Update: If you’d like to read the follow-up review for my EF-X20 please visit this post
If you’ve missed any of my other ‘Gearing Up’ blog posts, to summarise Fujifilm cameras are my new favourites for reportage wedding photography. I currently shoot two X-Pro 2 cameras, and one X-T1, all making use of 16mm 1.4, 23mm 1.4 and 56mm 1.2 prime lenses. I love those cameras, and the lenses are pretty great too.
Ok so that’s the good bit over. The bad? The flash system for Fuji is considerably weaker than my old Canon speedlites. Or at least I thought it was.
The final step in my transition from Canon to Fujifilm was finding a suitable flash set-up for evening reportage. Previously with my Canon 5D MKIII I was using a 430exII flash on camera generally pointed up towards the ceiling, with a ‘gobo’ to ping some of the flash forwards for some catch-light. ETTL was super, and it worked just fine. I invested in a couple of Yongnuo triggers to get it off camera for some of the posed shots and that worked nicely.
When I bought the Fuji X-T1, included in the box was an EF-X8. This is basically replaced the pop-up flash that you might find on entry-mid level DSLRs. Hm, perhaps not the best first impression of the Fuji flash system. After trawling the internet for the best options, some people mentioned that the Yongnuo triggers would work with the X-Pro 2s / X-T1 and allow me to use my Canon speedlite, but it was still a little bulkier than I would have liked. And that’s when I stumbled across the EF-X20.
I’m writing this post prior to testing this flash at a real-life wedding, so it is a ‘preview’ more than a review, but what a fantastic little bit of kit. It feels sturdy, works flawlessly (thus far) in TTL mode with my Fuji cameras, and seems capable of firing off camera when connected with a TTL cord. It fits with my mantra of being small and discreet too.
I think this could be the start of a beautiful friendship…stay posted for a review with real wedding samples.
