Godox AD400Pro II: The All-Around Workhorse for Studio and Location
The Godox AD400Pro II occupies a sweet spot in the Godox professional flash lineup. With 400Ws of power, fast recycling and a relatively compact design, it provides enough output for demanding professional work without the additional size and weight of a 600Ws or 800Ws strobe.
That combination makes the AD400Pro II an excellent choice for portrait, senior, wedding, fashion, headshot, commercial and location photographers who need a flash that can handle a wide variety of assignments.
And while the AD400Pro II is an outstanding location light, don't overlook it in the studio. Its battery-powered design lets you work without power cords running across the floor, while the optional AC adapter gives you another power option for longer studio sessions.
Why We Call the AD400Pro II the All-Around Workhorse
With 400Ws of flash power, the AD400Pro II provides a significant amount of output while remaining relatively portable.
It offers an extremely fast 0.01–1.0 second recycle time, approximately 460 full-power flashes per battery charge, TTL, High-Speed Sync up to 1/8000 second, and a broad 1/512-to-full-power adjustment range in 0.1-stop increments.
The AD400Pro II also features a 30W bi-color LED modeling light adjustable from approximately 2800K to 6000K, a bright color display, 16 wireless groups with color identification, One-Tap Sync with compatible Godox X3-series transmitters, and a dedicated Freeze Mode for extremely short flash durations.
It's powerful enough for serious professional assignments, yet portable enough that you won't hesitate to take it on location. That's why we consider the AD400Pro II one of the most versatile flashes in the entire Godox lineup.
One Flash for Studio AND Location Photography
Many photographers initially look at the AD400Pro II as a location flash. That's certainly one of its strengths, but it's equally capable in the studio.
Battery operation means you can place lights where you want them without running AC power cords across the studio. Moving a light or changing your setup is as simple as moving the stand.
When you head outside, that same battery-powered design lets you create professional lighting virtually anywhere without searching for electrical outlets or carrying extension cords.
For photographers who regularly move between studio and location photography, the AD400Pro II can serve as the foundation of a remarkably flexible lighting system.
For a deeper look at this approach, read our AD400Pro II, AD600Pro II & AD800Pro: Professional Strobes for Studio AND Location guide.
Build Your AD400Pro II System Around the Way You Shoot
One of the biggest strengths of the AD400Pro II is its accessory system.
The flash uses the compact Godox modifier mount, allowing you to use lightweight Godox-mount modifiers such as the AD-S60S 24-inch and AD-S85S 34-inch parabolic softboxes.
Need a larger selection of modifiers? The Bowens mount adapter opens the door to a huge selection of Bowens-mount softboxes, beauty dishes, reflectors and other lighting tools.
The AD400Pro platform can also be adapted for certain Profoto and Elinchrom mount accessories, giving photographers who already own modifiers additional flexibility.
This collection includes many of the accessories you may need to build or expand your AD400Pro II system, including WB400P batteries, chargers, the AC400 AC adapter, H400P extension head, replacement flash tubes, reflectors, barndoors, snoots, modifier adapters and replacement parts.
The H400P Extension Head: A Better Way to Use the AD400Pro II on a Boom
If you frequently use a boom stand, the Godox H400P extension head is one of the most useful accessories available for the AD400Pro II.
Instead of placing the complete flash body and battery at the working end of the boom, the lightweight H400P extension head can be mounted with your modifier while the heavier AD400Pro II body remains lower on the stand or closer to the boom's pivot point.
This reduces weight and leverage at the working end of the boom, makes overhead lighting easier to position, and keeps the flash body, controls and battery within easier reach.
It's especially useful for hair lights, rim lights, overhead portrait lighting, tabletop photography and commercial product photography where the light needs to be positioned above the subject.
Battery Power or AC Power? You Can Have Both
The AD400Pro II is designed around the WB400P rechargeable lithium-ion battery, providing approximately 460 full-power flashes per charge.
For photographers working in a studio or another location with convenient electrical power, the optional Godox AC400 AC adapter provides another way to power the flash.
This gives you the flexibility to use battery power when portability and freedom from cords are important, while having an AC option available when it makes more sense for your workflow.
Is 400Ws Enough for Outdoor Photography?
For many photographers, yes.
The AD400Pro II provides considerably more output than a speedlight or smaller portable flash and has enough power for a wide range of outdoor portrait and location situations.
Its High-Speed Sync capability up to 1/8000 second is especially useful when photographing outdoors with wide apertures or when you need greater control over ambient exposure.
However, no flash can completely eliminate the laws of physics. Modifier size, flash-to-subject distance, time of day and the intensity of ambient sunlight all affect how much flash power you'll need.
If you regularly photograph larger groups, use very large modifiers at greater distances, or frequently work in intense direct sunlight, an AD600Pro II or AD800Pro may provide more useful power in reserve.
AD300Pro II, AD400Pro II or AD600Pro II?
This is one of the most common decisions photographers face when building a Godox lighting system.
Choose the AD300Pro II when portability is a top priority and 300Ws provides enough power for the majority of your work.
Step up to the AD400Pro II when you want an excellent balance of portability and increased output. For many portrait and location photographers, this is the sweet spot.
