I need a 2nd Studio strobe….suggestions? Godox?

Raymond Lin

Raymond Lin

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Currently I have a Elinchrom strobe which I can set off using the onboard light sensor with my Godot flashes. That's not the problem, the problem is that it came with a Profoto mount, and also have a profoto octabox which has an profoto mount.

I now want to get a Godox strobe to go with my other Godox flashes, so I can set them off using my Godox trigger but the website has so many. Which one do I need?

I don't want to spend more than £300. Also, do they all come with Bowen mount as standard?

http://www.godox.com/EN/Products_Studio_Flash.html
 
I'm not completely clear on what you need this head for but consider an AD200:

https://www.essentialphoto.co.uk/product/pixapro-pika200-portable-battery-powered-ttl-mini-flash/
Bowens stand adapter https://www.essentialphoto.co.uk/pr...edlite-adapter-bracket-bowens-s-type-fitting/
Profoto adapter https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233149768138

It's within your price range and lets you use both Bowens and Profoto.

Falls a bit short if you just want to use it in a studio, no modelling, not especially fast, not especially powerful etc but I'm assuming those aren't priorities or have I misunderstood?
 
AD200 is perfect. I suggest AD-B2 adapter which can take 2x or 1x and will have Bowens S-mount and proper LED modelling light. There is a simple s-mount adapter too, and can be had as part of softbox kit.

AD200 is available in various kits for around 250 on ebay. With coupon code can be even less.

AD-B2 is cheaper from Aliexpress.
 
simonbarker said:
I'm not completely clear on what you need this head for but consider an AD200:

https://www.essentialphoto.co.uk/product/pixapro-pika200-portable-battery-powered-ttl-mini-flash/
Bowens stand adapter https://www.essentialphoto.co.uk/pr...edlite-adapter-bracket-bowens-s-type-fitting/
Profoto adapter https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233149768138

It's within your price range and lets you use both Bowens and Profoto.

Falls a bit short if you just want to use it in a studio, no modelling, not especially fast, not especially powerful etc but I'm assuming those aren't priorities or have I misunderstood?
Click to expand...

I think I am confusing myself a bit. I am going to start again.

Current kit

1 x 7ft umbrella, which is powered by the Elinchrom strobe
1 x 90cm Potofoto Octobox, which I have a bracket that I can fit 2 x Speedlite into it. (I also have a bracket that the Elinchrom strobe will fit)

I also have 2 of those Bowen Speedlite adaptors too (free when i bought some Godox 860II).

I also have an AD200 as well.

Brief - The shoot is about 8 hours long in the studio so I would like something mains powered. The AD200 can be back up in case one of the bulb goes in the strobe.

I have been looking at Godox Strobes as they are compatible with my AD200 and 860II. Remember that Rice Bowl soft box from last week? I want to get that and then a strobe to go inside it so i can have a 2 light set up both with modelling light.

http://www.godox.com/EN/Products_Studio_Flash.html

There are so many here, some obviously very expensive. But on the lowe end model, which one should I get?

MS Studio, QT II Studio? QSII Series? GS?

eGlobal has a few for £300 ish but I have no idea which are the newer models and which are the more suitable.
 
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Hah! - it took me a while to work that out when I bought some Lencarta SuperFast lights that use this chassis: first there is a hole in the reflector, that is covered when you buy these lights. Prise back the little cover plate (you can use some black gaff to block it again later if you want to eliminate the light leak - as it will snap off eventually). Now, look carefully at the deep recessed screw holes around the front of the light casing - see there's an extra one along the top edge? This is the hole for the umbrella shaft and it runs all the way through the light and out out the back (see corresponding hole on the back of the light. Fit the reflector dish lning the hole in that, up with the hole in the body of the light. There is no screw to grip it, it has some spring grips inside the hole.

1565950334260.png

It's doubly baffling looking at this light for the first time, as, on some lights inc mine, the bracket that holds the light on the stand, also has an umbrella slot in it with a clamp screw - but you cannot align this with the hole in the reflector.

Now, there's a lot of dross on that Godox web page. The "proper" Godox lights all work with the same triggers as the one for your AD200, but I see some suspect orange junk that look slike it is from 19-when-last.

