Dual Godox AD200 & HSS

[sirhawkeye64]

I'm just trying to compare some math here as it relates to light. Regardless of distance from the subject, if I have 2 AD200's in the B2 bracket versus a single AD400Pro, the math in terms of power output is relatively the same, correct?

My biggest concern here is the AD200's in HSS sync. I've heard that they can lose up to 2 stops of light in HSS sync, but I wanted to make sure this was equivalent to the loss experienced by a single AD400Pro.

I purchased an AD400Pro but am reconsidering just going with the (2) Ad200 setup and the B2 bracket instead for flexibility and cost reasons. In practice, I probably don't need 400WS most of the time, which is why I think buying the AD400 may have been a mistake and want to reconsider before my return period ends for the AD400.

(Obviously I'm aware that setting up dual AD200's in the bracket takes more time than setting up a single AD400 and the recycle times may be longer, like 2s at full power on the AD200's but I'm not shooting professionally so an extra 1s recycle time is not huge for me. I also don't do a ton of outdoor shooting, and am in a studio / indoors about 3/4 of the time.)

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[markintosh13]

From Robert Hall's measurements , the dual AD200s have a bit more output (a bit more because of the AD-B2 backplate)

one AD200 Barebulb F8 2/10

AD-B2 (2x Barebulb) F11 5/10

AD400 Pro F11 2/10

The AD-B2 x 2 AD20s is less than half a stop from an AD600 (non pro) [in part as the AD600 is hampered by a bulb that's a bit deep set and thus buried a bit]

AD600 F11 9/10

Don't know exactly how much power loss HSS introduces for each strobe, but maybe the increase two AD200s + AD-B2 have over an AD400 helps.

Lately if I think I'm going into HSS territory, I'll throw a 5 stop Kase sensor clip ND on, and go ISO 50 - 200 and avoid HSS altogether.

And while I'm sure an AD400Pro is a great light, D200s and older-school AD360ii units provide me with much better value.

 

[sirhawkeye64]

From Robert Hall's measurements , the dual AD200s have a bit more output (a bit more because of the AD-B2 backplate)

one AD200 Barebulb F8 2/10

AD-B2 (2x Barebulb) F11 5/10

AD400 Pro F11 2/10

The AD-B2 x 2 AD20s is less than half a stop from an AD600 (non pro) [in part as the AD600 is hampered by a bulb that's a bit deep set and thus buried a bit]

AD600 F11 9/10

Don't know exactly how much power loss HSS introduces for each strobe, but maybe the increase two AD200s + AD-B2 have over an AD400 helps.

Lately if I think I'm going into HSS territory, I'll throw a 5 stop Kase sensor clip ND on, and go ISO 50 - 200 and avoid HSS altogether.

And while I'm sure an AD400Pro is a great light, D200s and older-school AD360ii units provide me with much better value.

OK. And i think I may have looked at his video, but couldn't remember if he tested with HSS or just regular sync. However, The more I think about the dual AD200 (and the flexibility) I may end up going that route and returning the AD400 I had purcahsed (and in the end, save a few hundred dollars).

I had looked at the AD360 and it does seem like it might be a good option, but the external battery pack was somewhat of a concern. The beauty of the AD200's is they are light (for what they are) and the pack easily and are pretty small (although you do have to use the bracket to get the "same" output as the AD400Pro).