Q3 and Godox iM30

[TheLaird]

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Was looking for a small flash - really just for fill in purposes and got a Godox iM30. Anybody used this?

 

 

[Crem]

I don't have the iM30, but I just got the iA32 and love it. I went with the iA32 because it is a real auto flash with a thyristor. So far I've used it on film Ms and a SL2-S. It performs great for being a small and cheap auto flash. Very comparable to my old Leica SF20 in terms of auto mode (which is the main reason I got it). I avoided the iM30 for a couple of reasons: 1) I really wanted an auto flash and only the iA32 has that feature. 2) The iM30 doesn't look that compact to me (it appears to stick up a bit when I look at Internet photos).

Edited January 28 by Crem

[goldgranada]

On 1/28/2025 at 11:38 AM, TheLaird said:

Was looking for a small flash - really just for fill in purposes and got a Godox iM30. Anybody used this?

 

 

These are two smaller units that seem more appropriate for the Q series of cameras (with regard to overall size) than the Leica branded (SF40,SF60), but I only depend on them for fill flash in daylight. The IM30 is slightly smaller in overall size and my preference but the Godox Lux Junior gives me similar results, again just for fill. Recycle is not the fastest but I don't have any issues with them recovering and doing the job. Check the pin on the bottom of the units to be sure they are retracting before attaching to your camera and very carefully attach and tighten the unit. There have been some issues reported that it damaged the camera socket, the pin was not properly retracting into the flash unit and damaged the flash receptacle. IT dad to be sent back to the factory for replacement. Here's the two units for a visual idea in their size.

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Edited January 29 by goldgranada

[Ozymandias]

On 1/29/2025 at 4:28 AM, Crem said:

I don't have the iM30, but I just got the iA32 and love it. I went with the iA32 because it is a real auto flash with a thyristor. So far I've used it on film Ms and a SL2-S. It performs great for being a small and cheap auto flash. Very comparable to my old Leica SF20 in terms of auto mode (which is the main reason I got it). I avoided the iM30 for a couple of reasons: 1) I really wanted an auto flash and only the iA32 has that feature. 2) The iM30 doesn't look that compact to me (it appears to stick up a bit when I look at Internet photos).

I've just acquired the iA32 as well and like Crem mentioned the Auto mode using the inbuilt thyristor/sensor seems very accurate. I've only tested it indoors on static objects - no fill flash as yet - and mounted on the Q3-43.  In auto mode I set the camera iso and f stop to correspond to the flash (same adjustable settings) viewable on the flash unit's small screen, and the resultant exposure appears very evenly illuminated. In auto mode, the iA32 also shows the flash distance range on the screen for a given setting combination. It's not TTL with the Q3-43, but so far the auto mode setting seems excellent. 

I've only had this new Godox iA32 for less than 24 hours, so will have to do some more experimenting using manual mode - where you can select the flash power - as well as bounce (indoors), and fill for portrait style highlights.  It's quite small and light, can act as an optical slave unit and uses 2x AA batteries. It doesn't have any pull-out reflector or diffuser, and the flash head only rotates vertically - no horizontal swivel.  But for an inexpensive small take anywhere 'just in case' unit it appears to be able to fulfil expectations and be useful in various situations,

So far, so good.

Paul