Why Godox Extension Heads Are One of the Smartest Accessories for Your AD400Pro and AD600/800 Series Strobes
Big battery-powered strobes like the Godox AD400Pro, AD400Pro II, AD600BM, AD600BM II, AD600Pro, AD600Pro II and AD800Pro give photographers tremendous lighting power.
But sometimes you want the power of a large strobe without putting the entire flash and battery several feet in the air.
That's exactly where a Godox extension head becomes valuable.
Depending on your flash, Godox offers extension heads including the H600, H400P and H600P. These accessories separate the flash head from the main flash body using an extension cable. Instead of putting the complete monolight at the end of a boom or high on a light stand, you mount the much lighter extension head there and keep the heavy flash body somewhere lower and more accessible.
It's a relatively simple idea that can completely change the way you use a high-powered Godox strobe.
And if you regularly use a boom, it may be one of the smartest accessories you can add to your lighting kit.
The Problem With Putting a Large Strobe on a Boom
Let's say you want to position a large softbox directly above your subject.
You could mount your complete AD600-series flash at the end of a boom arm.
It works.
But think about what you've just done.
You've placed the weight of the flash body, battery, flash tube and modifier at the far end of a lever.
The farther that weight extends from the stand's center column, the more leverage it creates.
That means your stand and counterweight have to work harder to balance everything.
And then there's the softbox.
Add a modifier such as the MoLight SNAP42, and you've added even more weight and leverage to the end of the boom.
An extension head provides a much better solution.
Put the Lightweight Head on the Boom—Not the Entire Flash
With an extension head, the main flash body doesn't have to be attached directly to the modifier.
Instead, the lightweight remote head goes on the boom and connects to the flash body through its extension cable.
Godox's current H400P and H600P systems use a 2-meter extension cable, providing substantial freedom to separate the head from the power unit. Godox specifically promotes this arrangement for overhead placement and other situations where a lighter head is advantageous.
This is particularly useful with a lightweight Bowens-mount modifier such as the MoLight SNAP42 softbox.
Rather than hanging the weight of a complete high-powered battery strobe plus the modifier from your boom, you're putting primarily the extension head and modifier out there.
The difference can be substantial.
A Better-Balanced Boom Setup
Here's where the system gets even more interesting.
You have several options for positioning the main flash body.
One approach is to attach it lower on the stand's center column.
This keeps the majority of the flash's weight much closer to the stand's center of gravity rather than hanging several feet away at the end of the boom.
But there's another setup I particularly like:
Mount the flash body toward the opposite end of the boom arm.
Now the flash itself can become part of your counterweight.
Instead of putting the heavy flash on the same end as the modifier, you're using that weight to help counterbalance the lightweight extension head and softbox on the other end.
You'll still need to balance and secure the stand correctly, but you're making much more intelligent use of the weight you already have.
Better Access to Your Flash Controls
There's another practical advantage to keeping the flash body lower.
You can actually reach it.
Put an entire AD600Pro II high overhead on a boom and its LCD and controls go up there with it.
That's less of a problem when you're controlling flash output remotely through a Godox transmitter, but there are still times when you need physical access to the flash.
Maybe you want to change a menu setting.
Check the battery.
Turn the modeling light on or off.
Power-cycle the unit.
Change a setting that isn't available from your transmitter.
With the extension head overhead and the main body attached lower on the stand, the controls stay within easy reach.
That's a small detail that can make a studio setup much more pleasant to use.
A Safer Way to Boom a Powerful Strobe
One of the most important reasons I like extension heads is safety.
Any time we put equipment overhead, we should be thinking about weight, leverage, balance and what happens if something moves unexpectedly.
A heavy monolight mounted several feet away from a stand's center column produces considerably more leverage than a lightweight extension head.
Moving the heavier flash body closer to the stand's center—or using it on the opposite end of the boom—can create a more manageable setup.
Of course, an extension head doesn't eliminate the need for proper safety procedures.
A boom still needs an appropriate stand. The stand needs to be properly counterbalanced. Sandbags or other appropriate weights should be used. Connections need to be tightened correctly. And overhead equipment should always be secured appropriately.
But when you have a choice between placing a lightweight head overhead and placing an entire large battery-powered monolight overhead, reducing the amount of weight at the working end of the boom is simply a better approach.
Less Weight at the End Means Easier Positioning
There is another benefit that's easy to overlook.
The boom becomes easier to work with.
Changing the height or angle of a boom carrying a large flash and modifier can require some effort, particularly when the arm is extended.
Reducing the mass at the far end makes repositioning easier.
Need to move the softbox slightly forward?
Raise it six inches?
Change the angle?
Swing the boom away temporarily so your subject can move?
A lighter working end makes those adjustments more manageable.
For photographers who change lighting frequently during portrait sessions, that convenience adds up.
Great for Hair Lights, Rim Lights and Overhead Lighting
Extension heads aren't limited to large overhead key lights.
They're excellent anywhere you need a flash in an awkward or elevated position.
Think about a hair light positioned above and behind your subject.
A rim light coming from a high rear angle.
A background light tucked into a difficult location.
An overhead softbox for product photography.
A top light over a tabletop set.
Instead of figuring out how to support an entire 400Ws, 600Ws or 800Ws monolight in that location, you can put the smaller extension head there and locate the main body somewhere more convenient.
That ability to separate the lightweight flash head from the heavier body opens up lighting positions that might otherwise be difficult or inconvenient.
Useful for Location Photography Too
The same principle works outside the studio.
An assistant can hold a lightweight extension head on a pole or boom while the photographer or another assistant carries or supports the flash body.
