Wich FLASH? (YONGNUO 500 vs 565 vs 568)

[gico62]

Dear all,



I'm totally new in flashes (the only one I know is the one built in my 600D) and now I'd like to explore this world: off-camera flash, indrect (reflected) flash and so on.

Anyway, experiments apart, I suppose the main use will be ON-camera, in automatic mode (ETTL). HSS is not a must, but it would be welcome.

So I'mconsidering YONGNUO flashes.

500EX and 565EX cost the same (125€).

568EX costs 25€ more (150€).



500EX: HSS, GN 53.

565EX: NO HSS, GN 58

568EX: HSS, GN 58

The 565EX is out of competion because of the lack of HSS, so I'd go for 500EX: is newer, is a little smaller compared to 568EX, has some ergonomic enhancements and is a little cheaper.

BUT... compared to 565EX and 568EX, it is ONLY GN 53.

And somewhere I read this:

"...-The new model (500EX) has a bit less power compared to the bigger YN568EX. This power drop makes it less effective especially in its main feature, who is the HSS modes. Going for the 500EX and not with the 568EX just for saving some bucks might be a mistake if you get it for HSS purposes."

What do you think about it? Is the GN difference (53 vs 58) so dramatic? or is it damatic only for HSS purposes?



Which one of the three should I buy?

Thanks in advance

Gico

 

[WilbaW]

Guide numbers don't make as much difference as you might think. Yes, obviously, more is more, but 53 vs 58 is less than 1/3 of an EV step and isn't worth sweating over. If you like the sound of newer, smaller, cheaper, and better ergonomics, you'll be happier with that one.

Did you find the thread about Yongnuo flashes from a week or two ago?

Check out the Flash section of the unofficial Rebel Talk FAQ for more advice.

 

[gico62]

WilbaW wrote:

Guide numbers don't make as much difference as you might think.

Thanks for reply, you confirm my thoughts.

I found also this, that summarizes quite well:

"... So is the YN-500EX a worthwhile cost saving over the YN-568EX, to justify a drop in power, and save a little in size? For off camera use its probably not worth sacrificing any power, unless there was a substantial saving. For direct on camera fill flash where you don’t always need so much power even in HSS, and for may people starting out or just after some occasional on camera flash use, the YN-500EX may be just fine."

 

[007peter]

I like YONGNUO a lot; they're particularly a good choice for the Micro43/NEX mirrorless.

But on Canon/Nikon DSLR, I recommend you stay with manufacture setup. You get (1) High Speed Sync, (2) Full 100% TTL compatibility. You photo is in constant communication with your camera and rarely over/under-exposed. I don't need to bounce flash too strong resulting in overshining foreheads, or too little.

Another advantage rarely talk about is you can adjust your FLASH (3) Using Software Menu system on your camera, instead of trying to find hard-to-see/hard-to-press physical buttons on 3rd party external flash. I didn't appreciate this feature until I was shooting landscape photo in very low light. Its easier to adjust your flash via big 3" LCD with backlight, then via physical tiny button with mono-led light. While you can press the LIGHTBULB to have your led flash lightup. In pitch dark, its hard to see that tiny light button.

Anyhow, that is my 0.02 cents. Having shot with some 3rd party flash, using canon flash on canon camera is a like a dream come true. It so easy I never need to worry about constant adjustment.

If you insist on 3rd party, lookin into Nissin as well. Don't stray beyond Yongnuo/Nissin/Metz

 

[gico62]

007peter wrote:.

If you insist on 3rd party, lookin into Nissin as well. Don't stray beyond Yongnuo/Nissin/Metz

I agree with you.

Anyway I forgot to say that money is an issue.

Canon 430ex is 120€ more than YN-568EX... don't want to think what about Canon 580ex...

So, third party is a must (for me, now).

 

[munir]

I have Metz 50AF . It works as slave and easy to use in M and Ettl mode but bit annoying when accesing HSS and Slave mode. Guide no is good.

