Godox X-system compatible 'dumb' trigger?

[Zizo Bey]

Hi everyone.

I was wondering if there exists a 'dumb' (i.e. fire only, no setting of power levels required) trigger for Godox X-system flashes (TT350, etc).

I foolishly got an AT-16 trigger without doing the proper research and it is a 433MHz trigger, not 2.4GHz, so it doesn't work.

I was looking into the FC-16 Tx and although it is a 2.4GHz trigger, it does not appear to be compatible with the X-system - it requires FC-16 Rx receivers to work.

The problem I'm trying to solve is using a light meter in a studio. I have an X1T mounted on the camera on a tripod. When using a light meter (e.g. Sekonic 308 or 478 that don't have triggers for Godox flashes). How do I trigger the flashes to take a reading?

One way around this is to remove the X1T every time I want to take a reading - but I don't want to keep removing and remounting the X1T. So I thought a 'dumb' trigger would allow me to take a reading, then I could go back to the camera to adjust levels as required. Alternatively, I could carry the X1T to take meter readings and adjust power levels, and leave the dumb trigger on the camera for actually taking shots.

Your thoughts?

 

[stateit]

While I don't use light meters, I still need to remotely trigger my cameras for many setups. I own a couple of X-2Ts and an X-1T.

For your situation, I'd go with one or two options :

Get a second X-1T (or rather, an X-2T, or X-Pro - they are a vast improvement on the X1-T) and have that in your hand to trigger the flashes. And to adjust the flashes.

Or use a wireless trigger to trigger the camera, and walk back to your X-1T and adjust. For instance, I use a the Hahnel Captur trigger system on my camera (with an X-2T on it as well).

And when tethered to a monitor I'll adjust lighting with the Godox phone app while sitting by the monitor. It's great. I know the X-1T doesn't have bluetooth for the phone app, not sure about the X-Pro.

 

[Gato Amarillo]

I believe you can set a second X1T or other trigger to fire the flash without affecting power levels. The option is intended for when two or more shooters are working with the same flash setup, but seems like it should work for your purpose.

I'm not too familiar, but you should be able to find it in the manual or maybe someone here can help.

Gato

 

[fotowbert]

Hi everyone.

I was wondering if there exists a 'dumb' (i.e. fire only, no setting of power levels required) trigger for Godox X-system flashes (TT350, etc).

I foolishly got an AT-16 trigger without doing the proper research and it is a 433MHz trigger, not 2.4GHz, so it doesn't work.

I was looking into the FC-16 Tx and although it is a 2.4GHz trigger, it does not appear to be compatible with the X-system - it requires FC-16 Rx receivers to work.

The problem I'm trying to solve is using a light meter in a studio. I have an X1T mounted on the camera on a tripod. When using a light meter (e.g. Sekonic 308 or 478 that don't have triggers for Godox flashes). How do I trigger the flashes to take a reading?

One way around this is to remove the X1T every time I want to take a reading - but I don't want to keep removing and remounting the X1T. So I thought a 'dumb' trigger would allow me to take a reading, then I could go back to the camera to adjust levels as required. Alternatively, I could carry the X1T to take meter readings and adjust power levels, and leave the dumb trigger on the camera for actually taking shots.

Your thoughts?

Godox doesn't have a completely "dumb" X1 compatible trigger and IMO (In My Opinion) there is a better way of doing this and several options of gear to achieve it.

You want the trigger you have in hand (call it trigger A) to be capable of test firing and adjusting power levels while you are taking flash readings from the subject position. If you place a 2nd trigger in the camera's hot-shoe (trigger B) then there is no need to return trigger A to the hot-shoe. Custom functions will allow camera mounted trigger B to fire the lights but not change their power settings.

There is also an APP custom setting so you can use your phone from the subject position to change power setting and leave your trigger always in the hot-shoe. I don't know the details on this but poster kli does. Searching her posts I found this one . There are more to be found.

The Flashpoint R2 Single-Pin Transceiver from Adorama is an inexpensive manual only flash Godox X1 compatible transceiver available as a single or in pairs. Two of them will let you set power level for manual flash from the metering position and also trip the shutter remotely.

Welcome to the forum.

• John

--
"[If you don't sweat the details] the magic doesn't work." Brooks, F. P., The Mythical Man-Month, Addison-Wesley, 1975, page 8.

