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I’ve been a giant Godox fan for a few years, however the Neewer Z3 is sufficient to make me take into consideration leaping ship. The Neewer firm has been going since 2011 and has constructed up a giant fan base the world over. The title has change into synonymous with high-performance photographic package at very aggressive costs. That’s a heady combine. Headline acts embody quite a lot of flashguns and studio/location flash heads, LED panels, ring lights, video lights, and associated add-ons corresponding to tender packing containers, brollies, reflectors, and triggers, to call however just a few.
I’ve just lately been impressed with the Neewer RF1 Macro Ring Flash, however the brand new Z3 appears to be like and feels extra just like the Godox V100 flashgun that I reviewed some time in the past. Like its Godox competitor, the Z3 is a 100Ws flashgun that encompasses a built-in RF wi-fi transceiver for grasp/slave operation with multi-flashgun setups, or distant off-camera use with the equally colour touchscreen-based Neewer QZ hot-shoe set off. The Neewer Z3 positively has its eyes on the prize, aiming to be one of many greatest flashguns in the marketplace, accessible in Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Fujifilm-dedicated choices.
Neewer Z3 100Ws Flash: Specs
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Sync |
Common, HSS, RC, Strobe |
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Max output |
100Ws |
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Bounce |
-7 to 120 levels |
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Handbook Energy Settings |
1/1 to 1/256 |
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Auto flash publicity |
Sure |
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Batteries |
Li-ion |
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Full energy flashes |
530 |
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Wi-fi grasp/slave |
Sure |
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Dimensions |
73 x 211 x 78mm / 2.9 x 8.3 x 3.1in |
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Weight (inc battery) |
1.37lb / 629g |
Neewer Z3 100Ws Flash: Worth
All people loves a discount, proper? The Neewer Z3 100Ws flashgun prices round $280 / £236 / AU$430. That’s a sizeable chunk off the equally specced Godox V100, which sells for $349 / £339 / AU$610. It’s additionally an entire heap of cash inexpensive than own-brand flashguns from varied digital camera producers, which have comparatively slim pickings of their function lists. Probably, this Neewer gun is standout worth for cash. Let’s see how the design, dealing with and efficiency stack up.
Neewer Z3 100Ws Flash: Design & Dealing with
The entire design and dealing with traits of the Neewer Z3 revolve round its comfortably massive 2.75-inch colour touchscreen, so it had higher be a superb one. And it’s. Becoming seamlessly into the vary of devices for the smartphone era, you may go wherever you wish to go and do something you wish to do with the minimal of faucets and swipes on this intuitive, responsive touchscreen show. And as you’d anticipate, you’re rewarded with immediate suggestions in the way in which of data displayed about flash settings and changes.
I’ve picked out 4 of the primary screens from the interface for the gallery under, which present how the illuminated touchscreen appears to be like in auto TTL (Via The Lens) flash metering mode, the underlying menu that’s revealed in the event you swipe upwards, after which guide flash mode and programmable repeat / stroboscopic mode. I’m bought on the intuitive comfort, however have a look for your self and see what you suppose.
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Not only a fairly interface, this Neewer flashgun has a intelligent head. With an octagonal profile, it’s extra rounded than the letterbox form of most flashgun heads and features a frontal lens for evenly distributing the sunshine. In contrast with common flashguns, the rounded head of this one delivers a softer high quality of sunshine that has a nicer fall-off in direction of the circumference.
And that’s not all. Bounce and swivel features are taken care of, with an extravagant vary in each respects, comprising -7-degree downward to 120-degree rear-facing bounce, and full 180-degree swivel rotation to each the left and the appropriate. In a nutshell, you may bounce the flash off any close by wall or ceiling, with a full vary of motion.
Fancy taking a shot at nighttime? No, I believed not. It’s good having the ability to preview the impact of flash and, to this finish, the Neewer options not one however two highly effective modelling LEDs. You may change them on and off and alter their depth. Not only for a preview of flash impact, additionally they work effectively as autofocus help lamps when utilizing mirrorless cameras. For legacy DSLRs (dare I say it), there’s additionally a pink AF-assist beam that you could allow or disable within the menu system.
