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Looking to purchase your first speedlight and not sure which brand to go with? That’s where I was when I picked up this Westcott FJ80se for Sony cameras.
I’d heard a lot about the Godox v1 (and not much at all about Westcott) but thought I’d give this entry-level Westcott speedlite a try, seeing as how it was the same price as the Godox v1, a bit more powerful, and had a few extra perks as well.
To be clear, I’m a semi-pro photographer, with most of my experience being with natural light. I’ve done some studio shoots with strobes, but speedlights are totally new to me.
I know quite a bit about where to direct light and how to sculpt it, but I’ve usually avoided using any kind of on-camera flash.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Westcott FJ80se Speedlight
Versatile speedlight with powerful 80W output, fast recycling time, and excellent build quality.
When I started looking into speedlights, I was mostly looking for a portable off-camera flash – something I could use for both portraiture and product photography.
As a result, most of my review will come from that angle, though I think it’ll still be relevant for event photographers.
Regardless of what you shoot, if you’re looking to purchase your first speedlight and aren’t very familiar with the Westcott FJ80se (or Westcott in general), this review is for you.
First, let’s take a look at the specs.
Westcott FJ80SE Speedlight Specs
Pros
Powerful 80W output
Can work on all major camera brands when not using the Sony-specific version (if you want to use the Sony-specific version on other cameras, you’ll need an adapter)
Consistent color performance
Fast recycling time of .05 to 1.8 seconds
550+ full-power flashes per charge
Magnetic ring for accessories
Can be used in host mode to power other FJ systems and Canon RT wireless strobes
Long battery life
Doesn’t overheat
Modeling light
Free StudioLink app
Fantastic company and customer support
Cons
Group handling controls could be better
Documentation that comes with the speedlight could be better
Maximum Power: 80Ws
Energy Range: 9 F-Stop (0.3 – 80 Ws)
Flash Duration (t0.1): Normal: (t0.1): 1/266 – 1/3300s Freeze: (t0.1): 1/500 – 1/16670s
Flash Duration (t0.5): Normal: (t0.5): 1/800 – 1/10000s Freeze: (t0.5): 1/1500 – 1/50000s
Recycle Time: .05s – 1.8s
Continuous Capture: 20 FPS (Camera Model Dependent)
Color Temperature Stability: Normal/TTL/HSS: 6500 ±200K Freeze: 6500K ±400K (E.R. 1-9)
Mounting System: FJ80 Magnetic Mount (ф75)
Flash Increments: 0.1-Stop / 1.0-Stop
Flash Modes: Manual, TTL
IGBT: Yes
Exposure Compensation: ±3
Modeling Lamp: 1, 2, 3, Auto, Off
Sync Functions: HSS, Normal (Front & Rear Curtain), Freeze
Sync Speed: 1/8000s (High-Speed)
Wireless Frequency:2.4 GHz
Wireless Channels: 31 (01-31)
Wireless Groups: Host: 6, Client: 16
Wireless Range: 328′ (100m)
What’s in the Box
The FJ80se comes with a carrying case, cold shoe, CTO gel, battery, and battery charger. (Battery and charger not pictured.)
When you order the Westcott FJ80se, you’ll get the speedlight, a carrying case, a color correction gel, battery, charger, and charging cable. There’s also a Quick Start guide (which I didn’t find particularly helpful).
If you’re new to speedlights and/or flash photography, it’s helpful to know that the gel that’s included is a Color Temperature Orange (CTO) gel.
It has a color temperature of 5500K (the same as daylight). It’s for helping you balance the color temperature of the flash with ambient light. (The FJ80se has a color temperature of 6500K, which is slightly cooler than daylight.)
Build Quality
The Fj80se has a screw-locking mechanism that is simple yet effective. The hot shoe itself is entirely metal (though seen here with its plastic protector on).
The Westcott FJ80se feels like a well-built flash. The body is plastic, but feels durable.
The tilting and panning of the flash head is smooth, with what seems to be the right amount of resistance.
