Godox V1 Pro S

The Godox V1 Pro is an almost standard strobe flash that sits on top of your camera’s hot shoe and is available for most major camera manufacturers, including Sony, Nikon, Canon, Fuji, and Olympus. I say almost because unlike many other hotshoe flashes it features a round head rather than the more traditional rectangular.

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The Godox V1 Pro arrives at a time when continuous lighting is making a serious impact on the photography lighting world due to its ease of use, increased brightness, and affordable prices. However, when it comes to lighting quality, flash is still way ahead, even if it is a little more tricky to control and master. The Godox V1 Pro is a great solution, and while it is third-party to the main manufacturers, it is by no means entry-level and should find wide appeal with enthusiasts as well as professionals.

In this review, I’ll be taking a look at the S, or Sony, version of the flash and using it with the Sony A7 IV and Sony A7 III. While some of the contact electronics that enable the flash to communicate with the camera will be different from the other versions, the general handling and use of the flash should be the same.

The Godox V1 Pro is the update to the popular Godox V1, which is widely used by both enthusiasts and professionals and has the advantage over many other systems in that it’s part of a wider Godox ecosystem. This means that starting with this flash, you can build larger flash systems with one on-camera and one off-camera, or even more, and control everything from a single unit.

The Godox V1 system has quite a few features that have attracted users to this model, including the large capacity swappable battery, magnetic light modifier mount, TTL and Manual operation, and the round head that produces a more natural throw of light than that produced by more standard rectangular flash heads.

The Pro builds on the features of the V1 with better heat dissipation, a small add-on fill light, easy USB charging, quick switch from TTL to M, compatibility with an external power pack, and of course, that round head that can take the magnetic light modifiers.

The Godox V1 Pro S is a robust product in terms of design and the use of tough plastic materials. The flash has been designed with professional use in mind, and as such, the build quality is a step up from the majority of aftermarket flashes in this price range, closely resembling the quality of finish provided by the manufacturers themselves.

The design and layout are nearly identical to that of the V1, so users familiar with that system will find no issue transitioning to this new model. It’s also compatible with the Godox X ecosystem, allowing for easy use with other flash triggers and accessories.

The control of the flash is managed through the navigation features on the back, and as usual, there’s a large LCD screen that enables you to select options with a dial to scroll through selections. While this system works and is standard across most flashes, it can be tricky to navigate for those new to the system, and even those familiar with flash systems may find they need to refer to the manual to make some of the connections when using multiple flashes.

Overall, however, the V1 Pro is relatively easy to use. Simply pop it onto your hot shoe, switch on, switch to TTL, and you’re ready to go. A little flash exposure compensation can be dialed in if and when needed. And if you need to switch to manual, there’s now a manual slider switch on the side.

When it comes to handling, a couple of additional features aid with the use of the flash. There’s the small fill-in flash addition, which slots in to create a forward-facing flash to complement the main flash light. Then there’s the power options, with the battery now chargeable by USB Type-C and the flash being able to be powered by an external Godox PB960 battery pack. This greatly enhances the shooting potential and will be a welcome feature for professionals.

The Godox V1 Pro is packed with features that will instantly appeal to both enthusiasts and professionals. The feature set makes it a desirable upgrade from cheaper models such as the Godox VING V350 or the Godox VING V860III Speedlight, both of which are great flashes for beginners.

A significant upgrade over the V1 is the ability of the V1 Pro to shoot 100 full flashes before thermal protection kicks in. On the V1, this limit was around 40, which could be a major issue in event situations. However, the capacity for 100 consecutive full flashes should give professionals more flexibility.

Another new feature is the addition of the fill light component SU-1, which slots into a port on the front. This is designed to add a bit of fill light if you’re using the main flash to bounce off the ceiling. Like the main flash, the power of the sub flash can be adjusted through the usual interface.

Power is often an issue, so a feature that I find particularly appealing is the battery’s USB Type-C charging capability. Essentially, the battery pack can be charged with a standard USB Type-C cable without the need for a proprietary charging station, meaning almost all of my kit now utilizes the same charger.