I’ll confess to having a love/hate relationship with TTL flash metering. After I’m in a giant hurry and must best-guess a flash energy setting for a defining second with no time to compose a shot, I’ll take TTL any time. But when time is on my aspect, I choose to check the waters and tailor the energy of the flash in guide mode.
The Neewer makes it fast and simple to swap between each modes, not simply via the touchscreen interface but in addition with an easy M/TTL change on the left-hand aspect of the flashgun. Typically a bodily, devoted change is difficult to beat. Slightly below it is a test-fire button and, not like the piffling equivalents in most flashguns, this one fires the flash on the energy you’ve preset. Beautiful. And under that, there’s one other bodily pushbutton for rapidly reverting to the earlier menu stage. All is nice.
Let’s flip the flashgun over and take a peek on the right-hand aspect. High of the tree is an influence on/off button. Merely use a long-press to modify the flashgun on or off, without having for supplemental touchscreen faucets or swipes to verify. Slightly below it is a devoted button for turning the modelling lamps on or off. There’s additionally a 2.5mm sync socket for retro cable-linked somewhat than RF wi-fi sync. A minimum of cable connectivity is catered for, though it’s not the favored choice on this RF-linked day and age.
Subsequent up will not be one however two USB-C ports. The primary one is coloured black and is an information port for making use of firmware updates if and when wanted. The second is an integral a part of the Li-ion battery that powers the flashgun, and is energy color-coded in pink. This one is for recharging the 3000 mAh battery, which takes round 90 minutes, if the battery is totally drained.
Among the smaller Li-ion-powered flashguns I’ve seen of late have a built-in battery that’s mounted in place. I’m pleased that the battery of this extra highly effective flashgun is an interchangeable unit. As such, you should buy a spare for backup in the event you are likely to tackle extended periods. You may also cost up your spare battery whereas utilizing the opposite one slotted into the flashgun. It’s a great way of protecting tempo with the busiest workloads.
The gathering can generally be greater than the sum of the elements, and the Neewer comes on robust on this respect. I used to be happy to seek out many and various parts within the field, together with the flashgun itself, the Li-ion battery, a carrying case, a cold-shoe stand with a metallic threaded 1/4-inch socket, a USB charging cable (however no mains charger), a clip-on diffusion dome, and even a rubber weather-seal shroud for the hot-shoe foot. All in all, it’s a really full package.
Again in days passed by, I used to religiously use a Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce diffusion dome with many of the flash-lit photographs that I took. I’ve since moved on to utilizing bounce flash extra usually, however a diffusion dome remains to be an awesome tactical weapon to have in your arsenal of successful flash equipment. A clip-on diffusion dome for the Z3 is provided as a part of the package, supplying you with the chance of softening the standard of sunshine with out paying for non-obligatory extras.
Neewer Z3 100Ws Flash: Efficiency
There’s loads of energy on faucet. In my lab exams utilizing a Sekonic flash meter, the Neewer outgunned the Godox V100 round-headed flashgun for max energy at longer zoom settings, the Godox additionally being rated at 100Ws. In outdated cash, the Neewer equates to a Information variety of Gn 45 (meters, ISO 100) on the longest 105mm zoom setting.
The general zoom vary is definitely the identical as within the Godox, at 28-105mm. That’s fantastic so far as it goes, however wide-angle protection is a bit of restricted in contrast with most typical flashguns which have an oblong flash tube. On the plus aspect, the Neewer is provided with a neat clip-on diffusion dome that spreads the beam to wider angles. It additionally softens the standard of sunshine, reduces specular highlights, and makes shadows much less harsh.
One slight niggle, so far as I’m involved, is that I couldn’t discover a menu choice for altering the very fantastic 0.1EV adjustment steps to coarser 0.3EV steps. I usually choose to make use of bigger step modifications, and the choice is on the market within the companion Neewer QZ touchscreen wi-fi flash set off, however not within the Z3 touchscreen menu. I generally discovered it a bit tough, for instance, to extend or lower the guide flash energy by precisely a single EV step. I’d find yourself utilizing the primary touchscreen scale to make roughly the appropriate change, then use the digital + and – digital buttons to dwelling in on the proper worth in 0.1EV steps.
As I’d anticipate from a flashgun that runs on a chunky Li-ion battery, recycling speeds are very fast. In my exams, recycling proved nearly instantaneous all the way in which as much as 1/4 of full energy, 0.5 seconds and half energy and 1.5 seconds after a full-power flash.
