Any other Godox X3 trigger users?

[Travis Burnside]

Picked one of these up out of curiosity - have been using an X2.

it’s funny, in another thread, I was poo poo-ing the phone app for the X2, saying how much I prefer the physical button controls on the X2 itself. You’d think I’d hate the touch-based interface on the X3.

I have to give Godox credit - the X3 is fast and fluid. In my limited testing, seems like I can adjust settings just as quickly as physical buttons. I do like the fact that in a pinch, it’s completely operable with the small knob and button on the side. (But small knob it is, and it wouldn’t be my first choice of control method.)

I’m using it on a studio shoot today, so that will be the real test. X2 is coming along for backup, and in any case I’ll likely keep it, as it’s occasionally useful to be able to have a small on-camera flash for fill.



Anyone have any thoughts/observations based on their use of the X3? I’m curious to hear what others think.

 

[kciuk aka Ken60]

I looked ar those and also the bigger older style X Pro 2, which I chose because I could not get past the idea of rechargeable...... god knows I would run out just at the moment it was needed. At least you have two and can carry a charged spare as insurance.

Be interested to hear how it is on power.

 

[Travis Burnside]

I looked ar those and also the bigger older style X Pro 2, which I chose because I could not get past the idea of rechargeable...... god knows I would run out just at the moment it was needed. At least you have two and can carry a charged spare as insurance.

Be interested to hear how it is on power.

Just shot a total of around 400 exposures and it still indicates full battery on the unit... so I don't foresee there being a power issue.

That said, yes, I do like the idea of having a backup one way or another. I'll probably keep my X2 for various reasons.

 

[A-Marc]

i love the x3, its easy it use and small. i think it is next to perfect.

 

[photolando]

It's still a love/hate thing. I'm forcing myself to use the X3 to get more use to it. I keep forgetting how to navigate the menu but I am getting there. That is where the X2 is a lot easier.

It does hold a charge for a long time. I have never ran it down during a shoot. I always top it off the night before a shoot.

 

[kciuk aka Ken60]

Is it like a phone that lasts two days when it new ?

 

[Travis Burnside]

Any rechargeable battery will lose capacity over the years and with usage. These things are cheap enough I’ll just plan to replace it 4-5 years down the line. I’ll have gotten my money’s worth and then some.

 

[Daspletosaurus]

I looked ar those and also the bigger older style X Pro 2, which I chose because I could not get past the idea of rechargeable...... god knows I would run out just at the moment it was needed. At least you have two and can carry a charged spare as insurance.

Be interested to hear how it is on power.

So far mine seems to just run forever on a single charge.

 

[kciuk aka Ken60]

Thanks for the feedback, perhaps I am too cautious and like the idea of a quick new pair of Duracell batteries, and off again .

 

[Travis Burnside]

Thanks for the feedback, perhaps I am too cautious and like the idea of a quick new pair of Duracell batteries, and off again .

Oh, I absolutely understand where you’re coming from. I still have kind of a hard time trusting equipment I can’t carry spare batteries for, one way or another. I’m still keeping the X2 in my studio bag until the X3 proves itself beyond doubt.

 

[A-Marc]

i aslo have two triggers, the x2 is mounted on camera in app mode, while i use the X3 to do the settings, that way my camera can stay where it is and i can measure with a light meter and the x3 at the subject position.

 

[Travis Burnside]

i aslo have two triggers, the x2 is mounted on camera in app mode, while i use the X3 to do the settings, that way my camera can stay where it is and i can measure with a light meter and the x3 at the subject position.

Now, that’s a really interesting idea. I may give that a shot.

 

[clicknz]

As a matter of interest, I’ve found that the X3 will happily accept a charge from my phone. I was using an iPhone 16 Pro, but I’d expect this to work with quite a few USB-c equipped smartphones & tablets.

As with others here, I’m pretty relaxed about the charge lasting well on the X3, and I have always carried 2 remotes with me in case of failure, but this method of charging may be of help during an unexpectedly long shoot - you’d just need a USB-c to USB-c cable.

 

[MikeInOr]

I looked ar those and also the bigger older style X Pro 2, which I chose because I could not get past the idea of rechargeable...... god knows I would run out just at the moment it was needed. At least you have two and can carry a charged spare as insurance.

Be interested to hear how it is on power.

