15 replies to this topic

[Brianre]

Any suggestions on third party speedlights/flash?

[greatscott94]

Yongnuo all the way. I have two of their 560 III flashes and 2 FR 603 triggers. The 560 III's go for around $80-$90 each and they come with built in receivers so you don't need to buy any extra, just one trigger for the camera. Having said that their RF 603 triggers come in a pair and cost about $30, I typically use the extra trigger as remote shutter release.

 

2 flashes and 2 triggers for about $200, can't beat that.

 

http://www.amazon.ca...&search-type=ss

[Rontography]

Awesome. I didn't know they had one with the built in 603 trigger. That's good to know. My wife won't like it, but still good to know.

[Kenafein]

If you want to use the CLS and TTL, their 565EX is still around $100, and they'll work as a regular iTTL hotshoe flash.  I bought the 568ex for when I want to use HSS.  I am very happy with the flash so far.  The 565s are next on my list, and, eventually, a Debao Commander.  

[K-9]

Metz 58af2 goes for about 399, or you can search for the discontinued 50 if you don't have to have the highest power flash.

[Adamwesleyo]

I recently read a review on Yongnuos and it was pretty positive. They are not a knock off brand but a separate company that is making them cheap in China I believe.

[twilight_samurai]

For those who have used the Yongnuo flashes extensively, how is the reliability of them? I had heard that the earlier versions weren't built very well but I know that these companies often improve quickly so am willing to consider some non-OEM brands.

 

The 568EX sounds tempting but it's a $100 premium over the 560 III.. but then again, it's less than half the price of a SB-910!

[Kenafein]

For those who have used the Yongnuo flashes extensively, how is the reliability of them? I had heard that the earlier versions weren't built very well but I know that these companies often improve quickly so am willing to consider some non-OEM brands.

 

The 568EX sounds tempting but it's a $100 premium over the 560 III.. but then again, it's less than half the price of a SB-910!

I haven't had it long enough to speak to the reliability, but it's a good flash.  HSS iTTL flash for less than $200, that's hard to beat.  

[onewiththecamera]

The Yongnuo flashes are incredible. The company used to make fairly cheap stuff. But they have come a very long way in the last couple years. They are obviously wanting to be a major player in the lighting market while keeping prices low. I initially used the YN-460. They were lower power, and cheaply built. But I had heard good things about what the company was doing so I got the YN-560 II. I LOVE that flash. It is powerful (as powerful as the SB-900). It recycles very fast. It is quite good on battery power. Often I am running the flash at between 1/8 and 1/16 power and it will recycle sub-second speeds with my Eneloop batteries. On the D5100 I can shoot continuous at 1/16th power on the strobe and it keeps up fine.

 

The YN-560 is a manual only strobe. So you have to get used to learning how to set the power and your camera settings and can only use it with the camera on manual. The YN-565 is a full TTL strobe. It also has the auto focus assist light too. This works much better than the one on your camera. It puts out a red light pattern on the subject which is much less distracting to the people and the camera will auto focus on it much better. The YN-568 is their top end strobe. It is full TTL just like the 565. It also has the wireless reciever and it supports high speed sync, allowing you to go above your flash sync speed for shutter speed.

 

The YN-560 runs about $60. The YN-565 is about $120 and the YN-568 is about $180. When you consider that the SB-700 is around $320 and the SB-910 is around $550 the Yongnuo strobe is a huge savings. You can purchase three of the YN-565 for the price of one SB-700.

[Stas]

Metz, and yongnuo. I tried yongnuo and I like it. Metz is more expensive but as they said is better than yongnuo.

[Kenafein]

I got a YN-565 for $98, on eBay, from a trusted seller.  I had some eBay bucks burning a hole in my pocket, so I went for it.  $20 cheaper than from a local source.  I don't expect there to be any issues; it should be here in a few weeks.  A colleague recently bought one on my recommendation, and he's loving it.  I showed him how to use it on his 5100, and he's ready to go.  I think it does tend to overexpose a bit on his 5100.  I hope that's not indicative of the flash.  My 568 exposes correctly on my camera(D600).  

[Afterimage]

I have the Oolong Speedlite 690- it's pretty full featured and works well in "commander mode" . The only negative thing I can really say about it is that it is heat sensitive. Rapid firing without a cool down period will overheat the unit and force it into a suspended mode until it cools off. 

 

[Tony892]

Are the flashes mentioned above compatible with Nikon cameras, for example the D7100 I am using?

[Slow Ride Photography]

Check out the Yongnuo flashes. I have one, paid $100.00. Works as a TTL slave. Great flash for the price.

 

[onewiththecamera]

Tony, the Yongnuo YN-560 is a fully manual flash and is compatible with anything. Not much to it as far as fancy tech. It is sort of like shooting studio monolights but in a small battery powered version. The YN-565 and 568 are full TTL strobes. So they will work with the D7100 shooting in Aperture priority too. They will have the complicated conversation with the camera about exposure and automagically set everything.

 

So the question is if you want to go TTL or manual. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Scott Robert Lim did a teach on creativeLIVE.com using full manual strobes and also showed why he does NOT like TTL strobes. I saw Lindsey Adler and a guy do a teach using TTL equipment and they always use TTL. So it just sort of depends on what you like better.

 

Currently I shoot manual. It is pretty easy to figure out and when you get the nack of it really quite easy. I am thinking of picking up an inexpensive Sekonic light meter, but so far have not been overly hampered with not having one.

[K-9]

Are the flashes mentioned above compatible with Nikon cameras, for example the D7100 I am using?

As long as you buy the Nikon version, as each 3rd party will make brand specific versions.