GODOXMF12-K2 Macro Flash + MF-DB Flash Mount 2.4G Wireless TTL M Mode with Color Filter, Cold Shoe, Flash Stand for Portrait, Macro Photography, Dental Photography for Nikon/Sony/Canon Cameras

I’m going to write a two part review—my plan is to describe the kit you get in the first part, with some commentary, and then, after I get in a few parts, I’ll edit in the second part, which will be both a use review, and probably some notes.Godox has been making flash equipment under their own name for 30 years or so; I first bought a smaller on camera flash of theirs in 2012 or 13, and was impressed enough by it to buy a larger one. Then, one of their on camera wireless senders. (All of their modern flashes have the transceivers built in.) It just works really well. So, I’m a fan.You get a surprisingly nice packing case for the kit. There is not room for the fold out bracket in the case. But, the case is very nicely fitted, and seems well assembled. There is a larger ring adapter (which can hold up to 6 of these clip on flashes) along with a series of filter thread adapters to fit the ring on your lens. Unfortunately for me, the largest included size is 77mm and the main lens I will be using this with initially is 82mm. Note to Godox, if you guys read these: include an 82mm adapter!There are also cold mount bases and some tabletop stands these fit onto. 2 charging cables, and 2 packets of filters. A small but close to adequate instruction book.It’s all very well made and designed. The user interfaces on the flashes are quick to get, and offer a number of settings. The screen, though small, is bright and very legible.The major thing you need to know about using these is that there is no direct connection to your camera—no PC cords, etc., that could tie in with your camera system, unless the camera has a built in transceiver for that (and it would need to be comparable with the Godox system, I’d imagine). You have two choices: you can either mount a flash on your camera that does sync, and use it as a master with the two close up flashes as slaves; or you need one of Godox’es transceivers. I already own their XPro, so I’m set in that regard.Each flash also includes a modeling light, which has 8 levels, with the highest being quite bright at macro distances.The extra part in this kit is the MF-DB bracket, which is cleverly hinged so that you can move the side flashes quite a bit. This also seems like it is designed pretty much for only handheld use, but since anytime I’d have this macro lighting set up I’d also be on a tripod. So, I’ve been able to throw together a few clamps and rails, which lets me clamp my camera into the bracket and then clamp that down onto my tripod head. I don’t understand this decision by Godox, unless possibly they have two different designs for this, one of which would allow for use with a tripod.The flashes use internal batteries. They do not seem to be user replaceable. I don’t like this; less in terms of being able to have a backup set, (a full charge is rated at 500 full power flashes, and I shoot digital like I shot film…) than it speaks to an expected usage life to the flash units—when the batteries eventually go, 5 or 10 years down the road, the whole flash set up is disposables. (Just a gut reaction. For all I know, the replacement battery is not proprietary and is a standard commodity.)Part 2: In useAs I was expecting, with the Godox controller on camera, after making sure I had everything on the same channel, even my first test shot came out properly exposed. So, if you already do habve a controller, everything’s a breeze, in terms of sync and TTL.Since I have a number of rails and clamps from doing panorama set ups, I was able to make an easy adapter to allow Arca style mounting of everything. It is unwieldy though. If you have more than one tripod, I’d suggest you use a heavier one. Those arms are reasonably rigid, but they still can vibrate, so you want as much damping as possible. (On the other hand, your flash time is probably short enough so that even at macro distances, the vibration may not matter.)This is nit-picking, but the included filters include two pairs of sets, one marked color temperature adjustments. It’s truly a shame that they are not marked or identified, which would make using them far easier.As a final thought, assuming you already have some Godox equipment that can control these—you also gain a pair of flashes to use.