On this past Wednesday 2/22/23 I received one of the new versions of the X PRO c Flash Control Transmitter, the X PRO II c , and have been playing with it's adjustments and reading it's manual to learn what is different about it from the earlier version, of which I already have three X PRO models.
So, what's new about this new version transmitter -
The hot shoe attachment to the camera is now the quick 1/4 turn and latch style that was first introduced on the X2T c, and I like it a lot. No more knob to tighten and loosen. When locked, it stays "locked". A small button in the edge of the new knob must be pressed, then the knob rotated 1/4 turn to the left to release the transmitter from the camera. Replacing on the camera now only requires insertion into the hot shoe, then 1/4 turn of this knob to the "click". The transmitter and camera are now locked together, until the button is again pressed and the knob rotated 1/4 turn to the left. It's locked in place, or it's not. There is no more maybe.
This new version of the X PRO also includes the Bluetooth link to use with the "Godox cell phone App" that also came out with their X2T transmitter several years ago, and it seems to work well with this Godox App. Although my cell phone isn't fully compatible with the App. (Getting a new cell phone soon, so not worried about this), I can adjust the lights of 5 groups using my cell phone and the Godox App, even at this level.
Appearance is almost the same -
The upper right of the case above the display has a Bluetooth symbol in a small round white field. This should help keep you from attempting to use the Version one X PRO, if you were planning on using the Bluetooth to cell phone App communications feature. This feature lets you leave the X PRO II attached to the hot shoe of the camera while you make light level adjustments to up to 5 groups of lights from your cell phone. The cell phone App communicates with the X PRO II via Bluetooth to change the level settings and turn the lights on and off, etc. and the X PRO II, while still on the camera, then changes the light settings. So, you get to carry your cell phone in one hand and the light meter in the other, instead of needing to remove the X PRO II from the camera and carry it in one hand while carrying the light meter in the other hand to make the needed light level adjustments. Though I have used this, and it does work, I'm not at all convinced that it was a much needed feature.
They have also added a light meter control communication feature for the light meter to send to the X PRO II, but it is only for one model light meter, a Seconic L-858, so I have no idea yet how this works, yet.
The case of the X PRO II is the same size as the previous X PRO, although the top left corner of the case has a short 45 deg dog ear type cut off it's corner. I suppose that this makes it easier to quickly see a difference between version I and II of this transmitter. The bottom around the battery cover is different too, where this lower dropped battery area is a bit narrower. The red lens for the focus assist laser now sits a bit higher and a channel in the battery cover now allows clearance for the focus assist light to project. One thing about the case that I'm not pleased with is that they used a less bright printing on it (more of a gray) and moved some of the labels to the button heads, making them smaller in the process. These old eyes had trouble with the brighter labeling, so these smaller and darker labels are already giving me trouble, and I haven't even put this X PRO II on the camera yet. I also fear that these labels will wear off quickly with use too.
In place of the "TCM" button it is now a circled "+" label on the button. It has become a multi use button for several functions. "TCM" with a long press, and "single group display" with a short press "Repeating the press alternates On and Off".
The "Manual" button remains in the same place and is unchanged, although the menu screens are different and with more easier to understand features displayed in boxes (there are 2 pages). Scrolling with the wheel allows selecting the desired box, then a press of the "Set" button opens that box. You can then scroll to make a selection and press "set" to make the selection. Again, there are two screens of boxes to make selections from. The screen will switch as you scroll past the one being displayed. Getting out of the last screen is not obvious, but I have just turned off the power to the transmitter, then turned it back on and this worked.
The "Mode" button has also become a "Lock" button, to prevent accidental changes or "surprises" during use after you finish getting everything set up. A 15 second press locks the settings, when locked, a 15 second press unlocks the settings.
You can still only use TTL if the X PRO II is set for 5 groups maximum. If set for 16 groups, the TTL feature is turned off for all groups. This is the same as on the X2T transmitter as well.
