Anyone Have Experience with Yongnuo Flashes?

dbruno

One of the issues I have with my Canon 580EX flash is I cannot control the settings via on-camera display (you need an "EX II"). So I'm looking for another 580EX II, used. I see the Yongnuo "replacements" and I'm wondering if anyone knows if these units can be controlled from the camera.

Thanks - Dave

CanonJay

Hi dbruno! I don't have experience with Yongnuo flashes, just triggers but I can make a recommendation to you. I purchased the Zoom ION ttl flash from Adorama in the fall. Best investment ever! for 139 bucks it includes rechargeable battery and controller if you want to use off camera (but it can only do manual off camera). No double aa batteries is the best! Try it. TTL exposure is the same as my 580 EXII flashes. 

-Jay

dbruno

Thanks, Jay. I'm looking to get either another 580EX II, or the equivalent in some brand that I can fully control via the camera. The price of used 580EX IIs is starting to come down (on EBay, anyway). I made the mistake of buying the 580EX which cannot be controlled from the camera, and I don't want to make the same mistake with any other flash.

Dave

travelintrevor

This is the one you want. I have owned it for 3 years and it is amazing...YN-568EX TTL

dbruno

Trev - I can control this from the camera just like I can control a 580EX II? I don't want to have to set the flash via the on-flash buttons, especially if I am using it off camera.

Also, do I want the 568EX II version? (I just did a search)

Dave

travelintrevor

Yes, the 568 ex ii can be controlled from the camera just like the Canon 580 EX II. I actually prefer the yongnuo over the canon for 2 reasons: 1) it beeps when ready and 2)you don't need to push the side button to swivel the head

dbruno

Thanks for the help! I am beginning to use a bit more off-camera flash, and find I would rather set the flashes up through the camear and/or transmitter. The 580EX has to be set on the flash. I have seen great prices on the YN.

Dave

dbruno

Travelintrevor - thanks again for the help on this. I was able to pick up a Youngnuo 568EX II in absolutely pristine condition on EBay for 80 bucks. It does everything I want it to do.

Dave

dbruno

A bit of an issue that I can't seem to figure out: when I put the YN flash on my camera (Canon 6D), I can control everything. When I put it off camera, and use the Yongnuo transceivers, I can't change the zoom. I can do it with the Canon 580EX II. Is there a weird setting on the YN that will allow me to control the zoom when off camera? Every other function works.

Dave

dbruno

I was hoping I was wrong, but it's both my Canon 580EX II and 430EX II that will not zoom remotely when using my Yongnuo YN622C wireless controllers. Both work on camera as they should. So, is there anyone out there with a tip on how to make this work or some setting I have wrong?

Thanks - Dave

Braveheart

dBruno

I don't think the YN622c transceivers will let you change the flash zoom setting. You need to get a YN622C-TX to allow this to be done from the camera end. Can't remember if the flash will zoom when the normal transceiver is on the camera and I change focal length of lens. I need to do a test.

I use the Nikon ones though.

Iain

dbruno

lain - I have the YN622C-TX, as well as a pair of receivers. I should have written that. The TX unit is pretty nice with the LCD. But, the zoom on the Canon flashes won't change. So I'm just wondering if I have something set incorrectly, or if that's just the way it is.

Dave

TonyT

Dave the TX should change the zoom of the flash head, if it doesn't then just do a factory reset of the transceiver the flash is sat on and it should be good. I had this issue with one transceiver and the reset sorted it out and has worked fine since.

dbruno

Thanks, Tony. The Yongnuo flash works well (as it should, right?), so I'll try a reset.

Dave

Braveheart

As Tony said Dave, try a reset.

Also make sure the cursor is on the correct group when trying to zoom the flash from the tx.

Iain

dbruno

Tony - great advice, everything is now working as it should.

On another note, I am very impressed and happily surprised with the Youngnuo 568EX II flash.

Dave

TonyT

Great stuff Dave, pleased it's working correctly now.

 Just out of curiosity does the yongnuo 568EX II have an external power socket?

dbruno

Tony - I just checked, and it does not. It has the PC port, but nothing that will accept the external battery pack like the Canon 580EX II.

