For anybody who's interested, here's an update on my experience with Adorama's
Flashpoint Zoom-Mini TTL R2 (Godox TT350-O),
Flashpoint Zoom Li-on R2 TTL (V860II-O), and
R2 transmitter (X1T-O) with my Panasonic GX7, GX8 and GX85 cameras.
I should note that I've tested these only indoors and haven't tried HSS. I tested extensively on my three GX7s during a week-long conference in a big NYC hotel, and I tested only briefly on my new GX8 and GX85. I use on- and off-camera flash simultaneously, so the radio trigger feature if of key interest for me.
First, the Zoom-Mini works great, with good exposures, a nice interface, fairly quick recycle, and reliable triggering in
most locations. The only caveat is that in the hotel there was so much radio interference that it couldn't reliably trigger the off-camera Zoom Li-on, even at close range. If you're just using on-camera flash or are using on- and off-camera flash in areas where there isn't a ton of radio interference, the Zoom-Mini is a really nice on-camera unit.
Second, in an effort to overcome the hotel's radio interference, I bought an R2 transmitter, and this had the power to reliably trigger in the hotel even at 100'.
However, I discovered that it would work on my GX7 only if the camera was in AFC autofocus mode. It wouldn't trigger if the camera was in AFS, AFF or MF mode. And, although I didn't observe this directly, I could swear that it actually changed my camera's AF mode from AFS to AFC, as I found my camera in AFC mode, and I
never use AFC. The R2 had firmware version 2. I had Adorama update the firmware (to version 3), and this issue persisted. Then I bought a new R2 with firmware version 5, and the issue still persists.
FWIW, I can put the Zoom-Mini, with its radio off, on top of the R2 transmitter on my camera, and let the R2 handle the remote triggering. It's clunkier than the Zoom-Mini alone, but still not as top-heavy as with a full-size speedlight like the Zoom Li-on mounted.
Third, I briefly tested the new R2 (firmware version 5) with my new GX8 and GX85, and the AF mode weirdness I experienced with my GX7s doesn't happen - the R2 appears to work as intended with these two newer cameras.
Admittedly, my testing has been very limited, and I haven't used it outdoors or with HSS, so this information is presented FYI only and not as an endorsement. I'll report again when I have more experience with the Zoom-Mini and/or R2 on my GX8 & GX85.
Despite the AF mode issues with my GX7s, TTL exposures from on-camera Zoom Minis and off-camera Zoom Li-ons have been reliably good, and I'm looking forward to using this flash system in my event work. I'll be selling my three GX7s and working with a GX8 on each shoulder and a GX85 on a neck strap.
One last thought. Given the vulnerability of 2.4GHz triggers to interference from cordless phones, microwave ovens, LED lights used in venues, etc., I'm keeping my old 433MHz Godox FT-16 triggers as backup. The old transmitters still work, though the remote flash must be in manual mode, and the Zoom Li-on has a port for mounting the old receivers (nice touch, Godox/Flashpoint!). It looks like the R2 will do the trick even in radio-noisy venues, but if I ever run into insurmountable interference, it's nice to know I can fall back to the old 433MHz triggers, which worked 100% for me for 3 years in all kinds of venues. Adorama is selling FT-16 TX&RX sets for a measly $20. Cheap insurance for an event shooter.
