Godox X3s review

The Godox X3 is an advanced touchscreen flash trigger with versions available for each camera manufacturer. In this review, I’m using the Sony S version, but there are models for Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Olympus, and Leica.

As with most wireless flash triggers of this type, the X3 sits in your camera’s hotshoe and enables you to fire and control an off-camera flash wirelessly. As the Flash is dedicated to the system, it works like a native flash and is able to take full advantage of the camera’s metering system to enable TTL. What makes this wireless flash trigger slightly different from many that are on the market is that the interface is a touch screen. This makes it ultra easy to navigate, even if it still takes a little while to figure out all the small nuances of use.

As a standard wireless flash trigger, the design is very slick, and it all comes neatly packed inside a semi-hard case. It also allows you to link multiple compatible flashes to create groups that can be controlled individually or together. This makes the small, inexpensive flash trigger one of the most advanced systems out there and instantly gives you more control over your lighting rigs than systems that are many times the cost.

The X3 is a compact wireless flash trigger designed to sit in your camera’s hot shoe and integrate with your camera’s flash metering system so that all functions and features are readily accessible. The overall build quality is exceptional. Despite the relatively cheap price, there is absolutely nothing cheap about the build and quality of the materials and manufacture.

The main feature is the large, considering the size of the overall device, touch screen on top. This highly reactive screen enables you to flip through the options, adjust settings and monitor what’s going on; it’s incredibly detailed and useful. On the side is the test button so that you can make sure the wireless connection is working; then there’s the power/mode button and the dual-function push dial if you prefer to use a dial to scroll through settings rather than using the touch screen. Other than that, there’s very little to it.

As the X3 is dedicated to each manufacturer, you must purchase the version designed for your camera. In this instance, I’m testing the X3s, which works with most Sony cameras; however, the X3f works with Fuji, and so on.

A flash trigger is usually pretty simple. For instance, the ones that I use in the studio enable me to fire the Flash, select the channel and Group, and that’s it. The Godox X3, on the other hand, is slightly more advanced and a fraction of the price of the ones that I use on an almost daily basis.

To start with, the X3 features a Touchscreen that enables you to flip through the options and settings, and if you want to revert to using a dial, then there’s a very neat solution on the side of the unit. The device is a TTL Wireless Flash Trigger, which means that all the through-the-lens functionality that you get when you use the Flash on camera will again exist when you use the X3, so if you don’t want to get into how to use the flash settings then that’s absolutely fine you can let your camera do that.

You can also switch to manual TTL, which is good when the lighting conditions become trickier. Of course, if you stick to TTL, there’s flash compensation.

As you’d expect, you have all the other normal flash features, such as front and rear curtain flash, but joining these are a strobe effect, control for the modelling light, HSS, and setting up multiple flashes that can all be controlled through the interface as a group or individually.

The interface shows a few features for upcoming products, such as the Wireless flash sync, which can be used with some existing Godox flashes once. The firmware has been updated but will work directly with the retro flashes that are being released.

A really nice feature is that the unit can charge in just two hours or an extended lunch break. Once at 100%, it will last for around 6000 flashes before needing a recharge. It can also sit on standby for up to seven days, which is impressive, although rarely called for.

So, while the small box looks relatively simple, there’s plenty here to keep even the most experimental strobist busy.

Almost from the outset, this small wireless flash trigger impressed me. Firstly, the design is spot-on, compact, lightweight, and discreet. It doesn’t dominate the top of your camera and feels solid once locked into position.

The X3s simply slides onto your hotshoe in the same way as any other wireless flash trigger, with a small click to tell you that it’s safely locked into position. There’s a small release button at the back that enables you to remove the trigger easily, but when it’s used, it all feels good and solid, a much nicer solution than the usual and rather primitive twist locks.

Once switched on, the small touch screen comes alive, and you have the basic settings to adjust the flash power once connected. To connect, you can go through the settings and select the Channel and ID, then switch over to the Flash you want to use and again switch to channel and ID. Then, make sure you push the wireless flash button and set the Flash to RX. Once done, a quick touch of the test button, and you’re set to go.

The ease of use is exceptional, with the touch screen making access and changes to the flash settings quick and easy to understand. The speed of the interactions is also fractional, so while not quite instantaneous, they’re fast enough in a working situation that you don’t notice.

When used with the Flash mounted on a stand-off camera, the ability to change settings and brightness from the camera has obvious advantages, and there’s no doubt about how good this system is in use.

What really makes this system stand out is the fact that you can add additional Godox flashes into the fix. With another added and synced in, it’s possible to adjust two flashes through the same interface. This means that you can start to create relatively complex setups with absolute ease.

After a day’s shoot, the X3’s reliability is unquestionable. It’s simply one of the best and most versatile flash triggers on the market, and alongside the Godox V1 Pro, it’s a worthwhile investment if you’re looking for a flash solution for your photography.

Exceptional sums up the small X3; its design is simple, and the touch screen makes it infinitely easier and more usable than the vast majority of other wireless flash triggers. While there is some complexity, it’s still easier and faster to navigate than most.

When used, the flash trigger provides the reliability you want. It also has excellent battery life and signal strength, ensuring that even when shooting with longer lenses, you can still get the lighting you want without issue.

It’s hard to believe that a flash trigger of this quality and reliability, with all those features and the ability to control multiple flashes, is so cheap. The X3 is a simple must for anyone using a compatible Godox Flash system and wanting to take their Flash off camera.