The Godox BFP Flash Projection Attachment is a Perfect Tool for the Discerning Creative
The Godox BFP Flash Projection Attachment is a $299 projection lens that allows users to create interesting, creative, and precise light and shadow patterns in their images with Bowens mount flash heads (optionally the BLP is available for continuous light sources). While it’s not the first system of its kind to hit the market, what makes this unit stand apart from the crowd is it has a 360° rotatable design, has significantly less light leakage, and supports Iris attachments from several other brands.
Full disclosure: This sponsored article is brought to you by Godox.
The BFP light modifier from Godox users gobos and a “snoot” to create interesting precision shapes and patterns with crisp light edges that can be projected on the backgrounds, the subject, or both to create wildly creative images. The meticulously crafted snoot (lenses ranging from 48mm to 150mm) produces a sharp, clear circle of light (as long as you’ve adjusted your focus) with precise color accuracy, offering users a completely uniform brightness from the center to the edge providing vivid, true-to-life colors and sharp details from edge to edge. By adjusting the focus after the gobo, you can adjust the clarity or softness of the light projection as much in either direction as you like.
The innovative 360° rotatable design also allows for effortless gobo adjustments without having to remove and reinsert the gobos for trial and error movements. Thus, ensuring uninterrupted creative flow by simply rotating the front part of the BFP to align the inserts the way you want and achieve your desired look. While there are several systems like this on the market ranging from the very expensive to more affordable (ie Profoto, Westcott, and Ambitful), the Godox BFP (and BLP) light modifiers have cornered the market on quality and affordable with some interesting improvements over its competition.
Design & Build Quality
Out of the box, the system is compatible with the majority of Bowens mount flash systems, including the Godox QT series, AD600 Pro, AD1200 Pro, and so on. Optional speed rings are available for use with other lights including Profoto, Broncolor, Elinchrom, Hensel, and more. The new BFP modifier from Godox ensures a clear projection regardless of LED or Strobe version usage and has far less light leakage than other brands of Gobo projection systems.
We only tested the BFP for flash/strobes, but the company says that each system is “designed in accordance with the distinct light-emitting characteristics of flash and LED lights, aiming to achieve optimal lighting outcomes. Therefore, they cannot be interchangeable..” This means, that while most are designed for flash heads, when used with continuous lights, the system can get too hot to make adjustments, and/or it can even melt/warp the lenses and gobo inserts or gels.
The Godox BFP comes with the projection system (and Bowens mount), an 85mm lens (ef-mount), a gel mount, and the m-style gobo holder. The system comes neatly contained in a well-padded travel bag including a separate/additional bag for the gel holder. The small gel holder fits snuggly over the end of the Godox lenses which still allows you to adjust the focus easily while using the combined system. Placement and removal are as simple as just pushing or pulling it respectively over the lens.
The BFP is about 2 inches longer than the BLP version with the extra space designed to help dissipate heat generated from the popping strobe (and/or modeling lamps). While you technically can still use a continuous light (or strobe) on either system, using an LED on the BFP system with its extra space may contribute to light loss and potentially make it not worth it. We recommend getting these projector modifiers for their intended light to ensure the best quality of light for your projects.
The system leverages an EF-mount system which could prove advantageous to Canon shooters as they can technically use any of their existing Canon lenses on the system, giving them much more flexibility in focal lengths if they find themselves needing to go outside of the provided range of the four Godox lenses. While you can use any other EF-mount lens, the four crafted by Godox are designed specifically to ensure superior optical effects along with safe and seamless operation since they have been built with a special heat-insulation cover.
Once all set up, users can simply put one of the provided Gobo inserts into the holder and place that into the slot on the BFP system to start creating. As mentioned above, Godox has created this version of the light with a 360° rotatable mount allowing users to adjust the gobo positioning without having to remove and reinsert the whole system, effectively speeding up their time on set and allowing for much more precision adjustments. Additionally, users don’t even need to use a Gobo insert since they can create some custom shapes and patterns using the built-in shutter blades.
