One of the best things about the Godox AD200 Pro is its interchangeable heads. Swap the head and you change the character of the light. But which head should you use, and when?
We compared three heads on the AD200 Pro: the Fresnel head, the barebulb head, and the optional H200R round head. We looked at how each one spreads light, measured the brightness bare and in a softbox, and compared their modifier options and modelling lamps.
TL;DR
The Fresnel head throws a focused, intense beam and read brightest bare (f/10). The barebulb head spreads light in every direction (f/4 bare), which makes it ideal inside softboxes and umbrellas, but it is not soft on its own. The H200R round head sits in between (f/6.3 bare) and takes quick magnetic modifiers. In an 80x120cm softbox, the barebulb and H200R read the same, with the Fresnel one stop ahead. In our test, the Fresnel and H200R had modelling lamps; the barebulb head did not.
The Three Heads
The Fresnel and barebulb heads came with the AD200 Pro kit. The H200R round head is a separate purchase and is not included in the kit.
The Spread of the Light
The results show that each head has its own character when it comes to the spread and quality of light.
Fresnel Head
The Fresnel head delivers a noticeably focused, intense beam compared to the other two. It is a great choice when you want precise, dramatic light that picks out your subject and lets the background fall into shadow.
Barebulb Head
The barebulb head radiates light in almost every direction, like a ball of light. The result is a wide spread that covers the whole scene, ideal when you want a blanket of light. Used bare, it is still a small source, so it casts hard shadows. It really comes into its own inside a softbox or umbrella, where that wide spread fills the modifier evenly.
H200R Round Head
The H200R falls between the two. It gives a broad, semi-focused light with more direction than the barebulb, but without the tight beam of the Fresnel. Its fall-off is more gradual than the Fresnel's, giving a smoother transition between light and shadow across the frame.
Power Difference
We placed the AD200 Pro two metres from a light meter and took a reading with each head, bare and in an 80x120cm softbox. With the meter settings unchanged, a higher f-number means more light is reaching the meter, and every full stop means double the light.
| Head | Modifier | Meter Reading | vs Bare Barebulb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresnel head | Bare | f/10 | 2⅔ stops brighter |
| Barebulb head | Bare | f/4 | Baseline |
| H200R round head | Bare | f/6.3 | 1⅓ stops brighter |
| Fresnel head | 80x120cm softbox | f/5.6 | 1 stop brighter |
| Barebulb head | 80x120cm softbox | f/4 | Same |
| H200R round head | 80x120cm softbox | f/4 | Same |
Readings at two metres. Compare these readings within this test only.
Why the Fresnel Reads So High
The bare Fresnel head stands out with the highest reading, but context matters. It focuses its light into a tight beam aimed straight at the meter, so the meter sees a lot of light at that one point. That does not mean the flash is more powerful. The barebulb head puts out its light over a much wider area, so less of it lands on the meter.
Good to know: a meter reading measures one point in the frame. A higher reading from a focused head means more light on that spot, not more light overall. Always compare heads with the same modifier.
Add a Softbox and It Evens Out
Once a softbox is attached, the differences between the heads shrink. The barebulb and H200R both read f/4, and the Fresnel read f/5.6, one stop ahead. Visually, the three results look very similar, because the softbox turns each head into the same large, even source.
Light Modifiers
Much of the conversation around AD200 heads comes down to which modifiers each one can use.
- Fresnel head: its speedlight-style shape means it works with many modifiers designed for speedlights, giving you plenty of options.
- Barebulb head: it pairs with dedicated AD200 modifiers, such as the Godox AD-S2 Reflector and Diffuser, which are compact and easy to travel with.
- H200R round head: its magnetic design works directly with the Godox AK-R1 Magnetic Modifier Kit, so modifiers snap on and off in seconds.
- Bowens speedlight bracket: a bracket such as the Godox S2 lets you use the AD200 with larger Bowens-mount modifiers, including softboxes, beauty dishes, grids, barndoors, and snoots. Read more in Bowens Mount vs Godox Mount.
