Godox Ving V860IIc Flash Review (Flashpoint ZOOM LI-ON R2 C TTL)

According provided by Flash Godox Ving V860II with many thanks to the store Bigggsale, where can buy this flash.

Godox Ving V860IIc

Godox Ving V860IIc

  1. In short
  2. Main Specifications
  3. Assembly
  4. Basic flash modes
  5. Remote control modes
  6. Custom Settings C.Fn
  7. Firmware Upgrade
  8. My experience
  9. Price
  10. Results
  11. User Comments
  12. Add your review or question on the lens

Godox Ving V860IIc is sold in some countries under the brand / name Flashpoint ZOOM LI-ON R2 C TTL.

Godox Ving V860IIc

Godox Ving V860IIc


In short

Godox Ving V860IIс - inexpensive external flash with support for E-TTL II and high speed sync. Attracted by the use of a lithium-ion battery, quick recharge and simple operation. Also, one of the main functions is the built-in radio synchronizer, which allows Godox Ving V860IIс to control other flashes or to be a remote flash controlled by radio channel.

Godox Ving V860IIc is an almost complete copy of the flash Godox TT685c. Differences between Godox V860IIc and Godox TT685c are described here.

Many users claim that one battery charge for Godox Ving V860IIc is equivalent to about three sets of ordinary AA batteries. But the use of the battery has both its advantages and disadvantages.

Godox Ving V860IIc

Godox Ving V860IIc

Main technical characteristics of Godox Ving V860IIc

Review Instance Name Godox Ving V860IIc
Basic properties
  • The flash fits all Canon hot-shoe cameras with E-TTL II support
  • 2000 mAh Li-ion battery, 22Wh
  • Battery Level Indicator
  • Charger shows percentage of charge
  • The ability to charge the battery from car charging
  • Integrated Reflector Card
  • Built-in wide-angle diffuser
  • Built-in 2.4GHz radio synchronizer for slave or master modes
  • Supports slave and master modes with original Canon optical flashes
  • S1, S2 - slave flash modes by means of a light trap
  • FEB (Flash Eexposure Bracketing) - flash power bracketing
  • Multi - multiple flash mode (strobe mode)
  • USB-port for firmware update
  • 2.5 Jack - connector for cable sync with other studio equipment
  • HSS - high-speed sync, up to 1/8000 sec
  • 650 operations at full power on a single battery charge (claimed)
  • Customizable Sound Alert
  • Front indicator light for comfortable slave operation
  • Focus assist illumination
  • Large backlit display
  • Overheat Control Function
  • Orange backlight for slave modes
  • Important: a flash from a third-party manufacturer, which imposes some restrictions on its practical use
Leading number 60 (at ISO 100 and 200 mm)
Zoom available zoom values: 20, 24, 28, 35, 50, 70, 80, 105, 135, 200 mm + 14 mm with an attached diffuser card
Tilt angles 90 degrees up, 7 degrees down, 180 degrees to the left and 180 degrees to the right
Elements of a food only original Godox VB18 DC 11.1 V 2000 mAh 22 Wh Li-ion battery
Colorful temperature 5600 K + - 200
Pulse duration
  • 1/300 s at a power of 1/1
  • 1/20.000 s at a power of 1/128
Number of power setting levels 8 main levels from 1/1 to 1/128 for each of which (with the exception of 1/1 and 1/128) you can perform fine tuning + -0.3 or + -0.7
Разъемы
  • hot shoe with a set of contacts for Canon cameras
  • USB port for firmware upgrade
  • port for remote control
 Extra food
Built-in radio synchronizer distance 100 m
The weight
  • 430 g without battery (my measurements show 427 g)
  • 540 g with battery (my measurements show 548 g)
  • the battery weight in my measurements is 120 g
Manufacturer country MADE IN CHINA (Made in China)
Period from February 23, 2016
Instructions View instructions on the official website
Price

Please note that the Godox Ving V860II flash is produced not only for Canon (an option from this review), but also for other systems:

  • Godox Ving V860II [F] - FujiFilm
  • Godox Ving V860II [N] - Nikon
  • Godox Ving V860II [S] - Sony
  • Godox Ving V860II [O] - Olympus (also suitable for Panasonic)
  • Godox Ving V860II [C] - Canon
Godox Ving V860IIc