I don’t know how well it will do after being dropped, but I can say that it’s fully recovered from being frozen.
I didn’t know I’d left both the speedlight and the FJ-X3 trigger in the car when our ice storm hit. Once I realized where it was, I wasn’t able to get into my car for two more days.
Everything worked perfectly the day after I got them out – I didn’t even need to recharge the battery.
As far as build design is concerned, one major plus the FJ80se has over its main competitor, the Godox V1, is that the hot shoe is all-metal and has a screw-on locking mechanism. Very easy to use and harder to break than the clasp-style that Godox uses.
Another plus is that you don’t have to press and hold the power button. It’s a simple slider. (The FJ-X3 trigger, however, is one of those annoying press-and-hold buttons.)
I’ve heard concerns that the adjustment wheel feels flimsy, but that hasn’t been my experience.
Granted, I’m still getting used to the controls and taking my time about it, but nothing’s jumped out at me as flimsy or particularly breakable. All the buttons and controls work as I expected them to.
That being said, it’s good to know that the FJ80se comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
Size & Handling
The Westcott FJ80se is slightly bigger and heavier than the Godox V1. This makes sense, as it’s slightly more powerful than the V1 and includes a modeling light.
From what I can tell, however, these differences are not enough to make any significant impact on everyday use, at least compared with the V1.
It’s certainly larger than I expected, which makes using it easier, but transporting it a bit more challenging.
For example, to fit it into any of the smaller camera cubes I use most, I’d have to leave something out. Or place it free-floating in the day bag section. Or in a different bag entirely (which is how it and the trigger got left in the car during the ice storm – I brought my camera bag in and totally spaced that the speedlight and trigger were in a different bag).
That being said, I’m absolutely happy with both the quality of light and the ability to shoot with a full 80w, so no real complaints. It’s not really any different than adjusting to buying a large telephoto lens. Things just have to be rearranged.
Power
With a full 80W capacity, there’s not a lot to complain about with this flash.
Outdoors, I’m totally grateful for having enough power to work in full sunlight. Indoors, I’ve at times found it almost too powerful – even at its lowest setting.
That’s when having it off-camera is super useful. Too strong? Simply move the flash back a bit.
Maybe I’d feel differently if I was using the FJ80se strictly on-camera, but that remains to be seen.
In general, I’d rather have more power at my fingertips than less, especially for outdoor photography.
Interface/Ease of Use
This picture was taken before I’d paired it with the FJ-X3 trigger. When using the FJwireless system, it’s best to use some other channel than 1. One video suggested 15, which is what I now have it set to.
If you’ve never used a speedlight before, you’ll have a bit of learning to do.
There are three different modes and numerous ways to go about changing things.
I sometimes find it a bit awkward to transition between settings and occasionally find myself changing modes by mistake. I’m not sure whether to attribute this to the intertface or to my learning curve.
Unlike the more expensive FJ80 II, the FJ80se works via manual controls – there’s no touchscreen.
Depending on your point of view, you’ll either find this a pro or a con. I actually prefer to have tactile feedback when I go to change something, so this works for me.
It’s quite easy to cycle through the three modes. It’s also easy to go through the whole scale quickly (full stops or tenths) via the center button.
Using it in manual mode was easy and intuitive (when I wasn’t accidentally changing modes and/or forgetting which controls did what).
I’ve heard that there are a few things that are challenging in the interface for event photographers and others who need to change settings quickly.
For example, every time you hit a flash when working in groups, it deselects the group you’re fine-tuning and you’ll need to select it again in order to make further adjustments.
This makes dialing in the right flash power on the run slower. Also, at the moment, you can’t go up by whole stops in group mode.
If this will affect your speedlight style, have no fear – these are firmware changes that will probably be released soon.
One thing that I’ll say now (but get into more depth later) is that Westcott actually listens to feedback. They’ve heard this particular feedback and, as far as I understand, are working on the necessary firmware changes.
Using the FJ-X3s Trigger
On-camera, you can use the FJ80se in speedlight mode or in host mode to control other FJ system devices.
