REVIEW – One of the things that I miss from my older Sony A6300 camera was the built-in pop-up flash. Yeah, it wasn’t powerful, but it gave me the option for some fill light on brighter days when my subject was backlit. I occasionally use the included flash on my Fuji camera, too. So I was happy to review the new Godox iT20 Camera Flash for my Sony A6700. Read on for my impression.
⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $44.90
Where to buy: Amazon
What is it?
The Godox iT20 Camera Flash is a mini, compact flash that supports TTL, an internal rechargeable battery, and magnetic attachments.
What’s included?
- Flash body (silver or black)
- USB-C charging cable
- Storage bag
- 1/1 CTO magnetic color filter
- 1/2 CTO magnetic color filter
- Magnetic diffuser
- Product manual
Tech specs
Compatibility: Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, OM System/Panasonic
Battery: Built-in lithium 7.4V, 300mAh
Input: 5V⎓0.6A
Charging Time: 70min (estimated)
Flash Times: Full power 700 (estimated)
Recycle Time: Full power ≈1.5s
Flash Power Levels: 1/32～1/1, adjustable in ±1/3 increments
Operating Environment Temperature: -10℃~+50℃
Sync Trigger: Hot Shoe
Dimensions: 41.5mm×41mm×32mm
Weight: ≈45g
Design and features
The Godox iT20 Camera Flash is a great size for a portable, mini flash. In fact, I tend to leave it on most of the time! And for those who think this mini flash isn’t good for anything, I would beg to differ. Both the Sony A6300 and the new Fujifilm X100VI have built-in flashes, but only with a Guide Number of 6, whereas the Godox iT20 Camera Flash has a GN of 15, about 2.5x times stronger!
I use the built-in flash on the Fuji for quick macro shots or to brighten up darker areas when I’m close to my subject. With the Godox iT20 Camera Flash, I can step back and have a little more creative freedom on the Sony. I have a simple explanation of the GN value down below in the Performance section.
When I go out to specifically shoot macro, I like using the Sony A6700 + Sony 90mm lens. I was using the Godox V1 flash, but the connection plate snapped off. I wasn’t sure how well the Godox iT20 Camera Flash was going to replace how I was using the V1. Turns out, not too badly!
The Godox iT20 Camera Flash can be used manually or with TTL by pressing the ‘M’ button on the unit. TTL or Through-the-Lens allows the camera to automatically control flash power based on what it sees through the lens. This worked great, although sometimes it was a little too bright. So either adjust the flash compensation or switch to manual and lower the power accordingly.
The button layout is easy to understand, and the screen is clear and bright even outdoors. The magnetic attachments are a neat idea. The Godox iT20 Camera Flash comes with the 1/1 and the ½ CTO color filters as well as a clear magnetic diffuser. Granted, at this size, these add-ons are less noticeable, but when the settings are right, they can make a difference.
The biggest thing you’ll need to be aware of is the length of your lens and how close your focus is. For each of the lenses below, I could see the shadow from the barrel in the picture. I either used the Godox TR Riser or a flash diffuser to remove the shadow. My shortest lens is the Samyang 24mm at 2.8″ long, and it still showed a slight shadow. If you have a “pancake” lens, then the shadow should not be an issue.
Godox does offer additional attachments for the Godox iT20 Camera Flash (and other mini flashes that use the MA01 attachment):
Assembly, Installation, Setup
No assembly required. I charged up the internal battery using a USB-C cable, removed the hot shoe cover, and slid the Godox iT20 Camera Flash onto the hot shoe.
I did want to mention that I bought the Godox TR Hot Shoe Riser. This increased the height of the flash by 30mm to help with clearing some of my longer lenses. It supports TTL and HSS. It also has a oº to 90º tilt adjustment, which is great for bouncing the flash. It was about $20 on Amazon.
But I did find I didn’t need the riser when I used a diffuser, in this case, the Angler PSFD-100 Portable Speedlight Flash Diffuser. This little diffuser softened the light enough not to create any harsh shadows.
Performance
The Guide Number (GN) of the Godox iT20 Camera Flash is 15, which is quite a bit brighter than the built-in flash on the Sony A6300 (GN6) or on the FujiFilm X100VI (GN6). I know a high GN number is better, but I did a little digging to understand what GN really means.
GN tells you how far a flash can properly expose a subject at a given aperture and ISO. The formula is: GN = Distance x F-stop
The Godox iT20 Camera Flash has a GN of 15 (meters or about 49 feet at ISO 100). What that means is:
- at f/2.8, it can expose a subject up to 5.4 meters (almost 18 feet) away
- at f/4, it can expose a subject up to 3.75 meters (a little over 12 feet) away
- at f/8, it’s limited to 1.875 meters (about 6 feet)
Perfectly clear, right? 🙂
Final thoughts
I could not get over how small the Godox iT20 Camera Flash is! I was used to using the much larger Godox V1S, and on my Sony A6700, it was just too much. There have been times when I have forgotten that the Godox iT20 Camera Flash is still mounted to my camera when I put it in my bag. For what I plan on using the Godox iT20 Camera Flash for, it’s perfect and for the price, and if you don’t need HSS, I think it’s a great buy!
I am seriously considering whether I should pick up the IT30Pro for the HSS and remote flash control.
I did want to dedicate a little space to where the Godox iT20 Camera Flash fits within Godox’s mini flash product line. I’ve put together a comparison chart below.
What I like about the Godox iT20 Camera Flash
- it’s TINY
- built-in rechargeable battery (USB-C)
- TTL
- Easy one-button switch from TTL to Manual mode
- Magnetic attachments
What needs to be improved?
- Nothing for the Godox iT20 Camera Flash (features that are missing are included in the GODOX-IT30Pro model)
Price: $44.90
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Godox. Godox did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
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