Modelling Lamp
Not every head has a built-in modelling lamp, and that matters more than you might think. Here is what we measured on the AD200 Pro heads.
| Head | Modelling Lamp | Lux at 1m | Settings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresnel head | Yes | 75 lux | 1 level, and off |
| Barebulb head | No | n/a | n/a |
| H200R round head | Yes | 600 lux | 3 levels, and off |
The H200R wins here. Its modelling lamp measured eight times brighter than the Fresnel head's built-in LED, and the barebulb head had no modelling lamp at all.
Why a Modelling Lamp Matters
- Previewing the light: a modelling lamp is a continuous light in the flash head that shows roughly where the flash will fall, so you can see the shadows and adjust before you shoot.
- Help with focusing: in a dark studio or low light, it gives your camera something to focus on, especially with manual focus lenses.
- Less guesswork: you can fine-tune the angle and position of the light by eye, rather than through test shots alone.
Without a modelling lamp, the barebulb head relies more on test shots and experience to get the light right.
Which Head Should You Use?
| Head | Light | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Fresnel head | Focused, intense beam | Punchy, dramatic light; speedlight modifiers; reaching distance |
| Barebulb head | Wide, all-round spread | Lighting a whole scene; softboxes and umbrellas |
| H200R round head | Broad, semi-focused | A middle ground; quick magnetic modifiers |
AD200 and Modifiers
We tested the first-generation AD200 Pro. Here is the current AD200 and a couple of modifiers mentioned above.
Pocket strobe
Godox AD200Pro II
The current AD200, with a speedlight head and a bare bulb head in the box.
View
AD200 modifier
Godox AD-S2 Reflector and Diffuser
A compact standard reflector with a soft diffuser, made for the AD200.
View
Magnetic modifiers
Godox AK-R1 Magnetic Kit
Snap-on dome, grid, snoot, barndoors, and gels for round heads like the H200R.
ViewIn Summary
The Fresnel head is the choice for focused, dramatic light. The barebulb head spreads light widely and shines inside softboxes and umbrellas. The H200R offers a middle ground, with the brightest modelling lamp and quick magnetic modifiers. Add a softbox and the differences largely disappear, so choose the head that suits your modifiers and the way you like to work.
Related Guides
About Godox
Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Shenzhen, China, Godox is an integrated company combining R&D, manufacturing, and sales. It provides one-stop imaging lighting solutions with a comprehensive product ecosystem for photography, videography, cinematic production, broadcasting, and other sectors within the imaging industry.
Its portfolio covers professional flashes, studio and portable lighting, LED lighting, audio equipment, cameras, photo printers, wireless control systems, and lighting accessories, supporting a wide range of creative and production needs worldwide.
Guided by its core values of innovation, integrity, rigor, pragmatism, and inclusiveness, Godox is committed to providing outstanding imaging, cinematic lighting, and audio solutions. The company continuously pursues technological breakthroughs with the goal of becoming a leading force in the industry.
CameraStuff has been an authorised Godox distributor in South Africa since 2018, backed by an official Letter of Authorization from Godox Global.
See All GodoxAD200 Flash Head FAQs
Which AD200 head is the brightest?
In our test, the Fresnel head gave the highest meter reading bare, f/10 against f/4 for the barebulb head. That is because it focuses the light into a tight beam, not because it is more powerful. In a softbox, the gap shrank to one stop.
Does the barebulb head give soft light?
Not on its own. Used bare, it is still a small light source, so it casts hard shadows. What it does is spread light widely in all directions, which makes it a great choice inside softboxes and umbrellas.
Is the H200R included with the AD200 Pro?
No. The H200R round head is a separate purchase and was not included in the AD200 Pro kit.
Which AD200 heads have a modelling lamp?
In our test, the AD200 Pro Fresnel head and the H200R had modelling lamps, and the barebulb head did not. The H200R's lamp measured far brighter, at 600 lux at one metre against 75 lux.
Conrad Knuist
Head of Marketing and Photography Specialist
Conrad Knuist is Head of Marketing and Photography Specialist at CameraStuff, South Africa's specialist camera and lighting retailer. With over 18 years of hands-on experience across portrait, event, and commercial photography, Conrad helps South African photographers choose the right flash for the way they work.
Comments (1)
Can we turn of the modeling light in the fresnel head of the Godox AD 200 pro ?