Fujifilm’s new flash accessories use radio control for the first time and are compatible with the Nissin Air system
(Image credit: Fujifilm)
Fujifilm has extended its dedicated flash system for X-mount and GFX medium format cameras with the new EF-60 flash. It’s the company’s first radio-controlled shoe mount flash, and works in conjunction with the EF-W1 wireless controller, also new.
What’s interesting is that the new units use the NAS (Nissin Air System), so that users aren’t just limited to Fujifilm’s flash accessories but can use compatible Nissin speedlights and Nissin's Air10s flash commander.
The EF-60 flash has a guide number of 60 at ISO 100 at a zoom setting of 200mm, which puts it roughly on a par with flagship on-camera flashguns of other camera makers.
The flash coverage ranges from 24-200mm (in full frame camera terms) with an auto zoom function that matches the zoom to the lens being used. There is a wide-angle diffuser to increase the angle of coverage to 16mm equivalent.
Flash exposure control is automatic via TTL, but can also be set manually down to a minimum 1/256 setting in 1/3EV increments. There's also a built-in LED continuous light that can be useful as a modelling light for shooting stills, or as a close-range video light.
The EF-60 is powered by 4 AA batteries and has a stated runtime of 170 full-power flashes from a set of NiMH cells. It comes with the diffuser, a carry pouch and its own mini-stand – useful for using EF-60 off camera and controlled wirelessly by the EF-W1 controller.
The EF-W1 can remotely trigger the EF-60’s TTL mode, manual mode and FP high speed sync mode. It can indeed control multiple flash units, using different settings, in up to four groups.
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The radio control means that the units can communicate over longer distances than regular optical systems, and out of direct line of sight and even in bright ambient light.
The EF-60 also offers optional optical synchronisation for use with the existing Fujifilm EF-X500 flash in ‘commander’ mode.
Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com
