Great review.. I love that you put it to real use and give a truly unbiased comparison from the Pro and Pro II. I was intending on purchasing an AD200Pro to supplement my existing Two Flash TT685IIS setup so when they announced the improved AD200ProII, I pulled the trigger. While I'm sure that it is an improvement from the AD200Pro in many ways, there were a couple of deal breakers and some improvements of questionable value that prompted me to return it. The modified heads now have a fan for better cooling but the size of the head is also just a bit larger so that you couldn't properly fit the Round Head Magnetic Modifier into the Fresnel head which prevents me from using my existing Round Head modifiers on the Fresnel Head without spending an additional $80 on the Round Head. Also the addition of the modeling light on the bare bulb head made the head just big enough so now I can't insert it from the back of the S-bracket which made inconvenient to use with my softboxes that attach directly to the S bracket via the speed ring. Also the ProII is no longer compatible with the Dual Flash Bracket. Some improvements are of questionable value to me. I like the idea of being able to control the light to 1/512 but in order to do that, you would need an X3 controller. I won't be doing that as I like the simplicity of my existing XT2 controller as all the controls are on the left hand side, simple and easily accessible while holding the camera with my right hand. The modeling light on the bare bulb head is of questionable value as it is blocked when using the 4.5 reflector/diffuser. The other features like the color TFT screen, color coded group indicators and tap to sync features were also not very important to me. Turning the unit on/off is now a bit more cumbersome as you have to long press button and turn the scroll wheel and they removed the dedicated Group/ID button which was a convenient feature. So while the new Pro II is an improvement, it’s like Godox took two steps forward and one step backwards, at least until new accessories for the Pro II are released. Right now, the existing Pro makes more sense to me.
Hi Lisa. It's a really nice step up. Better menus, wider power range, brighter modelling lamps and backwards compatible... This isn't one of those firmware + new badge upgrades 😉
A very timely and welcome video! I love my ad200pro and i was hoping that i could just buy the new heads to use on it :( having said that, being able to use the ad200 pro ii with older ad200 accessories is good for when i can afford to get another one 👍
Interesting comparison, Gavin. I would consider the Mk II (coming from another brand) for its "proportional modelling light". Proportional means that the modelling light gets varied by the device depending on the power setting of the flash tube. The question then is if it is powerful enough to be useful. As you have your Sekonic flash-light-meter, would it be possible to measure the - nowhere listed - power of the modelling light as follows. Set flash to full power and proportional modelling light and at - say - 1m (~40") distance, at ISO 100, measure flash aperture and with that aperture set measure the exposure time (shutter speed) for exposing correctly with modelling light only (same ISO, same distance, same modifier). Consistency between the two would follow from repeating the same procedure at lower flash power settings. In my 1980 pro studio we would figure this out so we could use a normal lightmeter to measure for flash, by reading aperture at figured-out aperture and then exposing with flash.
Hi Gavin, I notice the Ad 200 Mkii has a delay feature, does that mean it can be used for hypersync? Would it be possible to do a tutorial on that subject please if there is enough interest.
I don't have access to the Softbox but if it's the one I think it is my Hexapop has the same mount and it will NOT fit the AD200 Pro II "round" bare bulb without a Bowens adapter.
Hi Gavin. I got started in flash photography after being inspired from your videos. I'm generally ok with getting what I need, but I've never properly understood how to use the groups and channels on the triggers to properly control individual lights. Any chance of a video tutorial on that at some stage?
New charger doesn't show state of charge. New head is larger so all of the old accessories no longer fit. You can't use the new head with EC200 extension cable because of that extra 3 pin connector on the new head.
