Godox Ring72 Macro LED Ring Light

If you use the optional Godox VB26 Lithium battery you will probably really like this ring light. Otherwise, if you use AA size Ni-Cad or alkaline batteries you will be greatly disappointed. I have several Godox flashes that I like so I felt confident in buying this Godox LED ring light. The Godox advertisement and the Godox manual with the LED light states that the light will work with AA size Ni-Cad and alkaline batteries. I started with my rechargeable Ni-Cad batteries that were fully charged as indicated by my battery tester. The ring light would only stay on at the lowest level on the adjustment dial, a setting of 1 on a scale of 10. If you changed to the 3 power setting the light would shut off. Next I tried new AA Energizer Max alkaline batteries that showed 100% capacity with my battery tester. The ring light did turn on at various power settings for about 10 minutes and then it indicated the battery was exhausted and shut down. However, my battery tester showed the alkaline batteries still were at 95% of their capacity. At this point I was ready to return the ring light. But in reading the manual it said the light also could use a custom Godox VB26 lithium battery. I ordered the lithium battery with a Godox VC26 USB charger. After fully charging the lithium battery I began testing. I ran the light for 13 minutes at the lowest 1 power setting, 12 minutes at the 5 power setting, and 10 minutes at the maximum 10 power setting. The light never shut off and still showed it had 75% capacity left by the indicator lights on the light controller. Success! My supposition is that the ring light needs the higher voltage of the lithium battery. If 4 AA Ni-Cad batteries are used connected in series the 1.2V of the individual batteries adds to 4.8V total. If 4 AA alkaline batteries are used the 1.5V of the individual batteries adds to 6.0V total. But the lithium battery is at 7.2 volts and that seems to make a big difference. The energy capacity (mill-amp hours, mAH) is about the same for a three types of batteries. Shame on Godox to promoting this light for use with batteries that plainly do not work. My only other complaints about the ring light have to do with the manual. It is unclear how to remove the battery carrier from the control housing. One must push and HOLD in a release catch while pushing on the battery carrier. They neglect the hold part. Also, when removing the ring light proper from the metal ring screwed to your lens one must pull out on the bottom of the LED ring and hold it out and then pull up to slide it off. Otherwise, I like the ring light. The individual power adjustments for the left and right sides of the light are good for a modelling effect and it has adequate brightness. Just know if you buy the lithium battery and charger you will nearly double the cost of a usable light system.