I'm thinking of buying in to the Godox system and starting with a couple of AD200's. I know that they will fit in a "bowens" mount. But I am having trouble identifying a good selection of modifiers that I will have available. I can probably adapt them to about any umbrella system, but I'm not so sure about softboxes. I want to pair them to a nice big softbox. I only see one Westcott product that uses the bowen's mount and that is the Apollo ORB. It is pricey. I realize that Godox has their own selection of modifiers but they are all fairly small. How can I determine what modifiers I will be able to use easily with the Godox light system?
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Light modifiers for Godox
- Thread starter keiththom
- Start date
tugwilson
Senior Member
On their own AD200s do not use Bowens mount modifiers. The bare bulb head of the AD200 uses the mount of the old (now nearly defunct) Quantum Q flash system.
If you want to use a Bowens mount modifier you need to use a Godox S-type Speedlight bracket or a Godox AD-B2 bracket. The first one is very inexpensive and holds a single AD200 the second is slightly more expensive but will allow you to use one or two AD200s to give you up to 400Ws of power plus a modelling light. The Bowens mount is the most common mount supported by third party light modifier vendors. Just google Bowens mont modifier and see. The Westcott Apollo ORB is NOT Bowens mount softbox.
You would probably find this overview of the Godox lightning system helpful before in deciding what you need to start out withhttp://flashhavoc.com/godox-flash-system-overview.
If you do go with the AD200 (which is an excellent light) you will need the appropriate radio trigger top go with it. I'd recommend the Xpro.
Nikonparrothead
Veteran Member
As others have noted, the Apollo Orb is not a Bowens mount. You can get, say the Westcott Rapid Box beauty dish in a Bowens mount. Or in the U.S. Cheetahstand.com markets a wonderful assortment of modifiers with quick setup.
There are the Glow Parapop line of modifiers (Adorama) and well, just about any other conventional modifier that uses a speed ring.
There are the Glow Parapop line of modifiers (Adorama) and well, just about any other conventional modifier that uses a speed ring.
NikonD800Es
Senior Member
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How big is your "nice big softbox"?
Thanks tugwilson.
I understood that I will need to get the bracket. But even with the bracket, I'm having trouble finding nice softboxes that will pair up with the Godox AD200 on the bracket.
tugwilson
Senior Member
If you could explain what you mean by a "nice softbox" we could probably point you in the right direction.
I'm in Canada, and it cost $70. 8 metal rods.
I bought this a couple of weeks ago.
I've only set it up once, and the rods required some work.
For $30 more I bought a mounting ring that fits on top of a light stand and twist-locks to the octabox.
It holds a flash unit in a mouth-like bracket. I use a straightened-out Canon 580EX, with the head inside the softbox and the body sticking out back, where optical signals from my Canon 80D can trigger the E-TTL system in the flash unit.
I ran a lot of TTL tests at various apertures and ISO settings at various distances, and all worked fine.
I'm assuming assembly will get easy as I practise.
If your camera and flash synchronize with radio signals, look at the Westcott Halo, where the flash fits completely inside.
Canon 580EX on TTL, with head inside Godox 37 inch Octabox
I bought this a couple of weeks ago.
I've only set it up once, and the rods required some work.
For $30 more I bought a mounting ring that fits on top of a light stand and twist-locks to the octabox.
It holds a flash unit in a mouth-like bracket. I use a straightened-out Canon 580EX, with the head inside the softbox and the body sticking out back, where optical signals from my Canon 80D can trigger the E-TTL system in the flash unit.
I ran a lot of TTL tests at various apertures and ISO settings at various distances, and all worked fine.
I'm assuming assembly will get easy as I practise.
If your camera and flash synchronize with radio signals, look at the Westcott Halo, where the flash fits completely inside.