Godox Ving V860IIc

Assembly

Godox V860IIc came to me on a review completely new with protective films on easily soiled places. Package Includes:

  1. Flash Godox Ving V860IIc
  2. battery Godox VB18 DC 11.1 V 2000 mAh 22 Wh Li-ion
  3. Godox VC18 charger
  4. charger cable
  5. instructions for flash in Chinese and English in the form of a small vertical book
  6. Godox VC-18 Charger Instruction Manual In Chinese And English
  7. carrying case for storing and transporting the flash. The wardrobe trunk is closed with Velcro. Simple wardrobe trunk
  8. a mini-stand for flash, which is located in a special compartment coffer. The stand has a bottom standard tripod metal socket
  9. warranty card. Flash warranty - 12 months, battery - only 3 months
  10. desiccant bag
  11. QCPASS Quality Pass
  12. shipping bags and clamps
  13. box with a plastic container for the whole set
  14. in the version for Sony cameras in the kit there is also a stub on the flash shoe

Externally, Godox V860IIc is very similar to many other similar flashes. In my hands, the flash feels very nice, it is made of high-quality plastic. Temporal decorative inserts are also plastic, but they feel like rubber seals on the original flashes.

The flash head does not have a temporal button to lock its position. The flash head rotates 180 degrees to the left and 180 degrees to the right (total 360 degrees horizontal), 90 degrees up and 7 degrees down (total 97 degrees vertical) In the horizontal position, the rotation of the head occurs with poorly expressed clicks. There are marks for 30, 60, 75, 90, 120 and 150 degrees in one direction and another. In the vertical position, the rotation of the head occurs with clearly audible clicks, there are marks for 45, 60 and 75 degrees.

Important: the horizontal rotation of the head is very tight. At first, I even thought that the flash jammed. But, as it turned out, the necessary effort should be made.

The battery cover to the touch is quite reliable. The flash battery is easy to install. The battery compartment has an optional battery lock.

Take out the built-in white card reflector and diffuser very difficult. The protrusion for which you should pry and pull out the card is very small and uncomfortable. I see this problem with some Yongnuo outbreaks.

Additional connectors are closed with a special rubber plug.

When you change the focal length, the flash emits characteristic noise from electric drive.

To fix the flash, use clamping disc instead of a lever. This reduces the speed and convenience of attaching / detaching the flash to a camera or stand, and may also cause the flash to jam in the hot shoe. There is a drawn arrow next to the disc that says 'LOCK'. If the disc is jammed, then by this arrow you can easily navigate in which direction the disc should be rotated to remove the flash.

The flash has two receiver light ports, the purpose of which I could not determine. The instructions about them also do not indicate anything. They are here here.

The battery charger has a battery indicator with 20, 50, 80 and 100 percent marks. Also, the charger has a connection to the car charger Godox VV-18.

A full battery charge is approximately 2.5 hours from the mains and approximately 4 hours from a car charge.

Godox Ving V860IIc

Godox Ving V860IIc

Modes of operation

  • ETTL - automatic operation
  • M - mode with manual power setting
  • Multi - mode

On some cameras, you can adjust the flash from the menu of the camera itself.

ETTL Mode

In this mode, the flash fires automatically using the Canon E-TTL II features.

Godox V860IIc displays the set aperture value and focal length value. The display shows ETTL M ZOOM (automatic mode with manual zoom) or ETTL A ZOOM (automatic mode with automatic zoom).

  • It is possible to carry out a power adjustment of + -3 EV in 1/3 steps. In the instruction, this function is called FEC (Flash Eexposure Companation)
  • You can use high-speed HSS synchronization (the display shows as H +)
  • you can enable second-curtain sync
  • can use bracketing exposure by flash power (FEB function). Bracketing is available in only three shots. Order bracketing can be set in custom flash settings. Also, you can automatically disable bracketing after three shots have been taken. The limits of bracketing are set in steps from + - / 1.3 to + - / 3 EV. Bracketing exposure can simultaneously take into account the power correction function (described above)

M mode

In this mode, you can manually select the desired flash output. Power can be set from level 1/1 to level 1/128 for each of which you can perform fine tuning + -0.3 or + -0.7 EV

Also, in this mode, you can enable high-speed synchronization H +, as well as synchronization on the first or second curtain.

