Camera & Drone Gear Blog
Info, Reviews, Comparisons, & News
The Many Faces of the Godox AD200 (AKA Flashpoint eVOLV 200)
I previously wrote a post about the different lights that I use, and that article touched on the AD200 options briefly… but I wanted to look more specifically at some of the available AD200 accessories and how they affect the spread of light from the AD200 with it’s three different heads. Documenting these tests with images will help me know which heads and modifiers are best in various situations, and hopefully it will help others as well. Maybe you won’t have to buy as many accessories as I did!
The Godox AD200 has become quite popular since it’s 2017 release. It is much brighter than a speedlight, but not much bigger. There’s many ways for your Godox AD200 to shine: It’s fresnel, bare bulb, and round heads each have accessories available for shaping light in different ways. Since purchasing a couple of AD200’s in 2017 I’ve used all three heads (you typically have to buy the round head separately) and somehow managed to accumulate copious AD200 accessories. I can’t help it… they just keep making more!
I previously wrote a post about the different lights that I use, and that article touched on the AD200 options briefly… but I wanted to look more specifically at some of the available AD200 accessories and how they affect the spread of light from the AD200 with it’s three different heads. Documenting these tests with images will help me know which heads and modifiers are best in various situations, and hopefully it will help others as well. Maybe you won’t have to buy as many accessories as I did!
This page contains links to products, so if you find this site useful and use a link to make a purchase, I’ll get a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks!
For each of these images, I used the same setup & settings: ISO 100, f/8, 1/200 shutter speed. The AD200 stays in the same spot, as does the camera. The AD200 is sitting on a Benro MACH3 Series 4 Carbon Fiber Monopod with a Benro 3-Leg Locking Base (see my note on that near the bottom) with an extension head. One thing I’ll say about this setup is if you put your AD200 on a monopod, make sure the base is tight and don’t knock it over. =)
This first gallery shows the various heads and the differing light spreads they produce, all at 1/8th power:
The second gallery shows how bright the various heads are when bouncing off a white surface from a distance of 20 inches at 1/2 power…in this case, the blinds:
Thoughts & Observations
Fresnel Head
The fresnel head light spread is rather narrow, uneven, and has undesirable light leaks coming out at extreme side angles. If you use it in an umbrella, the narrow beam at close distance isn’t going fill it evenly, and you might have light rays spraying out sideways. The only positives of the fresnel head (in my opinion) is that it is slightly brighter when bouncing off walls and/or ceilings, and it is the most compact head when packing gear into small cases. You can resolve the sideways light-leak issues if you put a speed strap around the fresnel head as if you’re going to velcro some gel to it, and then slide it up a bit so the edges of the speed strap come out past the end of the AD200.
Pros:
- Is the brightest head for the AD200
- Is the most compact head for the AD200
- Is included with the AD200 basic package
- Will work with standard speedlight modifiers
Cons:
- Has the worst light spread of the available heads for direct flash
- Light escapes out the sides at extreme angles
H200R Round Head
The H200R Round Head has a very wide and even light spread, but is not quite as bright as the Fresnel or Bulb heads. Much of the appeal of the Round Head is that there is a nice magnetic accessory kit available (which I don’t have yet, since it is an additional cost), and it will work very nicely for direct flash. But you have to keep in mind that once you start adding the magnetic modifiers the light will be diminished even more. The magnetic modifier set doesn’t have a ton of different gel colors, but you could cut some generic gel sheets into circles and attach your custom gels to the round head using one of the included magnetic rings (I haven’t tried this yet). Godox does have plans to release a round head speedlight that will also work with the round head accessory kit. The H200R head also can be used as a flashlight with its modeling light feature. There wouldn’t be an advantage compared to the other heads when using the round head to bounce light off walls or umbrellas, since it is not as bright as the fresnel or the bare bulb heads, and bouncing light negates the importance of the super even light spread. I likely will use this head for outdoor twilight or night photography because of its light spread quality and flashlight capabilities.
