Equipment Comparison

Comparing Compact Flashes: The Godox AD200Pro, V860II and V1

For those looking for compact flash lighting options for their photography, this is generally for a reason; whether you're looking for something suitable for outdoor shooting, or shooting in enclosed spaces or at events. Especially for professional photographers taking on clients, it's important to make sure that your lighting equipment is perfect for the job, and gives you enough power to take a suitably bright image. Here, we'll take a look at some of our most popular compact flashes; the Godox AD200Pro and new AD200Pro II, the V860III Speedlite and the V1 Speedlite, to see exactly what each unit has to offer and the benefits they each have over the others.


Godox V860III	Godox V1	Godox AD200Pro

The Godox V860III

The V860II (or PiXAPRO Li-ION580III) is one of Godox's most popular speedlite options, powered by rechargeable Lithium Ion battery and outputting around 76w at full power. This Speedlite can be used on or off camera, and includes a dedicated hot-shoe, with options compatible with Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic and Fuji cameras, allowing them to use a wide range of features include TTL and High-Speed Sync (Up to 1/8000s).

The V860III also features a rectangular speedlite head, plus a built-in 2W SMD LED modelling lamp with 10 stages of brightness on the front of the flash body, which helps you pre-visualise your shot before you take it. Plus, this speedlite also has the option to flip the switch on the flash to change it from TTL to manual for easy settings changes.

Brightness range on the V860III

Featuring a zoom range of between 20mm and 200mm, this flash can either be set to automatically zoom with your lens (if used on-camera), or it can be set manually, giving you maximum creative control of the beam angle.

The Godox V1 Speedlite

One of the most recent speedlite releases, the V1 (or PiXAPRO GIO1) has many similar features to the V860 model, such as the same 76w output, rechargeable battery, TTL and HSS compatibility, and camera-specific hotshoes.

The key feature of the V1 speedlite is the round-head flash, which offers a much smoother and softer light fall-off quality than a traditional rectangular speedlite head thanks to it's circular shape, and looks more natural. The round-head also has the benefit of having a magnetic mount, which allows for a huge range of modification options for your flash using lightweight and compact gels, diffusion domes and more! The AK-R1 round-head kit is your friend for this, and comes with a selection of different attachments to tailor your light with.

The difference between a traditional speedlite head and a round-head

The V1, however, while it has a modelling lamp, has this built into the flash head rather than the body, and has a more limited zoom range than the V860III at 28-105mm. This means you have less control over the beam angle and intensity of the flash than the V860.

The AD200Pro Flash

The most different of the three, the AD200Pro flash isn't a speedlite at all, and instead is a compact battery powered flash. It's not designed to be used on top of your camera, and is instead primarily expected to be used on a light stand due to it's larger and heavier construction, which allows for pairing with larger standard modifiers for easy integration into your setup.

The AD200 Pro (and by extension, the AD200 Pro II - click here to find out more about the differences between the two) is a 200w flash, making it more powerful than any speedlite options, with interchangeable flash heads. You get two heads with the flash; the fresnel speedlite head (which is very similar to a traditional speedlite head), and a bare-bulb flash head.

The AD200Pro Flash Head System (some items sold separately)

Plus, you can also purchase other flash heads separately such as the round-head speedlite attachment which is compatible with the round-head modifiers, and the extension head. The two supplied heads also have super fast flash durations of 1/220 to 1/15380s (Speedlite Head) and 1/220 to 1/13510s (Bare-Bulb Head), plus an impressive recycle time of 0.01-1.8s.

Find out more about the AD200Pro interchangeable head options here.

Similarities

All three of these flash models carry a few vital features, including:

The rechargeable lithium ion battery
2.4GHz ONE system/X System receiver allowing you to use any 2.4GHz Godox or PiXAPRO Trigger with your flash
Built-in modelling lamps
HSS and TTL Compatibility
Off-camera mounting

So regardless of which flash you pick, you can be sure to have these key features, and compatibility across the board with the right equipment.

The Key Differences

Each flash has it's own unique selling points, however, giving them an edge over the other for certain shooting situations or photographers' preferences.

The V860III

If you're looking for a traditional speedlite, this is the flash for you. With a large zoom range for the beam angle, the V860 allows for a more controlled beam angle for your images, plus a manual switch on the flash body to swap between TTL and manual shooting.

The V1

A unique round-head speedlite, this flash offers a softer and more natural light fall-off, plus a wider selection of modification due to the magnetic round-head mount. This may be the flash for those especially working at events and weddings looking for flattering lighting with minimal equipment.

The AD200Pro

A standard battery powered flash, the AD200Pro is the most powerful of the three at 200w, and offers a selection of different modifier mounts thanks to it's interchangeable head feature. This is the best flash if you're looking for a bit more oomph and for different flash head effects.

What's Your Verdict?

Each of these lighting options offer their own benefits over the others, but what can be promised is that no matter which lighting option you choose you will be using a high quality, compact battery flash. Check out our full specifications comparison table below for a detailed side-by-side of the different flash features.

Or, for more assistance, contact our team at info@essentialphoto.co.uk for some help directly from our product advisors. Godox flashes sold at EssentialPhoto & Video have a 1-Year* warranty provided, plus UK Support and customer services in our West Midlands based store! Find out more.

Specs	Godox V860III	Godox V1	Godox AD200Pro

PiXAPRO Version	Li-ION580III	GIO1	PIKA200Pro (Discontinued)
Power Output	76Ws	76Ws	200ws
Guide Number	42m @ISO100 (105mm)	42m @ISO100 (105mm)	Speedlite flash head: 52m (ISO 100) 35mm coverage Bare bulb flash head: 60m (ISO 100, with the standard reflector)
Flash Exposure Control	TTL Auto-flash, Manual-flash	TTL Auto-flash, Manual-flash	TTL Auto-flash, Manual-flash
Zoom Range	20mm and 200mm automatic or manual zoom	28-105mm automatic or manual zoom (wider with round-head accessory kit)	Zoomable Fresnel Speedlite head
Recycle Times	< 1.5 second	<1.5 seconds	0.01 - 1.8 seconds
Flash Duration	1/300 to 1/20,000 seconds	1/300 to 1/20,000 seconds	Speedlite flash head: 1/220 to 1/15380 seconds Bare bulb flash head: 1/220 to 1/13150 seconds
Power Range	1/1 – 1/256 Power in 1/3 or 1/10 stop increments	1/1 – 1/256 Power in 1/3 or 1/10 stop increments	9 stops: 1/256 ~ 1/1 in 1/10th stop increments
Modelling Light	2W SMD LED on flash body	2W SMD LED	✔
Number of Flashes (per full charge)	480	480	500
Flash Head Rotation	0 to 330° horizontally (180° in any direction) -7° to 120° vertically	0 to 330° horizontally (180° in any direction) -7° to 120° vertically	N/A
On-Camera Mounting	✔	✔	✗
Number of Channels	32	32	32
Groups	N/A	N/A	5
2.4GHz X System Compatibility	✔	✔	✔
Modifier Fittings	Traditional Speedlite. Bowens S-Type fitting when paired with SMART Bracket.	Round-Head Speedlite, Magnetic Round-Head. Bowens S-Type fitting when paired with SMART Bracket.	(Depending on head) Traditional speedlite, barebulb speedlite flash, magnetic round-head. Bowens S-Type fitting when paired with SMART Bracket.