Got a wedding to shoot this coming Saturday in Seattle and my main flash just died on me. Im using a Lumix G9 and I need a replacement fast. I looked at the Godox V860III since the price is right but I keep reading conflicting reports that the TTL is buggy on Panasonic bodies compared to other brands. Like it just misses exposures sometimes. Then there is the official Panasonic DMW-FL360L but it seems way overpriced for how old the tech is.
My budgets around $200 and I need to order this tonight so it gets here in time. Does anyone know which external flash actually works best and stays consistent with the Lumix G series?
Gotta be careful with the V860 series for a wedding. Using the Godox V860III-O TTL Camera Flash on my G9 has shown me some TTL consistency issues that can ruin a shot if you arent watching the histogram like a hawk. The communication between Godox and Panasonic just isnt as seamless as it is with other brands, and it tends to struggle in fast-paced environments. You might want to consider the Godox V1-O Flash for Olympus/Panasonic instead. Its slightly pricier, but the recycle time is faster and the light falloff is much more even. If you are strictly sticking to that $200 limit, the Godox TT685II-O Flash for Olympus/Panasonic is actually a safer bet. It uses AA batteries which can be a lifesaver if you forget to charge a proprietary pack. Just make sure to test it thoroughly before Saturday because those exposure skips are real... definitely dont want to find out the hard way during the vows.
Regarding what #5 said about "Saving this thread" - honestly it's a good idea because these G series bodies can be picky with third-party hardware. I definitely agree with the crowd here that TTL consistency is everything for a wedding. I have been extremely satisfied with how the Olympus FL-700WR Electronic Flash performs on my G9. It is fully compatible since they share the MFT system specs, and the weather sealing gives me some extra peace of mind if it starts drizzling in Seattle. If you're trying to keep it under that $200 mark while staying professional, here is a methodical DIY approach that works well for me:
Just catching up on this and man, weddings are stressful enough without gear anxiety. I learned the hard way at a ceremony last year that you really need a solid backup plan. My main light just quit during the first dance... biggest panic attack ever. Since you're on a tight budget and need it by Saturday, here are a few things I'd consider:
Honestly if you're shooting a wedding you need gear that wont fail when things get hectic. Ive used a ton of flashes over the years and for Panasonic bodies the TTL can be a real headache with some third-party brands. The Godox appeal is obvious but if accuracy is the goal I usually suggest these:
Jumping in here because I totally agree with the Nissin suggestion! Reliability is everything when youre shooting a high-pressure wedding and that unit is just amazing for consistency. One small point to add is that the physical interface is just so intuitive for making fast adjustments on the fly. Before I share more thoughts on the reliability side, I have a couple quick questions about your setup:
Saving this thread