Pros:
- Has the most even light spread of available heads
- Can be used as a flashlight with the modeling light feature
- Is easier to pack than the bulb head
- Has a nice set of magnetic modifiers available
Cons:
- Not as bright as the bulb or fresnel heads
- Not included with the basic AD200 package
- Magnetic modifier set also has to be purchased separately
Bulb Head
The Bulb Head is what I normally use because it has a nice variety of reflectors and accessories, has a fairly even light spread if I end up using direct flash, and is brighter than the round head. It also works great with umbrellas using the AD-S6 Umbrella Reflector. One downside– it is the bulkiest head option for the AD200 when packing if you leave any of the reflectors or diffusers attached. I was pleased with how smooth and omni-directional the dome diffuser was, although it looks a little blue in color temperature (all the images above were processed with the same white balance), so keep that in mind if you are mixing that with other types of heads or modifiers. Maybe a little CTS 1/8 inside the dome would bring it closer to the other reflectors, but I haven’t tried that yet so I’m not sure.
I have two AD200’s that I use at every shoot with the bulb heads and umbrella or standard reflectors attached, mostly for wall and ceiling bounces. This is great in most scenarios, but if the walls and ceilings are stained wood or bold paint colors, I’ll use things like umbrellas, beauty dishes, and dome diffusers rather than ceiling or wall bounces. The beauty dish is useful if you need it outdoors and are concerned about wind knocking over an umbrella, or if you want to fit into smaller spaces than an umbrella.
Pros:
- Has a variety of low-cost accessories and reflectors than can be easily attached
- Light spread is pretty even regardless of which accessory is being used
- Works great with umbrellas (using the umbrella reflector)
- Is included with the basic AD200 package
Cons:
- Bulkiest head when packing into a case regardless of which reflector is attached
- The other heads are easier to gel
- Reflectors must be purchased separately, but don’t cost very much
Using the AD200 on a Monopod with a Base
Disclaimer: If done properly, it is quite stable… but I take no responsibility if you knock over your monopod or damage something. =)
There have been many times at past photoshoots where I would be in a house and think to myself, “man, a monopod with a base would be perfect for this spot here!” I would want to put light stand behind the bathtub by the window, or hide a light stand in a shower, or put one on the dining room table, but not be able to due to the footprint of the legs of my normal light stands. Finally I bought a monopod, and I must say, it is very handy. I used to use cheap camera tripods as light stands for situations like this, but a monopod can double as a hand-held light that can be extended over objects if I want some overhead lighting– i.e. a “light on a stick.” It also is easier to carry around than a full-sized light stand or tripod because the legs aren’t clunking around, and by using the extension head, I can keep the heaviest part of the light at the center of the base for stability. The feet of the monopod are also softer and bigger than tripod or light stand feet, so they are less likely to damage things. Having the feet as one solid unit is also very nice because they don’t slide around.
You could probably find cheaper monopods with bases for this use, but I got a decent one because I’ll probably also use it as an actual monopod for my DSLR as well. I put the AD200 in a pouch that attaches to the bottom section of the monopod, then run an extension head up to the top, where I have the bulb head with a reflector. The extension head is nice because the top has screw threads for attaching to light stands, tripods, or monopods, and can be rotated (without unscrewing) and tilted. This setup is less top-heavy and more stable than a speedlight on a monopod would be. My setup is the following:
Benro MACH3 Series 4 Carbon Fiber Monopod (MMA49C)
Benro 3-Leg Locking Base
Flashpoint Pouch for eVOLV 200 Pocket Flash
Flashpoint XP-200 V2 Portable 200ws Extension FlashHead
I leave it assembled and keep it in a cheap tripod bag.
Below are a few example photos where the monopod was used in places I wouldn’t have been able to hide or even place a full sized light stand:
I typically setup five lights at photoshoot locations, and use 1 to 5 lights to produce each image depending on the complexity of the shot. I certainly wouldn’t put all my lights on monopods (most of them are on normal light stands), but it has been incredibly handy to have something that works both as a small footprint, freestanding light stand and also a handheld light on a stick. Now that I’ve gotten used to it, I wish I had done it sooner!
If you’re looking for a speedlight on a stick solution that is cheap but doesn’t stand up on its own, just get a painter’s pole or broomstick, painter’s pole adapter, and a cold shoe.
