Yongnuo flash frozen?

[dblokillo]

I purchased a Yongnuo YN560 III flash a couple of months ago, and I have had a problem with it since I bought it. In my stupidity, I didn't even checked it until a couple of months passed after I received it (ordered over eBay) so I can't return it now.

So, what happens with it is pretty strange, and I haven't seen any similar problem in my research so I wanted to know if anyone have experienced something similar.

The problem: I turn on the device, it by default starts in manual mode (meaning that will only trigger if it gets a direct input from the hot shoe in the camera, not wireless that would be). Everything work if I leave it like that, but as soon as I try to change the trigger mode to something else (I press the trigger mode button) the unit freezes, nothing happens at all and it stops responding. It looks like it is doing something, since it is still on and there is a red tilting light on the front, but pressing any button gives no results. The only way to recover it is to take the batteries out, since even the on/off button does not work. Also, any action involving that specific button does not work (like those menus where you have to press 2 buttons).

The question: Have anyone seen something like this? Is there any way of solving this? Can the unit be firmware-updated or something like that? What are my odds?

The challenge: So the unit works and all, I can use it attached to the camera. But that is not what I bought it for

Thanks for any help or any insight!

 

[Brooke Meyer]

I have 5 of those in my bag, used 3 of them yesterday for headshots. Never saw anything like that, especially the Off Button not working.

In electronics its been true forever that infantile failures are not uncommon. First experienced it 40 years ago with new spare circuit boards when I worked field service.

I had one new YN-560III flash die within the 1 year warranty period. Bought it from B&H but it was after 30 days they sent me to The Gradus Group . Got an RMA, sent the bad one and about a month later, got a new one.

At $55 from B&H, it was a merely a nuisance. And way better than the $400 OEM flash that did the same thing post warranty and was repairable!

I use these a lot with Eneloop Pros batteries and a 560-TX, all I need for head shots.

 

[WHunt_1975]

A few months back I bought two 560-IV flashes brand new from Adorama. I had one of them freeze up just like you described. The only way I could get it to respond was by taking out the batteries and reinstalling them. I haven't had the issue since then. The flash has worked fine since then. I'm hoping it was just a fluke.