In the older X Pro, the modeling lights could only be turned On or Off by the button below the lower right of the screen. The Modeling lights can now be selected for proportional "prop", 50 %, or 100% and switched on and off one at a time when that light group has been selected. Setting just one requires that only that one group be selected, so it's level tends to be part of the initial lighting setup. At least it's better than "All On" and All Off" capability that the original X PRO modeling light transmitter had. "Prop" means whatever the manual brightness adjustment knob on the light is set for. You can only adjust a modeling light if you have that light group selected, but it will remain at whatever setting you have made when you select another light. With several modeling lights set for different levels, those that are set can be all turned On and Off with the modeling light button below and to the right of the screen and they will be turned "On" at whatever level they had been set for (some 50%, some "prop", and some off).
In the older X Pro transmitter, you didn't have control of Zoom, but you do have it in the X PRO II, When the desired group is selected, and then you press the "Zoom" button below the screen, you can use the scroll wheel to select the desired zoom level of that light, if it has that capability. So far, only speedlites seem to have this. so "zoom" only works with speedlites with this capability.
High Speed Sync is available in both the X PRO and the X PRO II and seems to work the same, though I have not used it much.
There is a 2.5 mm external sync input or output, selectable by one of the menu selections. With the App and the right cell phone, you are supposed to be able to trigger the camera by adding a sync cable between the X PRO sync output and camera shutter trigger input to use the cell phone as a remote wireless shutter trigger. I'll know more about this after I get the new cell phone.
The same power on / off switch and Focus Assistance switches are located on the right side of the case in the same positions, so these are the same on both the X PRO and the X PRO II.
I think that , in all, I like this Godox X PRO II Transmitter. I am certainly happy with the Modeling Light control capability and the easy On-Off Hot Shoe Lock. Maybe if I get the new light meter it will make adjusting the lights easier yet. I work mostly in my studio, so have very little use for the speedlite "Zoom function", but it's nice to know that it is available when I am using speedlites.
My "biggest wish" is that these were offered with a tilting screen, since frequently I'm using my camera and X PRO on a tripod that is too high for me to see the X PRO screen. If it tilted up so that it could be seen from behind the camera when the camera is above my head I would be buying that version quickly. For now, and in years past, I'm using "Apple Boxes" to raise me up high enough to see what I need.
Charley
So, what's new about this new version transmitter -
The hot shoe attachment to the camera is now the quick 1/4 turn and latch style that was first introduced on the X2T c, and I like it a lot. No more knob to tighten and loosen. When locked, it stays "locked". A small button in the edge of the new knob must be pressed, then the knob rotated 1/4 turn to the left to release the transmitter from the camera. Replacing on the camera now only requires insertion into the hot shoe, then 1/4 turn of this knob to the "click". The transmitter and camera are now locked together, until the button is again pressed and the knob rotated 1/4 turn to the left. It's locked in place, or it's not. There is no more maybe.
This new version of the X PRO also includes the Bluetooth link to use with the "Godox cell phone App" that also came out with their X2T transmitter several years ago, and it seems to work well with this Godox App. Although my cell phone isn't fully compatible with the App. (Getting a new cell phone soon, so not worried about this), I can adjust the lights of 5 groups using my cell phone and the Godox App, even at this level.
Appearance is almost the same -
The upper right of the case above the display has a Bluetooth symbol in a small round white field. This should help keep you from attempting to use the Version one X PRO, if you were planning on using the Bluetooth to cell phone App communications feature. This feature lets you leave the X PRO II attached to the hot shoe of the camera while you make light level adjustments to up to 5 groups of lights from your cell phone. The cell phone App communicates with the X PRO II via Bluetooth to change the level settings and turn the lights on and off, etc. and the X PRO II, while still on the camera, then changes the light settings. So, you get to carry your cell phone in one hand and the light meter in the other, instead of needing to remove the X PRO II from the camera and carry it in one hand while carrying the light meter in the other hand to make the needed light level adjustments. Though I have used this, and it does work, I'm not at all convinced that it was a much needed feature.
They have also added a light meter control communication feature for the light meter to send to the X PRO II, but it is only for one model light meter, a Seconic L-858, so I have no idea yet how this works, yet.
