Godox AD100 vs. V1, Part 2 - Two amazing little lights.

[@southeastgasservices]

I love the V1. I've just ordered the AD100. looking forward to working with it. I also think the accessory kit for these lights are excellent, the barn door in particular, giving you great control. love the video, very informative. thanks....

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment!

[@gregshawphotography8828]

Todd, for mounting the V1, use a Magmod Magshoe. That’s the best way to mount the V1 on a light stand.

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Okay, thanks. I’ll look into that.

[@SanoyNimbus]

Question: Hi! I am new to Godox flashes ... have been using Godox continuous LED light a long time... You said that the AD100 uses the same battery as the V1??? If you buy them in Sweden you get a battery VB100 for the AD100 and VB26 for the V1??? I bought a V1 PRO yesterday as my first strobe from Godox ... and this makes me even more confused the battery is VB30??? I am trying to find information about this using google but have not succeeded. Is it the same battery? Or is it different batteries that can be exchanged?

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Thanks for the question. When I made this video I understood them to be the same battery. However, you are correct that they are not exactly the same. I believe the v1 battery is less it terms of storage or something but I can switch the batteries in each flash. They do work. The ad100 battery will just last longer I think. I used the same charger for both as well. Hope that helped a little?!

[@momentsbyron]

Great review and thanks for sharing your thoughts regarding this two similar products 🙏🙏

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Thanks for watching!

[@toby-vt7nz]

Thanks for running these tests. The big difference for me is the V1 user interface which I find highly complex and difficult to use. The AD100 has much the same UI as the AD300 so if you have one of these, save yourself a lot of heartache and get the AD100. I have ended up with four very different Godox UIs (Ad300, V1, TT600 and TT350)and the V1 is a nightmare. Just my 2 cents!..

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Thanks for the input. Very good point.

[@david243121]

why is the V1 a nightmare...? :/ mine comes in tomorrow.

[@southeastgasservices]

I found the V1 a bit confusing at first, since i've been a landscape man for many years, I've never used a flash other than the fill flash on the camera. yes it was a bit difficult, I had a bit of trouble setting it up in the first place, even more complicated pairing it with the xpro 11. It was definately a nightmare, you have to take a deep breath, walk away. come back and read the instructions very carefully. this is what i had to do....have it sorted now, no problems,

[@kimtruong4676]

Would you do a 1 on 1 compare outdoors with the sun? Shooting any flash indoors is straight forward. You can always over power the indoor lights with any flash. However, the sun....oh my goodness, it's tough to fight the sun with any flash. Would love to see a side by side compare of these flashes outdoors.

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Thanks for the comment, love the idea. I will plan to do this video soon. Thanks!

[@dicklloyd9584]

Great video. Many thanks. I wonder why Godox made the decision to have different white balances on these two lights? Seems very unprofessional to me. Surely, they should have specified the same white balance on their full range. Just a thought.

[@Todd_Kuhns]

I couldn't agree more. Let us make the decision when it comes to white balance. Thanks for the comment.

[@mp_martin]

Probably not a decision - more likely the result of cheap materials and manufacturing. That’s why knock off brands are dirt cheap. I still buy them, so I guess that answers the question.

[@Todd_Kuhns]

@@mp_martin Good point. a little depressing but the truth hurts I guess. Thanks for the input.

[@omegaman1409]

The v1 and ad100pro are the best combo. Interchangeable batteries and round heads. I have both. You can use one for key light and the other for back light.

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Agree. That’s exactly how I use them.

[@robinstone564]

Great video Todd. Congratulation on 2K. Gotta question for you... how would you shoot a concert where flash is not allowed by the artist?

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Higher ISO and hope for really good stage lighting! Thanks, Robin.

[@sharonfox7322]

Well done!

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Thank you!

[@leomicorreo]

Hello, I love your explanation! Could you do some tests of the Ad100 with various modifiers? Greetings from Ecuador!

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Thanks for watching. Yea, that sounds like a good idea. I will work on getting some content like that out.