Canon 580EX on TTL, with head inside Godox 37 inch Octabox
A softbox in the 40-50 inch range. Modifiers that have double diffusers and / or grids especially.
tugwilson
Senior Member
Godox do 95, 120 and 140cm Octas http://www.godox.com/EN/Products_Studio_Accessories_Softbox.html and 90 and 120cm "parabolic" softboxes http://www.godox.com/EN/Products_Studio_Accessories_Parabolic_Softbox.html
At the other end of the spectrum, if you have deep pockets Elinchrom will sell you at 120cm or 190cm Litemotiv with Bowens mount http://www.elinchrom.com/light_shapers/litemotiv.html or any of their Rotalux http://www.elinchrom.com/light_shapers/rotalux.html
Really any third party softbox vendor will offer a version with a Bowens mount. You can even buy genuine Bowens kit reasonably cheaply now as they went out of business recently https://www.manfrotto.us/bowens/softboxes?limit=36
markintosh13
Veteran Member
Get the AD-B2, it gives you an umbrella mount, a modeling light... and you can center the bulb for things like beauty dish/magnum. The bulbs sit further forward as well, filling the modifiers more evenly.
As for "nice softboxes", you can get a Chimera to Bowens speedring for around $30, giving you access to the best softboxes around; you can mount the AD-B2 into a Photek; you can run it into a Westcott 6ft umbrella with a sock. SMDV, and their less expensive counterpart Glow make all sorts of Bowens compatible rapid setup octas in the 36" and up range. Really, the excellent choices are endless.
As for "nice softboxes", you can get a Chimera to Bowens speedring for around $30, giving you access to the best softboxes around; you can mount the AD-B2 into a Photek; you can run it into a Westcott 6ft umbrella with a sock. SMDV, and their less expensive counterpart Glow make all sorts of Bowens compatible rapid setup octas in the 36" and up range. Really, the excellent choices are endless.
tugwilson
Senior Member
This is the AD-B2 https://www.adorama.com/fplfevtwin.html
The main difference is that the AD-B2 can take one or two AD200 giving either 200Ws or 400Ws of power and it has LED modelling lights.
It also has a heatsink between the bulbs and the AD200s which may allow you more full power flashes before it overheats (haven't tried this). The silver background of the heatsink makes it slightly more efficient in a softbox.
It's also heavier which may be an issue if you're using a single AD200 on a boom.
The other bracket can be used to hold speedlights instead of an AD200.
That's rather overpriced see https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Bracket-Speedlite-Reflector-Umbrella/dp/B00JAAXH1A
oldfashioned
Senior Member
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a collapsible 24x36 scrim on a stand or c-stand
a 24x36 sheet of pvc paper
10,000 times better than any other useless gadgets: real diffusion . portable
a 24x36 sheet of pvc paper
10,000 times better than any other useless gadgets: real diffusion . portable
Michael H
Leading Member
Here is a comparison of various softboxes, Markus Rothkranz on the Godox Strobe heads. Using a AD200 with the Godox Bowen S Mount adapter will allow you to use these softboxes:
Here is the table comparing headshots for each softbox: http://www.markusrothkranz.com/markuspix_softbox_comparisons.jpg
Robert Hall also compared 8 collapsible softboxes here:
Here is the table comparing headshots for each softbox: http://www.markusrothkranz.com/markuspix_softbox_comparisons.jpg
Robert Hall also compared 8 collapsible softboxes here:
I had looked at all of those links but thanks for putting them together. They helped. I was looking to pick up a Cheeta QSB 42. However it seems that all of Cheeta's octaboxes are currently not available. It was half of what the Wescott Rapidbox 48 is. So I'm still looking.
Not to hijack the thread but I really liked Robert Halls comparison. I wanted to get quick rice bowl but looks like Cheetah doesn't ship them outside US
Michael H
Leading Member
They are mostly rebadged brands from Asia.Not to hijack the thread but I really liked Robert Halls comparison. I wanted to get quick rice bowl but looks like Cheetah doesn't ship them outside US
Last edited:
Oh really wow I didn't know that. Do you know of any other brands/variants of Cheetah QRB-36 (http://www.cheetahstand.com/product-p/qrb-36.htm)?
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