Two Godox AD200s With the AD-B2 Bracket vs the Godox AD400 Pro
Would you rather have a single Godox AD400 Pro, or two Godox AD200s on the AD-B2 Twin Head Bracket? On paper, two 200Ws flashes add up to the same 400Ws as one AD400 Pro. But does that hold up in practice?
We put a light meter in front of both setups, plus a single AD200 with two different heads, and measured the brightness bare and in a large softbox. Here is what we found, and what it means for your next lighting purchase.
TL;DR
In an 80x120cm softbox, two AD200 Pros on the AD-B2 matched the AD400 Pro exactly (both f/11) and were one stop, or twice as bright, as a single AD200 (f/8). Without a modifier, the AD-B2 pair came in a third of a stop below the AD400 Pro. The surprise: a single AD200 with the Fresnel head read brightest of all bare (f/18), because it focuses its light into a tight beam. Once everything goes into a softbox, that advantage mostly disappears.
The Contenders
The AD-B2 holds two AD200 flashes and combines them into one Bowens-mount light, for a total of 400Ws. Unclip them and you have two separate lights again.
The AD400 Pro is a single 400Ws all-in-one battery strobe. If you are matching it with Bowens-mount modifiers, see Bowens Mount vs Godox Mount.
So the real question: is the AD-B2 pair as bright as the AD400 Pro? And how much brighter is it than a single AD200? Time for some science.
The Experiment
We placed each light, or pair of lights, three metres from a light meter and took a reading. We tested each setup bare and again in an 80x120cm softbox. For the single AD200, we tested both the bare bulb head and the Fresnel head.
How to Read a Light Meter
A flash meter gives you the aperture you need for a correct exposure. With the meter settings unchanged, a higher f-number means more light is reaching the meter. Every full stop, such as f/8 to f/11, means double the light.
| Change in Reading | Difference |
|---|---|
| f/7.1 to f/8 | ⅓ stop |
| f/8 to f/11 | 1 stop |
| f/7.1 to f/10 | 1 stop |
| f/10 to f/11 | ⅓ stop |
| f/11 to f/18 | 1⅓ stops |
The Results
Here are the readings at three metres. The last column compares each setup to a single bare bulb AD200 Pro with no modifier.
| Light | Modifier | Meter Reading | vs Single Bare AD200 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AD200 Pro, bare bulb head | No softbox | f/7.1 | Baseline |
| AD200 Pro, Fresnel head | No softbox | f/18 | 2⅔ stops brighter |
| AD200 Pro, bare bulb head | 80x120cm softbox | f/8 | ⅓ stop brighter |
| AD200 Pro, Fresnel head | 80x120cm softbox | f/9 | ⅔ stop brighter |
| 2 x AD200 Pro on AD-B2 | No softbox | f/10 | 1 stop brighter |
| 2 x AD200 Pro on AD-B2 | 80x120cm softbox | f/11 | 1⅓ stops brighter |
| AD400 Pro, bare bulb | No softbox | f/11 | 1⅓ stops brighter |
| AD400 Pro | 80x120cm softbox | f/11 | 1⅓ stops brighter |
About This Test
This was a simple, practical test rather than a lab measurement. We took one reading for each setup at the same three-metre distance, with the meter in the centre of the light. Readings can shift slightly between individual flashes, with battery level, and with the exact position of the meter, so treat a difference of a third of a stop as close to equal. Different softboxes behave differently too: a deeper softbox, or one with a grid, will change the numbers, although we would expect the overall pattern to look similar.
Wait a Minute, What?
Surprisingly, a single AD200 with the Fresnel head outshone every other setup when used bare, reading f/18.
That comes down to how each head works. A Fresnel head focuses the light into a tight, intense beam, so a meter in the centre of that beam reads very high. A bare bulb head spreads light in many directions, so less of it reaches the meter. Learn more in Comparing Godox AD200 Pro Flash Heads: Fresnel, Barebulb vs H200R.
Good to know: a brighter meter reading does not always mean a more powerful flash. A focused beam puts more light on one spot, while a wider spread covers more area. Always compare lights with the same head and modifier.
Add a Softbox and It Evens Out
Put everything into the same 80x120cm softbox and the differences shrink. The softbox spreads the light from every head into a large, even source, so the Fresnel's focused beam no longer gives it a big edge.
- AD-B2 pair vs single AD200: in a softbox, the AD-B2 pair (f/11) was one stop brighter than a single bare bulb AD200 (f/8). That is double the light, exactly what you would expect from two flashes.
- AD-B2 pair vs AD400 Pro: in a softbox, both read f/11, a perfect match. Bare, the AD-B2 pair read f/10 against the AD400 Pro's f/11, a difference of a third of a stop.
Which Should You Choose?
With a modifier attached, which is how most people shoot, the brightness was the same in our test. So the decision comes down to how you like to work.
2 x AD200 + AD-B2
- Split into two separate lights for two-light setups
- Compact flashes that are easy to pack
- Build up to it if you already own one AD200
- Two batteries to charge and manage
AD400 Pro
- One unit and one battery to manage
- Simple, all-in-one setup
- Matched the AD-B2 pair in our softbox test
- Only ever one light
Shop the Setups
We tested the first-generation AD200 Pro and AD400 Pro. These are the current versions in our range.
Twin head bracket
Godox AD-B2 Twin Head Bracket
Combines two AD200-series flashes, including the AD200Pro II, into one Bowens-mount light for 400Ws.
View
Pocket strobe
Godox AD200Pro II
Godox's current compact 200Ws battery strobe, compatible with the AD-B2. You'll need two.
View
All-in-one 400Ws
Godox AD400Pro II
The current generation of Godox's all-in-one 400Ws battery strobe.
ViewConclusion
When you attach a light modifier, which is how most photographers work, two AD200s on the AD-B2 delivered double the light of a single AD200 and matched the AD400 Pro. Results can shift a little with different modifiers and conditions, but the overall trend held steady in our test. Choose the setup that suits the way you shoot.
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 GodoxAD-B2 vs AD400 Pro FAQs
Are two AD200s on an AD-B2 as bright as an AD400 Pro?
In our test, yes, once a softbox was attached: both read f/11 at three metres in an 80x120cm softbox. Without a modifier, the AD-B2 pair read f/10 against the AD400 Pro's f/11, a third of a stop less.
Is the AD-B2 twice as bright as a single AD200?
In a softbox, yes. The AD-B2 pair read f/11 against a single bare bulb AD200 at f/8, which is one stop, or double the light.
Why was the AD200 with the Fresnel head so bright?
The Fresnel head focuses the light into a tight, intense beam, so the meter in the centre of that beam reads very high. A bare bulb spreads light in all directions. Once both go into a softbox, the difference mostly disappears.
Should I buy an AD400 Pro or two AD200s with an AD-B2?
Choose the AD-B2 route if you want the option to split into two separate lights. Choose a single 400Ws strobe if you prefer one unit and one battery to manage.
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.
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