First test
Pixapro Citi100Pro PRICE: £261.99 This travel-sized monolight is brimming with useful features – but does it have the power for real-world applications?
ESSENTIALPHOTO.CO.UK
removable battery. This means the buttons and monochrome screen are small, but just on the right side of fiddly. Above the dial on the left are the menu, mode and modelling light buttons; on the right are buttons for group/channel, zoom and to test the flash. The menu button brings up some deeper controls, but there’s little need to delve in with everything you need accessible on the top level. The three main modes are accessed by successive presses of the mode button, and I spent most of my time in TTL and manual. Though in fairness, I mainly set this from the trigger, along with power. The alternative is a roll of the dial to set power in 1/10 or 1/3 increments from 1/256 to 1/1. You’d think this would take a while, but the dial responds to quick scrolling by moving only through the main increments. TTL metering worked very accurately, but most of the time I preferred shooting in manual. At 1/256 power and with the naked flash head zoomed to 85mm, I measured its output at f/2.5 at a distance of 1m and ISO 64. When a modifier is added that would naturally drop further, so it’s great for combining wide apertures with flash. At the other end of the scale, full power registered f/22.5, so there’s a decent amount of welly even in this small form. Working wide open in daylight, high-speed sync needs to be reliable, and so it proved here, though of course you’re losing power as the shutter speed increases. Setting 1/1 power and shooting at the top speed of 1/8000sec at ISO 64 and 1m gave me something around f/2, so it’s pretty workable. Flashes like this obviously are not designed for the incredibly fast recycling and colour consistency you’d need on professional fashion or product shoots, but the Citi100Pro did more than well enough for any creative and fine-art portraits. At full power, I timed the recycling at just under 1.5secs, and as soon as I was below half power I didn’t notice a lag. Colour consistency is good, with only a minor shift from low to high power. Battery life is solid too; you’ll get around 350 full-power shots per charge, and lots more at lower. The Citi100Pro comes in a case that neatly collects the light and accessories – including the charger and basic mount. There’s a range of magnetic modifiers, too, which are available separately. I went straight for an S-fit adapter at £23.90, which also comes in a kit along with the head for £284.99. PN
TESTED BY KINGSLEY SINGLETON
SPECS › Price £261.99 › What’s in the box Citi100Pro, stand bracket, USB Type C cable, battery, charger, carry case › Modes TTL, HSS and Manual › Power output 100Ws › Power output range 1/1-1/256 › Power increments (manual/TTL mode) 1/10 or 1/3 steps › Colour stability 5800K (+/-200K) › Recycling time 0.1 to 1.5secs › Auto power dumping Yes › Fan cooled Yes › Groups/channels Five groups/32 channels › Modelling lamp Yes, 1.8W in ten levels › Power supply Lithium-ion battery › Umbrella fitting Yes, in handle › Dimensions (lxr) 120x76mm › Weight 542g (including battery) › Contact essentialphoto.co.uk
THE PIXAPRO CITI100PRO is a battery-powered monolight with all the features you’d expect – TTL flash, high-speed sync and wireless functionality – all in a package just a little bigger than a tin of beans. It’s similar in scope and size to a regular speedlight. For example, unlike a regular monolight, it has a 28-85mm zoom setting behind its circular panel – though its maximum output of 100Ws is higher than many. What does this mean for photographers? Well, one thing that puts people off using flash on location is having to lug loads of kit around. However, this slots into a bag like a chunky lens and can be used to great effect with nothing more than a compatible trigger. I used it with a Pixapro ST-IV trigger (£65.99), which is compatible across the range. Straight out of the box, the Citi100Pro is simple to use. Turning on the trigger, pairing is automatic, and you would only have to change channels and groups if you wanted to add lights under separate control. Controls are grouped in the upper rear panel, making space for the “THE CITI100PRO DID MORE THAN
WELL ENOUGH FOR CREATIVE AND FINE-ART PORTRAITS”
DIAL IN The control panel on the back is simple yet effective
Verdict An affordable location light that performs really well. If you invest in two or three plus some modifiers, you can do everything from simple to complex effects – all in the knowledge that it’s ultra portable. Though not as clear as some lights, it’s simple enough to use, and syncs effortlessly with other Pixapro/Godox lights. PROS Easy to use, good power level, high quality, small and lightweight CONS Controls are small, not enough power for some
TRAVEL-SIZE This monolight packs a more-than-decent amount of power and functionality into a small frame – perfect for away days
GET CREATIVE Used correctly, this location light will unlock a world of opportunities
62 Photography News | Issue 104
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