battery of the Profoto, but it delivers more flashes on one charge. The Godox is bulkier and the flash bulb protrudes. It may be easy to exchange, but it is more vulnerable. I found the menu of the Godox to be quite difficult and I often needed the manual to search for a setting or to find the explanation of an abbreviation. It has a lot of buttons and it took a lot of time to setup the flash exactly how I wanted. With the Profoto this was very straight forward and easy and I cannot remember to have ever needed the manual.
I am used to the simple Profoto menu system that does not need a manual to understand. For Godox the manual is necessary. And the amount of buttons is overwhelming. Besides the basic use, changing options and functionality is quite a challenge on location.
When I placed the Godox next to the A1 the difference in build quality was striking. The materials used for the Godox were cheap and the quality of the buttons isn’t that good. I also disliked the way the foot of the flash was designed. When I used the Godox during a wedding on location, I did not have the same confidence as with the robust A1 flash.
Using the Godox on location, as a fill in light during a wedding. It worked perfectly and the battery power was amazing.
But it worked of course. And the light produced by the Godox had a good quality, as to be expected. The Godox took more time to setup, but when it was ready, it worked without hesitation, firing flash, after flash, after flash, almost indefinitely. With 500 full power flashes it outrun the capacity of the Profoto. And the best part, Godox could be connected to the power supply and still shoot while recharging.
The battery of the Godox is large, but it holds a lot of power. To be able to plug in the power cord and continu to use the flash is the beauty of it. It is something I am missing with the Profoto B1 flash.
The TTL System
The TTL system of both systems work perfect, but if the distance of the subject and flash does not change, why would you rely on a TTL system? There is no need for it. But for the Profoto the TTL system can be very handy, even in a studio like environment. When triggered with TTL it will remember the TTL flash output setting when you switch the flash from TTL to manual. In that way you can use the light measuring system of the camera as a flash light meter. This way you can set the flash output with just one test shot, and correct it if necessary. The Godox does not remember its TTL output when you switch to manual flash, so you have to measure it yourself, or perform a lot of test shots.
I always like to shoot on TTL at first, and switch to manual flash. The Profoto will hold the TTL flash power, and I can finetune the setting after I switch to manual. With Godox I cannot use TTL for a testshot because the setting is not remembered. I have to find out myself what power I need.
Remote Triggers
Whatever flash you buy, you need to trigger the flash remotely. Every flash manufacturer has its own radio trigger that not only fires the flash when the shutter is pressed, but it also can transfer information to the flash, and receive information in return. It makes TTL systems possible and although it is perhaps never needed for these kind of flash units, it can be handy at times.
The build quality of triggers is something that is not getting the attention it needs. There is one trigger I have used that had a professional feel to it, and that is the Canon ST-E3-RT. The triggers of Profoto and Godox both feel cheap. Especially the Godox is not really user friendly and although the Profoto is easier to use, with a large clear screen, I find it far from perfect.
I don't like the remote of Godox. It is a horrible unit and making adjustments is terrible.
The Profoto TTL remote is also terrible. It works better than the Godox, but the quality is horrible. And on top of that, it costs a fortune, especially compared to the Godox trigger.
Making a Choice
To be honest, I already decided to buy Profoto before I tried Godox. I was blown away by the simplicity of the system. It just worked, without problem or without difficult settings. On top of that it just is quality build. Making a choice is very personal, since every photographer has his or her own demands. The Profoto isn’t perfect, but I found the downsides of the system acceptable. It had more benefits.
When I received the Godox and used it, I found out it addresses some things the Profoto lacks. Nevertheless using the Godox brought only annoyances when setting up the flash. I must admit, perhaps it was because I was used to the interface of Profoto, but I didn’t enjoy using it. In the end Godox delivered the light that was needed, from that point of view there is nothing wrong with it. But using the Godox made me convince I had made the right choice.
The Godox AD600 next to the Profoto A1. Two comparible flashes that work perfectly. The Godox is relatively cheap, the Profoto is very expensive. Both have their strengths and their weaknesses.
What I Like About the Godox Witstro AD600B TTL Over the Profoto B1 AirTTL
- Flash bulb easy to replace
- Battery can be recharged when connected to the flash and the flash can still be used
- Capacity of the battery that allow 500 full power flashes
- Battery capacity can be read from the unit without disconnecting it.
- Flash duration time is mentioned at t0.1 instead of t0.5
- Flash power up to 600Ws
- Good price
Using the Godox in a home made studio, shooting the dog. It works perfectly and the light is... well, good.
