NEEWER Q120 Studio Flash

NEEWER Q120 Studio Flash: Quirky Yet Powerful, Portable and Versatile

The NEEWER Q120 Studio Flash is so different to the standard speedlights and bulky studio lights that I am used to, I wasn't sure if I would like it or not. But I do. I really do.

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Caveat: The NEEWER Q120 was sent to me for review by NEEWER so I haven't paid for it. However, as always I only accept items for review once I have checked them out online first, which I why you generally see favourable reviews from me. Not because I get stuff sent to me for free, but because I only accept things that I think I will like and use or my readers will like and use. And this flash is no exception. It's very cool.

NEEWER Q120 Main Features/Specs

120Ws TTL Power Output
Constant Colour Temp 5600K+/-100K
Up To 1/23020s Flash Duration
Ultra Fast Recycle Time of 0.01-1.5s
1/256-1/1 Flash Power, S1/S2 Optical Trigger
Modelling Light

+/-3 EV (Exposure Compensation)
Multi-Mode 1/256-1/4 with 100 Strobe Flashes
HSS Sync of 1/8000s
2.4G Remote Triggering and APP Wireless Control
7.2V/3000mAh Lithium Battery (Up To 420 Full Power Flashes)

The Q120 and Real Estate Photography

So, it just so happened that soon after I receved the Q120 for review, I had a "rush job" small property to shoot in my town. After only a quick play in the office, I went stright onto the shoot with no other light that the Q120, I was that confident in it after such a short amount of time playing.

I set my camera and the NEEWER Q120 to:

1
Aperture Priority & f8 (knowing I would get slow shutter speeds to allow ambient light to burn in as well as the flashlight.
2
ISO 320 giving clean images but enough flexibility to deal with lighting conditions in all rooms.
3
NEEWER Q120 to manual with 1/8th power and set to a 28mm lens (although I was using a 16mm but the Q120 doesn't go that wide).
4
I had the Godox X PRO on my Lumix S5iiX as this is fully compatible with, and extremely reliable with the NEEWER Q120 Studio Flash.
5
Attached to the Q120 was the flexible, supplied lightstand adapter which worked perfectly as a hand-held unit. It screws into the base of the Q120 perfectly with two recesses that slot in and hold it firmly in place. So cool.

The Property Shoot Results

Those settings and the powerful Q120 allowed me to flow from room to room in a flash (pun intended) with only minor tweaks to power output (from 1/8th, to 1/4 or 1/16 depending on room size.

I had the camera on a tripod and once set up for the shot, I simply used the 2 second timer release and handheld the flash bounced straight up to the ceiling. I kept the excellent and supplied dome diffuser on as this would allow more light to spill out as "fill light" as well as the light bounced off the ceiling.

It all worked a treat and I was so happy with the results, as was the client.

Compatibility With the Godox X PRO and V860II Speedlight

I wish more companies were this accomodating when it comes to working together. The NEEWER Q120 and GODOX V860II speak to each other perfectly and operate "almost" flawlessly. The only thing I noticed when using both together was that the Q120 must be behind the Lumix S5iiX otherwise there is some "non-communication" and they don't talk.

Settings

When getting everything working together, you must set the NEEWER Q120 to RX COMPAT: ON. This allows the Bluetooth in both units to connect. To get them talking and working together I just:

1
Put the GODOX X PRO onto the hotshoe of the Lumix S5iiX
2
Turn on the X PRO and set it to TTL and Channel A
3
Set the GODOX V860II to either Manual or TTL and Channel A
4
Set the NEEWER Q120 to TTL and Channel A

...and just like that, they talk to each other perfectly well and totally civilised!

WiFi Compatibility NEEWER Q120 and GODOX Speedlight

How easy is that, and using this set up, you can have two, portable and powerful off-camera flashguns ready to go in a flash (pun intended again). The beauty of the NEEWER Q120 and its handy lightstand attachment is that you can quickly throw it on a lightstand to use as backlighting for portraits whilst using the GODOX speedlight as fill in.

They can also be used for weddings and the Q120 will last for at least 400 FULL POWER flashes AND it can be charged on the go as the battery is exposed and has a USB Type C connecting on show. Power bank in your pocket linked via cable to the Q120 and you have virtually unlimited flashes!