Coming soon according to my friends at Essential Photo. My C-Stands come from Adorama (Flashpoint brand) but if you're in Europe then I have several Essential Photo C-Stands and they are rock solid quality 👍
I was planning to buy two of them BECAUSE of the modeling lamp. Now the bulb head modeling lamp would be useless to me, I want it to give me an idea of the look my light would give. Questions : Does the modeling lamp on the new fresnel head has the same flaw ? Does the modeling lamp on the pro model fresnel have the same flaw ? Does the modeling lamp on the ad100 pro have the same flaw ? I'm looking for a flash with a modeling lamp that works on batteries... Thanks in advance :)
Hi Patty. Both would make excellent 2nd flashes to go with your 400Pro. Unless the non pro was a total bargain I'd choose the eVOLV200 Pro II every time. More power range, modelling lights that actually work and a modern menu system. It's not perfect but it's a massive update to the original 👍
Why did Godox remove the groove from the Fresnel head of the new AD200 Pro II, which previously allowed attachments like barndoors, grids, and filter holders to be securely mounted? The dimensions remain identical, and the attachments still fit, but they no longer sit securely as there’s no groove to lock them in place. Who at Godox comes up with such absurd ideas? I have the set and find it very useful. Who was bothered by the little groove...?
It's probably got something to do with covering the new fan. But I agree that the tiny change in shape of the speedlight head is super frustrating at times.
@@GavinHoey Just received mine and tested my attachments. There’s absolutely no reason to omit the groove. The filter holder with barndoors even has ventilation holes on the top and bottom to ensure proper airflow. I’m seriously tempted to send it back…
Quick reply... I checked and YES the new (slightly larger) speedlight head of the AD200PROii fits the LightBlaster just fine. However... the strap that holds the LightBlaster on the Ad200ProII completely covers the little fan, so it you're going to run the LED's you're limited to 60% modelling light as the fan on mine kicks in at 61% 😉
@GavinHoey WOW. It was a quick reply and I thank you very very much for that. I'm into creative photography shooting model portfolios. I've been using Godox TT685c speedlights on the Light blaster and AKR21 devices but somehow I was not satisfied with illumination on the background even with 200 zoom on the speedlight. I believe AD200PRO is highly recommended for using these devices. Right? Hence, I decided to purchase the Mark 2 Ad200pro which seems to be a good decision knowing that Lightblaster is compatible. However ive sent an email to GODOX suggesting a modification in the adapter assembly for using Ad200pro II with AKR21. They are in the developing stage for the new adapter. One last question.. Does Godox H200R Ring Flash Head for AD200 work with Ad200pro II version?
I have 3 original AD200's 1 AD100 1 AD300 1 V1 - the extra pins must be for the fan..... - you called the 'bare bulb' a round head when there is a round head for the AD200 H200R - Round Flash Head
@@chazM6116 Hi Chaz. The pins are on both the speedlight head and the round (bare flash) head but as far as I can see only the speedlight head has a fan. Hence my uneducated guess that it's something to do with the new LED's. Happy to help proved wrong however 😉
I'd love that. Also if they could have made it the size of the AD100, the price of the MS200 with the colour choice from the Retro range... Too much? 😉
@@rgreeneish Yeah but then you'd loose the single thing that you REALLY need with the projector... A bright modelling light so you can see (and focus) the gobo in normal room light!
Nice review Gav .here is the video mentioning overheating compared to previous models ua-cam.com/video/avqbntKj94E/v-deo.htmlsi=P3ePEs3BBIM7d7fi Big issue for me is new heads can’t fit on current ad200 extension cable (also double head adapter) but old heads / adapters will fit on new body
@@michaelbailey4164 Yes. It can take the old speedlight head, bare bulb head and the original battery. You can use the ring flash attachment, the flash tube and the extension lead for the remote head (as long as you fit the old heads at the end).
My wonderful wife surprised me with two AD200Pro II s and a X3 trigger . Don't know if I need two but happy she got me them .
@@tdwilcox If you need one, you actually need two. You have a very smart wife 👍
OMG! Is compatible with the all powerfulll light strainer!!! That is the real deal!. Gavin thank you for this comparison!. Love you Gavin and family.
@@quietset7639 Thank you and yes, it was such a relief to discover they had my back at Godox / Flashpoint 😉
I have an AD 200 and have had it for a few years. Reliable and useful.
