Upgrading to Godox/Flashpoint AD400 Strobes

[adamhiram]

My AD400 extension head came today, and it works as expected, with a few significant caveats.

Pros:

• It's small and lightweight
• It has an 8' cable that connects firmly into the AD400 unit
• Flash and modeling light both work as expected

Cons:

• Loses about .2-.3 stop of light (metered)
• Does not include bag to hang base unit from, as provided with original AD600 extension head at half the price
• Does not include super clamp to attach base un it (not expected, but shown in product photos)
• DOES NOT INCLUDE THE BOWENS MOUNT ADAPTER! It comes with just the proprietary AD400 mount, which of course doesn't fit any of my modifiers. Apparently I need to either unscrew the one attached to the AD400, which requires tools and is not a quick swap, or purchase a second one separately.

It seems well-built and does what it is supposed to do, but quite disappointed that it was not ready to use out of the box, and now I need to purchase additional accessories for it to be usable. For a super clamp with stud and a new Bowens mount adapter, unfortunately I'm looking at another $40-50 out of pocket.

 

[Derrel]

There are quite a few missing features which I would be quite unhappy about. This does not sound like what I would consider to be a well-designed and well-executed customer experience! I would be quite unhappy with your short list of cons.

 

[Derrel]

Reading the Adorama ad copy....I would be pi**ed...they say it loses "ZERO" light....in all-caps and they are not very clear on the need to buy a Bowens mount...

BORDERNLINE DECEPTION.

 

[smoke665]

This does not sound like what I would consider to be a well-designed and well-executed customer experience!

No disrespect intended toward any other brand of lighting equipment, but this is just one of the many reasons I'll likely be a Paul C. Buff customer forever. The equipment is quality built, reasonably priced and designed for everyday use. They don't sell new equipment through dealers (that I'm aware of). When you call their office, a real life knowledgeable person answers the phone, who can handle whatever you need without transferring you a dozen times, while you wait on hold. Need to know something ask them, they have experience with the construction, features, and real life experience with the use of everything they sell. Have a problem with equipment, they go out of their way to help you resolve it, whether it's something you bought from them or bought used. Can't say enough good about this company.

 

[adamhiram]

Reading the Adorama ad copy....I would be pi**ed...they say it loses "ZERO" light....in all-caps and they are not very clear on the need to buy a Bowens mount...

BORDERNLINE DECEPTION.

Agreed, and it sounds like Adorama did as well when I called them. They're sending out a Bowens adapter for no additional cost, and it sounds like they'll likely be updating the description to exclude the reference to having a Bowens mount. It would be nicer if they just included it, but at least they made it right.

 

[JBPhotog]

My AD400 extension head came today, and it works as expected, with a few significant caveats.

Pros:

• It's small and lightweight
• It has an 8' cable that connects firmly into the AD400 unit
• Flash and modeling light both work as expected

Cons:

• Loses about .2-.3 stop of light (metered)
• Does not include bag to hang base unit from, as provided with original AD600 extension head at half the price
• Does not include super clamp to attach base un it (not expected, but shown in product photos)
• DOES NOT INCLUDE THE BOWENS MOUNT ADAPTER! It comes with just the proprietary AD400 mount, which of course doesn't fit any of my modifiers. Apparently I need to either unscrew the one attached to the AD400, which requires tools and is not a quick swap, or purchase a second one separately.

It seems well-built and does what it is supposed to do, but quite disappointed that it was not ready to use out of the box, and now I need to purchase additional accessories for it to be usable. For a super clamp with stud and a new Bowens mount adapter, unfortunately I'm looking at another $40-50 out of pocket.

I will address your cons list.

• Yeah wondered about the loss of light due to the cable extension length, some people surmised the head would house a capacitor or circuitry to bump up the power loss. Looks like that didn't happen. I wonder if Godox will address this since the specifications are inaccurate.
• FWIW, my DP600DRP extension head for my AD600Pro TTL came in a cardboard box, no bag to hang the power supply.
• Again, no Super Clamp and stud to mount the power supply, I own more than 10 of these so no big deal.
• Yeah that should have been listed in the details. I also am perplexed why Godox changed the mount for the AD400. One would think consistency of the Bowens mount across the line would be logical. I heard rumours Bowens was getting back in business and they may have asked for a cease and desist order on their patented mount from third part vendors, no confirmation of that though. Happy to hear Adorama has helped you out though.