The Heads & Accessories
Below are links to the heads and accessories mentioned in this post. The Godox and Flashpoint version are the same product, but if it says “Flashpoint” you would get a warranty from U.S. based Adorama Camera, and if it says Godox you would be dealing with Godox for technical issues if they arise.
Godox Wistro AD200 / Flashpoint eVOLV 200 (comes with the bulb head and fresnel head)
Godox Round Head H200R
Godox AK-R1 AD200 Round Head Accessories Kit for Godox H200R / Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Round Head Accessory Kit AK-R1
Flashpoint Bundle - H200R Round Head bundled with eVOLV 200 AK-R1 Round Head Accessory Kit
Godox AD-S2 Standard Reflector with Soft Diffuser (for bulb head)
Godox AD-S6 Portable Umbrella-type Reflector (for bulb head)
Godox AD-S3 Beauty Dish Reflector with Honeycomb Cover (for bulb head)
Godox AD-S17 Dome/Wide Angle Soft Focus Shade Diffuser (for bulb head)
Godox Extension Head for AD200 / Flashpoint Extension Head for eVOLV 200
If you want a grip for the AD200 that doubles as a mini freestanding light stand (works as a camera grip & tripod too), this looks pretty cool:
DJI Drone Sensor Size Comparison Page
There are many drones & cameras available from DJI with minor or major differences in sensor size, photo resolution, video resolution, and video format. I thought it would be handy to have a page with specifications and significant differences laid out clearly in order to make comparison easy.
See also: DJI Product History Timeline
See also: Megapixels vs. Sensor Size: Can the Mavic Air 2 Beat the Phantom 4 Pro?
See also: DJI Air 2S Review: Has DJI Finally Created a Superior Successor to the Phantom 4 Pro??
There are many drones & cameras available from DJI with differences in sensor size, photo resolution, focal length, video resolution, and video format. I thought it would be convenient to have a single page with a visual sensor size reference and key camera specifications laid out clearly in order to make camera comparison easy. Did you know that in December 2018 there were five different variations of the Mavic being sold, with two different sensor sizes? =)
I will try to keep this page updated as new products come out.
For more info you can click on the product name and it will take you to DJI’s website.
**Note about camera sensor sizes: I am listing approximate physical sensor sizes in millimeters based on my own calculations and research to make them easier to compare. Actual dimensions may vary slightly.
The main reason I created this page is due to the different ways DJI lists the sesnor sizes in the specs pages, making it difficult to easily compare cameras. For example, DJI’s website lists the sensor size of the Zenmuse X7 in millimeters (23.5 × 15.7 mm) based on the real physical dimensions, but lists the Phantom 4 Pro’s sensor size as a 1” sensor, though it’s real diagonal measurement is probably more like 0.6 inches. By listing all the sensor sizes the same way it should be easier to visualize the difference. For more information on sensor format sizes, check out this table.
If you find this page helpful, most current products on this page have product links, and I'll get a small commission if a purchase is made through one of the links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The information provided here is for convenience only and should be confirmed on DJI’s website before making a purchase. Thanks, and enjoy!
- DJI FPV Series -
- Mavic Series -
Mini 3 Pro
(Mini 3 Pro on Amazon)
Sensor Size: 9.7 x 7.3mm
Max Photo Resolution: 8064×6048 (48 MP Mode) or 4032×3024 (12 MP)
Max Video Resolution: 3840×2160 @ 60fps
Camera Rotates to Vertical/Portrait Orientation: YES
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 24mm
Aperture: f/1.7 (fixed)
Photo Formats: JPEG or DNG (RAW)
Video Formats: h.264, h.265
Mavic 3
(Mavic 3 on Amazon)
Sensor Size: 17.3 x 13mm
Max Photo Resolution: 5280 × 3956
Max Video Resolution: 5120 × 2700 @ 50fps / 4096 × 2160 @ 120fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 24mm
Aperture: f/2.8 - f/11
Photo Formats: JPEG or DNG (RAW)
Video Formats: h.264, h.265, Apple ProRes 422 HQ (Apple ProRes is Mavic 3 Cine Only)
Mavic 3 Upper Telephoto Camera
Sensor Size: 6.4 x 4.8mm
Max Photo Resolution: 4000 × 3000
Max Video Resolution: 3840 × 2160 @ 50fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 162mm
Aperture: f/4.4 (fixed)
Photo Format: JPEG or DNG (RAW)
Video Formats: h.264, h.265
**(Note: DJI released a firmware update in May of 2022 that added multiple features to the telephoto camera, including RAW shooting and video fps options. If the firmware is not updated you won’t see the RAW shooting option or a number of other features.)