I hate devices with internal sealed rechargeable batteries. I have photo gear and cameras that are 50 years old and work just fine with a fresh set of batteries. All rechargeable batteries will eventually die. What are you supposed to do, throw it away after the sealed battery is dead? There is usually not much choice to do anything else.

I honestly think that devices with non user replaceable batteries should be outlawed... cell phones included!

 

[Travis Burnside]

MikeInOr wrote;

I hate devices with internal sealed rechargeable batteries. I have photo gear and cameras that are 50 years old and work just fine with a fresh set of batteries. All rechargeable batteries will eventually die. What are you supposed to do, throw it away after the sealed battery is dead? There is usually not much choice to do anything else.

I honestly think that devices with non user replaceable batteries should be outlawed... cell phones included!

You’re not wrong. Electronic devices of any sort are never going to last that long, though - if nothing else, electrolytic capacitors (as used in the flash units themselves too) have a lifetime of about 10 years.



To me, it’s just a matter of if the equipment is priced to where I’ll have gotten my money’s worth before it croaks. And given that this Godox gear is so (relatively) inexpensive, the answer to that is almost certainly yes.

 

[Daspletosaurus]

I looked ar those and also the bigger older style X Pro 2, which I chose because I could not get past the idea of rechargeable...... god knows I would run out just at the moment it was needed. At least you have two and can carry a charged spare as insurance.

Be interested to hear how it is on power.

I hate devices with internal sealed rechargeable batteries. I have photo gear and cameras that are 50 years old and work just fine with a fresh set of batteries. All rechargeable batteries will eventually die. What are you supposed to do, throw it away after the sealed battery is dead? There is usually not much choice to do anything else.

I honestly think that devices with non user replaceable batteries should be outlawed... cell phones included!

I have been cursing Apple daily since the first iPhone came out. They're the ones who popularized this vile trend.

 

[MikeInOr]

MikeInOr wrote;

I hate devices with internal sealed rechargeable batteries. I have photo gear and cameras that are 50 years old and work just fine with a fresh set of batteries. All rechargeable batteries will eventually die. What are you supposed to do, throw it away after the sealed battery is dead? There is usually not much choice to do anything else.

I honestly think that devices with non user replaceable batteries should be outlawed... cell phones included!

You’re not wrong. Electronic devices of any sort are never going to last that long, though - if nothing else, electrolytic capacitors (as used in the flash units themselves too) have a lifetime of about 10 years.

To me, it’s just a matter of if the equipment is priced to where I’ll have gotten my money’s worth before it croaks. And given that this Godox gear is so (relatively) inexpensive, the answer to that is almost certainly yes.

I am actually NOT a tree hugger BUT intentionally filling the landfills with plastic crap because manufactures intentionally make their products with non-replicable sealed batteries is just wrong.

I have 40+ year old flashes, Metz 60 and Minolta OEM, that are working fine. I expect to get more than 10 years of use out of my cameras and accessories. I understand that I am unlike most on this forum in that I don't see a need to replace my main camera every 3 - 5 years.

I wish consumers would boycott these products with sealed non-replicable batteries.

How's that for NOT being a tree hugger?

 

[Daspletosaurus]

MikeInOr wrote;

I hate devices with internal sealed rechargeable batteries. I have photo gear and cameras that are 50 years old and work just fine with a fresh set of batteries. All rechargeable batteries will eventually die. What are you supposed to do, throw it away after the sealed battery is dead? There is usually not much choice to do anything else.

I honestly think that devices with non user replaceable batteries should be outlawed... cell phones included!

You’re not wrong. Electronic devices of any sort are never going to last that long, though - if nothing else, electrolytic capacitors (as used in the flash units themselves too) have a lifetime of about 10 years.

To me, it’s just a matter of if the equipment is priced to where I’ll have gotten my money’s worth before it croaks. And given that this Godox gear is so (relatively) inexpensive, the answer to that is almost certainly yes.

I am actually NOT a tree hugger BUT intentionally filling the landfills with plastic crap because manufactures intentionally make their products with non-replicable sealed batteries is just wrong.

I have 40+ year old flashes, Metz 60 and Minolta OEM, that are working fine. I expect to get more than 10 years of use out of my cameras and accessories. I understand that I am unlike most on this forum in that I don't see a need to replace my main camera every 3 - 5 years.

I wish consumers would boycott these products with sealed non-replicable batteries.

How's that for NOT being a tree hugger?

Sometimes there just isn't a viable alternative.