OVERPOWER the SUN with FLASH // What Godox Flash do you need?

In this video we are discussing how to overpower the sun with flash. Overpower the sun is a phrase that poorly describes balancing a flash with bright, sunny conditions outside. It's hard to give a single answer for what flash will do it, as it depends on 3 actions. What modifier you use, how far away you use it, and whether or not you use high speed sync.
Different modifiers bounce and throw light in different ways. So, some light modifiers are much more efficient than others, which means they will have more light intensity at the same power. Typically, smaller modifiers have harder, more intense light than larger modifiers, and are more efficient, but that surprisingly wasn't 100% true in this video.

Yes, the flashes were all at full (1/1) power

Modifiers Used



In this video we are finding out what flash you will need to overpower the sun. Overpower the sun is a phrase that poorly describes balancing a flash with bright, sunny conditions outside. It's hard to give a single answer for what flash will do it, as it depends on 3 actions. What modifier you use, how far away you use it, and whether or not you use high speed sync.
Different modifiers bounce and throw light in different ways. So, some light modifiers are much more efficient than others, which means they will have more light intensity at the same power. Typically, smaller modifiers have harder, more intense light than larger modifiers, and are more efficient, but that surprisingly wasn't 100% true in this video.
Next, is HSS vs SS. High speed sync is a less efficient way to light a subject, and will always require a higher power setting when everything else is equal. So if you stick with standard sync you'll be able to use smaller, less powerful strobes or greater distances.
The goal here was to find the distance that a light at full power could properly expose a subject with a given modifier, in both HSS and standard sync.

Here's the data:
AD600 Pro Standard Sync
Reflector: 9' 6" (290 cm)
32" Shoot through Umbrella: 7' 6" (229 cm)
25" Glow EZ-Lock Beauty Dish Softbox: 8' 4" (254 cm)
43" Grand Para Box Pro: 10' (305 cm)

AD600 Pro HSS
Reflector: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Umbrella: 5' (152 cm)
25" Softbox: 6' (183 cm)
43" Softbox: 7' (213 cm)

AD400 Pro Standard Sync
Reflector: 8' 4" (254 cm)
Umbrella: 6' 10" (208 cm)
25" Softbox: 7' 6" (229 cm)
43" Softbox: 9' 0" (274 cm)

AD400 Pro HSS
Reflector: 5' 10" (147 cm)
Umbrella: 4' 6" (137 cm)
25" Softbox: 4' 9" (145 cm)
43 Softbox: 6' 4" (193 cm)

AD200 Standard Sync
Fresnel Head: 12' 7" (384 cm)
Umbrella (Fresnel): 7' (213 cm)
25" Softbox (Barebulb): 5' (152 cm)
43 Softbox (Barebulb): 6' (183 cm)

AD200 HSS
Fresnel Head: 7' (213 cm)
Umbrella ( Fresnel): 3' 8" (112 cm)
25" Softbox: 2' 6" (76 cm)
43" Softbox: 2' 9" (84 cm)

V860ii Standard Sync
24mm Bare: 8' (244 cm)
Umbrella: 5' 3" (160 cm)
25" Softbox: 5' 5" (165 cm)
43" Softbox: 6' 2" (188 cm)

V860ii HSS
24mm Bare: 3' 3" (99 cm)
Umbrella: 2' 5" (74 cm)
25" Softbox: 2' 6" (76 cm)
43" Softbox: 2' 11'" (89 cm)

[robhallphoto]

I'm already seeing comments on the clouds throughout, so let me clear this up. Regardless of how the ambient environment changes, the camera settings stayed the same throughout. The camera settings are modeled after the sunny 16 rule as they are safe settings to prevent any highlights from clipping while shooting in direct sunlight. Even in HSS, our settings are equivalent to the Sunny 16 rule. This is why when clouds move in, the background gets darker in the sample images but the flash is still appropriately balanced.
Now, if for some reason you have a different experience with the sun, you can still use this video to determine the distances you would be capable of.
Let's say you go out on a Sunny day and determine you need ISO 100 1/250s F14 to get the background as dark as you want it. That is 1 stop darker than the settings we used. Which means the flash has to be moved in to make it 1 stop brighter to balance. That means your light would have to be 70% of the distance I shared in this video. 50% for 2 stops, and so on. I know most photographers aren't into the math behind it, but both light and photography are easily defined mathematically and if you learn it, you can find answers to all the questions you have.

[claudiavera]

THIS IS THE EXACT DATA I WAS LOOKING FOR! I was trying to decide on whether I would go for the ad200pro or ad400pro and had watched various other youtube videos and I was having trouble keeping track of how each different photographer got certain results because it all depended on the various factors that are clearly detailed here. The distance, standard speed, hss, type of modifier ...etc. Thanks for doing such a diligent test and producing the handy chart ! Finding this video was a Godsend.

[dawnestes]

You are so well spoken and keep my interest. I cannot stand videos with overpowering music and people that hem and haw. You don't waste time, your points of interest are clearly outlined and you stay focused. Great job! Thank you! I am brand new to OCF, so I truly appreciate your informative videos. Thank you!

[travisweathers]

Man, hands down one of the most informative videos I’ve seen on flash capabilities. Super helpful as I’m in the market for a new light and have been going back and forth between the ad400 and ad600. Thanks!!

[falented]

Imagine putting in all that effort to make such an informative video like this...then someone dislikes it... Why?🤷🏾‍♂️

[mikebaltierra]

that umbrella mounting at 3:21 was legit!

[normskiash]

That's a lot of numbers to digest, thanks for typing it up for us, can digest at my leisure...

[KerwanCelestine]

THANK I have been saying this FOREVER!!! I wanted to do a video about this same thing because there is no strobe out there that can over power the sun! You beat me to it Rob, but thank you for posting this! They need to stop feeding people the wrong information.

[dunnymonster]

Interesting results Rob, really appreciate the time you took to conduct such a thorough test 😊

[ShaneBaker]

Really, really useful.


Thanks for doing the heavy lifting for the rest of us, Robert.

[fjhphoto]

Tony & Chelsea Northrup, Fstoppers, & a few others need to listen at 1:54 . I use HSS at every shoot and know it isn't the best for "overpowering" the sun.

[Beautybyjorge]

This was such an important video. Thank you so much

[GTphotofilm]

Really an excellent examples of how to work with the lighting and the different modifiers. Thanks for the video Robert Hall

[ajalbetjr]

OhMyGoodness... A-G-A-I-N you come out with EXACTLY the video I wanted/needed EXACTLY when I needed it, with the equipment I wanted you to test!! THANKS!!!!

[danielmurtin]

One of the most useful videos I've seen in a long time. Thank you for making it, it answered many of my questions.

[sharifsircar]

Thank you so much for using my flash, I bought a 47 inch/120cm when a 90cm would have done the job, and give me more light output, and be more portable for use case, this is neat to know I am even able to use it outside, and provided it's always cloudy here, it works in my favour for once

[sheidari]

Yes !! Finally found someone to explain the differences to me lol. Really appreciate it. Just came across your channel keep up the great work.

[stevevuoso]

When I first saw the video title I thought “Oh god here we go again.”

I was quite pleased to hear you hate the phrase too!

[markkeohane]

As a potential but currently undecided AD200 or AD400 Godox purchaser, thank you for your service.

[patiszejuicebox]

This has been super useful. I was thinking of just buying two speedlights, put both in my Westcott umbrella softbox (28 in, I believe), and call it good. Now this shows me that it could work, but I should also consider other options. Thank you for the vid, and trust me, I hate the phrase too hehe.