[@amitkrupal1234]

I usually shoot indoor events at f/5.6 ISO200 1/200 for sharp images. I think V1 will be enough, currently SB700 is struggling a little, increasing the ISO allow ambient colorful lighting at stage to mess up white balance. whereas lowering SS to 1/125 sometimes causes motion blur. Will try V1 1st then will get two AD100 pro on stand with white umbrella for reception or rituals. Its expensive but better than upgrading complete camera kit. Currently using Nikon D3300+18-135, 35 f/1.8 & backup lenses (18-55 & 55-200). I wanted to get Fuji X-S10 but its discontinued

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Thanks for the comment. The V1 probably isn't going to be a lot better than your SB700 but it will be better. The fact that you won't have to put AA batteries in it all the time is a huge plus. The V1 in combination with the AD100 will be awesome. Very little you will not be able to do with that set up. Thanks for watching!

[@danielmartinphotography]

Could not agree more about lighting. I've been shooting Ince 1983, and these "available light" only photographers.... well.. I won't say it!

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Haha, yes! Thanks for watching.

[@rafafischerfoto]

Vey Nice review! And is good to find another X-shooter 🙂 About the V1 and AD100Pro Bateries, can you use the V1 battery on the AD100Pro? The godox official video say yes, so I'm think about getting a second batery for the AD100Pro, but buying the V1 battery to get the USB-C Direct charging... Another thing to keep in mind is the ability of the AD100 to keep the circuitry cooler as it have a integrated fan. Using the TT685F outdoors during photoshoots, I have to wait it to cooldown sometimes, and I heard the same about the AD200 as it doesn't have any cooling solution. How the V1 fare about this?

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Yes, the batteries are interchangeable. I think the AD100 has a more powerful battery (maybe longer lasting) but they are the same size and work in each unit. As for the fan in the AD100, I have had it turn on a handful of times. Usually, when I am using the modeling light a bunch. It runs for 30 seconds to a minute and turns off. I've never pushed the flash while the fan is running and all is well. The V1 has never over heated for me. I'm not the kind of shooter that does multiple bursts over and over with my flash either. Overall, the Ad100 and V1 have been great for me. They are my work horses and I wish I had two more 100s.

[@MartinV.]

great video!

[@jimmyhinAK]

Im sold on the godox brand i bought a used ad200 that works flawlessly but have considered getting a ad100.

[@Todd_Kuhns]

The 200 and 100 are great, the 300 seems fantastic as well. 400 and up get much bigger but seem nice too. I think you'll like the 100. It will compliment your 200 nicely.

[@jimmyhinAK]

@@Todd_Kuhns I think for now an ad100 or another used ad200 is in my sights due to the fact i am a broke hobbyist and i have a wife who would have me committed for buying all these😂😂

[@Todd_Kuhns]

@@jimmyhinAK That makes very good sense. And honestly, the 100 meats all my needs, I rarely if ever wish I had more power.

[@photographer8486]

I am going to start learning flash photography. I want a not too heavily priced, lightweight, portable setup that I can take with me wherever I go to cultivate and continue this new hobby of mine. What do you suggest? @@jimmyhinAK

[@toruisalive5499]

Put the ad100 out of high-speed sync, it's twice as bright

[@Todd_Kuhns]

thanks for the insight!

[@Nickporter17]

How about a cold shoe mount with the ability to angle the light on the x2 trigger?!

[@Nickporter17]

So I found a inexpensive 4.5-in "magic arm" that weighs 89 g. The X2 trigger weighs 90 g. With this setup you can mount the AD100 on camera and still be able to angle any direction for bounce or directly at the subject. And you can trigger other flashes. Do you think this would be a significantly better on camera light than the V1? I need an on camera light. I'd like something small and portable with TTL capability. I have AD200 pros and an AD400 pro. Can you give me your recommendation?

[@Todd_Kuhns]

interesting

[@Todd_Kuhns]

So, I'd love to see a photo of this set up.....the magic arm seems like it would be wobbly and put a lot of stress on the hot shoe of the trigger. If you like the AD100 rather than the V1 and want to use it for on camera use I think the strobaframe idea makes the most sense. You would have a very stable rig and be able to angle the light as needed.

[@Nickporter17]

@@Todd_Kuhns thank you. I played around with mounting a recorder on the x2 trigger hot shoe. The recorder is heavier than the AD100. And everything seemed pretty stable and not too risky... Still not sure it's a good idea though.