In this mode, the flash can also work on other cameras that have a central sync contact to trigger the flash. True, high-speed synchronization will not work on cameras of other systems.

Multi mode

The mode is selected with the 'Mode' button.

In this mode, you can set a multiple flash (strobe mode). You can select the power of each individual pulse from the set: 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/128.

For a minimum power of 1/128, you can select a maximum of 40 pulses at a frequency of 199 hertz, or 100 pulses at a frequency of 1-5 hertz with smooth balancing between the frequency and the number of flashes. For a maximum power of 1/4, you can select up to 7 pulses at a frequency of 1 hertz or 2 pulses at a frequency of 10 to 199 hertz. Various combinations are possible depending on the number of pulses and / or frequency.

What can this mode be used for? I have described here.

S1 and S2 modes

These modes can only be enabled while in mode M.

With S1 mode Godox V860IIc can be ignited by the first light pulse from the master flash. This is a very simple and effective light trap mode.

In S2 mode the flash is set on fire for every second pulse of the leading flash, but it is not an analogue of PRE-flash Cancel Mode S2 for Yongnuo flashes. But still, this is a very convenient mode when the master flash master works in the automatic TTL mode. This is very useful when the master flash additionally controls a large number of groups of external flashes, creating many auxiliary command light pulses.

Godox V860IIc burns superb in S2 mode from my Nikon master flash SB-900, which remotely controls three more different flash groups in TTL mode and works in TTL mode itself.

Important: the light trap, which is responsible for receiving command pulses, is located on the front panel of the Godox V860IIc. In modes S1 and S2, the flash must be placed so that it easily picks up the command pulse of the master flash master or command unit. This is easy to do, as the flash head rotates and you can always point it in the right direction.

Important: the light trap also responds to infrared light, which is used by some command devices.

Important: in S1 and S2 modes, the flash activity indicator on the front panel does not blink, and the main display does not go to the orange backlight, which indicates the flash operation in slave mode. When triggered in modes S1 and S2, the sound notification about reloading does not work either. Thoughtless little thing.

Important: in S1 and S2 modes, Godox V860IIc is triggered by command pulses even when it is installed on the camera. Another ill-conceived little thing.

Godox Ving V860IIc

Godox Ving V860IIc

Remote control modes

Godox V860IIc can operate in four remote control modes:

  1. Master flash master through optical commands. At the same time, Godox V860IIc can also remotely control original Canon flashes, for example, Canon SpeedLite 580EXII, Canon SpeedLite 600EX-RT etc.
  2. Slave flash via optical commands. To control the Godox V860IIc flash, you can also use on-camera flash units of cameras that support this feature (Canon 7D, 600D etc. maybe someone has an exact list of such cameras?)
  3. Master flash master via radio channel. GR (GROUP) mode is added here to control five groups of flashes
  4. Slave flash via radio

The modes alternate by pressing the button with the image of the left-right arrow. For remote control, the flash can be used in M ​​/ Multi / E-TTL modes.

In slave modes, the display backlight changes from green to orange, and on the back panel two red diodes blink.

  • 32 channels and 5 groups (A / B / C / D / E) with a range of up to 100 meters are available for radio control
  • For optical control, 4 channels and three groups of flashes (A / B / C) with a range of about 15 meters are available.
  • You can set the power ratio between flash groups (RATIO A: BC)

Important: to work in the flash master mode over the air on some cameras, you must use the P / Av / Tv / M modes.

The Godox V860IIc can also be forced to operate automatically over the air using the transmitter / receiver. Godox X1T-C or Godox xpro-c. As well as any Godox flash, which can work as a master flash over the air.

Setting Godox V860IIc as a master flash master or as a slave flash is enough simple, just go through the flash menu several times and press the corresponding buttons with icons or captions.