Have a look at Lencarta's web site - its a lot clearer, with a lot more info about each strobe
https://www.lencarta.com/all-products/flash-heads

These are solid basic mains strobes:-
https://www.lencarta.com/all-products/flash-heads/lencarta-smartflash-4-fla035

These have a fast flash duration for freezing motion (dance etc):-
https://www.lencarta.com/all-products/flash-heads/godox-qt400ii-m-flash-head-fla042
 
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Scooter said:
Hah! - it took me a while to work that out when I bought some Lencarta SuperFast lights that use this chassis: first there is a hole in the reflector, that is covered when you buy these lights. Prise back the little cover plate (you can use some black gaff to block it again later if you want to eliminate the light leak - as it will snap off eventually). Now, look carefully at the deep recessed screw holes around the front of the light casing - see there's an extra one along the top edge? This is the hole for the umbrella shaft and it runs all the way through the light and out out the back (see corresponding hole on the back of the light. Fit the reflector dish lning the hole in that, up with the hole in the body of the light. There is no screw to grip it, it has some spring grips inside the hole.

View attachment 252674

It's doubly baffling looking at this light for the first time, as, on some lights inc mine, the bracket that holds the light on the stand, also has an umbrella slot in it with a clamp screw - but you cannot align this with the hole in the reflector.

Now, there's a lot of dross on that Godox web page. The "proper" Godox lights all work with the same triggers as the one for your AD200, but I see some suspect orange junk that look slike it is from 19-when-last.

Have a look at Lencarta's web site - its a lot clearer, with a lot more info about each strobe
https://www.lencarta.com/all-products/flash-heads

These are solid basic mains strobes:-
https://www.lencarta.com/all-products/flash-heads/lencarta-smartflash-4-fla035

These have a fast flash duration for freezing motion (dance etc):-
https://www.lencarta.com/all-products/flash-heads/godox-qt400ii-m-flash-head-fla042
Click to expand...

Thanks! That is super useful !
 
Sounds like the Smartflash 4 should work fine for your needs, if you buy from somewhere else I think it's called the SK-300-II.

There's a couple of other models you could consider, QSII and QTII but probably best to save your money if the Smartflash will do the job.

The MS isn't out yet, I think it will replace the Smartflash 4 as the budget model in the range.
 
simonbarker said:
Sounds like the Smartflash 4 should work fine for your needs, if you buy from somewhere else I think it's called the SK-300-II.

There's a couple of other models you could consider, QSII and QTII but probably best to save your money if the Smartflash will do the job.

The MS isn't out yet, I think it will replace the Smartflash 4 as the budget model in the range.
Click to expand...

I was thinking putting the QTII (if I get that) as the main light on the Rice bow. Then using the Elinchrom from the side to light the background and shadows using either the Octobox or the umbrella.

The Elinchrom will be in front of the Godox so it will work with the light sensor. I can then use my Godox trigger to set them all off.

Sound good?
 
robinsslee said:
Hi do you get import tax when you buy stuff from Aliexpress? Also how long does the shipping take?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

~2 weeks; sometimes less sometimes more. Not had any extra bills so far but then this was probably one of the more expensive items I bought. RM can sting you adding handling fee too from time to time, but this from experience only happens with US imports making them completely terrible value.

Definitely order some LED light bulbs for a fraction of cost here. I use them for RE shoots all the time as I want all the same and very low wattage.
 
Raymond Lin said:
I was thinking putting the QTII (if I get that) as the main light on the Rice bow. Then using the Elinchrom from the side to light the background and shadows using either the Octobox or the umbrella.
Click to expand...

I think the QTII is the Lencarta superfast pro, makes sense if you want to freeze action. One option I'd forgotten about is the AD600/AD600 Pro with the mains adapter, over your budget and no point if the AD200 is already doing what you want from a battery unit but might be worth some consideration otherwise.

Raymond Lin said:
The Elinchrom will be in front of the Godox so it will work with the light sensor. I can then use my Godox trigger to set them all off.

Sound good?
Click to expand...

Sure? I can't see any functional problems with mixing them, unless maybe the Elinchrom is ancient and you get colour temp issues but I assume you would have had this already if it's an issue to worry about.
 
simonbarker said:
I think the QTII is the Lencarta superfast pro, makes sense if you want to freeze action. One option I'd forgotten about is the AD600/AD600 Pro with the mains adapter, over your budget and no point if the AD200 is already doing what you want from a battery unit but might be worth some consideration otherwise.