[@Todd_Kuhns]

@@Nickporter17 Well, I'd be very interested in seeing the set up when you get it worked out.

[@amitkrupal1234]

This is cool

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Thanks!

[@rickyjumpman1]

Can the ad100 pro be set on the top of the camera as a speed light?

[@Todd_Kuhns]

No, not directly to the hot shoe.

[@Charcoalworkshop]

link to a stand for AD100?

[@Todd_Kuhns]

spartanphotocenter.com/shop/godox-240f-8-light-stand/9f147110-c0fe-013b-9bbc-00163ecd2826?variation=3457870

[@kyunghwanhan4683]

v1's hot shoe is not solid. It breaks easily.

[@Todd_Kuhns]

I've heard this and had a lot of people mention it to me. Obviously, an issue. I have not had a problem with either of my V1s. I am not rough on my gear so take that for what its worth. Thanks for the comment!

[@david243121]

heard they fixed it. it's all metal now.

[@jaym5938]

I wouldn't use the 'foot stand', it's a cheap piece of plastic. Use a decent speedlight mount (has a cold-shoe adapter). Also, best use a light meter to get accurate comparisons.

[@Todd_Kuhns]

I agree with both thoughts. The one piece of gear I regret selling is my light meter......looking for another one!

[@digitalgenre7194]

The power different itself is no suficient to be relevant definitly less than 1/2 stop. faster recycle time is probable the only reason to buy AD100 pro. I would never advise AD100 pro as outdoor flash. AD 300 and 200 are small enough for any reasoble human being.

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Fair enough points. Thanks for the input.

[@Nickporter17]

He showed a sample of the ad100 outdoor at sunset. Looked plenty bright to me.

[@photographer8486]

I am going to start learning flash photography. I want a not too heavily priced, lightweight, portable setup that I can take with me wherever I go to cultivate and continue this new hobby of mine. What do you suggest?

[@Todd_Kuhns]

@@photographer8486 The Godox line is good quality at a decent price. The V1 is my choice for a speedlight that can be attached to the camera. The AD100, 200 or 300 would be my choice for an off camera flash. There is an endless amount of choices for softboxes, umbrellas, etc that can attach to these lights.

[@matt88169]

Other reviewers have pointed out that AD100 has similar/more output than AD200 with bare bulb attached, so if that is how you wanted to shoot, the AD200 becomes a heavier more expensive waste. Nothing wrong with fresnel heads but given compatibility with the accessory kit, I lean toward the AD100 myself. After that, I'd skip the AD300 for the AD400 if I wanted a stronger strobe. Also the power obviously depends on what you are doing / trying to do and what modifiers you want to work with.

[@willcapozzi]

If you were going to setup your camera for an event would it be a good idea to have the v1 on the hotshoe and a couple ad100's off in the corner on a stand for fill? I'm trying to find a good setup for weddings and corporate events. I want something i can carry around and also something that will light up the main room/event.

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Yes, I’d think that would be an excellent set up.

[@patricklhommel]

Thans for your review Iwould add if I'not mistaking that the v1 can be used à a contrôler, while the ad100 not. But is it really usefull as combination to have one flash on the camera body and one outside...

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Excellent point. I really hadn't thought of that.

[@nasroullahdinally5140]

Congrats on 2k. great contents and thanks for sharing.However I have a diiferent question but not about the flash rather about how do you use the 100v . How do you use it at weddings and especially at reception? I own a 100v myself and I'm also a wedding photographer and I also shoot with Nikon. I would like to use the 100V also may be a film simulation like B&W or something different for a different look. Like how would I set it for getting ready shots a bit, a little bit everywhere during the course of the day. Thanks in anticipation. Keep up the good work!