Features & Accessories
One of the key and more impressive features of the Godox BFP system I’ve already mentioned above is the 360-degree rotatable design for quick and easy Gobo adjustments. Based on experience with other projector systems, this feature alone was a MASSIVE time saver, and finger-burn saver since I never had to touch the gobo inserts to make adjustments on set. In addition to the ease of use, the BFP (and BLP) boasts a spacious base with multiple vent openings along the body for exceptional heat dissipation.
The system ships with an 85mm lens by default and has an optional $179 48mm lens, $99 65mm lens, and $119 150mm lens available should you want some additional fine control of the projections. The wide angle lens allows for more flexible use in smaller/confined spaces while the 150mm provides users with a sharp projection over longer distances, or for smaller projections close up. You can use any EF-mount lens, but if you expect to be running the light for a long day, it may be best to use the official Godox lenses to ensure the best results and avoid any heat issues.
In addition to the base gobos with the BFP, users can pick up a variety of accessories to add more creativity to their shoots. This includes four additional Gobo sets (or any third-party M-sized gobos), an additional 48mm gel frame, a color temperature adjustment gel kit, a color effects gel kit, and a precision adjustable Iris Diaphragm insert.
Unlike many other Gobo projection units, the Godox BFP also has four Shutter Blade controls that allow users to create their own shapes without the need or use of additional Gobo inserts. Fully opened, users will just see the standard circle projection, but from there, it’s possible to create a plethora of custom shapes including squares, rectangles, triangles, and more.
Regardless of what shapes you choose to make, the real decision is to use that projection on the background, your subject, or some combination of both.
Below are some examples of the gobos and diaphragm inserts, and gel colors using the Godox BFP projection system;
The best part about the gels is that even though Godox has precut kits ready to use out of the box, users can very easily cut and/or tape their own existing gels over the gel mounts as well, making it incredibly easy to get up and running with the tools they already have at hand.
Putting The Godox BFP To Use
So how does this all pan out in an actual shoot? While this type of light modifier is incredibly “niche” you can do so many incredible things with it. This can range from creative portraits even all the way over to product and food & beverage photography. It’s up to the user if you want to use the BFP as your only light or in combination with others, either way, you can create some wild and impressive images no matter which direction you choose.
In some of the test shots below, I used the BFP with the AD600Pro as the only light and other mixed lights to create some unique portraits and some fun product/toy photographs. Honestly, I found it the most satisfying when used in a multi-light setup, even if it’s only just something subtle. The only challenge when using the BFP when photographing people is unless it’s being used for the background, you have to get your subjects to hold very very still once you’ve dialed in the settings and positioned the light precisely the way you want it. It doesn’t take much for your subject to slide out of the perfect frame, so just be aware of that when prepping your shoot. It can take a little trial and error, or a handy assistant able to move the light for you handheld.
I think my favorite setup was using the BFP behind my subject using a translum paper between them to create a colored blue circle while using a red gel on my main light to create a kind of cyberpunk almost combination of looks. If I had more of the BFPs I would have added more shapes on my model’s face/body to create even more interesting combinations.
Below are some of the images created using the Godox BFP Light Modifier and the AD600Pro;
Portraits
Products
Why Use The Godox BFP?
Admittedly, the BFP is a very niche kind of tool, that while incredibly versatile and full of unique features and tools, doesn’t really fit in the day-to-day work of a corporate headshot or event photographer. That being said, if you’re a creative who works with artists, models, musicians, and brand managers looking to create advertisements, this $299 light shaping tool from Godox may be an absolutely perfect addition to your kit.
The BFP gives users the ability to project shapes on both the backgrounds and the subjects which can help fashion, portrait, and product photographers create a wild amount of intriguing looks or simply highlight a specific feature in a subtle and interesting way. I’ve only just started to explore the creative possibilities with this tool and I’ve already found new ways to offer unique experiences for my clients that will definitely be an asset moving forward.
Full disclosure: This sponsored article was brought to you by Godox.
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