Last Updated 12th November 2023

Veteran photographers who recall the era of navigating cumbersome PC-Sync cords may find the mere existence of wireless trigger technology to be a modest marvel. On the other hand, for those unfamiliar with the past struggles, remote triggering might be considered commonplace. Nevertheless, the rapid evolution of this technology in recent years is likely to astound anyone, regardless of their experience.

With a range of highly sophisticated 2.4 GHz transmitters and receivers, Godox is clearly at the forefront of this revolution. The fact that their products not only cost a mere fraction of those offered by market leaders such as PocketWizard and Profoto, but in many cases also outperform them, is undoubtedly one of the biggest draws of the Godox lighting range.

FC-16

The FC range of radio triggers are Godox’s simple, no-nonsense manual wireless transceivers for use with basic speedlites and studio strobes, or with older cameras that don’t offer TTL flash operation. In other words, beyond simply firing a strobe, or your camera’s shutter, the only other degree of control on offer here is simply the ability to decide which channel the units should operate on.

Such a unit may seem very basic by today’s standards. Particularly when compared with Godox’s more sophisticated wireless transmitters. But the FC-16s actually present the best option for photographers who do not intend to make use of relatively recent technological innovations such as high speed sync or TTL flash control. Indeed, for anyone using basic studio lights that do not offer the ability to remotely change power settings, or which lack TTL compatibility, investing in more advanced radio triggers would be a waste of money. Similarly, if you are an analog photography enthusiast who shoots with a mechanical film camera, anything more advanced than an FC-16 would be entirely superfluous.

Need a simple, dependable trigger to fire a flash from a distance? The FC range of transmitters and receivers is for you. If you’re using a camera from either Canon, Nikon or Sony, be sure to purchase the appropriate version of the FC-16, as the connector cables vary for each of these brands.

X1T / X1R

The X1T/R series of wireless units are designed to enable TTL, high-speed sync, and manual flash photography over long distances via 2.4 GHz radio; with the T of course indicating a transmitter unit, and the R a receiver. Although the X1s also function perfectly well when used with manual studio flash, it’s when working with TTL-enabled units such as Godox’s modern strobes and speedlites that this multi-channel trigger really shines.

The X1T offers users 5 groups and supports sync speeds of up to 1/8000. Select a group and you can independently alter parameters such as power (in manual mode) or adjust output compensation. Hold the channel button down for 2 seconds to access the unit’s custom functions, allowing you to create delays of between 0-100ms for rear curtain sync or sync speeds in excess of 1/1000 via HSS. The unit will also permit you to change the zoom settings of your flash, set up multiple flashes, turn modelling lights on or off, etc, all from a single handy device located on top of your camera.

In addition to controlling off-camera flash, the X1T can also be used to fire your camera’s shutter from a distance. This makes it an essential tool for many wildlife photographers - who may not be able to get close to their subjects. Meanwhile, the X1T will be of interest to photographers shooting long exposures of any kind; avoiding the risk of camera shake that would be caused by triggering the shutter manually.

Highly user-friendly, the X1T features a rear LCD and numerous button controls, with a small vertical dial for scrolling through parameters. Down one side of the unit you’ll find on/off switches for the LCD and autofocus assist beam; on the other, PC-Sync and Micro-USB ports.

The unit attaches securely to your camera via a cold foot on the bottom. Perhaps more importantly, a hot shoe on top means that the X1T can conveniently be used in tandem with other gear and gadgets; such as an on-camera flash or external LED focus-assist light.

Well-made, reliable, and effective even over long ranges, the X1T lacks none of the features of its top-end competitors but comes in at a mere fraction of the price. Note that users specifically interested in Godox Flash for Canon should go for the X1T-C , which is designed to work seamlessly with Canon’s products.

X2T

The X2 continues the excellent work achieved by Godox with the X1 , while also adding a number of advantages of its own. Now the LCD and all controls except the dial are housed on top of the unit. Meanwhile, if you make extensive use of groups and tend to change their parameters fairly often, you will undoubtedly find the X2T much quicker and simpler to operate due to the addition of dedicated buttons, allowing for quick and direct control.