Godox Ving V860IIc

Godox Ving V860IIc

Custom Settings C.Fn

Functions indicated for firmware version 'Ver 1.5':

  • m / ft - selection of distance display. You can choose meters or feet
  • APO (Auto Power Off) - automatic power off. Either on or off
  • FEB ACL (Flash Eexposure Bracketing Auto CanceL) - Automatically disable flash bracketing. Either on or off
  • FEB (Flash Eexposure Bracketing) - Flash bracketing order. Either 0-> - -> + or - -> 0 -> +
  • AF - AF-assist illumination. Either on or off
  • SvAPOT (Slave Auto Power Off Timer) - flash off timer in slave mode. You can choose 30 or 60 minutes
  • BEEP - sound signal. Either on or off
  • LIGHT - display backlight time. You can choose 12 seconds, either the backlight is always on or always off
  • LCD - the contrast level of the flash LCD display. You can choose from 10 levels from 0 to 9

The number of functions is small, but most likely, additional functionality will be added in subsequent firmware.

Godox Ving V860IIc

Godox Ving V860IIc

Firmware Upgrade

The Godox G1 utility for updating the firmware, as well as new firmware can be downloaded on the official website for this link. Use a standard Micro-USB cable to connect. At the time of this review, Ver. 1.7.

There was a problem while installing Godox G1 software on my computer. The utility was unable to attach to the flash. I have followed the instructions strictly and have tried the procedure many times, as well as on other computers running other operating systems. Working with the Godox G1 software, drivers and the update process itself disappointed me.

Godox G1 Utility at Work

Godox G1 Utility at Work

Godox G1 Error

Godox G1 Error

Error installing Godox G1 Utility

An error occurred while installing the Godox G1 utility. We used the operating systems Windows 7 x64 Ultimate and Windows 10 x64 Corporative

Godox Ving V860IIc

Godox Ving V860IIc

My experience

I was pleased with the fast recharge speed when operating at full power, as well as the fact that even with a low battery charge, the flash still recharges quite quickly.

Important: on my Canon EOS 5D camera, the flash worked well only at exposures up to 1/4000 s (inclusive), and at exposures 1/5000, 1/6400, 1/8000 s, a black bar appeared. Also, Canon EOS 5D failed to achieve automatic zoom setting. The focus illuminator, on the other hand, worked well, with its center point exactly matching the center focus point.

I often use photography using external flashinstalled on the camera. In such cases, I'm used to using exclusively native Nikon / Canon flashes in one not obvious mode of operation - automatic, without testing preflashes. So far, I don’t know a single flash from a third-party manufacturer that can do this.

But for working with multiple flashes in the remote control mode, the Godox and Yongnuo options are very good and I can safely recommend them for use.

Also, I recently boasted that my main Nikon flash SB-900 I ran over a million frames in 10 years, and therefore I jinxed her. Recently, she was undergoing repairs to replace the lamp. Hopefully another million she runs back just as well.

For the undemanding hobbyist, the Godox Ving V860IIc is a very good option.

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.

Godox Ving V860IIc

Godox Ving V860IIc

Prices

Godox flashes can be easily found on AliExpress for example, here. The cost usually ranges from 170 to 200 dollars, depending on the configuration. The Chinese like to add different trifles to the kit.

Godox Ving V860IIc

Godox Ving V860IIc

Results

Godox Ving V860IIc - good and functional external flash. Value for money is at a high level. The main feature is the built-in radio synchronizer, which works as a transmitter and as a receiver. A sufficiently capacious battery is used to power the flash.

There are plenty of advantages for the flash, I will not list them all in the results, since most of them are indicated in the plate at the beginning of this review.