Dave

TonyT

Thanks Dave, that's a shame as I do prefer to use speedlites with a battery pack. Mind you for the money it's probably still worth getting one as an addition my existing speedlites. Maybe yongnuo will bring out a flash that accepts an external battery pack soon.

dbruno

Tony - I have been using an external pack for a few months now, especially with they type of events I typically get. It does really help.

But I have to say, I was more than impressed with this flash, especially the price. Even new, it only goes for about 100 bucks or so. Thanks to travelintrevor for the tip. I wanted an off-camera flash that I could control via the camera menu, and I was really disappointed that the 580EX (not the "II" model) wouldn't do it. I may try to sell it.

Dave

TonyT

Battery packs are a big boon, so wouldn't really want to rely solely on AA's again for future speedlite purchases.

Good to know that you are impressed with the YN 568II though, if they ever do bring one out that has an external power socket I'll snap one up for sure.

dbruno

I experienced a strange problem yesterday with the remote controls: the max shutter speed on a 6D is 1/180. But, when I was preparing for an upcoming job, anything over 1/125 (1/160 and 1/180) was looking like one of the shutter curtains was in the way slightly. To make sure it wasn't the camera, I put the flash on the camera, and the effect was not there at 1/180. I just did a factory reset (again) of the Tx unit and both receive units. Th Tx unit I believe has the latest software version (1.07), which is higher that the one shown in a guide published in 2014. I have to try it again. We shall see, but it really was very odd.

dbruno

OK, I factory-reset the receivers, and checked the firmware of the TX. Tried this again, and once again it looks like the shutter isn't full opened at 1/180 and 1/160. I tried both flashes (Yongnuo and Canon) with similar results. I put the flash on the camera and there is no issue shooting at 1/180.

Admittedly, I didn't try both receivers, and there is a 50/50 chance that only one is flaky and I picked the same one today as yesterday.

I highly doubt I will get any help from Yongnuo (I will try), but if any of you know of a Yongnuo user group, or something like it, please pass it along. For future work I think I would be OK at 1/125, but you never know. Plus, I want it to all work correctly.

Dave

Trev

Dave,

 I touched on this in your other post, regarding shutter speed. Canon 6D right?

If sync is 180th, and you are using non-dedicated flashes, it's always advisable to drop shutter 1 to 2 clicks (NOT stops) below shutter sync.

Just because it "says" it's 180th, unless you are outside in full sun and subject not near edges of frame you can go to max sync, but indoors my flash sync is 250th, but I stick to 200th at max if needed, and I can get away with it that high, but usually around 125th; so I would suggest 125-160th as your max.

This generally applies to OCF, but if using only flash on camera it will operate at full sync properly, just sometimes non-dedicated flashes have a tendency to need that 1 click drop in shutter speed.

Trev

dbruno

Trev - Thanks. It is happening on both my Canon 580EX II, and the Yongnuo 568EX II (I think that's the model). Everything else works fine. Wouldn't you think the Yongnuo trigger would work correctly with the Youngnuo flash? Wouldn't that suffice as "dedicated"?

In any case, I feel better knowing that this is like something you have experienced, and it's not just me.

Dave

dbruno

I was pleasantly surprised to hear back from Yongnou via email not even 24 hours after contacting the. The latest version of the firmware for the Tx unit is 1.08, for all of you that may be using their system. I am not going to attempt this until after next week. I have stuff working, and don't want to take the chance.

dbruno

As Moe Howard once said after meeting Mrs. Smythe-Smythe: "Very-Very, Happy-Happy".

I finally got around to asking the people at Yongnuo (VERY responsive) to send me the updater and the files (getting them directly from the website wasn't working).

At first blush and after a very quick check, the controller module now allows the flash to go to maximum sync speed on the 6D (1/180), and on the 600D (1/200). This was after updating the firmware to version 1.08.

Very happy.

Trev

Sounds like Yongnuo staff are the sort of company that wishes to retain happy customer relationships, and word of mouth is by far the most encouraging or detrimental to one's business.

Excellent you got a happy outcome Dave.

Trev

paulcwynn

Hi dbruno! I just sold 4 of the 580EX II models on ebay, only used them a couple of times but pleased to give a positive report. You don't have TTL capability ofcourse, but for the money they are really fantastic value. Powerful and easy to use. I had them as background/accent lights triggered with PocketWizards, they worked perfectly.

betwa2982

Yes, you can use yongnuo YN560-IV or YN685 N GN60 instead of canon 580EX. They can give a better result.