The Godox V100 is a 100Ws round-head on-camera flash with a color touchscreen and Godox's 2.4GHz X wireless system built in. It's the first flash we reach for on events and on-location portraits with our Sony A7 IV. After several months of use, it has earned that spot with dependable TTL, soft light through a dome, and enough battery for a full reception.
Quick verdict
The best on-camera flash we've used for event work. It's worth the money if you photograph people in fast, mixed-light rooms and want one flash that can also anchor a small off-camera setup.
- Best for: event, wedding and hybrid photo/video shooters who use flash on most jobs.
- Skip it if: you use flash a few times a year or want the smallest possible kit. A cheaper Godox speedlight with TTL covers the basics.
What it is
The V100 is a step up in power from Godox's earlier round-head V1. The headline specs: 100Ws of output, a 2.3-inch color touchscreen, a 28–105mm zoom head, and a VB30 lithium battery that Godox rates for around 400 full-power flashes per charge. The battery charges through its own USB-C port, so you don't need a separate charger.
The built-in X-system transceiver lets the V100 work as a master that controls other Godox lights or as a remote that gets triggered by them. We use the Sony version (V100S); Godox also makes it for Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm and Olympus/Panasonic.
How we use it
For most events, the V100 sits on the camera with a Godox AK-R11 dome diffuser. The dome attaches magnetically in seconds and spreads light in every direction, which works well for bouncing off reception ceilings and for group photos. Compared with bare flash, the light falls off more gently and looks better on skin.
For portraits and headshot days, we build out from it. A second Godox light goes into a UB-165W, a 65-inch white parabolic umbrella, as the key, and the V100 stays on camera as fill and triggers the key over the X system. The whole setup goes from the car to shooting in under ten minutes.
What it does well
TTL you can leave on
TTL with the A7 IV has been consistently accurate for us. Going from a dark dance floor to a brighter cocktail area, under tungsten and colored DJ uplighting, we leave it in TTL and it lands close almost every time. When it's a little off, a quick flash exposure compensation tweak fixes it.
Softer light from the round head
The round head spreads light more evenly than a typical rectangular speedlight head, with a softer edge. You notice it most when bouncing or shooting through a modifier, which is how we use it nearly all the time.
A touchscreen that saves time
The touchscreen shows every setting at once. Changing power, zoom or wireless channel takes a tap or swipe instead of a trip through button menus, which matters when the next moment is seconds away.
Stamina
Godox quotes about 1.7 seconds to recycle at full power, and in practice it has kept pace with our event shooting. It has also stayed cool: through a four-hour reception of steady shooting, it never overheated or throttled.
About global shutter support
The V100 can sync with global-shutter cameras such as the Sony a9 III at shutter speeds up to 1/80,000 s. The A7 IV doesn't have a global shutter, so this only matters if you move to one of those bodies. On the A7 IV, both normal sync and high-speed sync have been clean for us, with no banding.
Our Godox kit
- Godox V100 (Sony): main on-camera flash and wireless master.
- Godox VB30 battery: the battery the V100 is designed around.
- Godox AK-R11 dome diffuser: our most-used modifier for events.
- Godox S2 bracket: a Bowens-mount bracket for putting a Godox light inside larger modifiers.
- Godox UB-165W: a 65-inch white parabolic umbrella for portrait key light.
Because everything runs on the same X system, one flash on the camera can control the rest. If you shoot video too, our take on offering both photo and video explains why we keep the kit this flexible.
What we like
- Reliable TTL in fast-changing, mixed light
- Soft, even light from the round head, especially with the AK-R11 dome
- 2.3-inch touchscreen that makes changes quick
- 100Ws and a long-lasting VB30, with USB-C charging on the battery
- Built-in X-system wireless for multi-light setups
- Stays cool through long events
What to know
- Price: it isn't Godox's cheapest flash. If you don't need the round head or touchscreen, a more affordable Godox speedlight still gives you solid TTL.
- Size: the round head is bulkier than a traditional speedlight. Fine for events, less ideal if you want the most compact setup.
- Spare batteries: plan on spare VB30s. Don't assume older VB26 packs from a V1 or V860III will work; reports conflict, and at least one long-term V100 review says the VB26 doesn't.
- Not weather-sealed, so protect it in rain.
Our pick
Godox V100S Round Head Flash for Sony — our primary on-camera flash for events and portraits, usually paired with the AK-R11 dome.
Check price on AmazonBottom line
The V100 is the best on-camera flash we've used for events and on-location portraits. Reliable TTL, soft light through the dome, and fast touchscreen control make it the center of our Godox kit, and the X system lets it grow from one flash into a small portrait setup. If you're also building out continuous lighting, see our guide to LED lights for video.
Questions about our lighting setup, or planning a shoot? Get in touch.