 

[rumple]

Hi everyone.

I was wondering if there exists a 'dumb' (i.e. fire only, no setting of power levels required) trigger for Godox X-system flashes (TT350, etc).

There is no specific trigger-only device in the Godox lineup (unlike, say, PCB and others).

However, this feature exists on the X1T since 2017, it's C.Fn-10. When "on", the transmitter only triggers and does not set power.

I assume that other Godox triggers have a similar feature.

 

[Zizo Bey]

Get a second X-1T (or rather, an X-2T, or X-Pro - they are a vast improvement on the X1-T) and have that in your hand to trigger the flashes. And to adjust the flashes.

Or use a wireless trigger to trigger the camera, and walk back to your X-1T and adjust. For instance, I use a the Hahnel Captur trigger system on my camera (with an X-2T on it as well).

I'm trying to avoid a second trigger (X1 or X2 or XPro)... but it would work if one is set to fire only.

I like the idea of a wireless trigger for the camera... also I believe my camera has a phone app that will trigger it.

Thank you!

 

[Zizo Bey]

I believe you can set a second X1T or other trigger to fire the flash without affecting power levels. The option is intended for when two or more shooters are working with the same flash setup, but seems like it should work for your purpose.

Yes I believe the X1 can be set to fire only via a custom function. Thanks!

 

[Zizo Bey]

Godox doesn't have a completely "dumb" X1 compatible trigger and IMO (In My Opinion) there is a better way of doing this and several options of gear to achieve it.

Bummer! Godox should make one :-D

You want the trigger you have in hand (call it trigger A) to be capable of test firing and adjusting power levels while you are taking flash readings from the subject position. If you place a 2nd trigger in the camera's hot-shoe (trigger B) then there is no need to return trigger A to the hot-shoe. Custom functions will allow camera mounted trigger B to fire the lights but not change their power settings.

Yes that seems to be the consensus!

There is also an APP custom setting so you can use your phone from the subject position to change power setting and leave your trigger always in the hot-shoe. I don't know the details on this but poster kli does. Searching her posts I found this one . There are more to be found.

I think that would work with the X2.

The Flashpoint R2 Single-Pin Transceiver from Adorama is an inexpensive manual only flash Godox X1 compatible transceiver available as a single or in pairs. Two of them will let you set power level for manual flash from the metering position and also trip the shutter remotely.

Interesting idea - sounds like a less expensive version of the two-trigger scenario.

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks

 

[Zizo Bey]

There is no specific trigger-only device in the Godox lineup (unlike, say, PCB and others).

:-(

However, this feature exists on the X1T since 2017, it's C.Fn-10. When "on", the transmitter only triggers and does not set power.

Yes that would work in the two-trigger scenario.

 

[Zizo Bey]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions

I noticed that my Sekonic L-478 has a sync port, as does the X1 trigger. So I might try this cable in the short term while I consider my wireless options.

 

[kli]

,,,I was wondering if there exists a 'dumb' (i.e. fire only, no setting of power levels required) trigger for Godox X-system flashes (TT350, etc)....

,,,The problem I'm trying to solve is using a light meter in a studio. I have an X1T mounted on the camera on a tripod. When using a light meter (e.g. Sekonic 308 or 478 that don't have triggers for Godox flashes). How do I trigger the flashes to take a reading?

Most expensive, but easiest-to-use possibility is to swap out your Sekonic for an 858 model and get the RT-GX radio module for it. This would give you the capability of setting power by group and firing the lights directly from the meter without requiring another in-hand transmitter.

If you are in the US and can purchase from Adorama, you could get the Flashpoint R2 SPT single-pin transceiver unit. And instead of using it cabled to the meter or in-hand as a remote, put it on the camera, in APP mode, and remotely set the power on your groups and fire the lights from the X1T in-hand with its TEST button. You can also cable the SPT to your camera's shutter release port, and using the X1T in hand, on one channel and the SPT and the lights one channel lower and the SPT in TRX mode, and the X1T can remotely fire the camera as well as set/fire the lights.

You could also replace your X1T with an X2T or (if you're in the US and can purchase from Adorama), the Flashpoint R2 Pro II. Both these transmitters speak bluetooth, and you could use the GodoxPhoto app on your phone to remotely set manual power by group, and fire the lights.

