Every few months, a new compact flash appears online. It’s small, well-built, and looks great on a mirrorless camera. Many of them typically feature polished metal, a retro style, and look just the right size to make your camera feel more capable than it is. It’s the kind of gear that encourages you to take more photos or at least gives you the impression you will. Just how useful are such flashes, though, and are they really much more than visual gimmicks?
I really started to understand flash photography when I learnt three things:
- The relative size of your flash source should be larger than your subject for a soft output
- Bounce your flash off a large sized even surface if you can’t achieve the above
- Your flash can do a lot more for you if you’re able to work with it off-camera, too
A strobe would be the ideal solution for anyone wanting to achieve some, if not all, of the above points. I understood this soon enough, but also quickly came to the realization that strobes are not the most portable lighting accessories you can own. An on-camera speedlight is a mighty capable tool, but it takes a great deal of patience to get to grips with how to get the most out of one. For someone who’s looking at size, price, and portability after they decide against a strobe, a speedlight is the most sensible choice. With so much choice in this segment and so many kinds of such flashes available today, I can understand why someone with a smaller camera might find the Lightpix FlashQ X20 a viable option. As photographers we love good design. We love things that feel intentional, that look like they were made for us to work better. The X20 fits that description easily. It looks like a flash from the analog film era, the kind that would have been sitting on a Contax or Olympus in the 80s. That connection to history is unmissable. But the size of the light source on this unit is relatively tiny. Just how good can that be for your photography?
Why Pop-Up Flashes Lost Their Charm
Pop-up flashes genuinely became a sign of amateur photography. When mirrorless cameras dropped them, no one really complained. Companies still make small external flashes that are compact and stylish, but not quite the best on-camera flash option. For most photographers, the built-in flash was the first feature they stopped using. Those small flashes on top of DSLRs promised convenience, but they created harsh shadows, shiny skin, and erased depth as soon as the light fired. Unless you were emulating Bruce Gilden, it never really worked. Gilden made that harsh, direct light his trademark. He got close, fired point-blank, and turned that boldness into art. But many of us who attempted the same probably ended up with unflattering portraits and overexposed faces. I’m not saying you can’t make compelling images with small flashes like this, but it’s got a very limited visual style. It’s not going to help you get flattering headshots and portraits.
The Reality Of Small Flashes
Flashes like this aren’t made for event shooters or studio photographers carrying battery packs and umbrellas. They’re meant more for photographers who need a bit of light when natural light isn’t enough. They serve as a small flash to fill in shadows, add a catchlight to portraits, or create subtle balance in outdoor backlight scenes. Street photographers will appreciate the off-camera wireless feature with the FlashQ T2 trigger that comes with the X20, but this isn’t something all such small flashes have. Such flashes are accessories you keep handy, not so much for professional assignments but more as a backup. More often than not, these small flashes get tucked away in a small corner of your large camera bag, not seeing daylight for months.
Many people buy these flashes thinking they will instantly achieve cinematic lighting. In reality, they discover that it requires as much practice as using any other light source. Understanding how to angle, diffuse, and balance light is infinitely more important than the type of light being used. Tiny flashes are most certainly not shortcuts to a great-looking portrait. They are tools for photographers who already grasp the concept of light and want to gain more control in compact setups. When used well, these kinds of compact flashes are wonderful. We’re testing one currently and waiting for a couple. They’re light, portable, and good for travel or street work. You can tuck one in your pocket and add fill light when the sun dips too low.
Others purchase these flashes simply for visual appeal. There’s nothing wrong with wanting nice gear. We all love tools that inspire us. But don’t expect a small flash to transform your photography overnight. It’s not magic; it’s just an instrument. Buy it because it fits the way you shoot, not because you think it’ll make your camera look more hip or stylish. But if you’re just buying it for style, it’ll end up where most unused gear does. On a shelf, collecting dust, reminding you that sometimes, chasing good light is still better
