Two brand new strobe lights have just been announced that will satisfy even the most demanding of photographers. Introducing the new Westcott FJ800 and Westcott FJ400 II strobes, two new flashes sure to shake up the market. These new strobes boast industry-leading recycle time in highly compact and portable bodies, leaving little to yearn for. To make things even sweeter, the two new strobes are battery-powered, offering the most shots per battery charge of any comparable light on the market. There is much to be excited about with two brand-new strobes, so let’s dive into some key details.
Key Features of the Westcott FJ800 Strobe
- First 800Ws AC/DC touchscreen strobe
- Industry-leading recycle time (0.01s-1.8s)
- 250+ full-power flashes on a single battery
- 7.5lbs
- 30W bi-color LED modeling light
- Intuitive OLED touchscreen
Key Features of the Westcott FJ400 II Strobe
- Fastest 400Ws AC/DC touchscreen strobe
- 0.01s-0.9s recycle time
- 30W bi-color LED modeling light
- 550+ full-power flashes on a single battery
- 5.3lbs
- Intuitive OLED touchscreen
What’s New About These Strobes?
The marquee feature of the two new Westcott strobes is certainly the industry-leading recycle time, but that isn’t all. Westcott has implemented an incredibly easy-to-use touchscreen display to help you seamlessly dial in perfect lighting for any scene. The lights are compact and lightweight, making them ideal for creators in the studio and those who travel to their locations. Finally, a brand new Creative Mask feature from Westcott allows you to create unique lighting combinations for more dynamic looks and replicate many different light sources. Let’s take a closer look at some of the impressive new features of the Westcott FJ800 and Westcott FJ400 II strobes.
Fastest Recycle Times
The Westcott FJ800 features an industry-leading 0.01-1.8s recycle time, compared with 0.01-0.9s on the FJ400 II. These strobes offer rapid recycle times, perfect for the photographer who needs reliable lighting that’s always ready to fire when the best moment strikes. Whether you’re shooting fashion, sports, events, or any other kind of fast-paced environment, a fast recycle time is crucial to keep the flash firing every time you press the shutter. Designed for the most demanding photographers, the FJ800 features the industry’s fastest recycle times in light of this strength.
Compact and Lightweight
Whether you are looking for your next studio companion or a light to take into the field, the FJ800 and Westcott FJ400 II strobes are fantastic. The FJ800 weighs just 7.5 lbs, including the battery, and is the lightest in its class. It’s 12″ long and ultra-compact. The FJ400 II weighs 5.3 lbs with the battery and is slightly over 9″ long. The compact weight and size of these batteries make it easy to haul them to and from your in-field locations, but they are also convenient for saving space in your home or studio setup.
Top-Tier Battery Life
Westcott understood that even with all the best features, a dead flash is a useless flash. Both strobes are compatible with the FJ Pro and ProMax Batteries, capable of offering users hundreds of full power flashes all in one battery life. The FJ Pro Battery can provide 550+ full-power flashes on the Westcott FJ400 II. It offers 250+ full-power flashes on the Westcoot FJ800. Comparatively, the FJ ProMax Battery is capable of 1000+ flashes on the FJ400 II and 500+ flashes on the FJ800. These incredible batteries offer more full-power flashes than any other strobe battery in their class.
Creative Mask Feature
The Westcott FJ800 and Westcott FJ400 II offer a brand new Creative Mask feature. This feature enables photographers to create unique lighting combinations in seconds. The strobe’s OLED touchscreen lets you easily control the lights, providing numerous dynamic looks and layered composites. This feature is perfect for helping you stand out from your competition, great for fast-paced shooters who need to set up creative effects instantly, and highly customizable, allowing for numerous looks from a single setup. The new Creative Mask feature will enable you to set the number of frames taken within each unique lighting configuration and assign when each strobe flashes in the sequence, giving you truly unique and one-of-a-kind results.
Who Should Buy the Westcott FJ800 and Westcott FJ400 II?
These strobes are ideal for any photographer who demands the most out of their equipment. The FJ800 is an incredibly powerful light that will satisfy the needs of even those who need the brightest of flashes. Additionally, it comes with an industry-leading recycling time perfect for fashion, sports, and event photographers. The FJ400 II offers equally impressive recycle time in a slightly smaller body. It is ideal for those who don’t quite need the power of 800Ws but are still looking for a powerful light for fast-moving action. The compact size of these strobes makes them an excellent choice for any situation where space comes at a premium, like when you’re traveling to your shoot or when studio space is limited.
Comparable Westcott Strobes
For those looking for a lower-cost alternative, the FJ400 Strobe is the older version of the new FJ400 II. It offers the same 400W power and 480+ full-power flashes on one charge. This strobe is still impressively powerful. A 0.05-0.9s recycle time is still plenty for any photographer who isn’t shooting in rapid-fire bursts, and a weight of 5.4 lbs is still plenty light for photographers on the go. Whether you need a single strobe or a whole set to light a scene, the Westcott FJ400 is an excellent choice.
Westcott FJ800 and Westcott FJ400 II – Ideal Companions
There is no doubt that these two new strobes from Westcott are sure to be instant favorites among the photography community. With an interface that is both easy to use and quick to set up, you can spend less time focusing on your equipment and more time honing your creativity to capture portfolio-worthy images. Whether looking for a new studio light or travel companion, the compact weight and size of these lights will surely impress when considering the power offered in such a compact body. Finally, for the most demanding photographers capturing fast-moving action, an industry-leading recycle time ensures your flash will always be ready to fire in the biggest moments.
Feature Image: Photo Copyright Joel Grimes
