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We review Godox Lux Junior: This new flash works with all cameras


Looking for a competitively priced compact flash that fits in your pocket and works with your Fujifilm X-T4, Sony Alpha and Leica M6? Check out our reviews.

You’re lucky. The new one Godox Lux Junior is a new retro flash that works with all digital camera systems and even with film cameras. Not only that, the Lux Junior looks like it came out of the swinging 60s, so it’s sure to be a hit

One flash to rule them all?

This sounds like a dream come true for many photographers, but there is good and bad news.

The good news is that the Lux Junior can be used with almost any camera, as it uses a single latch to trigger the flash. The bad news is that this single pin means the flash can’t read the settings from your camera; in other words, you cannot use it in TTL mode.

This distinguishes it from other flashes on the market, including its Godox stabilized products.

For example, take Godox’s range of hot shoe lights, such as the V860 III. With this flash, a letter after the model indicates which systems it is compatible with: F for Fuji, C for Canon, N for Nikon, S for Sony, and O for Olympus and Panasonic. Each brand has different pins and software that communicate with the camera and operate in TTL mode.

Although there is no TTL, don’t be fooled. The Lux Junior has a powerful punch and is very capable of producing great results, especially for something so small and competitively priced.

Specifications at a glance

  • Light and compact
  • Measurements: 3 x 2.8 x 2″ (74 x 50 x 72 mm)
  • Weighs 4.5 oz (130 g)
  • Fixed 28mm flash focal length
  • GN12 (ISO100)
  • Emits light at Corresponding Color Temperature (CCT) of 6,000 K ± 200 K
  • Powered by two AAA batteries
  • Compatible with Fujifilm, Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Sony Digital cameras
  • Works with film cameras via hot shoe or cable sync
  • Manual mode from full power down to 1/64 of power
  • Auto mode

What’s in the box?

Like other Godox products, Lux Junior has an attractive branding and presentation. Inside the box you will find:

  • Lux Junior flash
  • Reserve bag
  • Cable Activation Wire Synchronization
  • Manuals in Mandarin and English

First impressions

First impressions of the flash itself are positive. Small and light, it can fit in your pocket and weighs only 4.5 oz (130 g). It has a nice dial that can be clicked on the back to control flash output in manual mode.

The top of the flash has a nice texture, of course, it’s entirely made of plastic. The storage bag is a nice touch to keep it protected from scratches. The sync cord seemed short at first, but it was long enough to work on both my Contax G1 and Nikon FM3A film cameras.

As with other Godox products, I found the text in the manual to be rather small. Maybe it’s my years of promotion and eyesight decline, but I wish they would make the letters a little bigger. Luckily for me, they also publish a PDF of the manual online so I can enlarge the text and read it comfortably.

With a positive first impression, I want to do it. The first step was to insert 2 AAA batteries, but this turned out to be a bit harder than expected. I feel like I have to be a little rougher than I want to just to peel off the cover.

Once the battery was fully charged, we were gone. I switched the flash to manual mode and pressed the test button a few times. Then I mounted the Lux Junior on my Fujifilm X-T4 and started taking some test shots.

Flash recycling time varies depending on how new the battery is and the wattage of the flash I’m using, but overall it’s almost instantaneous. Battery life is also pretty good, but I’d recommend having a few spare AAAs on hand.

Flash Dial, Manual Mode and Auto Mode

There are two dials on the back of the Lux Junior flash: an inner dial and an outer dial.

The external dial controls the flash output in manual mode. Switch the flash to M and you’re gone. Flash power control by rotating the dial, has a nice click. You can change the flash output to seven values, from full power to 1/64th power.

It’s quick and easy to shoot in manual mode: take a test shot, review the results, then turn the power up or down depending on the result. I did this by guessing the flash power and aperture combination would look good, but if you’re a more technical photographer, help is always available.

The flash’s inner ring is really just an assessment of light values ​​so you can work out combinations of aperture, shutter speed, ISO, distance, and flash output. You can rotate this inner dial a million different ways, but it has no effect on flash output.

Auto mode intrigues me: keep in mind that this is not a TTL flash. As it turns out, there’s a small light sensor on the front of the flash that can change the flash output depending on the ambient light. You can test this by firing the test button, then covering the light sensor and firing the test button again. As you can see in my video you will notice the difference.

The manual lists some defaults for ISO, aperture, and distance, although I just fixed it. The auto mode isn’t overly complicated, but at the same time, it worked pretty well in my test shots.

Using Lux Junior on a film camera

There are two ways you can use the Lux Junior with a film camera, either on a docking station as with digital, or with the sync cable that comes in the box. I have tried both with great results.

With film, of course, you don’t get instant digital feedback, so I’m worried about how my Kodak 200 roll will turn out. In the end, I was very surprised. There were a few photos that were underexposed, but the rest looked great. I also took some photos with the help of my Sekonic light meter, and they turned out perfect.

It’s fun though, but with the rising cost of movies, I want to use my Contax TLA140 on G1 next time.

Optical modes S1 and S2

The Lux Junior has a few nifty tricks up its sleeve. On one side of the flash, there are S1 and S2 settings for triggering other Godox flashes.

Using the S1 activates the Lux Junior in response to a manual flash or other TTL. Using the S2, the flash will respond similarly, but ignore the initial flash.

Is This the Best Photography Accessories You Can Buy for $69?

I think it is. I absolutely love using Godox Lux Junior Flash. It’s light and compact and can fit in your pocket. Despite its small size, the flash packs a powerful punch. I always have good results in both manual and automatic modes.

If you like your flash to look more like nostalgia than this, check out another new Godox flash too: eye catching Luxury Luxretails for $119.





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