What’s more, the X2’s LCD and AF assist beams are brighter than those of the X1, making the transmitter ideal for use outdoors in strong sunshine. Perhaps the greatest upgrade here though is the addition of Bluetooth, allowing communication between the X2T, your smartphone, and strobes, via the Godox app.

XT32

The XT32 is a fantastic 2.4 GHz wireless trigger for manual and high-speed sync flash photography.  As an evolution from the X1 and X2, you now get a full selector dial on the top - rather than just the edge of a wheel peeking out the back. This makes cycling through menus a whole lot easier. There are also several more buttons, which again speeds up access to menu options.

Like the X1T , the XT32 has 4 custom functions. What changes here is that each now has its own dedicated button for easier access. What’s more, all buttons now have dual uses; for example, while the first button is a dedicated modeling light on/off switch, hold it down for 2 seconds and it locks all the controls so that you can’t accidentally change settings.

Power is now adjustable at 1/10 power increments, making it much more fine-tunable than the X1 and X2 transmitters (they offer only 1/3 increments). For those using older camera technology, PC Sync and Micro-USB ports are available on the side. All in all, the XT32 is a feature-packed and highly reliable remote transmitter, and yet costs way less than Profoto’s hugely popular Air wireless controllers.

XPro

XPro is Godox’s flagship wireless trigger for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Despite being very slightly bigger than the XT32, and offering a much larger screen, the XPro is actually considerably lighter. Whereas the XT32 is good for manual shooting and high-speed sync only, the XPro offers many additional functions while keeping you equally covered for these features as well.

Perhaps the main advantage of the Xpro, though, is simply how easy it is to navigate. Indeed it features drastically improved menus when compared with both the XT32 and X1T . You also get a lot more group buttons, plus clear labelling of all the buttons and their secondary functions. As with the XT32, the XPro can be used with older flash units via PC-Sync or USB connections.

XProII

The XPro wireless trigger was a popular method for firing groups of flashes and was available at an appealing price point. Godox recently released three new wireless triggers for Leica, Nikon, Canon, and Sony cameras. Compared to the Godox XPro, the XProII models have improved compatibility for mirrorless cameras and incorporate an innovative flip lock mounting mechanism. And you can now adjust the modelling lamp of each light separately on a proportional and percentage basis.

The angled design of each XProII Wireless Flash Trigger, combined with its large LCD screen, makes it easy to read when attached to a tripod. These flash triggers can do TTL (Through The Lens) metering and adjustments while connected to your camera, and if you choose to, you can also use them to set the flash on manual settings so they always fire at the same power.

The best feature of these triggers is the ease with which you can press one button to select all the groups of flashes to adjust their output simultaneously. This is an advantage in situations such as shooting at sunset. As the ambient light decreases, you can change all of the lights at once instead of making adjustments on each different light.

Comparison Between the X1 vs. XPro vs. X2

Timolink TX Wireless DMX Transmitter

A DMX transmitter controls and communicates with DMX-enabled lights, dimmers, and other devices. It sends digital signals to these devices to control their colour, intensity, and movement. The Godox Timolink Wireless TX Transmitter is used for wireless DMX signal transmission between lighting fixtures and controllers. It is typically used in stage lighting and audiovisual systems, where running DMX cables can be difficult or impractical. This transmitter has an inbuilt ‘test’ feature so you can easily check the connection status of lights even off the DMX board, which significantly improves the efficiency of wireless DMX control.
     

Timolink RX Wireless DMX Receiver

The Godox Timolink RX Wireless DMX Receiver gives increased flexibility by not having to run long DMX cables between fixtures and controllers. While wireless DMX receivers can be more expensive than traditional DMX cables, they are cost-effective because they save time and money on cabling and installation costs. The TimoLink RX works with DMX-compatible fixtures that do not include wireless modules, enabling them to achieve wireless DMX control. The TimoLink RX receiver supports automatic frequency hopping to ensure stable CRMX signals within 300 meters, even in highly complex lighting situations on a set or in a studio.