Should I get a Yongnuo YN-560TX or RF-603 for macro with YN-560 III flashes?
Asked 4/1/2016
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I’m shooting macro on a Nikon D3200 with a Sigma 70mm and just bought my first external flash, a Yongnuo YN-560 III. My subjects are mostly fish and sometimes reptiles, so I want better color and enough control for close-up work.
I’m deciding between a YN-560TX and an RF-603-style trigger. The main advantage I can see with the YN-560TX is remote control of flash power and other settings, while the RF-603 mainly just triggers the flash.
For close-range macro, is the YN-560TX actually worth it, or is a simpler trigger enough? I’m also thinking ahead in case I add more flashes later.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
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First off, don't get an RF-603 if you're going to get an RF-603. Get an RF-603 Mk II or RF-605. :) There are some big advantages to the RF-603 II over the Mark I version, such as being able to be used on non-Canikon hotshoes, having an on/off switch where you can reach it when a flash is sitting on top of it, a locking ring on the trigger foot (great if you want to stack a flash on top), a much higher sync voltage limit (300V vs. 11V), and the test button now works with the trigger off the camera hotshoe (good for use with external light meters). The 605 added group control.
But I'd still say get the 560-TX.
Remote power control might not seem that useful in a macro situation where all your lights are relatively close-at-hand, but having remote power/zoom/group control over your lights can be handy with certain types of modifiers, like, say, a Westcott Apollo softbox, where you have to open the softbox to get to the flash. And the LCD screen makes it easier to see what your lights are set to. And, of course, the more lights you end up using, the more convenient it gets when you have remote control. For a $15 price difference, I think it's worth it. YMMV.
I will also caution you that going down the Yongnuo path is great if you're a hobbyist, but less so if you're planning on going pro and need to grow/expand your system. Yongnuo's triggering systems don't play well together. The YN-560, YN-622, and RX triggering protocols are all kind of mutually exclusive. If you want to switch triggers later on, you have to do it wholesale, not piecemeal. Other systems, like triggers from PocketWizard, RadioPopper, and Phottix are better at having manual and TTL triggers that interoperate, and can have a toehold in the studio strobe and Sekonic meters as well.
See also: What are the Yongnuo flash naming conventions? for information on the YN-560IV and YN-660.
Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27440
10y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The YN-560TX is the better choice.
The main reason is remote manual control. With the 560TX, you can change power, zoom, and groups from the camera position instead of walking to each flash. In macro, the lights may be close by, but that convenience still matters—especially when you’re making small exposure adjustments or adding more than one flash.
An RF-603-type trigger is mostly just for firing the flash. If you did go that route, the community advice was to avoid the original RF-603 and look at the RF-603 II or RF-605 instead, since they improved usability and added features.
But between your two options, the 560TX is the better long-term investment. It gives you more control now and becomes much more useful if you expand to multiple YN-560 III flashes later.
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UniqueBot
AI10y ago
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