DJI Air 2S
(DJI Air 2S on Amazon)
Sensor Size: 13.2 x 8.8mm
Max Photo Resolution: 5472 × 3648
Max Video Resolution: 5472 × 3078 @ 30fps / 3840 × 2160 @ 60fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 22mm
Aperture: f/2.8 (fixed)
Photo Formats: JPEG or DNG (RAW)
Video Formats: h.264, h.265
DJI Mini 2
(DJI Mini 2 on Amazon)
Sensor Size: 6.3 x 4.7mm
Max Photo Resolution: 4000 × 3000
Max Video Resolution: 3840 × 2160 @ 30fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 24mm
Aperture: f/2.8 (fixed)
Photo Formats: JPEG or DNG (RAW)
Video Formats: h.264
Mavic Air 2
(Mavic Air 2 on Amazon)
Sensor Size: 6.4 x 4.8mm
Max Photo Resolution: 8000 × 6000 (sort of… see this)
Max Video Resolution: 3840 × 2160 @ 60fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 24mm
Aperture: f/2.8 (fixed)
Photo Formats: JPEG or DNG (RAW)
Video Formats: h.264, H.265
Mavic Mini
(Mavic Mini on Amazon)
Sensor Size: 6.3 x 4.7mm
Max Photo Resolution: 4000 × 3000
Max Video Resolution: 2720 × 1530 @ 30fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 24mm
Aperture: f/2.8 (fixed)
Photo Formats: JPEG
Video Formats: h.264
Mavic 2 Pro
(Mavic 2 Pro on Amazon)
Sensor Size: 13.2 x 8.8mm
Max Photo Resolution: 5472 × 3648
Max Video Resolution: 3840 × 2160 @ 30fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 28mm
Aperture: f/2.8 - f/11 (adjustable)
Photo Formats: JPEG or DNG (RAW)
Video Formats: h.264, h.265
Mavic 2 Zoom
(Mavic 2 Zoom on Amazon)
Sensor Size: 6.3 x 4.7mm
Max Photo Resolution: 4000 × 3000
Max Video Resolution: 3840 × 2160 @ 30fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 24-48mm Zoom
Aperture: f/2.8 - 3.8 (non-adjustable, changes with focal length)
Photo Formats: JPEG or DNG (RAW)
Video Formats: h.264
Mavic Pro / Mavic Pro Platinum
Sensor Size: 6.3 x 4.7mm
Max Photo Resolution: 4000 × 3000
Max Video Resolution: 4096 × 2160 @ 24fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 26mm
Photo Formats: JPEG or DNG (RAW)
Video Formats: h.264
- Phantom Series -
Phantom 4 Pro, Phantom 4 Pro v2.0, & Phantom 4 Advanced
Sensor Size: 13.2 x 8.8mm
Max Photo Resolution: 5472 × 3648
Max Video Resolution: 4096 × 2160 @ 60fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 24mm
Aperture: f/2.8 - f/11 (adjustable)
Photo Formats: JPEG, DNG (RAW), JPEG + DNG
Video Formats: h.264, h.265
Phantom 3 SE
Sensor Size: 6.3 x 4.7mm
Max Photo Resolution: 4000 x 3000
Max Video Resolution: 4096 x 2160 @ 24/25fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 20mm
Photo Formats: JPEG or DNG (RAW)
Video Formats: h.264
Zenmuse X7 (Inspire 2)
(Zenmuse X7 on Amazon)
Sensor Size: 23.5 × 15.7 mm
Max Photo Resolution: 6016 × 4008
Max Video Resolution: 6016×3200 @ 30fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 24mm, 36mm, 52mm, or 75mm via the 16mm / 24mm / 35mm / 50mm DJI Lenses (There is a crop factor of 1.5)
Photo Formats: JPEG, DNG (RAW), JPEG + DNG
Video Formats: CinemaDNG, ProRes RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes, h.264, h.265
Zenmuse X5S (Inspire 2)
(Zenmuse X5S on Amazon)
Sensor Size: 17.3 x 13 mm
Max Photo Resolution: 5280 × 3956
Max Video Resolution: 4096×2160 @ 59.94fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): Can take a variety of MFT lenses. Default lens is a DJI 15mm, and with a crop factor of 2, makes it 30mm
Photo Formats: JPEG, DNG (RAW), JPEG + DNG