WWW.pbase.com/munir

 

[Y0GI]

gico62 wrote:

007peter wrote:.

If you insist on 3rd party, lookin into Nissin as well. Don't stray beyond Yongnuo/Nissin/Metz

I agree with you.

Anyway I forgot to say that money is an issue.

Canon 430ex is 120€ more than YN-568EX... don't want to think what about Canon 580ex...

So, third party is a must (for me, now).

Have you shopped the used market for a Canon 420 EX, 430 EX, or 430 EX II? I saved $100 when I bought my Canon 580 EX II used. As long as they have not been abused by a pro wedding photographer, flashes just don't 'wear out'. A used 420 EX or 430 EX might be just what you need with all the benefits of 100% Canon compatibility.

 

[gico62]

Y0GI wrote:

gico62 wrote:

007peter wrote:.

If you insist on 3rd party, lookin into Nissin as well. Don't stray beyond Yongnuo/Nissin/Metz

I agree with you.

Anyway I forgot to say that money is an issue.

Canon 430ex is 120€ more than YN-568EX... don't want to think what about Canon 580ex...

So, third party is a must (for me, now).

Have you shopped the used market for a Canon 420 EX, 430 EX, or 430 EX II?

Yes I have, but prices for used flashes are almost unreasonable, considering they are out of warranty.

I got better luck with cameras (both my Canon - first the 450D and then the 600D - are second hand).

--
Yogi
When you get down to the nuts and bolts of photography, the results depend on the 'nut' behind the camera!

I agree totally. Anyway I'll never learn how to play with a flash using only the built-in one.

 

[WilbaW]

gico62 wrote:
I'll never learn how to play with a flash using only the built-in one.

That sounds like a self-defeating attitude.

There's a lot you can do with various styles of diffusers and reflectors. I wouldn't be so pessimistic. (But yeah, it is a lot easier with a powerful tilt-swivel-zoom external unit.)

 

[007peter]

gico62 wrote:

007peter wrote:. If you insist on 3rd party, lookin into Nissin as well. Don't stray beyond Yongnuo/Nissin/Metz

I agree with you. Anyway I forgot to say that money is an issue.

If you're not going to buy canon flash for your canon camera (I still think its a bad idea), then you might as well go the cheapest route possible. That means METZ is out, they're much more expensive than either Nissin or Yongnuo. Between Nissin/Yongnuo, stick with Yongnuo for canon dslr, and stick wtih Nissin for Micro43 (olympus / Panasonic)

Yongnuo design their flash based on Canon DSLR - reversed engineered. So older canon dslr works better with Yongnuo.

Warning #1: yongnuo is incompatible with some newer canon dslr (canon t3i/600d, canon t3/1100d isn't compatible with YN-465) .Make sure you check Internet and verify actual owner experience

Warning #2: stick with older canon dSLR like 20d/30d/40d/50d. Forget about newer camera like Canon SL1, T3i, T4i.

Other than that, Yongnuo is my personal choice for cheap Flash guns as well. Nissin is twice as expensive and half its power.

Either go cheap with Yongnuo or go expensive with canon - good luck!

 

[patgenie]

I disagree with this claim because ...