Great review.. I love that you put it to real use and give a truly unbiased comparison from the Pro and Pro II. I was intending on purchasing an AD200Pro to supplement my existing Two Flash TT685IIS setup so when they announced the improved AD200ProII, I pulled the trigger.
While I'm sure that it is an improvement from the AD200Pro in many ways, there were a couple of deal breakers and some improvements of questionable value that prompted me to return it. The modified heads now have a fan for better cooling but the size of the head is also just a bit larger so that you couldn't properly fit the Round Head Magnetic Modifier into the Fresnel head which prevents me from using my existing Round Head modifiers on the Fresnel Head without spending an additional $80 on the Round Head. Also the addition of the modeling light on the bare bulb head made the head just big enough so now I can't insert it from the back of the S-bracket which made inconvenient to use with my softboxes that attach directly to the S bracket via the speed ring. Also the ProII is no longer compatible with the Dual Flash Bracket.
Some improvements are of questionable value to me. I like the idea of being able to control the light to 1/512 but in order to do that, you would need an X3 controller. I won't be doing that as I like the simplicity of my existing XT2 controller as all the controls are on the left hand side, simple and easily accessible while holding the camera with my right hand. The modeling light on the bare bulb head is of questionable value as it is blocked when using the 4.5 reflector/diffuser. The other features like the color TFT screen, color coded group indicators and tap to sync features were also not very important to me. Turning the unit on/off is now a bit more cumbersome as you have to long press button and turn the scroll wheel and they removed the dedicated Group/ID button which was a convenient feature.
So while the new Pro II is an improvement, it’s like Godox took two steps forward and one step backwards, at least until new accessories for the Pro II are released. Right now, the existing Pro makes more sense to me.
Hello recorded Gavin and family. Thanks for sharing your observations on the pro II.
Thanks for the comment Kenneth 👍
Wow how timely! I was considering this light, looking it up on the Adorama site yesterday. Thanks !
Hi Lisa. It's a really nice step up. Better menus, wider power range, brighter modelling lamps and backwards compatible... This isn't one of those firmware + new badge upgrades 😉
A very timely and welcome video! I love my ad200pro and i was hoping that i could just buy the new heads to use on it :( having said that, being able to use the ad200 pro ii with older ad200 accessories is good for when i can afford to get another one 👍
I was hoping for the same thing but sadly not.
Watching from Nebraska. Just picked up 2 of these lights. I have owned the original and the pro.
I have four AD200 Pros. One of them fell and busted the switch, but it still works by popping in the battery!
Oh no! Glad to hear you found a work.
Interesting comparison, Gavin. I would consider the Mk II (coming from another brand) for its "proportional modelling light". Proportional means that the modelling light gets varied by the device depending on the power setting of the flash tube.
The question then is if it is powerful enough to be useful.
As you have your Sekonic flash-light-meter, would it be possible to measure the - nowhere listed - power of the modelling light as follows. Set flash to full power and proportional modelling light and at - say - 1m (~40") distance, at ISO 100, measure flash aperture and with that aperture set measure the exposure time (shutter speed) for exposing correctly with modelling light only (same ISO, same distance, same modifier). Consistency between the two would follow from repeating the same procedure at lower flash power settings.
In my 1980 pro studio we would figure this out so we could use a normal lightmeter to measure for flash, by reading aperture at figured-out aperture and then exposing with flash.
Just purchased the 200 pro II
Hi Gavin, I notice the Ad 200 Mkii has a delay feature, does that mean it can be used for hypersync? Would it be possible to do a tutorial on that subject please if there is enough interest.
@@mikesampson2444 I've not figured out the use of the "Delay" function... Yet 😉
Will the bare bulb/round head be compatible with the Angler Fastbox? Looks like I have to fit in a S bracket from the back
I don't have access to the Softbox but if it's the one I think it is my Hexapop has the same mount and it will NOT fit the AD200 Pro II "round" bare bulb without a Bowens adapter.
