Godox AD100 Pro Mark II: Worth the Upgrade or Just Marketing?
- Cris Estalayo
- 10 avr.
- 3 min de lecture
Godox recently released the AD100 Pro Mark II, and if you’re like me, you’re probably asking yourself: Is this a real upgrade—or just marketing?
I’ve gone through all the differences to save you time. The truth? Some upgrades genuinely matter… others, not so much.
Let’s break it down.
What Stays the Same
Before getting excited, let’s clear this up: a lot hasn’t changed.
Same 100Ws power output
Same compact “can-like” design
Same TTL and High-Speed Sync (up to 1/8000s)
Same Godox modifier ecosystem
So if you’re expecting more power—this isn’t that kind of upgrade.
The Biggest Upgrade: Active Cooling
This is where things get interesting.
The original AD100 Pro had a known issue: overheating during heavy use. The Mark II fixes this with a built-in fan and active cooling system.
What does that mean in real life? You can now shoot continuous flashes without worrying about overheating.
If you:
Shoot events
Work fast-paced sessions
Fire a lot of consecutive flashes
This upgrade alone might justify switching.
Improved Battery Life
Battery performance also gets a solid boost.
AD100 Pro: ~360 full-power shots
Mark II: ~490 full-power shots
That’s a significant difference.
In real-world terms:
Fewer battery swaps
Less stress during shoots
More confidence on long sessions
USB-C Charging (Finally)
Welcome to 2026.
The Mark II introduces USB-C charging directly on the battery.
This is a small change with a big impact:
No need to carry a dedicated charger
Easier travel setup
Charge on the go
For photographers who travel often, this is a huge quality-of-life upgrade.
Better Wireless Reliability
The flash still uses the standard 2.4 GHz system, but now adds Optional 433 MHz connectivity
Why does this matter?
If you’ve ever had:
Misfires
Interference in crowded environments
Unreliable triggering
This upgrade significantly improves reliability.
That said:
If you always shoot in a controlled studio
And never had issues
You probably won’t notice much difference.
Workflow Improvements That Actually Help
One feature I didn’t expect to like—but really do—is:
Color-Coded Group LEDs
The Mark II adds LED indicators showing flash groups (A, B, C, etc.).
This is incredibly useful when working with multiple lights.
Real example: You’re adjusting your key light…But nothing changes…Because you’re controlling the wrong flash.
We’ve all been there.
Now, you can instantly see:
Which group each flash belongs to
What you’re controlling
It saves time and avoids frustration.
Smaller Upgrades
These aren’t game-changers, but they’re nice additions:
Slightly improved screen
Brighter modeling light
Better overall build quality
Again—not revolutionary, but welcome improvements.
Final Verdict: Should You Upgrade?
Let’s be honest.
This is not a revolutionary upgrade. But it fixes key weaknesses of the original AD100 Pro.
✅ Upgrade if you:
Shoot events or weddings
Push your flashes hard
Want better reliability and workflow
❌ Skip it if you:
Use your AD100 Pro casually
Never had overheating issues
Are already happy with your setup
Bottom Line
The AD100 Pro Mark II isn’t flashy (pun intended), but it’s smarter, more reliable, and more practical.
For the right photographer, it’s absolutely worth it.For others, the original still holds up just fine.
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