The Godox V1 Pro S is a powerful flash that plays well with the rest of the Godox product line via 2.4G wireless connectivity. This is a more refined version from the previous V1, most of the same features but small improvements here and there make a difference.
When physically compared with the previous V1 model, the most noticeable feature is the sub flash fill light. The flash weights 590 g stand alone or 613g with the sub flashlight, this is a small increase from 542g of the original V1. The V1 pro is also about 7 mm longer (not a big deal). That said, if weight and size are a consideration for your set up, I mounted the Godox V1 Pro on my Sony A7RV with the Tamron 35-150 and it quickly becomes and very heavy rig. This is a big commitment if you are working handheld on the field but probably more manageable in studio.
The Godox V1 Pro is a close competitor of the Neewer Z1s line up, the two are very similar in power (76W), shape (same tilt and round diffuser), size (same) and functionality. The main physical difference is that the battery works a bit different in the Godox – there is a whole that goes across the entire flash, which can be useful to push the battery out from one side to the other. Other than that, I am really struggling to find the differences, if I had to choose, I would pick whichever one is on sale or whichever one works best with the rest of the flashes I might have on hand. I tried to swap the batteries, but the design does not allow for this to work as they have an external notch in the battery compartment that prevents this. Lastly, as far as I can tell there is also no way to use a Godox product to control a Neweer product or vice versa.

Aside from the fact that the Godox V1 Pro S is a versatile, feature rich powerhouse in its own right, it is also a component within an evolved eco-system of Godox lighting technology; it can be expanded upon, used on-camera or off, be a transmitter or receiver, actuated optically or by use of it’s on board 2.4G wireless system, used as a main light or a fill, and is loaded with many more features for the professional photographer.

New with the V1 Pro is the small, removable sub flash fill light, a full metal hot shoe, a port for connecting an external power supply, a physical switch from TTL to Manual modes, and greater thermal protection allowing 100 contiguous flashes, rather than 30 in the prior V1 version. In addition, the V1 Pro battery has a larger capacity, and it will still accept all of the accessories that are compatible with the original V1.

The V1 Pro has three shooting modes, all fully adjustable for exposure; they are Manual, Multi and TTL. Manual is just that; based on the aperture setting of the camera and distance from the subject, the user adjusts light output of the V1, usually by the use of a flash meter. But the V1 makes it much more convenient than that. Once the user sets the desired camera aperture, the V1 sees it and provides a scale on the LCD that shows the correct flash to subject distance. By adjusting the light output of the V1, that can be done in increments as small as 1/10 of a stop, the user can adjust it to the correct distance, or vice-a-versa, using the aperture. However, the V1 Pro provides an even simpler means of determining correct exposure when using Manual mode, and that is, by first starting in TTL mode.

I’m not a big fan of TTL for a few reasons. First, I don’t like the pre-flash it sends out, that can often confuse subject matter or other optically actuated equipment. Secondly, unless the net tonality of the entirety of a scene encompassed within the boundaries of the sensor are somewhere near neutral grey, it can be fooled. And lastly, even when shooting a series of images on the same set, with the same background and camera settings, it may vary the exposure between shots to the extent that post production becomes nightmarishly tedious.

Determining correct manual exposure with the V1 Pro is made simple with its TCM feature; TCM is an acronym for “TTL Converted to Manual.” The method is simple. Set up your shot, set the camera to the desired aperture, then take an exposure with the V1 set to TTL mode. Check the histogram and make exposure adjustments from the V1 using the +/- button on the dial. Once the desired exposure is achieved, push the TCM Button and those settings are transferred to Manual mode, essentially using TTL mode as a flash meter. This is a powerful feature of convenience.

Multi Mode is stroboscopic, it allows the user to program a sequence of flashes to occur within a set period of time between the opening and closing of the shutter, for multiple stopped images within a single frame. Multi Mode is basically a special effect setting.

One of the new features of the V1 Pro is the removable SU-1 sub flash, that is used as a fill light, or a catch light in the eyes of a subject. The SU-1 is a manual flash only, but does not prevent the use of TTL for the main flash when used. While connected, the SU-1 can be turned on and off, and is fully, independently adjustable for exposure. I have not found any evidence that it can be used alone, that is, without the main flash firing. A couple of examples of the use of the sub flash might be as a fill light when the main flash is being bounced. Or, as a catch light, for example outdoors. In this case, the main light can be rotated away from the subject entirely so it has no effect. Then, with only the sub flash to light the subject, the power is turned down to the extent that it’s only a glint in the subject’s eyes. It’s actually a very useful addition, and one worth exploring and experimenting with.

Although not new, a powerful feature of the V1 Pro is its 24G wireless capabilities. This feature allows it to be used both as a transmitter, to control other Godox flash units, or as a receiver, allowing it to used off camera, controlled by another flash unit or one of Godox’s wireless flash triggers. All options and settings of the V1 Pro can be controlled wirelessly and independently of other connected units. The newest version in their line of wireless flash triggers is the Godox X3-S. I rarely use my portable flash on-camera, that’s just my preference, but rather I use a flash bracket that holds the flash and camera separately. I currently own Godox’s XPro II trigger, and I will have that in the camera hotshoe, while the flash is held next to it on the bracket. I also own a couple of other Godox flash units and this setup allows me to control all of the lights wirelessly from wherever I may be. This is another powerful feature and as I mentioned at the beginning of this review, an example of how the V1 Pro integrates seamlessly within an entire, expandable lighting and light control eco-system.

A couple of other useful features are HSS, High Speed Sync, that allows the use of shutter speeds faster than the native camera sync speed, and a built-in, independently controlled, variable brightness modelling light.

In any environment when flash is used, flash output exposure is controlled with the camera’s aperture, while ambient light is controlled with the shutter speed. HSS, allowing shutter speeds up to 1/8000, gives greater control over ambient light, and consequently, more flexibility over aperture/shutter speed combinations. In practice, HSS allows the user to shoot at wider apertures and/or, give ambient light less influence on the overall exposure. For example, we’ve all seen photographs with a flash lit subject outdoors with a darkened background; correct exposure of the subject was determined with the aperture setting, and the background was under-exposed, relative to the main subject, with a shutter speed faster than natively possible without the use of HSS.

The Godox V1 Pro is a very capable and versatile lighting solution compatible with a number of accessory options for light modification and control. Combining it with an accessory such as the Godox S2 Speedlight Bracket, that allows for the use of Bowens mount light modifiers, and one of their wireless light controllers, opens up an almost limitless world of options.