Have you ever found yourself struggling with inconsistent or flat lighting in your photography? I certainly did. As a photographer, achieving the right light is everything, and relying solely on ambient light or small on-camera flashes just doesn’t cut it for many projects. Poor lighting can ruin an otherwise great shot, making subjects look drab or poorly defined. It’s a fundamental problem that needed a robust solution to elevate my work.
For anyone serious about portraiture, product photography, or any kind of studio work, investing in dedicated studio lighting is almost essential. It’s what allows you to shape light precisely, control shadows, and create professional-looking images regardless of the time of day or external weather conditions. The problems it solves are fundamental: lack of power, inability to modify light effectively, and inconsistency. You need studio lights if you want repeatable, high-quality results.
The ideal customer for a studio lighting kit is typically a photographer transitioning from natural light or speedlights, someone setting up a small home studio, or even a more established pro needing a reliable, versatile setup without breaking the bank. This kind of kit is probably not for absolute beginners who are still learning the basics of exposure, or for someone who primarily shoots on location where battery-powered, portable strobes would be more suitable. For those just starting out, a single speedlight might be a better first step. For mobile shooters, a robust battery pack system is key.
Before buying any monolight kit, you need to think about a few crucial things: the power output you need (measured in watt-seconds), whether you need AC or battery power, the modifiers you want to use (check the mount type, like Bowens), wireless triggering capabilities, build quality and durability, and of course, your budget. Consider what kind of photography you’ll be doing most often and how much control you need over the light.
- Includes: 2 x SK400II Strobe Light, 1 x XT-16 Transmitter, 2 x 2M 304 Light Stand, 1 x SB-BW 60x90cm Softbox, 1 x Standard Reflector, 1 x 33" Black/Silver Umbrella, 1 x 33" Black/White Umbrella, 1 x...
- The SK400II strobe light kits with built-in 2.4G wireless transmission is perfect for advertising products, photo-art, industrial, scientific and technical photography and much more!
- The SK400II have precise output displayed on LCD pan, 40 steps from 1/16 to 1/1, Anti-preflash function enables synchronization with camera that a one-preflash firing system, 150W modeling lamp...
Introducing the Lighting Solution
This is where the Godox 2 x SK400II 800Ws Strobe Flash Light Monolight Kit comes into play. It’s presented as a comprehensive package designed to get you up and running with studio quality light right out of the box. The promise is simple: powerful, stable, and controllable lighting for various photography needs, particularly in a studio setting. When you purchase this kit, you get two SK400II strobe lights, two light stands, a softbox, two umbrellas (one black/silver, one black/white), a standard reflector, a barn door kit with gel grid, an XT-16 wireless trigger, and a carrying case. It’s quite a bundle, aiming to provide everything necessary for a basic two-light setup.
This specific monolight kit is particularly well-suited for photographers needing reliable AC-powered strobes for portraiture, product photography, or smaller studio shoots. It’s less ideal for photographers who primarily shoot weddings or events where battery power is a necessity, or for those who need advanced features like High-Speed Sync (HSS), as the SK400II is a standard AC strobe. While Godox has other lines (like the AD series) that compete directly with higher-end portable systems, the SK400II focuses squarely on providing solid performance in a studio environment.
Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons based on my experience and the product details:
- Pros:
- Good power output (400Ws per head, 800Ws total).
- Includes a comprehensive set of accessories to get started.
- Built-in 2.4G wireless system works reliably with the included trigger.
- Output stability is quite good for the price point.
- Bowens mount compatibility allows for a wide range of modifiers.
- Cons:
- Accessory quality (stands, softbox, etc.) can be inconsistent.
- No HSS or TTL capabilities.
- Recycle time, while decent, isn’t the fastest compared to higher-end strobes.
- The carrying case, while useful, might be tight or prone to damage.
- Some users report issues with included accessories arriving damaged or being fragile.
- MORE SAFER WITH SPRING-CUSHIONED DESIGN: Built-in buffer spring helps reduce the impact of a sudden sharp drop of the installed equipment when adjusting the height, which greatly helps protect the...