What I Like About the Profoto B1 Air TTL Over the Godox Witstro AD600B TTL
- Built like a tank and sleek design
- Flash bulb is inside and protected against collisions
- Very easy to operate
- Visibility of the power settings are very clear and easy to change
- Flash intensity can be set in 0.1 stop
- Very fast recycle time, also with full power flashes
- Flash intensity setting in TTL is visible on the unit and that setting is kept when switching to manual flash
- Brightness model light can be set manually or proportionally
- Off Camera Flash modifiers are user friendly and easy to transport
- Flash comes with a nice case, or backpack when buying two units
I prepared a setup for a few company shots. The Off Camera Flash system of Profoto is perfect for this situation and the setup of the flashes is very easy. Changing settings is very easy, without loosing contact with your subject.
What I Don’t Like About the Godox Witstro AD600B TTL
- Large unit, bulky
- Build quality is disappointing
- Handle on the foot is very large and has a bad design
- Too many buttons and operating the menu and settings are too complex
- Flash intensity is mentioned in full power fractions (1/2 – 1/4 - 1/8 until 1/256)
- Dialing 1/3 stops can be confusing since the way its displayed depends if it is turned down, or turned up
- Lowest flash intensity (1/256) cannot be set from the remote
- The flash is without any carry case or bag for transport.
One of the major faults of the Godox is the handle. I rarely witnessed such bad design. Godox should fire the one that was responsible for this.
What I Don’t Like About the Profoto B1 AirTTL
- Capacity of the battery is not that high
- Battery can only be charged when its disconnected
- No possibility to use the flash with power cord
- Capacity of the battery can only be checked if it is disconnected
- Very expensive
Epilogue
When Profoto introduced the B10 flashgun I did not think it would be interesting to me. I already had two wonderful flash units. After I read about the B10 I found out it was the answer to all the things I missed about the Profoto B1 en B2. It was small, yet powerful (enough). It had a battery that lasted much longer, and the ease of use was even better. And I could charge the unit while I was using it. The design was perfect, compact and well though through, and finally I exchanged my flash units for a set of Profoto B10. I haven’t regretted it at all.
WIth the amazing B10 Profoto addressed all shortcomings of the B1 and B2. It is small, powerfull and very versatile. Although the power is (just) over one stop less than the Godox AD600, it beats it on every level. Except - again - the prize.
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They had a big banner on their website a while back about expecting new products in 2019. No real details, though. We'll see.
Dated, possibly, but in reality and I'm not a fan of Buff products, technically, his line of products allows to do almost anything and certainly everything for a large majority of photographers despite not being fresh.
I absolutely HATED the Balcar mount on my Digibees when I owned them. It's fine for small modifiers, but once the modifiers start getting big or heavy (particularly heavy), it's anxiety-inducing. I know it's not likely that PCB will change their mount, but they really should because the Balcar mount is trash.
You should have tried the AD600 Pro and not used older gear 🤷♀️. It is well worth it and I'd rather have the two AD600 Pro's I have than just one of the Profotos. Not really justifiable to me, but you like yours so that's cool I suppose.
Lets also not forget that Godox has no manufacturer's presence (Office) in the US outside of their dealers.
I have yet to see any kind of test of any of these Godox units and how they would handle an all day shoot where they would be triggered anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand times in a single day's shoot. Color consistency as well as overall reliability.
Until they become a proven quantity, I'll continue to enjoy my investment in my Elinchrom units which I've been using trouble free for almost ten years. Yes they cost considerably more than anything Godox makes as any well made commercial grade units should. Some of my shoots for commercial clients put my Elinchroms' though 1800 to 2300 shots and the quality of light never changes.
I dont do the "I'll just fix it in post" amateur crap and my clients don't settle. When I see high-performance, real world tests of these "budget" Chinese made lights, I might give them a second look but not until then.
They're put to the test by professionals all over the world every single day. They work just fine.
No offense, but I'll hold off considering them until I see actual tests or have the opportunity to try them for myself as an evaluation.
Why would I take offense? I don't use them or make them. As for having an opportunity to try them for yourself, they're pretty cheap and ubiquitous so I'm sure you could find them or buy them to try and put through its paces (and possibly return) if you really wanted to.
The reason you don't do it is simply because you're not actually willing to consider them for whatever personal reasons you may have. That's fine. We all have our preferences. As long as what you're doing is working for you, that's all that really matters in the end.