In speedlight mode, you can choose Manual, TTL, or HSS. Your speedlight should automatically work with your camera without any need to change settings other than the exposure triangle.
Since I shoot in manual (and am not doing run-and-gun event photography), I played around in manual for a while to get a handle on things.
Everything worked as expected and I was delighted, so I quickly moved on to experimenting with it as an off-camera flash. That’s where things went awry (for a moment).
It quickly became apparent that the trigger no longer had control of the speedlight.
If you want to use the FJ80se as an off-camera flash via the FJ-X3 trigger, you’ll need to change some things. This was something I didn’t know, and it took me quite a while to figure out why.
I finally found a video that was trigger-specific and found the necessary Sony settings right in the middle of the video:
Silent Shutter: Off
E-Front Curtain: Off
Wireless Mode: Off
Red-Eye Reduction: Off
I’d had my wireless mode on as well as the e-front curtain. (I think I’ve had the e-front curtain on all the years I’ve had the camera – I’m still getting used to the double click it now makes.)
When I went back to see if any of this was in the documentation that came with the trigger, it certainly was – just on a much smaller piece of paper that I hadn’t looked at because I thought I’d already watched enough videos to make it work. Lesson learned!
Light Quality
An impromptu shoot using the FJ80se as an off-camera flash on a shady north-side porch. No CTO used, though I did use the magnetic diffusion gel. | Sony a7 III + Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 lens | 57mm | f/3.5 | ISO 100 | 1/250
I’ll just say it: I love the quality of light I’m getting from this flash. With or without the diffusion, with or without the CTO gel.
Sure, sometimes it’s too hard and I have to figure out the right way to soften it. Learning to blend with ambient light indoors is an interesting journey that I haven’t quite mastered yet.
But all this being said, I’m liking the results much better than I usually like the flash-fill shots of my peers.
I’m also loving getting the exposure I want in-camera in challenging situations rather than having to do it in post. I’ve shot in a lot of challenging lighting where this flash would have been a definite game-changer!
Granted, I’ve been using it purely in manual mode, but I imagine it only gets easier/faster in TTL. (Though I try to avoid it, I do sometimes get hired for event photography. In those cases, TTL will definitely come in handy.)
Is the Westcott FJ80se Beginner-Friendly?
The short answer: yes!
The longer answer: there’s a learning curve, just like there is with any camera gear. How much of one will depend on your overall photography experience, as well as your familiarity with electronic gadgets.
If you can work a smartphone (or navigate through the older Sony menu systems!), you’ll definitely be able to learn the FJ80se with ease.
For example, here’s one of the very first test shots I took – pretty close to straight out of camera:
Glass knickknack with dried flowers on a black background that I use for product photography. I was just playing around, so didn’t get around to cleaning the glass. I was probably using the snoot modifier in this shot. You can find that in the Westcott Creative Kit for speedlights. | Sony a7 III + Sigma 28-70mm lens | 55.4mm | f/5.6 | 1/125 sec | ISO 125
I was amazed at how easy it was to get black-background product shots.
I honestly was just “seeing what would happen if” and almost all of the shots looked workable. Definitely a lot easier than learning to get good shots with a light tent and continuous lights!
The same is true with the shots below. I needed someone to practice using the speedlight on and my friend wanted some new photos.
As such, this was another “what would happen if” photoshoot, yet we came out with a lot of workable shots. (She was happy.)
Two indoor low-light shots. On the left, I managed to blend with the ambient light in a way I like. On the right, I was trying to use the flash for a “spotlight effect.” | Sony A7 III + Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8
And of course, there’s the requisite one-light self-portrait:
For this series of shots, I found it really helpful to use the white bounce card provided in the Westcott Speedlight Creative Kit. | Sony A7 III + Sigma 28-70mm | 32.2 mm | f/4.5 | ISO 80 | 1/30 sec
All of the images above were using the FJ80se off camera. I can imagine that, for me at least, learning to use it in an on-camera situation would probably be a higher learning curve.