Of the shortcomings, I want to highlight only a different trifle:

  1. a flash disk is used instead of a lever to fix the flash, which slows down and complicates fixing the flash on the camera or stand
  2. you cannot use ordinary AA batteries with the flash, but only the original battery
  3. unknown outbreak survivability and little information on official service centers
  4. The warranty on the battery, according to the warranty card, is only 3 months. It is not known how long this battery will last. For example, one of my battery packs Panasonic eneloop AA 1900mAh works for more than 4 years
  5. incompatibility with some Canon EOS cameras is possible (the instructions indicate that the flash is exactly compatible only with the specific list of cameras with which it was tested, a link to the instructions on the label)
  6. very poorly implemented software for updating the firmware. Very poor functionality of the program, which is responsible for working with the flash
  7. the absence of a large number of small useful trifles characteristic of the original outbreaks (it makes no sense to list them all)
  8. unusually tight rotation of the flash head, most likely this is done due to the lack of a lock button
  9. it’s difficult and inconvenient to get a light-scattering card (an uncomfortable ledge to pry off with a fingernail)
  10. in the light trap modes S1, S2, the orange display backlight does not turn on, indicating flash operation in slave mode
  11. in the light trap modes S1, S2, the red ready indicators do not blink, and there is also no sound signal about recharging the flash
  12. high flash weight, and the battery itself weighs more than a set of four batteries Panasonic eneloop AA 1900mAh
  13. users of flash options for the Sony system note a problem with the reliability of the hot shoe

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Taras

 

 

Comments: 53, on the topic: Godox Ving V860IIc Flash Review (Flashpoint ZOOM LI-ON R2 C TTL)

  • Dmitriy

    Thanks for the advice.

  • Dmitriy

    Offer to take sb 600 at an attractive price. Can I take it?

  • Taras

    Two light ports, about which it is not mentioned in the instructions - the number of reception and transmission of the infrared impulses, as one is displaced against one in the position of the head towards 90 degrees. On the day, the head-lift sensors have fallen asleep, up to 90 degrees. As soon as the head is in the position before the cut 90, close the port with your finger, then the icon “head in zenit” will light up on the display of the sleeping room, tobto 180 degrees.

  • Oleg

    Good day. I got a 685, it seems like the same as the 860 only on batteries. Opening the box and case, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the plastic and the assembly. I have an SB-700 and the Chinese material turned out to be no worse at first glance. And then the fun started. I put it on d-780, took a picture - very dark, the second one was flooded with light, the third one didn't work. It turned out to google it, it turned out that I had firmware 3.1 and 3.3 added support for my camera. Ok, update: here's the second part of the fun. A program for updating only for Windows, what if you have a poppy? Right! To be sad or put on a virtual machine, or go to the neighbors. But even having found a laptop with Windows, it will not work to put this program without a tambourine, nerves and some mother. The version update helped, the frames became the same.
    But, there is a question, similar was already earlier.
    A direct comparison with Nikon's 700 showed that the Chinese images were underexpanded. It was possible to achieve identical pictures only by raising the exposure on the Chinese by +1.3. As a rush to the forehead and to the ceiling.
    Who knows if this is a marriage, a wrong setting, or is TTL working with China just like that?
    I would be grateful for the advice.

    • Michael

      If TTL works stably (repeatability of the result), then these are the features of the national Chinese outbreak) Even the native Nikon's camera behaves differently on different cameras

      • Oleg

        Thanks for the answer. So we will compensate further :)

  • Vlad

    And to say how long the battery charge was enough was too lazy.

    • BB

      "How much charge is enough" is very subjective, because you almost never work at full power, and in TTL everything depends on the shooting conditions. And given the rather large capacity of the battery, you also need to try to land it completely (for example, the YN-560Li lasted for half a day of active shooting at 1/8 power, but I won't even say approximately how many frames it is - maybe 2000, maybe all 5000).

    • Victor

      The charge reserve there is about the same as in two or two and a half sets (4 pieces each) of white AA “enelups”.

      Then consider yourself, according to your shooting conditions.

  • Demid

    Have you used 1/4000 radio sync speed?

  • Jury

    Bought Godox V860IIIN - next version for Nikon, with large LED backlight. tested on D800. from first impressions:
    removed bracketing;
    the quick sync icon is disabled if the flash is on the camera, while the sync itself seems to be working as it should, there are no stripes at short shutter speeds;
    autofocus illumination still does not work, the corresponding item in the settings menu is disabled by default, enabling no results;
    Optional LED bright, allows

  • Jury

    focus in complete darkness, partly compensating for the inoperative focusing illumination;
    everything else is unchanged. corresponds to the review.
    conclusion - the flash itself turned out not bad IMHO, but the firmware needs to be finished.

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