- 【2x 180W Studio Flash Kit】 Godox K180A 2-light studio flash kit for Photography: features 75W 3200K yellow color continous lamp and 180W 5600K white blance strobe light, built in energy save...
- MS300 Upgraded Version - Godox MS300-V with a LED Modeling Lamp that Adjusts from 5% to 100% Power Level. Power output can be precisely set from 1/32 to 1/1 in 50 steps, the package comes with...
Exploring the Features and Benefits
Having used the Godox SK400II kit extensively, I can delve into the features that make it a capable tool for studio work and discuss how they translate into tangible benefits for your photography.
Built-in Godox 2.4G Wireless System
One of the standout features is the integrated Godox 2.4G wireless X system. This isn’t just a simple trigger; it’s a full system that allows you to control the strobes remotely. The kit includes the XT-16 transmitter, which mounts on your camera’s hot shoe (or via a sync cord). With this, you can wirelessly adjust the flash power output for each SK400II strobe light, turn the modeling lamp on/off, and even trigger a beep sound when the flash is recycled. The claimed range is up to 100 meters, and in my experience, it’s been very reliable within typical studio distances. This wireless control is incredibly convenient. Instead of walking back and forth to each light to change settings, you can adjust everything from your camera position. This saves significant time during a shoot, allowing you to maintain your creative flow and make quick adjustments based on how the light looks on your subject.
Anti-Preflash Function
The SK400II features an anti-preflash function. What this does is allow the strobe to synchronize with cameras that use a single-preflash firing system. Some cameras emit a small pre-flash before the main flash to meter the scene. If your studio strobe fires on this pre-flash, it will miss the main exposure. The anti-preflash function on the Godox SK400II helps prevent this, ensuring that the strobe fires correctly when the camera’s main flash fires. While many modern cameras handle this automatically, having this feature ensures broader compatibility, especially if you’re using older camera bodies or specific metering modes. It provides peace of mind that your strobes will sync reliably with your camera, avoiding frustrating missed shots.
0.1-1.0s Fast Recycle Time
The recycle time is the time it takes for the flash to recharge after firing, ready for the next shot. The SK400II boasts a recycle time of 0.1 to 1.0 seconds, depending on the power setting (faster at lower power). While not the absolute fastest on the market, especially compared to high-end professional strobes or battery-powered packs, this is more than adequate for most studio portrait or product work. For context, shooting at full power means a brief wait between shots, but at half or quarter power (which is often sufficient with 400Ws), the recycle is quite zippy. A reasonably fast recycle time is important because it reduces the waiting period between taking photos. This is particularly helpful when photographing subjects who can hold poses for only so long, or when trying to capture a sequence of shots. It makes the shooting process smoother and more efficient.
150W Modeling Lamp with Adjustable Output
Each SK400II strobe includes a 150W modeling lamp. This is essentially a continuous light bulb built into the strobe head that allows you to see how the light and shadows will fall on your subject *before* you fire the flash. The output of this modeling lamp is adjustable from 5% to 100%. This is a critical feature for shaping light. You can see exactly how a softbox, umbrella, or barn door affects the light, allowing you to fine-tune the placement and angle of your lights to get the desired look. The adjustable output is also useful for low-light focusing. Having a bright modeling lamp helps your camera’s autofocus system lock onto the subject reliably in a dimly lit studio. It takes the guesswork out of lighting setup and helps ensure you achieve your creative vision more easily.
Outstanding Output Stability
According to the product description, the Godox SK400II offers outstanding output stability, with no more than 2% shifts when under the same output setting. In a studio environment, consistency is key. You want your light to be exactly the same intensity from one shot to the next, especially if you’re shooting multiple images for a product catalog or a portrait series that needs uniform lighting. Fluctuations in output require constant adjustments in post-processing, which is time-consuming. This level of stability means that once you’ve dialed in your settings, you can trust that the light will remain consistent throughout your shoot, leading to easier and more efficient post-processing.