Video Formats: CinemaDNG, ProRes, h.264, h.265
Zenmuse X4S (Inspire 2)
Sensor Size: 13.2 x 8.8mm
Max Photo Resolution: 5472 × 3648
Max Video Resolution: 4096×2160 @ 59.94fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 24mm
Photo Formats: JPEG, DNG (RAW), JPEG + DNG
Video Formats: h.264, h.265
Zenmuse X5R (Inspire 1)
(Zenmuse X5R on Amazon)
Sensor Size: 17.3 x 13 mm
Max Photo Resolution: 4608 x 3456
Max Video Resolution: 4096 x 2160 @ 23.98fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): Can take a variety of MFT lenses. Default lens is a DJI 15mm, and with a crop factor of 2, makes it 30mm
Photo Formats: JPEG, DNG (RAW), JPEG + DNG
Video Formats: CinemaDNG, h.264
Zenmuse X5 (Inspire 1)
Sensor Size: 17.3 x 13 mm
Max Photo Resolution: 4608 x 3456
Max Video Resolution: 4096x2160 @ 23.98fps
Lens Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): Can take a variety of MFT lenses. Default lens is a DJI 15mm, and with a crop factor of 2, makes it 30mm
Photo Formats: JPEG, DNG (RAW), JPEG + DNG
Video Formats: h.264
- Spark Series -
Review: Pelican Air 1607 Protector Case (with Padded Dividers)
See Also: Pelican 1400 Protector Case - A Customizable Waterproof Case for DJI Mavic Series Drones
This page contains links to products, so if you find this site useful and use a link to make a purchase, I’ll get a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks!
You have to give my frugalness credit. For a long time I carried multiple lights to job sites in whatever cheap cases they came with. My 600W lights came with a chubby, suitcase-sized soft case that I shoved a couple speedlights into, and my 200W lights came with cute little baby purse-sized cases. The 200W baby case is too small to leave the bare bulb attached, so I had to remove the bulb and reattach the fresnel head to fit them back in every time I used them. I kept my 200W bare bulb reflectors in my car since they don't fit in the baby case, which of course meant I was more likely to just settle for the fresnel head. If you read my post about the lighting I use, the fresnel heads of my 200W's are not nearly as soft and even for bounces, umbrellas, or direct flash as the bare bulb, but the bare bulb takes more time to setup if you're using the included case. Not only did I feel like somebody carrying too many bags at the outlet mall as I walked from my car to each job site, but I wasn't using the ideal lighting configurations available with equipment I already owned! Plus I was scared to set my cases down on snowy or wet pavement since they were basically just cloth and would soak up water. No good!
I finally decided to set my frugalness aside and figure out what rolling case to purchase. After all, it was for the sake of efficiency and excellence!
Pelican has been around for 40 years and always seems to get extremely good reviews, and I was pleased to see Pelican release a new line of cases called "Pelican Air." They say it's 40% lighter than their previous similarly sized cases, and if I'm going to be lugging it around to all my jobs that is a welcome improvement! They advertise their Air cases as being waterproof, durable, strong, and light. Pelican tests their cases submerged in 1 meter of water for 20 minutes and makes sure they can withstand being dropped and having things dropped on them.