Consider the AD600Pro II when higher output is more important than keeping the lighting kit as small and lightweight as possible.
And if maximum available battery-powered output is the priority, the AD800Pro provides another step up.
There isn't one correct answer for every photographer. The best choice depends on how you photograph, what modifiers you use, your typical working distances and how much equipment you're comfortable carrying.
Our Godox Flash Comparison makes it easy to compare the major Godox battery-powered flashes side by side.
Upgrading From the Original AD400Pro?
The original AD400Pro was already an extremely capable 400Ws flash, but the AD400Pro II adds several meaningful improvements.
Both flashes provide the same 400Ws maximum output, so upgrading isn't about getting more raw power. Instead, the AD400Pro II improves control, workflow and versatility.
Among the upgrades are a wider 1/512-to-full-power range, 0.1-stop power adjustments, approximately 460 full-power flashes per charge, a 30W bi-color modeling light, color display, 16 wireless groups with color identification, One-Tap Sync with compatible X3-series transmitters and a dedicated Freeze Mode.
If you already own the original model, see our AD400Pro vs. AD400Pro II Comparison for a detailed look at what's changed and whether upgrading makes sense for you.
Godox AD400Pro II FAQ
How powerful is the Godox AD400Pro II?
The AD400Pro II produces 400 watt-seconds (Ws) of maximum flash power.
Its output can be adjusted from 1/512 to full power in 0.1-stop increments, providing both substantial maximum output and precise control when you need much less light.
How fast does the AD400Pro II recycle?
Godox rates the AD400Pro II at approximately 0.01 to 1.0 second, depending on the selected flash power.
That fast recycling makes it well suited to portraits, weddings, fashion, action and other situations where photographers may need to shoot quickly.
How many full-power flashes can I get from an AD400Pro II battery?
Godox rates the AD400Pro II at approximately 460 full-power flashes per battery charge.
Because most photographers aren't firing every photograph at full power, real-world shooting capacity can be considerably greater. Actual battery life will vary based on flash power, modeling-light use, temperature, battery condition and shooting habits.
Does the AD400Pro II have a modeling light?
Yes. The AD400Pro II features a 30W bi-color LED modeling light with an adjustable color temperature range of approximately 2800K to 6000K.
In addition to helping you preview light direction and shadows, the adjustable color temperature makes the modeling lamp more versatile when working around different ambient light sources.
Does the AD400Pro II support TTL and High-Speed Sync?
Yes. The AD400Pro II supports TTL automatic flash exposure with compatible camera systems as well as High-Speed Sync at shutter speeds up to 1/8000 second.
It is part of the Godox 2.4GHz X wireless system and can be controlled with compatible Godox X-system transmitters.
Can I use Bowens-mount softboxes with the AD400Pro II?
Yes.
The AD400Pro II has a compact native Godox modifier mount, but a Bowens mount adapter allows you to use the enormous selection of Bowens-compatible softboxes, beauty dishes, reflectors and other modifiers.
This gives you the option of using compact Godox-mount modifiers when portability matters or larger Bowens-mount modifiers when the assignment calls for them.
Can I use the AD400Pro II with AC power?
Yes. The optional Godox AC400 AC adapter allows the AD400Pro II to operate from AC power rather than its rechargeable battery.
This can be particularly useful for photographers who use the AD400Pro II extensively in a permanent studio while still wanting battery operation available for location assignments.
Is the AD400Pro II a good first professional flash?
For many photographers, absolutely.
The AD400Pro II costs and weighs more than the smaller AD300Pro II, but its 400Ws output gives you additional power and room to grow as you begin using larger modifiers, photographing outdoors or taking on more demanding assignments.
If portability is your highest priority, the AD300Pro II may be the better starting point. If you want a flash that can comfortably move between studio and demanding location work, the AD400Pro II is difficult to beat.
What accessories should I buy for the AD400Pro II?
Start with the accessories that solve problems for the way you actually photograph.
Most photographers will need a compatible Godox X-system transmitter, light stand and modifier. Location photographers may benefit from a spare WB400P battery, while studio photographers may want the AC400 adapter.
If you use overhead lighting or boom stands, consider the H400P extension head. If you already own Bowens-mount modifiers, the Bowens adapter makes it easy to incorporate them into your AD400Pro II system.
There's no reason to buy every available accessory at once. Build your system around the photography you actually do.
Why Buy Your Godox AD400Pro II From MoLight?
Professional lighting is an investment, and where you buy it matters.
MoLight specializes in Godox professional lighting and provides knowledgeable U.S.-based support, service and repair. The AD400Pro II purchased from MoLight is also backed by our two-year MoLight warranty.
We're photographers ourselves, so if you're trying to decide between the AD300Pro II, AD400Pro II, AD600Pro II or AD800Pro—or you're simply unsure which modifier or accessory you need—ask us.
We'd rather help you choose the right lighting system for your photography than simply sell you the biggest or most expensive flash.
Additional information:
Godox Flash Comparison
AD400Pro vs. AD400Pro II Comparison
AD400Pro II, AD600Pro II & AD800Pro: Professional Strobes for Studio AND Location
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