Precise Output Displayed on Large LCD Panel
The back of the SK400II monolight features a large LCD panel that clearly displays the flash output level. The power output is adjustable in 40 steps, from 1/16 to 1/1. This granular control allows for precise adjustments to the light intensity. The LCD display makes it easy to see exactly what power level you’re set to, ensuring you can replicate settings easily or make fine-tuned adjustments. Paired with the wireless control, this display provides excellent usability. You can quickly verify or change settings on the light itself or via the remote trigger. It contributes significantly to the ease of use and repeatability of your lighting setups.
Compact and Lightweight Metal Body with Bowens Mount
The SK400II heads have a compact and relatively lightweight metal body. While ‘lightweight’ is relative for a studio strobe, they are manageable to set up and move around. The metal body suggests decent durability for studio use, though care should always be taken with lighting equipment. Crucially, they feature a universal Bowens mount. The Bowens mount is the industry standard for attaching light modifiers like softboxes, reflectors, beauty dishes, and barn doors. This is a huge advantage as it opens up a vast ecosystem of readily available modifiers from Godox and many third-party manufacturers. Having a Bowens mount means you’re not locked into proprietary accessories, allowing you to expand your creative options significantly as your needs grow. The included barn door kit and softbox utilize this mount.
Adjustable Light Angle and Umbrella Holes
Each strobe head is mounted on a tilt bracket, allowing you to easily adjust the light angle up and down. This flexibility is essential for directing light precisely where you need it, whether you’re aiming it directly at a subject, bouncing it off a wall or ceiling, or aiming it through a modifier. The bracket also includes umbrella holes, making it simple to mount the included 33″ black/silver and black/white umbrellas directly to the light. This thoughtful design feature makes setting up umbrellas quick and secure, which is particularly useful given that two umbrellas are included in the kit.
Included Accessories
Beyond the strobes, the inclusion of essential modifiers and stands makes this a genuinely ready-to-use kit. The 60x90cm softbox is a versatile modifier for creating soft, diffused light, ideal for portraits. The umbrellas offer different qualities of light – the black/silver interior provides more specular, contrasty light, while the black/white provides softer, more diffused light. The standard reflector is useful for direct light or bouncing, and the barn door kit with honeycomb grid and gels allows for precise control over the light spread and adding colour accents. While the quality of these accessories, particularly the stands and softbox assembly, has received some criticism in user reviews, having them included provides the necessary tools to start experimenting with light modification immediately.
What Users Are Saying (Summarized)
Looking at feedback from other photographers who have purchased this Godox studio kit, there seems to be a mixed bag of experiences, particularly regarding the quality of the included accessories. While many agree that the lights themselves, the SK400II strobes, perform well for studio portraiture and similar projects, there are recurring concerns about the accompanying components. Some users reported receiving kits with damaged or broken parts, such as light stands that wouldn’t hold position or reflectors with deformed mounts. Assembling the softbox was also noted as a challenge for some. Despite these issues with the accessories, the core lighting functionality of the SK400II strobes themselves is generally seen as effective and suitable for studio work, leading some users to consider purchasing the lights again, potentially sourcing higher-quality accessories separately if their budget allows.
Wrapping Up the Details
In summary, overcoming poor and inconsistent lighting is fundamental for any photographer aiming for professional results. The complications of not solving this problem include flat, uninteresting images, difficulty controlling mood and shadows, and inability to shoot effectively regardless of external conditions. The Godox 2 x SK400II 800Ws Strobe Flash Light Monolight Kit offers a compelling solution for studio photographers.
It’s a great fit because it provides significant power (800Ws total), includes a wide array of essential modifiers to get you started, and features a robust wireless system for easy control. While some of the included accessories might not be top-tier, the core SK400II lights offer reliable performance, output stability, and the versatility of the Bowens mount. If you’re ready to step up your studio lighting game without a massive investment, this kit provides a strong foundation. To learn more or purchase the Godox SK400II kit, click here.
Last update on 2025-06-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API