Can you still use the old AD200 heads (e.g. the round head) on the Pro Mk II? Thanks
That’s my question as well.
No you can not
how's the light leak issue with the fresnel head?
Totally fixed and totally demo'd at 23:37 👍
Hi Gavin. I got started in flash photography after being inspired from your videos. I'm generally ok with getting what I need, but I've never properly understood how to use the groups and channels on the triggers to properly control individual lights. Any chance of a video tutorial on that at some stage?
Hi Matt. That's a great idea. Leave it with me and I'll see what I can do 👍
Thanks! @@GavinHoey
Hi from Melbourne Australia
Good... night from Paris, France, nearly 00h00 here.
Hi from Michigan! I did pickup the pro II. The day I was going to buy the original 200 the pro II was announced so welp the new one it was 🤷🏾♂️
Wow, that was perfect timing 😁
Is it compatible with this special stand that allows to connect two ad200?
For outdoor n indoor shoot primary flash ad200 pro ii or ad300 pro??
Greetings from New Hampshire.
Hello from Old Sussex 👍
New charger doesn't show state of charge. New head is larger so all of the old accessories no longer fit. You can't use the new head with EC200 extension cable because of that extra 3 pin connector on the new head.
The old charger needed conversion from AC to DC, while the new one runs DC only, hence the size difference
@@kevincassar8022 Good to know 👍
what about cable ec 200 ? how much faster it is with the battery pack? Cant find anything in your video
@@christopheradolph8241 Sorry, I've not had hands on experience with the battery pack yet.
What about colour gel? Is it possible to attach it somehow?
Is the mark 2 compatible with the ad-b2 dual?
Yep I have 2 of the AD200 Pros
The Pro version is not available yet in Europe😢. Waiting for it. Which c-stand are u using, Gavin ?
Coming soon according to my friends at Essential Photo. My C-Stands come from Adorama (Flashpoint brand) but if you're in Europe then I have several Essential Photo C-Stands and they are rock solid quality 👍
I was planning to buy two of them BECAUSE of the modeling lamp.
Now the bulb head modeling lamp would be useless to me, I want it to give me an idea of the look my light would give.
Questions :
Does the modeling lamp on the new fresnel head has the same flaw ?
Does the modeling lamp on the pro model fresnel have the same flaw ?
Does the modeling lamp on the ad100 pro have the same flaw ?
I'm looking for a flash with a modeling lamp that works on batteries...
Thanks in advance :)
Please recommend a diffuser for Godox AD200 Pro II
thank you
did he make that light strainer at the end?
Can I use Godox AD-B2 with AD200 prp + AD200 PRO mk2?
So, if you already had the 400 pro flashes would you still get the 300 pro or the 200?
Hi Patty. Both would make excellent 2nd flashes to go with your 400Pro. Unless the non pro was a total bargain I'd choose the eVOLV200 Pro II every time. More power range, modelling lights that actually work and a modern menu system. It's not perfect but it's a massive update to the original 👍
Saratoga Springs NY
This Product is the answer to nobodys question. They should the heads leave as they where..
The reason the old charger is so much larger than the new one is that the old charger contains a 230V transformer. The new version doesn't need one.
Why did Godox remove the groove from the Fresnel head of the new AD200 Pro II, which previously allowed attachments like barndoors, grids, and filter holders to be securely mounted? The dimensions remain identical, and the attachments still fit, but they no longer sit securely as there’s no groove to lock them in place. Who at Godox comes up with such absurd ideas?
I have the set and find it very useful. Who was bothered by the little groove...?
It's probably got something to do with covering the new fan. But I agree that the tiny change in shape of the speedlight head is super frustrating at times.
@@GavinHoey Just received mine and tested my attachments. There’s absolutely no reason to omit the groove. The filter holder with barndoors even has ventilation holes on the top and bottom to ensure proper airflow. I’m seriously tempted to send it back…
Hi From Canada you now have two
An urgent Question!