There’s loads of stamina as effectively, with the battery being rated at 530 full-power flashes and plenty of extra at decrease energy settings. It takes about 90 minutes to totally cost a flat battery, which once more is fairly fast. In one other ingredient of stamina, resistance to overheating can also be good, and you must be capable of shoot a burst of as much as 100 full-power flashes earlier than issues begin to decelerate and you might want to give the Neewer a break. You’ll most likely be prepared for a break as effectively, in spite of everything that.
Neewer Z3 100Ws Flash: Pattern photographs
The next gallery of instance photographs was taken of a mannequin automobile measuring about 20cm / 8 inches in size. I set the white stability of my Nikon Z 6II to Flash and used the Neewer in direct flash mode, then at a 60-degree upward angle with the diffusion dome fitted, then with out the dome, however bouncing the flash at a rearward 120-degree angle off the ceiling. Lastly, for artistic impact, I fired the flash with the diffusion dome fitted once more however remotely off-camera, utilizing a Neewer QZ set off. The final choice offers essentially the most artistic freedom over lighting results. See what you suppose.
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Neewer Z3 100Ws Flash: Lab Outcomes
We take a look at all accessible options for every flashgun that goes via out labs. To check energy output, we use a Sekonic flash meter positioned at a distance of 1 meter from every flashgun. We test the entire vary of guide energy settings, in one-stop increments. Based mostly on a sensitivity of ISO 100, the figures correlate straight with the Gn (Information quantity) in meters. The outcomes are double-checked by taking photographs of a grey card with the suitable lens apertures and utilizing the digital camera’s histogram show in playback mode. We additionally use the grey card to check the accuracy and consistency of Auto and Auto TTL flash metering, the place featured.
We test the pace with which every flashgun can recycle to a state of readiness, all through its vary of energy settings, culminating in a full-power flash. We use freshly charged Ni-MH rechargeable batteries for this, or the provided rechargeable Li-ion battery pack the place featured in some flashguns. The graph under reveals the ability output (Gn, ISO 100, meters) at every full EV step via the entire energy vary, from minimal to most output. The recycle pace in seconds is proven at 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 and full energy settings.
Energy output:
As I’d anticipate, most energy output rises at longer zoom settings however I’m impressed how the energy of the flash stays the identical all through the whole vary within the shorter 28-50mm zoom vary. At its most output setting and longest 105mm zoom setting, the Neewer edged forward of the competing Godox V100 in my exams, returning a worth of Gn 45 in contrast with Gn 38 (ISO 100, meters).
Recycle pace:
Recycling speeds are nearly instantaneous, from the minimal energy setting of 1/256 all the way in which as much as 1/4 energy. Half a second remains to be very fast after a half-power flash, as is 1.5 seconds after a full-power flash. Not like utilizing alkaline batteries in a flashgun, there’s no slowdown because the Li-ion battery begins to discharge.
Neewer Z3 100Ws Flash: Verdict
I really feel that the Neewer Z3 100Ws Flash is highly effective and complex, but intuitive and simple to make use of. The colour touchscreen interface makes all the things I want very accessible and easy to regulate, and I like that the high-end options embody a wealth of flash modes, together with a built-in RF transceiver, so it may be used as each an RF wi-fi grasp or slave in multi-flashgun setups.
There’s a pleasant vary of extras included within the field, with a clip-on diffusion dome and rubber shroud that you could match to the hot-shoe mounting foot. All in all, the Neewer is a superb gun that delivers a stunning high quality of sunshine with glorious consistency. It’s additionally nice worth on the worth. I’m hooked!
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Options ★★★★★ |
Helpful options embody devoted TTL flash metering, high-speed sync, programmable stroboscopic mode, modelling LED lamps and a clip-on diffusion dome. |
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Design ★★★★★ |
The round-head design offers a stunning high quality of sunshine, whereas the colour touchscreen interface is intuitive and extremely efficient. |
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Efficiency ★★★★★ |
Most energy output is spectacular however very delicate output can also be accessible, all with quick recycle speeds and nice stamina from the Li-ion battery. |
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Worth ★★★★★ |
Contemplating the function set, touchscreen design and total efficiency, this flashgun is standout worth for cash. |
