In my free time, I’ve been experimenting with the different features and capabilities of the Fujifilm X100V. I only brought a few cameras with me here from Japan, the X-T2 and the Z6, and then I bought the Fujifilm X100V.
Really the only camera that’s fun to shoot in and around the house is the X100V because it has so many cool tricks you can exploit.
In this experiment, I’m shooting just close focus with a Godox speedlight.
Since the X100V can now focus and maintain great detail very close to the leaf shutter that can sync with pretty much any flash at any shutter speed, it leaves the door open for some fun and easy experimentation.
Be sure to check out my Fujifilm X100V review, because this is not yet the perfect camera (but it’s close), and it takes a lot of work to get the focus working for you in these situations.
Fujifilm X100V + Godox TT685F Review
These are all shot RAW and edited with my B&W presets.
With this series, I just wanted to see what kind of results I could get while using the close-focusing capabilities of the Fujifilm X100V with the Godox TT685F attached to the camera.
It’s cool because on-camera flash typically has a sort of vintage 1990s or 1980s look but when you get close enough to the subject, it actually looks like the flash is coming from off to the side. It’s also a pretty hard light so it creates a cool and punchy effect that you don’t see every day.
The best part about this trick is it’s incredibly simple to do with the X100V because of that leaf shutter and built-in ND filter.
When using the external speedlight, I will usually try to set my camera up manually and let the flash do its thing with TTL. The TT685F is capable of stopping the action if you are close enough and on a powerful enough setting. It also has HSS capabilities that will engage if it sees that you’re using a fast shutter.
There is a lot to learn and experiment with on such a setup and it’s a ton of fun because it opens up a lot of possibilities for some unique-looking images. It’s also really cool if you’re just stuck at home and have some pets or kids and you want to get some new looks out of your gear.
For this type of stuff, I usually pull out the bounce card on the flash and give the flash head a slight tilt towards the subject, no more than 45 degrees.
If you don’t own a speedlight, I highly recommend the Godox TT685. I use this flash constantly, and if you own several different cameras, you can buy different wireless transmitters that all trigger the same flash head. So I bought the speedlight head in the Fujifilm mount, but I can still use it off-camera with my Sony when using the Sony wireless trigger but it only works on-camera with my Fujifilm cameras with this F model.
I also shoot a lot of the product shots for my memory card tests with this flash combined with the portable Westcott 26-inch Rapid Box here at Amazon, using the Fujinon 60mm f2.4 which is one of Fujifilm’s secret “Gem,” lenses that never gets much attention.
This is the speedlight I use.
Goddox TT685F – Amazon
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Hi Alik. I’d love to see a post where you detail how you shoot product shots and what accessories you use. It’d make a good post for those of who are stuck at home. I have no interest in writing a blog etc but would love to learn how to replicate some the gear shots you’ve displayed in your blog on my own gear. Thank you and stay safe bud.
I could probably at least show my portable setup. Right now I only have my Godox, but I have my 60mm and X-T2 and some matte board so I can show the basic setup. It’s pretty simple.
Thank you for replying. Do you have any experience with the Fujifilm 80mm lens ? I haven’t seen it mentioned by you before. I was considering purchasing either the 60 or 80mm for a personal project. Including taking photos of my gear. I think either a YouTube video or camera blog post by you detailing how you do product shots would be fascinating. Your lens reviews are amazing and I’m having trouble seeing how you would translate that to a YouTube video. Though I’m sure you could do it. Thanks again. And keep writing or making videos.
I don’t have the 80mm and have no plans of getting it but also have no experience with it.
It’s supposed to be really amazing and I’ve only heard great things about it.
I just already own the 90mm which I love for street and portrait and I only really need the 60mm for macro so I have no need for an 80 macro.
From what I’ve seen the 80mm macro will allow you to get into very serious macro photography whereas the 60mm is just kind of a good close up lens for product photography. That seems to be the major difference. Also, Jonas Rask who shoots all the product shots for Fujifilm also does it all on the 60mm as well. I will say the 60mm is an older lens and you do need to be a bit patient with its autofocus when you get real close.