First off- I prefaced my comment with "No offense" because some people take dissenting views the wrong way and I wanted to be clear that I wasn't looking for a fight, unlike your comment and the end (wrongly) thinking you know why I choose to not try a Godox product, since you have not a single idea of my experience in the industry.
Lets agree to just leave it alone at this point.
I'm not sure how you think your industry experience is remotely relevant to the discussion at hand, but OK.
Love your sense of humor :)
What does you "experience in the industry" have anything to do with testing out a piece of kit to see if you like it or not? Does industry experience somehow prevent you from behaving like any rational consumer and trying out things that interest you?
All of this goes back to the point I made earlier which is that Godox clearly doesn't interest you regardless of how good or bad it is so why pretend like there is any set of conditions under which it would? Your personal reasons for being uninterested are irrelevant and unimportant to me. I'm just confused as to why you are attempting to string along apologists when you and I both know that you wouldn't go out and buy a Godox kit even if someone did some sort of study that proved it to be superior in every single way (obviously, such a study doesn't exist but that's beside the point).\
People who are ACTUALLY in the market and exploring options make choices that reflect that. Barring a lack of awareness of a product's existence, a lack of finances to rent or purchase it, a lack of access to it, or just a complete lack of time, your choice not to explore options is exactly that—your choice. You are not waiting for someone to do tests. You are not waiting for a convincing argument. You are not waiting for anything. The only thing you're waiting for is for people to stop trying to convince you to use these "Chinese made lights" when you have no interest in doing so because obviously if you had even a remote interest in checking them out, you already would have.
I don't really understand why you seem to feel the need to defend your reason NOT to consider Godox. You ARE aware that you get to prefer one brand over another without any specific reason, right? Do you have someone pointing a gun to your head and telling you to trade in your kit for Chinese lights? Blink twice if you're in trouble. We'll send someone to save you.
And I don't understand your wanting to continue an argument I have no interest in. Still love your sense of humor.
Personal amusement.
Thats what I thought. Kiss kiss.
I had a shoot with a client at 2pm-4pm with little over 350 shots, shooting HSS , had NO issues at all and no color discrepancies. I also wouldn't say $1800(two AD600 pro's) for lights is budget friendly. Esp considering the B1X and Ad600 pro are at the same level(with godox leading some areas).
I shoot school portraits using two AD200's and V850 as hair light. I don't shoot large schools, my largest is 250 students. This school usually yields around 2000 photos (including staff class shots etc.). Those are two small strobes (truly the smallest strobes in the world) and I shoot at around 1/4 power.
I usually charge the batteries on lunch time but in one occasion I did not and batteries held through the whole shoot.
Hi Fred you should open your horizon a little and give them a try. I have been a professional photographer for 20 years and started with Elinchrom. I have used Profoto and Elinchrom in studio shoot all day every day. To me the Profit have a name, but less reliable over time, always something in the repair shop. I this time i think Elinchrom has many new flash on low budget that are not reliable, I would not recommend the kits that they sell.
When it come to location shoots and battery power the elinchrom lights don't make it for me. The Godox AD400Pro is a superior light and works very well. I even like them better then the 2 Profoto B1 I have.
When I have started using godox light, they where the only for one camera flash to deliver Power, the ability to use the flash in TTL and command other flash at the same time.
You can even use 2 photographer TTL with the same system, even if one on sony the other on canon or nikon.
Just for that i give Godox the Thumbs Up
Which Elinchrom flashes are not reliable? I have an ELB 400, ELB 1200, and a BRX 500. Aside from the fact that the modelling lamp on the BRX 500 is an absolute disgraceful piece of junk (WHO THE HELL STILL USES INCANDESCENT BULBS!?) which I've just replaced with a dimmable LED, I've yet to have any reliability issues with my kit.
Alex, I appreciate that point of view, thank you. I've never used any of Elinchrom's entry level products so I'm completely unfamiliar with their quality. I've been fortunate enough to have been able to (and continue to eb that fortunate) to only invest in the best I can get for my money because I alwaysrefuse to settle (In my opinion) for less. When Godox has a proven long term track record, and an actual US business presence I will certainly consider them should the need arise.
Also, with my current inventory of gear I really dont need them ;)
Alex Cooke kind of curious why the ELB series doesn't "make it" for you ?
Best part to me was comparing the triggers. You compared the original one. The R2 Pro MK1 and MK2 are amazing. Cmon man. I love my XPLOR Pro. I've used Broncolors and actually hate them. Profotos are too expensive. Flashpoint/Godox got it right and I'll forever be a customer.
