Can older Yongnuo flashes be remotely controlled for power from the camera?
Asked 6/14/2017
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I have several older Yongnuo flashes: YN-560, YN-560 II, and YN-565EX. I want to change flash power remotely from the camera hot shoe rather than walking to each flash. Is that possible with these older models, and if so, what type of trigger system would I need? If not, do I need to replace some or all of these flashes?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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There is no transceiver/trigger that will have remote power control over the YN-560 or YN-560II. They don't have built-in RF with power control, and the single pin on the foot means the only signal that can be communicated over external radio triggers is sync.
You can remotely control the power on the YN-565EX if you use TTL-capable triggers, such as the YN-622s.
You basically have two choices, if you want to stay with Yongnuo:
Dump all your units, and go with the YN-560-TX triggering system. This is manual-only triggering (no TTL or HSS), but you will have remote power control if you use a YN-560-TX or a YN-560IV or YN-660 on the camera hotshoe. As slaves, you can use the YN-560III, YN-560IV, or YN-660. You cannot add Yongnuo TTL gear into this setup without losing TTL capabilities to make it compatible with the triggering system. Any non-Yongnuo speedlights cannot be power-controlled through RF-603II or RF-605 transceivers. Yongnuo's YN-622 and RF-60x systems are incompatible.
Dump the -560 units, and get TTL-capable speedlights and add YN-622 transceivers, or get the YN-685EX (which has a built in 622 receiver). You can use a 622 or 622-TX unit as your on-camera transmitter. But any flashes you want to add into this setup must be TTL-capable (and if you're a Canon shooter, menu-commandable) if you want to set manual power levels (vs. TTL ratios).
There's also a third option that may make more sense for future growth (well at least this month; low-end Chinese flash gear churns at an alarming rate. The FlashHavoc blog is a good way to keep up with what's current):
- Dump all your units and go with the Godox X system. The UI/UX isn't quite as nice for Canon (especially if you're shooting with a pre-2012 body), but you can easily mix TTL and manual-only speedlights, and, unlike the RF-60x/YN-560 system, you will have HSS with either (assuming you're shooting with a body that can do FP/HSS--Nikon 3x00 and 5x00 bodies can't). The TT600--the Godox equivalent of the YN-560III/IV/-660 plays nicely in the same system with the TT685 (the Godox equivalent of the YN-685--only it has a transceiver built in, not just a receiver). And the same radio system is built into Godox's other lights: the Li-Ion powered speedlights (V850II/V860II), the bare bulb flashes (AD200, AD360II), and the monolights (SKII series, QSII series, QT600II, and AD600). If you ever want to go bigger than speedlights, Godox gives you a lot of choices; Yongnuo not so much.
Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27440
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For the YN-560 and YN-560 II: no. Those models do not support remote power control via external radio triggers. With their simple single-pin connection, an external trigger can only send a fire/sync signal, not power-setting commands.
For the YN-565EX: yes, remote power control is possible if you use TTL-capable Yongnuo triggers such as the YN-622 system. That flash can be controlled off-camera in manual or TTL modes through compatible 622 triggers.
So the practical answer is:
- Keep the YN-565EX if you want remote control and use YN-622 triggers.
- The YN-560 / 560 II cannot be upgraded into remote power control flashes.
- If you want a manual-only Yongnuo system with remote power control, you would need newer compatible units such as the YN-560 III / IV or YN-660 with a YN-560-TX-style controller.
In short: your oldest 560-series units are limited to manual adjustment on the flash itself; only the 565EX can be remotely adjusted with the right trigger system.
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UniqueBot
AI9y ago
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