This can make mobile lighting considerably easier than asking someone to hold an entire high-powered monolight at the end of a pole.
Wedding photographers, environmental portrait photographers, sports photographers and commercial photographers working in difficult locations can all benefit from that flexibility.
It allows you to bring substantial flash power to a location without requiring the entire flash body to be positioned wherever you need the light.
You Still Get the Power of the Larger Strobe
This is the key point.
You're not switching to a small speedlight simply because you need a lightweight head.
The extension head allows you to take advantage of the power system of the compatible larger Godox strobe while physically separating the flash head from the heavy body and battery.
That means you can have the convenience of a much lighter head where the light actually needs to be while keeping your larger Godox flash system in use.
For photographers who already own these flashes, that's a very useful capability.
Which Godox Extension Head Do You Need?
Compatibility matters, because these extension heads are not universally interchangeable across every Godox flash.
The H600 is designed for the original AD600-series platform, including the original AD600B and AD600BM. This will not work with the new AD600BM II as it uses the AD600PRO-type flash tube.
The H400P is the extension head for the AD400Pro platform and can be used with the AD400Pro and AD400Pro II.
The H600P is designed for the AD600Pro-series platform and is supported by the AD600Pro and AD600Pro II. The newer AD600BM II also supports the H600P.
The AD800Pro also supports the H600P, but there's an important detail:
When using the H600P with an AD800Pro, you must use the AD800Pro flash tube in the H600P.
AD600Pro-series flash tubes should not be substituted for the AD800Pro tube when the extension head is connected to the AD800Pro body.
Before ordering an extension head, always verify compatibility with your exact flash model.
An Inexpensive Accessory That Can Change How You Use Your Flash
Perhaps the most compelling thing about these extension heads is that they're relatively inexpensive compared with the flashes they support.
You already invested in a powerful Godox battery strobe.
An extension head doesn't replace it.
It makes that flash more useful.
It can turn a large monolight into a much more practical boom light.
It can make overhead lighting easier.
It can help create a better-balanced stand.
It can keep controls and batteries within reach.
It can simplify awkward light placement.
And it can make a high-powered strobe much easier for an assistant to position on location.
That's a lot of additional versatility from a relatively simple accessory.
The Bottom Line
If you own a larger Godox battery strobe and use—or are considering using—a boom, an extension head deserves serious consideration.
Instead of putting the entire weight of the flash and battery at the far end of your boom, you can place a lightweight extension head there with your modifier.
Keep the main flash body lower on the center column for stability and easy access.
Or mount it toward the opposite end of the boom and let the flash's own weight contribute to the counterbalance.
Either way, you end up with a lighting system that's easier to position, easier to access and better suited to overhead work.
For a relatively modest investment, the Godox H600, H400P and H600P extension heads can make some of Godox's most powerful flashes significantly more versatile.
Sometimes the smartest way to use a big flash is to leave the big part of it closer to the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions About Godox Extension Heads
What is a Godox extension head?
A Godox extension head separates the flash tube/head from the main body and battery of a compatible Godox strobe using an extension cable.
This allows a much lighter head to be mounted overhead, on a boom, handheld or positioned in a difficult location while the heavier flash body remains somewhere more convenient.
Why use a Godox extension head on a boom?
The primary advantage is reducing the amount of weight positioned at the far end of the boom.
Instead of mounting the complete flash body and battery next to your modifier, only the lightweight extension head needs to be positioned there.
The heavier flash body can remain closer to the stand's center column or potentially be positioned toward the opposite end of the boom to contribute to counterbalancing the extension head and modifier.
How do I attach the body of my flash to the light stand or boom when using an extension head?
We recommend using a sturdy studio clamp, such as the MoLight MoClamp.
The MoClamp can be securely attached to the center column of your light stand or directly to the boom arm, giving you flexibility in where you position the heavier flash body.
The MoClamp includes a standard spigot, so the flash attaches to it using the same light-stand mounting bracket you would normally use to mount the flash on a stand.
This creates a secure and convenient mounting point for the flash body while allowing the lightweight extension head and modifier to remain at the working end of the boom.
Positioning the flash body lower on the center column also keeps the flash controls and battery within easy reach.
Alternatively, mounting the flash body toward the opposite end of the boom can allow its weight to contribute to counterbalancing the extension head and modifier.
Can I use a softbox with a Godox extension head?
Yes. With the appropriate mount or adapter for the extension-head model, you can attach compatible light modifiers to the extension head.
This makes extension heads particularly useful with lightweight softboxes such as the MoLight SNAP42, where you can create a large overhead light source without having to place the entire flash body and battery at the end of the boom.
Can the H600P be used with the Godox AD800Pro?
Yes. Godox officially supports the H600P extension head with the AD800Pro.
However, there's an important requirement: the AD800Pro flash tube must be installed in the H600P when the extension head is connected to an AD800Pro.
Do not use an AD600Pro-series flash tube with the AD800Pro body.
Are Godox extension heads useful outside the studio?
Absolutely.
A lightweight extension head can be much easier for an assistant to position on a handheld pole or boom than an entire large monolight.
This can be especially useful for environmental portraits, weddings, commercial assignments and other location photography where you need powerful lighting from an elevated or unusual position.
Which Godox flashes can use extension heads?
Depending on the extension head and exact flash model, extension-head options are available for several of Godox's larger battery strobes, including the AD600BM, AD600BM II, AD400Pro, AD400Pro II, AD600Pro, AD600Pro II and AD800Pro.
Because compatibility varies between the H600, H400P and H600P, always match the correct extension head to your specific flash before purchasing.