The case of the X PRO II is the same size as the previous X PRO, although the top left corner of the case has a short 45 deg dog ear type cut off it's corner. I suppose that this makes it easier to quickly see a difference between version I and II of this transmitter. The bottom around the battery cover is different too, where this lower dropped battery area is a bit narrower. The red lens for the focus assist laser now sits a bit higher and a channel in the battery cover now allows clearance for the focus assist light to project. One thing about the case that I'm not pleased with is that they used a less bright printing on it (more of a gray) and moved some of the labels to the button heads, making them smaller in the process. These old eyes had trouble with the brighter labeling, so these smaller and darker labels are already giving me trouble, and I haven't even put this X PRO II on the camera yet. I also fear that these labels will wear off quickly with use too.
In place of the "TCM" button it is now a circled "+" label on the button. It has become a multi use button for several functions. "TCM" with a long press, and "single group display" with a short press "Repeating the press alternates On and Off".
The "Manual" button remains in the same place and is unchanged, although the menu screens are different and with more easier to understand features displayed in boxes (there are 2 pages). Scrolling with the wheel allows selecting the desired box, then a press of the "Set" button opens that box. You can then scroll to make a selection and press "set" to make the selection. Again, there are two screens of boxes to make selections from. The screen will switch as you scroll past the one being displayed. Getting out of the last screen is not obvious, but I have just turned off the power to the transmitter, then turned it back on and this worked.
The "Mode" button has also become a "Lock" button, to prevent accidental changes or "surprises" during use after you finish getting everything set up. A 15 second press locks the settings, when locked, a 15 second press unlocks the settings.
You can still only use TTL if the X PRO II is set for 5 groups maximum. If set for 16 groups, the TTL feature is turned off for all groups. This is the same as on the X2T transmitter as well.
In the older X Pro, the modeling lights could only be turned On or Off by the button below the lower right of the screen. The Modeling lights can now be selected for proportional "prop", 50 %, or 100% and switched on and off one at a time when that light group has been selected. Setting just one requires that only that one group be selected, so it's level tends to be part of the initial lighting setup. At least it's better than "All On" and All Off" capability that the original X PRO modeling light transmitter had. "Prop" means whatever the manual brightness adjustment knob on the light is set for. You can only adjust a modeling light if you have that light group selected, but it will remain at whatever setting you have made when you select another light. With several modeling lights set for different levels, those that are set can be all turned On and Off with the modeling light button below and to the right of the screen and they will be turned "On" at whatever level they had been set for (some 50%, some "prop", and some off).
In the older X Pro transmitter, you didn't have control of Zoom, but you do have it in the X PRO II, When the desired group is selected, and then you press the "Zoom" button below the screen, you can use the scroll wheel to select the desired zoom level of that light, if it has that capability. So far, only speedlites seem to have this. so "zoom" only works with speedlites with this capability.
High Speed Sync is available in both the X PRO and the X PRO II and seems to work the same, though I have not used it much.
There is a 2.5 mm external sync input or output, selectable by one of the menu selections. With the App and the right cell phone, you are supposed to be able to trigger the camera by adding a sync cable between the X PRO sync output and camera shutter trigger input to use the cell phone as a remote wireless shutter trigger. I'll know more about this after I get the new cell phone.
The same power on / off switch and Focus Assistance switches are located on the right side of the case in the same positions, so these are the same on both the X PRO and the X PRO II.
I think that , in all, I like this Godox X PRO II Transmitter. I am certainly happy with the Modeling Light control capability and the easy On-Off Hot Shoe Lock. Maybe if I get the new light meter it will make adjusting the lights easier yet. I work mostly in my studio, so have very little use for the speedlite "Zoom function", but it's nice to know that it is available when I am using speedlites.
My "biggest wish" is that these were offered with a tilting screen, since frequently I'm using my camera and X PRO on a tripod that is too high for me to see the X PRO screen. If it tilted up so that it could be seen from behind the camera when the camera is above my head I would be buying that version quickly. For now, and in years past, I'm using "Apple Boxes" to raise me up high enough to see what I need.
Charley
I had to resort to removing the trigger.