I took a look at the Pelican Air 1535 Case initially and was trying to figure out if I could fit all my lighting in it. The 1535 Pelican Air Protector Case is notably the maximum size for airline carryon bags, and has wheels and a pull handle. Can I fit my typical lighting setup into a carryon bag? No... but I did make a mental note of that because I may get that case someday for traveling with my camera, who knows. The 1535 has 0.95 cubic feet of interior space and comes with the option of "Pick 'n' Pluck" foam (cheapest), Padded Dividers, or TrekPak dividers (most expensive).
The next case I looked at was the Pelican Air 1615. This case is notably the maximum airline checkin size for suitcases, so if you plan on taking lots of equipment in checked luggage, this beauty should be able to withstand being thrown around onto luggage carts, belts, and airplanes! It also has wheels and a pull handle. This seemed like it would be a little bigger than I needed, and the depth of dividers is probably more than I wanted. It also didn't have a high quantity of divided spaces (in the padded divider version), so fitting in smaller objects along with all my lights wouldn't be ideal. The 1615 has 2.49 cubic feet of interior space also comes with the option of "Pick 'n' Pluck" foam, Padded Dividers, and TrekPak dividers.
The last case I looked at was the Pelican Air 1607, which seems to be a newer model than the previous two. I say "seems to be newer" because as of the day I wrote this it is marked as "new" on Pelican's website and the other two are not. What immediately struck me about this case is a top level with lots of little dividers that can be lifted out to reveal the slightly wider bottom level of padded dividers – 2 levels of dividers for a total of 21 divided compartments with the default arrangement! The top level has a mesh that zips closed to hold in smaller items during travel. It also has wheels and a pull handle, which I figured would come in handy. With 2.24 cubic feet of interior space, it has more than twice the room of carryon size (like the 1535 case) but is slightly smaller than checked luggage size (like the 1615 case). It comes with "Pick 'n' Pluck" foam, or Padded Dividers, but does not offer the TrekPak divider option. Below are photos of the 1607 Air before I moved things around and loaded it up with my gear.
It turned out to be just what I needed! With some rearranging of the many included dividers I was able to fit one 600W light and two of it's lithium batteries, a 7" reflector, two 200W lights with bare bulbs and reflectors attached, and two speedlights... all in just the bottom level. In the top level I have lots of smaller items like transmitters, speedlight batteries, some umbrella adapters, chargers, and more. The many included black velcro straps are useful for securing small items to compartment walls (like speedlight feet) and dividing small items within smaller compartments. The height of both the top and bottom levels is around 4 inches, but as you can see some of my items (like the 7" diameter bowens mount reflector, which is about 5" tall) stick up above the divider walls. Since everything inside is padding or foam, you have a bit of wiggle room, so the removable top level still sits properly and the case closes without issue. There is a nice business card holder on the front, along with two spots for padlocks, and three heavy duty handles for lifting and carrying on the top, bottom, and side. There are 4 latches that snap shut to close the case securely. Overall the case feels very durable and tough, yet relatively light, and the wheels are quiet and smooth.
I have taken it to a few jobs already, and since it is currently winter here in Michigan, it's great to be able to stand it up in the snowy road without concern! I think it may have been possible to fit all my lights (two 600W's, two 200W's, and two speedlights) in the case if I really tried, but I don't really want the case to be that heavy and I usually don't need to use two 600W's. Having both 200W lights ready to go with their bare bulb & reflector attachments has been a huge benefit, and five lights is plenty for most jobs. I can set the extra 600W case on top of the Pelican 1607 and roll it in if I need it, and at least I won't look as awkward as I did when carrying a bunch of small cases. =) Reducing the number of cases also makes packing and unpacking more efficient, which is great.
For the Flashpoint XPLOR 600 / Godox AD600 users out there I took a picture of the Pelican 1607 next to the Godox/Flashpoint case, so you can get an idea of the size difference. The Pelican 1607 is only a few inches longer and is not quite twice as tall.
I couldn't find many reviews showing what kind of equipment people were fitting into this case, so hopefully this will be useful to somebody. If you find the information on this page helpful, feel free to use the amazon links on this page if you're making a purchase and I'll get a small commission. That will help keep useful reviews coming!