 

[Derrel]

Well, at least they gave you some decent customer service. I have been buying photogear since 1977, sight unseen, at first through mail order, and most recently off the internet or off of Craigslist. How you write a description is important. I read Adorama's sales copy a couple of times and thought that it was poorly written. There is a clear difference between being ambiguous and clearly spelling out what is and what is not included. If a photo shows something, then it is in most cases quite reasonable to conclude that what you are seeing is what you will get when you buy it. The need to buy an extra Bowens mount is ridiculous. If you need to buy extra parts, then that should be clearly spelled out. Like I said ambiguous versus crystal clear.

 

[adamhiram]

I heard rumours Bowens was getting back in business and they may have asked for a cease and desist order on their patented mount from third part vendors,

Ironically, I read that Bowens is back and is actually manufactured by Godox.

 

[JBPhotog]

I heard rumours Bowens was getting back in business and they may have asked for a cease and desist order on their patented mount from third part vendors,

Ironically, I read that Bowens is back and is actually manufactured by Godox.

Ha, now isn't that amusing.

BTW, have Adorama changed their website? I noticed this on their site after I read your post.

What's in the box:

• Flashpoint XPLOR400 Pro 8 foot extension head
• Instructions
• Flashpoint 1-Year USA Warranty

 

[adamhiram]

BTW, have Adorama changed their website?

It looks Adorama updated their website this evening, although it still looks a bit misleading to me. Would it have really been that hard to just include the Bowens adapter?

Here's the original listing that specifically says it has a Bowens mount

Here's the revised listing where they removed that text from the item description. However you may notice that one of the images absolutely shows the Bowens adapter installed

They also updated the overview to include verbiage that Bowens mount modifiers can be used with the XPLOR 400 Pro Bowens adapter, although they still don't mention that it isn't included.

And lastly, I think a lot of people will be in for the same surprise when they order the same item from B&H

Seriously, how hard is it to just include the standard mount or at least get the item description right...

On another note, I picked up a Manfrotto super clamp to hold the monolight while using the extension head.

 

[Derrel]

This is still unacceptable.

 

[adamhiram]

My winning streak continues. Following a recommendation from @JBPhotog I picked up a Matthews Back Light Stand from B&H (I haven't had the best luck with Adorama lately), and it seems very solid and well-built, not to mention very compact and portable. However the center column isn't vertical. I don't mean it's slightly askew, I mean it is significantly off. A call to Matthews confirmed that this is not normal, and it looks like the item is either damaged or defective. Yet another RMA to deal with.

Notice that the floor is level.

20200114-DSC_6625a by adamhiram, on Flickr

The socket for the center post is not.

20200114-DSC_6624a by adamhiram, on Flickr

Which means the post is not vertical.

20200114-DSC_6623a by adamhiram, on Flickr

Not even close.

20200114-DSC_6622a by adamhiram, on Flickr

 

[JBPhotog]

Seriously man, buy a Lotto ticket. With your luck, something's gotta give.LOL

Can you check the level of each leg bend where the threaded centre post goes through? You deserve a good one so I support you getting an RMA if its easy and relatively painless. Otherwise I'd measure the height of each leg at the centre, unbolt the centre post and crack open my vice with soft jaws and bend them myself to tweak it good.

 

[adamhiram]

Seriously man, buy a Lotto ticket. With your luck, something's gotta give.LOL

I have often wondered if other people really don't have these issues, or if they just don't notice (or just deal with it). A very significant percentage of items ordered from Adorama and B&H in recent years have arrived damaged or defective. Just off the top of my head, there are the gel, sandbags, light stand, and back light stand in this thread, damaged shims in a Sirui travel tripod I bought last year from B&H, and a Flashpoint nano clamp from Adorama in 2018 that completely fell apart during the first use (easily rebuilt and improved with some thread lock). A number of years ago when I purchased my Manfrotto 055 XProB tripod, I recall buying it 3 times to get one with the foam grips glued on straight. I had a Westcott 5-in-1 reflector come with the black dye from the border material smudged all over the white reflector. I even got a gray card that wasn't even close to neutral gray.

Should the bottoms of all 3 feet align with each other when the Matthews stand is folded up?

 

[smoke665]

@adamhiram I used to think it would be nice if you lived closer so we could collaborate, now I'm not so sure. Having some distance between you and your luck might be a good thing!!