You could also cable any Godox transmitter to the sync port of your meter, if you wanted to use the meter to fire the lights.

 

[Zizo Bey]

Most expensive, but easiest-to-use possibility is to swap out your Sekonic for an 858 model and get the RT-GX radio module for it.

Yes but as you mention an expensive option.

You could also cable any Godox transmitter to the sync port of your meter, if you wanted to use the meter to fire the lights.

I think that's what I'll do in the short term.

 

[ronscuba]

As others have suggested, I also like the Flashpoint R2 single pin trigger. For $25, it is the best trigger deal out there. In addition to using it as you intend, it will be a capable backup to your main trigger.

I bought one as a backup to my Xpro. Honestly, I use the R2 most of the time since it is smaller and I rarely shoot HSS or TTL.

 

[Zizo Bey]

As others have suggested, I also like the Flashpoint R2 single pin trigger. For $25, it is the best trigger deal out there. In addition to using it as you intend, it will be a capable backup to your main trigger.

I bought one as a backup to my Xpro. Honestly, I use the R2 most of the time since it is smaller and I rarely shoot HSS or TTL.

The R2 does sound like the way to go for a budget-friendly solution!

 

[Dedus]

The [relatively] new X-PRO II triggers support so-called "single contact function". Basically it disables all communications with the camera except of the ISO pin. Godox also suggest to use this option for fast bursts to avoid possible communication delays.

 

[Zizo Bey]

The [relatively] new X-PRO II triggers support so-called "single contact function". Basically it disables all communications with the camera except of the ISO pin. Godox also suggest to use this option for fast bursts to avoid possible communication delays.

I ended up getting an X2T and using it in App mode and using a smartphone with the GodoxPhoto app to set flash power levels and test-fire the flashes - works great.

PS I thought all the Godox triggers have the single contact function? My X1T has it (C.Fn 01).

 

[kli]

PS I thought all the Godox triggers have the single contact function? My X1T has it (C.Fn 01).

Nope. Only the X1T (C.Fn-01) and the XPro II (icon of a single-contact hotshoe).

The X2T and XPro both lack single-contact/pin mode, which has puzzled a great many of us, given that the X1T always had it.

The XT16 and XT32 are manual-only single-contact triggers, so they don't need the mode.

 

[Gato Amarillo]

In the US Adorama offers a single pin transceiver compatible with Godox flashes:

https://www.adorama.com/fprrr2spt.html

It can be used on camera as a trigger or as a receiver connected to a flash by hotshoe or cable. As trigger it gives manual power control but does not do HSS or TTL.

Most of the Adorama Flashpoint line is rebranded Godox gear.

Gato

 

[John Vickers]

The [relatively] new X-PRO II triggers support so-called "single contact function". Basically it disables all communications with the camera except of the ISO pin. Godox also suggest to use this option for fast bursts to avoid possible communication delays.

Did you mean the "One Shoot" mode ?

Which, according to the doc: "Only send triggering signals in the M and Multi mode when the camera is shooting".

The usual wireless mode seems to involve a 0.640ms wireless trigger delay, which is a problem at maximum x-sync speeds. It would be nice to keep wireless triggering and power setting, but with less delay.

A way I've found to reduce the trigger delay is to set an on-camera flash to simple on-camera mode, and use it as an optical trigger. The optical trigger delay for the Godox strobes I tested is about 0.055ms (0.025ms delay from the hot-shoe to the on-camera flash plus about 0.030ms delay from on-camera flash to optical slave flash). Then it becomes necessary to use another wireless controller to set the flash powers.

It's also possible to daisy-chain Godox PC-Sync inputs, if you can cope with all the wires.

 

[MasterOfGoingFaster]

I have 3 X-Pro N triggers. I put one on the Z9 and one on the Z8. I use the third as both a backup and handheld with a flash meter. I love being able to adjust the power and trigger without moving. I used to use Pocket Wizards, and this works much better/easier. With the PW, I would trigger and read the meter, then walk to the flash, adjust, the back to the model and repeat. Now I pop the flash, read the meter, adjust the power via the trigger and pop again. Fantastic when the flashes are on a tall boom.

Otherwise, you could just buy a second X-TN.