What Equipment Do I Use? Taking a Look at Lights
After some recent emails from other photographers asking me what flashes/strobes/lights I use, I thought to myself, "Hey, if I get questions about lights, it must be interesting enough to make a blog post!" In this review & comparison I'm going to take a look at the lights I use, how bright they are, and what their light spreads are like for direct flash use.
Note: For more AD200 info, see my newer post: The Many Faces of the Godox AD200
For more speedlight info, see my newer post, Godox V860II vs. the Godox V1
After some recent emails from other photographers asking me what flashes/strobes/lights I use, I thought to myself, "Hey, if I get questions about lights, it must be interesting enough to make a blog post!" In this review & comparison I'm going to take a look at the lights I use, how bright they are, and what their light spreads are like for direct flash use. Since the transmitters come in different versions for different brands of cameras, I'll put links to all the different versions at the bottom of the page to make them easy to find.
If you find this comparison useful and are thinking of buying, you can get me a small commission by using the links on this page. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks!
All the lights I currently use are made by a company called "Godox," but are rebranded under Adorama's "Flashpoint" brand. These lights are decent in quality while not being too expensive. I buy the "Flashpoint" branded flashes instead of the "Godox" branded ones because if it says "Flashpoint" it means I get a U.S. warranty. Since I live in the U.S. I went with those. In this post I refer to the Godox models since they are more widely recognized and the names are a bit simpler.
I currently own two Godox V850II's, two Godox AD200's, and two Godox AD600's. I trigger them with an X1 Wireless Flash Trigger in the camera's hotshoe and control the power of the flashes with an XPro (I used to have an XT32 before the XPro was released) that I keep on me as I walk around moving light stands. The only time the X1 Trigger affects flash power is when you first turn it on, so the rest of the time it doesn't interfere with the settings I choose on the XPro. I never use TTL so I have the manual only, non-TTL versions of all the lights except the AD200, which doesn't come in a manual-only version.
The Godox V850II Li-ion Camera Flash is a speedlight that is powered by a lithium-ion battery, which is a breath of fresh air if you've previously used flashes powered by AA batteries. These lithium-ion batteries are rated to last for 650 full power pops (and I never use lights at full power). I use this primarily for ceiling/wall bounces in small rooms or to highlight areas or objects in larger rooms where I'm also using bigger lights.
The Godox AD200 is a 200W strobe that is about a stop brighter than a normal speedlight. It comes with a detachable Fresnel head and a detachable bare bulb socket to allow for a little more flexibility. It readily accepts a variety of optional accessories made just for this model like a 12" beauty dish, standard reflector, umbrella reflector, dome diffuser, barn doors (included with the basic kit), and more. It is only slightly bigger than a speedlight, so many accessories made for speedlights will fit onto this when the Fresnel head is attached. One thing to note is the AD200 basic package does not include reflectors for use with the bare bulb. These lithium-ion batteries are rated to last for 500 full power pops.
The Godox AD600 is a 600W strobe / monolight that is much brighter, bigger, and heavier than a speedlight. These are great for throwing lots of light into a large room and useful for balancing interiors with exteriors on a sunny day. I often will hand hold these because it has a nice big handle that makes you feel like you're holding a giant photon gun, and when the light fires it goes "POP!" I have to say, even though it's heavy it is fun to walk around with these things. =) TSA also always enjoys scanning these if you ever take it as carryon in an airplane. Their typical question is, "What...IS...that???" These lithium-ion batteries are rated to last for 500 full power pops. The links to the AD600 on this page are to the Bowens Mount model, which is how accessories, like reflectors and beauty dishes, are attached to the light.
So how do these all compare?
In the first gallery below, I have these three flashes (the AD200 is in there twice, once with the bare bulb & standard reflector and once with the Fresnel head) all firing at 1/2 power with the camera set to ISO 100, f8, 1/200th of a second shutter speed:
As you can see the Fresnel head of the AD200 might be a hair brighter than the bare bulb. Otherwise, it all went as expected.
Next, I thought it would be useful info to see what power settings you'd have to use for all of the flashes to be throwing out approximately the same amount of light (they aren't exactly the same but they're close). Notice the flash power settings in the gallery below:
I also tried the AD600 at 1/8th power but it seemed too bright and was probably a bigger exposure difference than 1/16th +0.7.
