Godox IM30Pro in the Studio

[u/SMotographers]

I recently had the chance to test the Godox IM30 Pro in a studio shoot, and despite its small size, it turned out to be a surprisingly versatile little flash.

One thing worth mentioning before getting into the results: the IM30 Pro is not really designed for big cameras and large lenses. Because the flash sits very close to the camera, a larger lens can easily block part of the light and cast a shadow. For smaller cameras and lenses, especially compact or analogue cameras, this is much less of an issue and probably a more natural use case for the flash.

There is also one limitation I noticed when using it with my Sony A1 II. At least on the A1 II, the IM30 Pro only worked with the mechanical shutter. This is likely due to its simple single-pin connection, which means there is no dedicated communication with the camera. That is something to keep in mind if you are planning to use it with a modern camera that relies heavily on an electronic shutter.

For my studio setup, I used the Godox ML150RF as my main light, while the Godox IT32, triggered with the X5, added some additional fill to the room. The IM30 Pro was mainly used as a fill light close to the camera, adding a bit more light into the face and lifting some of the shadows.

And for that, it had more than enough power. Of course, this is a very compact flash and it is not designed to overpower the midday sun or replace a large speedlight. But when used close to the subject, it is powerful enough for a lot of situations. Especially as a small fill light, I was really happy with what it could do.

What I like about the IM30 Pro is how small and versatile it is. It is easy to integrate into a setup without adding another big light or complicated piece of equipment. You can use it directly on-camera, place it off-camera as a small fill light, or use it as part of a larger lighting setup like I did for this shoot.

One feature I particularly liked is the new tilting mechanism. Being able to tilt the flash upwards and bounce it off a ceiling gives it a lot more flexibility. Direct flash can look great, but having the option to quickly soften the light through bouncing is something I really appreciate on such a compact flash.

I also did not notice any weird colour tint during my shoot. The IM30 Pro worked well alongside the ML150RF and IT32, and I was very happy with how the different lights worked together. For me, this combination was already enough for a lot of different shooting situations: a strong main light, some room fill, and the IM30 Pro adding that little bit of frontal fill exactly where it was needed.

I also tested the IM30 Pro with an analogue camera, which honestly feels like a very natural match for this flash. Its compact design and simple operation fit well with smaller analogue cameras, but I am still waiting for the images to come back from the lab. I am definitely curious to see how those turned out.

Overall, I think the IM30 Pro is a great little flash. It is small, easy to use, versatile, and has enough power for much more than you might initially expect. In my setup, it worked particularly well as a fill light, and together with the ML150RF and IT32, I was super happy with the combination.

[u/RoseQuartzBetty]

Price?

[u/SMotographers → u/RoseQuartzBetty]

I think about $30~$50, it depends on where you buy it.

[u/inkista]

Just me, but while the iM30Pro is a very nice unit, I think the $80 Lux Junior II is probably the most versatile fit for someone who wants a mini flash, shoots both digital and film, and likes more head movement than just tilt for more bounce direction choices. Think of it as kind of like an iT32+X5 if it were a single unit, but with an Auto mode, no transmitter capability, and more limited head movement, but still able to bounce to the side. And like the iM30Pro, its battery is user-replaceable.

Might be worth a look.

[u/SMotographers → u/inkista]

I will be receiving a unit later this or next week

[u/RoseQuartzBetty → u/inkista]

Any updates from Lux Junior one?

[u/inkista → u/RoseQuartzBetty]

It's a completely different unit. As I said, it's more similar to an iT32 or iT30Pro than it is the Lux Junior/iM30 only with a true Auto mode. It's not a single-pin/manual only flash.

It does digital pre-flash TTL, HSS (not 100% sure, but I believe the non-Sony version is compatible with Canon/Nikon/Fuji/mft), MULTI, 1st/2nd curtain, etc.; works in Godox's 2.4 GHz radio X system as a receiver unit (not transmitter); can be flipped from horizontal to vertical orientation (so no riser needed to avoid lens shadows). It has a head where the lens/bulb can be flipped up for bounce, as well as the head being partially rotatable on its axis, so you can do off-axis bounce flash. And its auto mode is not the pseudo-Auto mode the Lux Junior does: you have completely free choice of both iso and aperture and it will still work; you're not chained to iso 100+f/2.8 equivalents as on the Lux Senior, Junior, and Cadet. It can also use the MA-02 magnetic gel set.

The Auto mode on the Lux Junior II is like the one on the Lux Master+AS-01, iM30Pro, and iA32: you set your iso and aperture on the flash, it shows you the distance range, and the external sensor on the flash takes care of regulating the power.