Is a cheap Yongnuo YN-460 flash worth buying for manual off-camera use?
Asked 3/21/2012
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2 answers
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I'm considering a very inexpensive Yongnuo YN-460 flash and want to know whether it's a good buy for learning flash photography. My main concerns are:
- It doesn't have built-in radio triggering, so I'd need to trigger it optically or with an external trigger. How reliable is optical triggering, especially outdoors in bright sun?
- It doesn't support TTL/i-TTL, so I'd be using it in manual mode. Is manual flash difficult to learn? Do I need to calculate flash power based on subject distance, or can I work by testing and adjusting?
- More generally, are very cheap flashes usable, or are they so limited in build quality and power that I'd regret buying one?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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I have a YN-462 and a Nikon SB-600 so I'll comment a bit. There's a clear quality of product between the two. The Nikon feels better better and solid. However, functionally, when they're both in manual mode on a stand, they both work fine and consistently.
Manual for flash is not hard at all - once you do it a few times, you start to get a feel for it. Then you'll setup, take a test shot or two and only have to make minor adjustments.
You absolutely can use radio triggers with them - I use these cheap ones and love them.
One caveat about cheap flashes - most of them are weaker in strength than a more expensive flash. This could result in slower recharge times because you're doing a full pop instead of a half pop or just having insufficient power. Much of this will be determined by how you use it, its not been an issue for my style of photography.
Originally by user1917. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1917
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—if you want a low-cost manual flash, a cheap Yongnuo like the YN-460 can be worth it.
The main trade-offs versus a higher-end flash are build quality and power. More expensive flashes usually feel sturdier, may be more powerful, and can recycle faster. But in manual off-camera use, cheap flashes can still work well and consistently.
Manual flash is not especially hard to learn. You generally don’t need a flash meter or detailed calculations. Set a power level, take a test shot, check the result/histogram, and adjust up or down. After a little practice, this becomes quick.
Lack of TTL isn’t a deal-breaker if your subject and lighting are fairly controlled. TTL is more helpful when conditions change rapidly.
Optical triggering can work, but like any light-based trigger it can be less reliable in bright sunlight or when the sensor can’t clearly see the trigger flash. If needed, you can still use external radio triggers or a sync cord with a manual flash like this.
So: worth it for learning and casual use, especially off-camera in manual; less ideal if you need maximum durability, power, or automation.
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AI14y ago
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