It's as if the author was writing from 2016 with all the Godox products compared here yet decided to be selective and threw in the A1/B10 which came out in 2017/2018.
I use Flashpoint(Godox gear) and you are absolutely on pretty much all of the points in this article.
First I would use extension heads with AD600s. Make life so much easier. Second using them for 3-4 yrs now, I haven't needed to read the manual on AD600 except setting the first time. Third they do have TCM feature. Fourth get the better Pro model of the trigger for $70. Not saying Profoto is bad and Godox is perfect.
Yea, I’ve never had to read the manual either.
People complaining about 5 buttons... dunno what's so hard about it.
One is off/on, another for channel, wheel for power... if you can’t figure out the others then maybe this ain’t for you 🤣
godox for the win
Good article. I love my Profoto gear. All of it.
Hahahaha Francisco Hernandez voted down that I love my Profoto gear. Wow, ok. Sorry you're hurt by that.
It's a bad article. That's why I voted down.
Oh I see. Well I do like your portrait lighting FH. That Godox?
Yes, I primarily use Godox because the lights do everything I need them to, but I don't mind using other lighting. My last post on Instagram is a shot using the Profoto A1. And I used the B10 last month at Shutterfest.
Nice work. Seriously.
Thanks, Jim. 😊
Have I gone back in time to 2017?
Actually, 2016. That's when the Godox products mentioned came out. Yet for some reason there's mention of the B10 and A1 which came out afterwards.
Equipment is equipment… the photographer really makes the difference.
All the rest is only blah blah blah…………
I have yet to see a review where this profoto model has ever bested a godox unit, the only exception being in terms of build quality. Performance and everything else has always gone to godox, esp the Xplor series, which from the reviews, has always been the better performer than profoto. Instead of improving their b1x so it can at least match or better its way better priced competition, they decided to introduce new speedlights and lighting accessories instead. That's why i went with godox and it doesnt seem to bother them that much that they're losing a good bit of sales to the competition? Dunno, just an odd company.
Too long and too much work for a misleading comparison against old and obsolete Godox devices. Present Godox AD600 Pro TTL 600W and the controller XProN TTL doesn't have all the issues mentioned. Profoto is 3 times more expensive than Godox for similar performances, it's more of a personal decision to go for one or the other.
So, to recap the negative comments. High price equals no value.
Godox is a great value but the Profoto is still an excellent product at a price fewer people will pay.
Not news.
Though I bought all the Godox systems, budget demanded it. My work is parttime. Would I like to have ProFoto? for sure, The best this company is. So my hat is off for ProFoto, But my pocketbook is out for Godox. Good value for the money.
Needs manual for Godox Menu System? Lol not true. English is not my main language, but when i first use godox ad200, ad600, tt600. I don't need manual to setup the flash. Maybe you just don't know how to use flash.
you chose it cause you wanted it ? that is it and its a great kit be happy
but if you are going to make a comparison at least get your facts correct and know the models have these features etc.. or say this is the entry model the better model has these features ?
sadly lots of bad info like this floating around and then places like this publish it and the newbies go OHHHHHH OK I READ IT ON FSTOPPERS HAS TO BE TRUE
hahahahahahaha
Why have you never tried the Godox XPro-C 2.4G E-TTL Wireless Flash Trigger instead of the Godox trigger you used?
Flashpoint R2 Pro MarkII is little quicker to change, exclusive at adorama
i think that we overlook the psychological effect of owning high end/expensive gear. lighting gear is still relatively affordable, and most of us (me included) could afford a bron or profoto but not medium format system for example.
quote: "Although the power is (just) over one stop less than the Godox AD600, it beats it on every level."
If the Godox AD400 is 1,25 stop over the B10, how can it be the 600ws AD600 is the same power in your mind. I use both and AD600 is probably 2 stops over the B10.
Considering that the B series from profoto has spot head be default , you will need more diffusion to make soft light and loose one more stop. It alway bother me to use the B1 just bouncing on wall, it would not defuse enough due to the head construction.
For me the AD400 is the better fit
Yes, I do not understand why Profoto keeps coming out with this type of heads. It's a turn off for me and I would get the Godox in this case.
It's hardly surprising that a top of the line brand would be preferred to an economy brand, right? If one can afford Profoto it's the obvious choice. But if you need to economize the other option would be the right one. I'd say the same about using a Leica or Hassy. We might try renting those cameras, but Canon, Sony, and Nikon are the more viable choices for most photographers.