Please answer this question.
Does the new AD200PRO II work with the LIGHT BLASTER?
Quick reply... I checked and YES the new (slightly larger) speedlight head of the AD200PROii fits the LightBlaster just fine. However... the strap that holds the LightBlaster on the Ad200ProII completely covers the little fan, so it you're going to run the LED's you're limited to 60% modelling light as the fan on mine kicks in at 61% 😉
@GavinHoey WOW. It was a quick reply and I thank you very very much for that. I'm into creative photography shooting model portfolios. I've been using Godox TT685c speedlights on the Light blaster and AKR21 devices but somehow I was not satisfied with illumination on the background even with 200 zoom on the speedlight. I believe AD200PRO is highly recommended for using these devices. Right? Hence, I decided to purchase the Mark 2 Ad200pro which seems to be a good decision knowing that Lightblaster is compatible. However ive sent an email to GODOX suggesting a modification in the adapter assembly for using Ad200pro II with AKR21. They are in the developing stage for the new adapter.
One last question..
Does Godox H200R Ring Flash Head for AD200 work with Ad200pro II version?
I have 3 original AD200's 1 AD100 1 AD300 1 V1 - the extra pins must be for the fan..... - you called the 'bare bulb' a round head when there is a round head for the AD200 H200R - Round Flash Head
@@chazM6116 Hi Chaz. The pins are on both the speedlight head and the round (bare flash) head but as far as I can see only the speedlight head has a fan. Hence my uneducated guess that it's something to do with the new LED's. Happy to help proved wrong however 😉
Got rid of all my strobs and just went with LED
Hi Rick. Depending on what you photograph, I can see how that's totally doable 👍
Dual Bowen mount adaptor
Kinda a deal breaker that the flash head is not a standard size and so wont fit existing/common speedlite mounts
@@jonneymendoza That's a fair point Jonney, especially if it's the head you use most often or it needs to integrate with traditional speedlights.
I have 2 Godox AD200 Pro
not what i was hoping for. what i wish is the size of the AD200 but with 400WS power
I'd love that. Also if they could have made it the size of the AD100, the price of the MS200 with the colour choice from the Retro range... Too much? 😉
Hello from Germany
Greetings!
Portsmouth ENGLAND
to use that projector accessory use the old head on the new light. Problem solved.
@@rgreeneish Yeah but then you'd loose the single thing that you REALLY need with the projector... A bright modelling light so you can see (and focus) the gobo in normal room light!
You mean to say that the Ad200prp ii will not fit on the AKR21 Projection device??
Jamaica
Hello
Pro ii has overheating issues
@@paulchoccyt1303 Hi Paul. I've not seen any overheating issues with the Pro II so far. Do you have a source for this you can share?
@@GavinHoey there's a video review on UA-cam I'll try to locate
@@GavinHoey ua-cam.com/video/avqbntKj94E/v-deo.htmlsi=ti6zoQQ5I0aXZyw1
@@paulchoccyt1303 Thanks Paul 👍
Nice review Gav .here is the video mentioning overheating compared to previous models ua-cam.com/video/avqbntKj94E/v-deo.htmlsi=P3ePEs3BBIM7d7fi
Big issue for me is new heads can’t fit on current ad200 extension cable (also double head adapter) but old heads / adapters will fit on new body
Oh and it looks like light mofifiers such as mag mod or I guess anything that straps around the fresnel head are not going to play nicely with the fan
So it's a downgrade
@@michaelbailey4164 Yes. It can take the old speedlight head, bare bulb head and the original battery. You can use the ring flash attachment, the flash tube and the extension lead for the remote head (as long as you fit the old heads at the end).
16:49 can i see any difference nope. i cant see anything at all
Lol, the LED's on the new flash completely swamped the exposure but I really did measure them at 4 stops brighter 😎
16:48 could have warned us lol next time say strike.
Yes a white screen is blinding🤪