A feature common to this style of flash is the one-click switch from TTL to M mode. It’s a convenient physical solution, and what’s more, it can be overridden by the controls on the back.

As with most modern flashes, there is wireless control, which means that it can wirelessly control other V1 Pro flash units and is compatible with X flash triggers.

The round head, a hallmark of the V1 series, provides versatile light shaping options that are generally more natural than the rectangular equivalent. The main benefit, however, is the front element, which is a magnetic accessory port, allowing for the quick change of light modifiers.

Finally, there’s an LED modeling lamp function, which is really useful for previewing light effects before shooting. You can also use it as a soft video light, but it is somewhat underpowered for this purpose.

The recycle times of the V1 Pro remain similar to the V1, at around 1.5 seconds for the first 50 flashes, 2 seconds up to 100 flashes, and then it can slow down to around 3 seconds from 120 to 130 flashes. The round head also does its intended job, providing a good, natural spread of light.

After a day of shooting with the flash and capturing some 300 images, the battery pack was still going strong, although, obviously, I wasn’t using the flash at full power for all 300 shots. What I particularly liked was the fact that when I stopped for a break or to set up the next shoot, the battery could be charged directly with a standard USB Type-C cable, along with the camera and other lighting gear, all plugged directly into the Bluetti AC60.

During the test, I was also interested in seeing if the slightly green hue of the V1 had been corrected. When testing the unit against a colleague’s old V1, the difference in colour quality was apparent, although this isn’t something that Godox has highlighted in the features.

Another feature that I was unable to test was the external battery supply. However, knowing it is available, I know that if I were to use this in a professional capacity, having that option would likely be a deciding factor.

Another point of note is that this isn’t a lightweight flash. Like the Profoto A10, it is quite heavy, something to consider if you’re going to be using the camera at an all-day event.

While the flash and the spread of light are superb and really the best you’ll get at this price, it is worth pointing out that the navigation feels rather retro. While it works, in some cases, with the aid of the manual, it takes effort to navigate. I have experienced this with people in my workshops who invested in the V1 and now will be investing in the V1 Pro. This is a great flash, but the navigation can be complex.

Navigation and settings aside, the other new features, such as the small sub-flash, add to the flashgun’s appeal. At this price, few other flashguns can compete.

In this test, I focused on the Sony version of the flash and used it with the Sony A7 IV. through the test, I found that the integration between the two is quite tight. There are obvious features like TTL flash metering, which works exceptionally well, as does the manual control over the flash or compensation when needed.

The flash’s articulation also allows plenty of flexibility in positioning, with a good range of tilt and pan adjustment. Additionally, the aspect of the V1 that has made it so popular is the ability to add lighting modifiers with the magnetic mount system, making things nice and easy.

When it comes to basic flash features such as positioning, brightness adjustment, and the modelling light, the V1 Pro does everything it should, but then again, so did the V1. So, for the majority of enthusiasts, I would say that the V1 is still a great option. With the V1 Pro now available, you should be able to find a bargain on the older model. However, be mindful of that slight green cast; I haven’t reviewed it here, but there are plenty of reviews out there.

For enthusiasts and professionals, the V1 Pro is a great flash at a decent price. It does all the usual flashy things and will enable you to have some fun. However, when it comes to professional events such as weddings, it steps up to meet pro demands with accurate colour, recycle times and the all-important longevity through a day’s shoot. The build quality of this flash is extremely high, and again, it shows how Godox has raised its game and is now producing some of the best photographic accessories out there.

This flash can do even more for professionals who use multiple flashes, including integrating it into the Godox X ecosystem for ultimate control and lighting effects. Another aspect I like is that creatives can utilize the light modifiers to make something more of the lighting and different from the traditional flashlight.

At a little over $300/£300, this is quite an expensive flash option, but when you consider what’s on offer and the upgrade options through the light modifiers, it suddenly becomes great value. Unless you’re tied into another system, the Godox V1 Pro and the X series accessories are a great place to start and finish when it comes to strobe flash.