Sure? I can't see any functional problems with mixing them, unless maybe the Elinchrom is ancient and you get colour temp issues but I assume you would have had this already if it's an issue to worry about.
Click to expand...

The Elinchrom is about 2 years old so not that old. I did think about AD600 with mains adaptor, I was hoping the AD200 had a mains adaptor.

btw, can the Godox trigger work with Lencarta stuff?
 
Raymond Lin said:
The Elinchrom is about 2 years old so not that old. I did think about AD600 with mains adaptor, I was hoping the AD200 had a mains adaptor.

btw, can the Godox trigger work with Lencarta stuff?
Click to expand...

That's fine, I was thinking more of the stuff from the 80's and 90's than a couple of years old.

Yes the Lencarta stuff is just re-branded Godox gear so as long as you avoid the older units you'll get the latest trigger support built in.
 
@simonbarker

The Godox QT400II/600II, the spec on eGlobal says 110v AC, would that work here?

https://www.eglobalcentraluk.com/godox-qt400iim-flash-head.html

It seems much cheaper than everywhere else, even import on ebay.

I am thinking sod it...I will just go for the QT-400II and cover all my bases :p Use the AD200 as a kicker side light and get a spare battery and have one on charge.

£450 but it's something i will get once and that'll be it.
 
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Raymond Lin said:
The Godox QT400II/600II, the spec on eGlobal says 110v AC, would that work here?
Click to expand...

No - if it really is 110-120V AC only the power supply will pop as soon as you turn it on. Bit strange for an item advertised in pound notes.
 
If you take a look at pictures of the rear panel they're all showing either 100-120V/60Hz or 200-240V/50Hz so you definitely need to make sure you're buying the right version else it'll only flash the one time (but from the wrong end).
 
I would choose between Essential Photo or Lencarta based on price, mainly because I know they'll honour their warranty and I've had to send one AD200 back already. However I typically delay these kind of purchases till Black Friday/TPS where they'll give a modest discount.

If it's not something that can break then I'd probably look to Amazon as that'll be dirt cheap and have VAT to reclaim.
 
simonbarker said:
I would choose between Essential Photo or Lencarta based on price, mainly because I know they'll honour their warranty and I've had to send one AD200 back already. However I typically delay these kind of purchases till Black Friday/TPS where they'll give a modest discount.

If it's not something that can break then I'd probably look to Amazon as that'll be dirt cheap and have VAT to reclaim.
Click to expand...

I need it by the 2nd week of September, now wondering whether I need the 600 or not.

How much real world power difference between the 400 and 600? I tried to find review of the 400 but can’t find any, even the AD600 is the main review unit over the AD400.

Am I right thinking the Storm flash is just Godox rebrand and works with Godox triggers just fine?
 
Raymond Lin said:
I need it by the 2nd week of September, now wondering whether I need the 600 or not.

How much real world power difference between the 400 and 600? I tried to find review of the 400 but can’t find any, even the AD600 is the main review unit over the AD400.
Click to expand...

It's about half a stop and I'm guessing you'll know best if that matters to you or not (I'd assume not though).

Raymond Lin said:
Am I right thinking the Storm flash is just Godox rebrand and works with Godox triggers just fine?
Click to expand...

Pretty much: https://www.essentialphoto.co.uk/blog/post/godox/
 
simonbarker said:
It's about half a stop and I'm guessing you'll know best if that matters to you or not (I'd assume not though).



Pretty much: https://www.essentialphoto.co.uk/blog/post/godox/
Click to expand...

I probably won't need it, I can always up the ISO a tiny bit if i am in a pinch.

But what I want to know is does the more powered one have a higher base power? Meaning i can go lower power on the 400w than the 600w. I think that may be more useful.
 
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Raymond Lin said:
How much real world power difference between the 400 and 600? I tried to find review of the 400 but can’t find any, even the AD600 is the main review unit over the AD400.
Click to expand...
600Ws is considered a working minimum for overpowering the sun, I don’t think that fits your style - but if you think that might be useful... that’s the working difference
 
Phil V said:
600Ws is considered a working minimum for overpowering the sun, I don’t think that fits your style - but if you think that might be useful... that’s the working difference
Click to expand...

That make sense, thanks :)

Since it is a studio strobe, it is not going to be outside so it will never be for that, if i ever need to do something like that i will probably use a AD600 instead.
 
Ta da!

Now to order stand and rice bowl.

lFQdAWk.jpg
 
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