As I’ve mentioned before, I was never really a fan of using an on-camera flash. But that changed after seeing the work of one of my favorite photographers, Martin Parr. His use of flash got me curious enough to try it not just for events, but also for everyday photography. I only had one condition, it needed to be small.
Then came the Yongnuo YN6 flash, a compact, fun-to-use flash that gets the job done. The only problem? It’s fully manual. And just like any responsible, self-disciplined photographer, I succumbed to GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) and bought the Godox iT30Pro F for my Fujifilm cameras. By the way, this flash is also available for other cameras like Sony (S), Canon (C), Nikon (N) and several others.
The Godox iT30Pro Design
Aesthetically, the Godox iT30Pro F is exactly what I was looking for. It’s compact and boxy, with a very simple-looking face that reminds me of the flashes you’d see on film cameras. But don’t let the looks fool you, this is a capable and powerful little flash.
And, similar to a mullet haircut, there’s a pleasant surprise at the back.
Looking at the rear of the flash is where the party really gets started. Contrast to the simple face of the flash is a beautiful touchscreen display at the back. It controls most of the flash’s features, including the flash modes (TTL, manual, transmitter, receiver, etc.), flash exposure compensation, battery level, and many more.
The display is really intuitive, although it does come with one minor issue, the touchscreen is very sensitive and prone to accidental touches. There is an option to lock the screen if you’d like, but depending on which version of the flash you get out of the box, you might need to update the firmware to enable this feature.
On top is a control wheel that you can use to fine-tune your flash power and TTL compensation, or simply navigate the menu. To be honest, since unlocking the touchscreen requires an additional step, I wish the wheel didn’t lock along with the screen so you could still use it independently. Unlike the touchscreen at the back, the wheel isn’t exactly prone to accidental touches.
But that’s just nitpicking, and it could easily be fixed with a firmware update if Godox is forced to… I mean, would like to.
On the sides are a few more things, a hot shoe lock/unlock button and a lever switch to select Wide 
or Neutral (N). Selecting Wide spreads the light more, similar to using a diffuser, which softens the light a little bit. But don’t expect too much, this is still an in-your-face flash. On the other side is the USB-C port for charging and firmware updates. And yes, this flash doesn’t need batteries and is rated for around 580 full-power flashes on a full charge.
What’s in the Box
The Godox iT30Pro flash comes in a simple package, a box that includes the flash, a manual, a USB-C to USB-A charging/data cable, and a nice flash pouch. Not bad for an affordable flash that costs around $75 USD (₱4,500).
In my honest opinion—and this might raise a few eyebrows, the Godox iT30Pro flash is made for rangefinder-like cameras such as the Fujifilm X-E and X100 series. I mean, just look at how badass that flash looks on a Fujifilm X100S.
Using the Godox iT30Pro
Now, enough with the specs. Let’s see some real-life sample photos.
One thing I love doing with my flash at night is balancing the ambient light with my fill flash. Since the Godox iT30Pro offers TTL, this process is much easier. With my manual flash, I still need to do some trial and error before I can get the settings I want. And those settings need to be adjusted manually whenever I move closer to or farther away from my subject. There’s no need for that with the Godox because TTL takes care of all the computation for me.
Overall, I find the TTL to be accurate, although it did miss sometimes and slightly over or underexpose my subject.
My only real complaint is the lack of an autofocus-assist light, which can make autofocus accuracy at night very challenging. For some reason, on Fujifilm cameras, the camera’s AF-assist light is disabled when a flash is attached to the hot shoe. One workaround is to switch to manual focus.
Another fun thing to do with flash is experiment with motion. The flash keeps the subject sharp, while a slower shutter speed and some camera movement add a sense of motion to the background.
More indoor shots with the family. This flash, combined with a wide-angle lens, makes any space and almost any lighting condition a breeze to shoot in.
I also tried using the flash for some street photography, but I still have a ways to go before I have the courage to shoot with flash in public places. But at least I know I already have a capable flash with me when the time comes.
What I Like and Don’t Like About the Godox iT30Pro F
What I Like
- Tiny and lightweight
- TTL works well
- Good battery life
- USB-C charging
- Great-looking design
- Useful for everyday photography
What I Don’t Like
- No AF-assist light
- Very sensitive touchscreen
- Control wheel locks with the screen
So there you have it, the Godox iT30Pro flash. The flash has so much more to offer than what I’ve written here, but I hope I was able to give a good glimpse of how good this little flash really is. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a compact, powerful TTL flash.
Again, thank you for reading my blog, and make sure to browse through my other stuff as well. Until next time!
King 