The 3rd and final gallery takes a look at how even the light spread is from the various lights using various configurations (grid, softbox, diffusers, zoom level, Fresnel head, bare bulb, etc). To do this I turned the power down quite a bit so the bright and dark areas could be easily seen, which helps to show how even or uneven the light spread is. Noted in each image is the configuration:
Some observations from these galleries:
The AD600 is at least a stop brighter than the AD200, and the AD200 is about a stop brighter than the V850II speedlight
The V850II camera flash/speedlight requires a softbox to get a very even light spread, but the softbox knocks out about 1 stop of power
The AD200 bare bulb has a nice even light spread with both reflectors, but it's Fresnel head is not desirable for direct flash and is similar to a speedlight that is zoomed to at least 85mm
The AD600 light spread is not perfect, but comes close when using it's included detachable diffuser
I often use configurations that have uneven light spread when I'm bouncing from walls, ceilings or umbrellas, since bouncing softens and evens out the light source. That being said, it is nice to know what the light spreads look like for situations where direct flash is useful. I do like to use the direct flash of the AD200 bare bulb & standard reflector when doing twilight exteriors, because the AD200 is light enough to hold on the end of a light stand or painter's pole and has a very even light spread.
Below are the lights, transmitters, and a few other items I use. If you use the links on this page, it will help me out! =)
Links to Products Mentioned in this Article
Godox X1 Transmitter for Canon (the one I put in the camera hotshoe to trigger the flashes - Has TTL & HSS)
Godox X1 Transmitter for Nikon
Godox X1 Transmitter for Sony
Godox X1 Transmitter for Fuji
Godox X1 Transmitter for Panasonic/Olympus
Godox XPro Wireless Flash Controller & Trigger for Canon (The one I carry around to control the power of all my lights)
Godox XPro Wireless Flash Controller & Trigger for Nikon
Godox XPro Wireless Flash Controller & Trigger for Sony
Godox XPro Wireless Flash Controller & Trigger for Panasonic/Olympus
Godox XPro Wireless Flash Controller & Trigger for Fuji
Godox AD600 (doesn’t include transmitter)
Spare Battery for the AD600
Godox AD200 (Doesn't include transmitter or bare bulb reflectors)
Godox AD200 Standard Reflector (More directional than the umbrella reflector)
Godox AD200 Umbrella Reflector (Slightly wider spread than the standard reflector)
Godox AD200 12" Beauty Dish
Spare Battery for the AD200
Godox V850II Speedlight (non-TTL manual version)
Westcott 8x12" Pocketbox (Softbox for speedlight or AD200 with Fresnel head)
Spare Battery for the V850II
If you do use TTL, you'd want to look at the V860II instead of the V850II. It's the exact same thing except with TTL. Below is the link:
Godox V860II TTL On-Camera Flash Speedlight
*February 2021 Update: Upgrades!!!*
I originally wrote this article in 2018, and I figured I would have to eventually update the article with new products. While I personally still use the lights I originally wrote about, Godox has updated their lineup to include “Pro” models that have improvements over the originals, and also the new round-head speedlight. The power comparisons are still valid in terms of how much brighter each of the classes of lights are, but there are even more shapes and sizes to pick from!
See also my other article about the speedlight differences: Godox V860II vs. the Godox V1
Here are some of the new models:
Godox AD200 Pro (AKA Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Pro)
Godox AD300 Pro (AKA Flashpoint XPLOR 300 Pro)
Godox AD400 Pro (AKA Flashpoint XPLOR 400 Pro)
Godox AD600 Pro (AKA Flashpoint XPLOR 600 Pro) with Canon R2 Pro Transmitter
Godox AD600 Pro (AKA Flashpoint XPLOR 600 Pro) with Nikon R2 Pro Transmitter
Godox AD600 Pro (AKA Flashpoint XPLOR 600 Pro) with Sony R2 Pro Transmitter
Got a bunch of lights and not sure what to carry them in? See also my review and photos of the Pelican Air 1607 Protector Case, with up close photos before and after I load it up with my gear.