[@Todd_Kuhns]

I did a video awhile back about the x100v being the perfect wedding camera. I need to do another as I have used it a many weddings now and can get a little more in depth. Originally, I got the camera to be a take everywhere I go type camera for stock photography. When I got it I realized it would be a great documentary type camera and therefore ideal for weddings. I did fear at first that I'd be laughed at for having such a little camera but the opposite has been true. People are fascinated by it and it can draw a crowd. As far as using it, I shoot in RAW and process later. I shoot with natural light if I can and when I need a flash it is usually off camera on a stand. I really like that because on-camera flash isn't always the prettiest and a small light on a stand can be put wherever I need it. At the reception the x100 isn't my go to camera. With a V1 flash it is awkward. The flash is bigger than the camera. I do sometimes put a Godox Senior Lux on it and the results are actually rather nice. Now that combination will also draw a crowd. The 23mm lens is not always perfect for a wedding but works 90% of the time very nicely. I want to shoot an entire wedding with the x100v but have yet to do it. One day I will. Thanks for the comment!

[@jzsanchez]

Thank you for comparing these two lights

[@Todd_Kuhns]

You’re welcome. More to come in the near future with these lights.

[@matt88169]

I own a 685f (with the screw-on hot shoe) and the V1. I love them both. But there is no question the V1's hotshoe feels weak and flimsy in comparison, even if it is a little more convenient to mount. I'm sure I'll break it someday when and if I drop it. Plus, it sometimes gets a tad loose so I need to re-attach. The 685 by comparison feels more solid (not the new one, the original one). Something no one talks about is that when you slap a Propac on the 685 (for $100) the recycle time and endurance is awesome-faster than the V1 and you just can't wear out the battery. That said, when I recently used both flashes to do a shoot, both seemed to fail to fire here and there and I wasn't using a ton of power, just doing some short bursts. NBD but something I'd point out. If I was shooting a larger group outdoors, I'm not sure the V1 would be my first choice - I'd probably opt for the Fresnel head of the 685, which has more reach and wider spread which is what you might want. The V1 does not seem to have as much reach, but I haven't tested it much to be honest. With the accessory kit, I've had good luck getting nice exposures doing direct flash with the V1 using both diffusers (wide+dome), with or without the flag - no redeye, no obvious hot spots. When bouncing, I think I've been getting slightly better images out of the V1 overall with the dome diffuser on, and the recycle time is definitely very good. The accessory kit is IMO mostly useful and a big reason to get a V1. In terms of menus, I find the V1 pretty straightforward since I had already mastered the 685 and they are similar. Neither are IMO user friendly - it is more that I remember which button to press to switch modes or do what I want. The V1 annoys me with its 1/10th stops in manual mode, and 1/3rd stops in TTL. I'd prefer to select 1/3rd to speed me up when doing manual flash. But it wins me over with the ability to channel scan - that is super helpful when setting up off camera work. It was relatively easy to setup the flash as master and slave the 685, and control them both. The modeling light is relatively low power, but indeed it did help recently when I decided to do some night shooting and probably wouldn't have been able to grab focus otherwise. I imagine it may be useful in similar scenarios where doing a video or just wanting to add some fill light/catch light without flashing someone.

[@Todd_Kuhns]

Thanks for the comment. Great points and insight. I'm not familiar with the 685 but I'll look it up.

[@matt88169]

@@Todd_Kuhns The 685f (not the mark 2) has the screw-on hot shoe - my guess is the mark 2 has the same crappy "quick release" as the V1. It is a cheap light at around $100-130, and with NiMh batteries performs excellently overall for most situations I've used it. Max recycle time is about 2.5 seconds, but obviously at lower powers it keeps up just fine for most things. The ability to attach to a ProPac is the real secret of the light - as I said, the recycle time and endurance is then noticeably better. It would be interesting to put two 685s into a bracket with the ProPac attached (it can run two lights) and see how it holds up against, say, an AD200 or AD400, even.

[@Todd_Kuhns]

@@matt88169 cool. Yea, I like the screw attachment construction better as well.....looking into the light now.

[@fredsobotincic1587]

Don’t you have a flash meter ?

[@Todd_Kuhns]

I had a flash meter that I sold when I rarely used it any longer. It is the one piece of equipment I regret selling because once I started this channel it would be nice to have to explain some of the things I discuss. I need to get another one!

[@FredSobotincic]

Thanks for your reply. I use a Sekonic “ L-308X-U…very affordable and useable..

[@Todd_Kuhns]

I'll check it out.@@FredSobotincic