From Digital Camera World · · 2m
Godox A2 Xenon Flash: Tiny Power for iPhone Portraits
Magnetic iPhone flash creates dramatic night portraits without bulky gear.
In brief
Magnetic iPhone flash creates dramatic night portraits without bulky gear. Godox A2 Xenon Flash provides powerful off-camera lighting for iPhone portraits with manual controls. Originally reported by Digital Camera World.
Quick answers
- What is the Godox A2 Xenon Flash?
- The Godox A2 Xenon Flash provides both continuous and flash lighting, though its flash output is considerably more powerful than the 3W produced in continuous LED mode.
- What is the key takeaway from Godox A2 Xenon Flash: Tiny Power for iPhone Portraits?
- Godox A2 Xenon Flash provides powerful off-camera lighting for iPhone portraits with manual controls.
What is the Godox A2 Xenon Flash?
The Godox A2 Xenon Flash provides both continuous and flash lighting, though its flash output is considerably more powerful than the 3W produced in continuous LED mode.
Why iPhone Photographers Need It
For smartphone portraits, the A2 excels by being vastly more powerful than the iPhone's built-in flash and allowing manual adjustments to balance foreground and background lighting.
Key Features
Combining xenon flash, bi-color LEDs, TTL, manual exposure controls, NFC pairing, and the Godox Camera app makes the A2 remarkably versatile.
Design and Handling
Compact and sturdy, the A2 attaches to iPhones or metal surfaces, offering a removable diffuser, rechargeable battery, and simple physical controls.
Performance
The A2 captures dramatic off-camera night portraits with balanced ambient lighting, though its pre-flash delay occasionally interrupts fast-paced shoots.
Price and Value
The Godox A2 Xenon Flash retails at $84.90 / £73.90, providing a portable, affordable alternative to bulky lighting rigs for portrait photographers.
Why It Works
By positioning the A2 off-camera, you can create more dramatic, three-dimensional lighting compared with the flat illumination produced by the iPhone's built-in flash.
How to Use It
The Godox Camera app enables manual adjustment of shutter speed, ISO, and flash strength to strike the perfect balance between illuminating the subject and revealing background details.
Magnetic Attachment
The A2 attaches magnetically to MagSafe iPhones from iPhone 15 onward, or with an adhesive ring for non-magnetic models like iPhone 16e.
Color Temperature
The A2 offers color temperatures between 2800K and 6000K, adjustable via the Godox Camera app for cinematic lighting effects.
Night Portraits
The A2 creates dramatic night portraits with balanced ambient lighting, though pre-flash delays can slow down spontaneous shooting.
Why Not for Video
The A2's 3W continuous LED output is weaker than needed for video, so videographers should consider the Godox RS100Bi instead.
Real-World Test
In London's Canary Wharf, the A2 enabled detailed night portraits with the model holding it off-camera for three-dimensional lighting.
Verdict
The Godox A2 Xenon Flash is a worthwhile investment for portrait photographers, despite lacking power for video.
The short version
Godox A2 Xenon Flash provides powerful off-camera lighting for iPhone portraits with manual controls.
