Image: Godox
Godox’s latest flash, the $50 Lux Elf Retro, is a fully manual flash that weighs heavily on its design. It comes with a single-point hot shoe, making it compatible with most camera systems.
The flash is fully manual (it doesn’t have TTL capability), so users will need to set their own exposure settings. Godox states that the flash has five stops of adjustable power, ranging from 1/16 through to full power. Godox says the Lux Elf Retro is capable of 400 flashes per charge. The flash is compact and weighs 96g (3.3 oz).
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Controls are sparse. The rear of the flash houses all the manual controls: five levels of power (1/1 to 1/16) and two-mode options set the flash to fire when another flash fires or to ignore other flashes. There is also a flash sync port on the side of the unit.
Image: Godox
Unlike other Godox flashes, the Lux Elf Retro isn’t multidirectional. You won’t be able to bounce the flash off the walls and ceilings; instead, you will only have the option to point it directly toward whatever your camera is pointed at. This might be fine if you simply want to illuminate your subject with direct flash; however, it won’t suit anyone who enjoys being more creative with their light source.
Godox is no stranger to retro-style flashes. The company previously released the $95 Lux Cadet in 2023. At 2.5 seconds, the Lux Cadet has a quicker recycle time than the Lux Elf Retro, which recycles the flash in 3.6 seconds. The Lux Cadet also has two extra stops of power and a much larger 6.3Wh battery compared to the 2.6Wh battery in the Lux Elf Retro. Both can be recharged with a USB-C charging cable.
It’s worth knowing that the company also offers the TT350, which has manual and TTL modes and can be picked up for $85. Admittedly, it’s not as stylish as the retro design of the Lux line.