I like being able to adjust the position of the flash, whether I’m using it as a key light or as fill.
Beginner tip: It’s definitely a lot easier to do a one-light portrait when you’re not blending with ambient light. Also, get a cordless remote shutter. My corded one limited my actions considerably.
Westcott Creative Kit for FJ80 Speedlights
If you do any product photography or creative portraiture, you’re going to want to get this handy little accessory kit. It comes with a bounce card, a set of three honeycombs, a snoot, numerous gels, a diffusion gel, barn doors, an extra magnetic gel holder, and a handy carrying case.
Event photographers who don’t have a diffusion dome will want to have the white bounce card for sure.
It’s quite useful for creating directional, soft light when you don’t have white walls to bounce off of. (Some Canon speedlights have the white bounce card built in. That would be handy!)
The honeycomb grid light modifier creates a tight beam of hard light. It’s not quite as intense or as focused as a snoot.
I imagine the different colors being useful when I have a multi-light setup.
As it is, though, what I’ve mostly used is the white card and the diffusion gel.
The barn doors, snoot, and honeycomb are useful for product photography, but I haven’t yet figured out how to use them well in portraiture.
Alternatives
As mentioned before, the primary competitor to the Westcott FJ80se is the Godox V1 [Amazon | B&H]. It’s the same price as the Westcott and has similar features.
Obviously, if you’re already in the Godox system, it would make sense to stay with Godox, but if not, there’s a pretty good case for going with the Westcott speedlight.
The primary thing the Godox V1 has going for it is that its interface is a little better for event photographers who need to make quick group changes.
But as I mentioned before, that’s a firmware issue that will likely be updated in a following firmware release.
It’s also slightly smaller, lighter, and comes with a few more accessories at the same price.
Otherwise, the Westcott FJ80se wins out with:
more power,
a faster recycling time,
consistent color output,
a better build,
a universal version that can work with all major brands (though it needs an adapter for Sony),
the ability to work as a slave or host for both the FJ Wireless Flash System and Canon RT (the Godox is a slave only; no hosting abilities),
and outstanding customer service.
Value for Money
Going nose-to-nose with the Godox V1 at just under US$200, I’d say the Westcott FJ80se is excellent value for money.
You’ll likely need to buy a few accessories for it – a diffusion dome, maybe a softbox, light stand, and/or the Creative Kit – but as it is, you’re getting a professional-level strobe at an extremely reasonable price.
I already want a couple more so I can start doing three-light setups.
Also, for those of you who shoot with more than one brand of camera, this flash could be a game changer.
It works on Canon, Nikon, Sony (in manual mode), Fuji, Panasonic Lumix, and Olympus, so you’ll only need one speedlight – not one for each camera.
To get full functionality on Sony, you can either get the version made just for Sony (what I did, as I won’t be investing in another system any time soon) or you can get an adapter that works with the universal FJ80se.
Westcott FJ80SE Speedlight Review | Conclusion
After trying it out, I can easily say that I’m happy I chose to test out the Westcott FJ80se before taking the plunge into the Godox system.
It’s the lighting solution I’ve been looking for in my portrait and product photography work.
I shoot in so many challenging situations that it’s a relief to know I won’t have to pull rabbits out of my hat during post-processing every time there’s not enough fill light.
Another huge positive for me is the company behind it. I didn’t know much about them before reviewing this speedlight, but I’m now quite impressed.
The customer service has been excellent, as is their responsiveness to feedback. On top of that, they seem genuinely excited about their products.
All-in-all, the quality and versatility of this flash, its ease of use (once I had the right camera settings), the reasonable price, and knowing I can talk to an actual person if I need help makes sticking with the FJ80se a no-brainer for me.
Of course, if you’re already in the Godox system, switching over wouldn’t make that much sense. But if you haven’t yet committed to any particular ecosystem, I’d say give the Westcott FJ80se a try before deciding. It’s well worth it.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Westcott FJ80se Speedlight
Versatile speedlight with powerful 80W output, fast recycling time, and excellent build quality.
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