I own 2 Yongnuo 568EX II flashes and one Canon 430EX plus 4 Yongnuo 622C radio control transceivers. This allows a super affordable full ETTL II or Manual or mix mode (ETTL and Manual)control system using the Canon on-screen ETTL II flash system. All adjustments are carried out from the camera on screen for any recent Canon DSLR (650D/T4i, 60D, 70D (my camera), 5DII, 5DIII, 7D, etc.) except mix mode where you set manual flashes on the flash and ETTL Flashes on camera. Moreover, the Yongnuo flashes 568EX and 568EX II provide more features when used with the 622C including HSS, FEC, Strobe, modeling. The 568EX II when mounted on the hotshoe of the camera mounted 622C operates as an Canon IR master set to channel A. The range is 100 meters! through almost anything thanks to radio control technology not IR. The 568EX II can also function as a full Canon IR master flash unit but that ability is unnecessary when used with the 622C. I consider the build quality better than the 430EX and comparable to the 580EX II. It has the same power. The 622C also wakes up Yongnuo flashes (other flashes also respond to the wake up signal through the hotshoe) without the need to touch the flash units simply press any exposure reset button on your camera (example: depress shutter release half way). This is great during longer shoots when you are playing around with other equipment and props. The 622C also provides a plethora of features for strobe and test flash and low light including a very effective AF assist beam when the 622C is on camera. The Yongnuo flashes with the 622C is currently the state-of-the-art in Canon flash phtography and the 622C fully supports recent Canon flash units including the 600EX/RT and the 580EX II.

 

[acousticdk]

I like YONGNUO a lot; they're particularly a good choice for the Micro43/NEX mirrorless.

But on Canon/Nikon DSLR, I recommend you stay with manufacture setup. You get (1) High Speed Sync, (2) Full 100% TTL compatibility. You photo is in constant communication with your camera and rarely over/under-exposed. I don't need to bounce flash too strong resulting in overshining foreheads, or too little.

Another advantage rarely talk about is you can adjust your FLASH (3) Using Software Menu system on your camera, instead of trying to find hard-to-see/hard-to-press physical buttons on 3rd party external flash. I didn't appreciate this feature until I was shooting landscape photo in very low light. Its easier to adjust your flash via big 3" LCD with backlight, then via physical tiny button with mono-led light. While you can press the LIGHTBULB to have your led flash lightup. In pitch dark, its hard to see that tiny light button.

Anyhow, that is my 0.02 cents. Having shot with some 3rd party flash, using canon flash on canon camera is a like a dream come true. It so easy I never need to worry about constant adjustment.

If you insist on 3rd party, lookin into Nissin as well. Don't stray beyond Yongnuo/Nissin/Metz

This is an old thread but I wanted to respond because this is wrong.

Yongnuo's newer offerings do allow you to use on screen menus.

I have the 568 ii and it works fine on my 5D3.


High speed sync works.

I have had no issues with ETTL

I can use the on screen menus, but as long as the flash is on my hotshoe, I just use external buttons anyway. Much quicker to change the FEV with one button, than several on screen. But yeah, in the case of low light landscape you still have the option.

It sounds like you used some manual flashes in the past. I'm not gonna say the 3rd party are better. But for value and price, it's hard to beat it. The fact is, I have 2 studio lights, 2 manual flash, and 1 ETTL flash and 4 triggers for the same price of 1 canon flash...

 

[patgenie]

I own 3 - 568EX IIs and while they are larger units they give you more power which is usually needed for my style of photography. During much of my daylight photography I always set using manual everything and let the ETTL flash system provide the available light. That way I control how the light works. I typically use three (or more) Speedlites with Yongnuo's 622C remote trigger system and all set to HSS if needed. Results, I get the aperture, shutter speed and ISO I want and experiment with my flash lighting to get the needed effects. I use as many flash units as I need so more power is better. The build of the 568 is actually very good and it works seamlessly with Canon's ETTL II flash menus (system).

 

[jhoto]

Warning? Geez
Warning #2: stick with older canon dSLR like 20d/30d/40d/50d. Forget about newer camera like Canon SL1, T3i, T4i.

 

[Robwnesbittuk]

Hi I have used yongnuo flashes for years with my canon setup I use a 5d3 and a 7d as backup and the yongnuo works fantastic on both all the flash menus are fully compatible so are accessible from the camera same as the canon models and rarely have any exposure issues using the flashes I have the 565ex and the 568 I use the 565 more because I can attach a external power source for faster recycling times which for some reason the left off the 568 either though are great also the 568 works as a master for off camera which is fantastic