Love strobist!
Piece Customers please scroll down to the ###.
First of all: I have many years the predecessor of reviewed here Speedlight and am very satisfied. Neither the life nor the function gave any reason for criticism. Lack LCD is the precise setting of selected services (1/1 to 1/128, this third stage) on the light organ of the Model I, however always a small lottery, and the trend is yes (in addition to Nikon SB-600 Speedlight for Nikon digital SLR cameras, Metz MB 50 AF-1 Canon flash unit, but for Nikon) clearly Fourth lightning.
The features are promising: Strobomodus (to 100Hz, which I may not need, but speaks in comparison to I for improved electronics), easy to read, green backlit text LCD (instead of dot matrix pixel madness as in some Nikon models) , a battery monitor (ie not simply malfunction at low charge, but defined conditions) and thermally stable function for flash orgies to 100%, where diverse, far expensive competitors must often let down and pause the pants or even melt.
These expectations were met. Has also fulfilled the fear that there is some variation in quality at Yongnuo and I promptly initially a Monday model received (with green display backlighting), I return and the version with orange-red light (at the front in a recess of the swivel head lasered serial number " Yongnuo Digital had to replace 54430818 "). The differences I will make each of the text clearly and add a few measurements.
All YongNuo YN560 have a really stable plastic case (with no comparison to newer Metz and at least equal to diverse products from Nikon), tired of rotating flash head, flexible, non-slip silicone rubber buttons, a stable base and the (Models II ff a rather harder plastic.) - In compared with Nikon's SB-600 and in particular the gruesome Metz 50 AF-1 really _bombensichere_ battery flap.
The lid, the vexing issue. The two-part solution with metal hinge incl jumpers and plastic slider is in principle just awesome. At Metz 50 AF-1 is here by a fixed part, ie the only injected metal tabs that are off the batteries in series are continuously loaded in shear and eventually breaks the injection nose from (own painful experience) and you have the Replace battery cover. That would actually be just one part of a few cents if - yes if you did not have to disassemble for the complete housing to lock the hinge.
Spring Bars such. B. with watch straps were not invented in Zirndorf well. Nikon has made the way to the SB-600 also his homework and use a mechanism similar YongNuo (no matter who has since now copied from whom).
On my Monday Model wiggled the battery cover and stuck when normal-reflexively pressed down until it stops, stopped and wanted to push. This is not because the flap itself (they have the model I test as converted), but the fit and the small plastic square next to the polarity label, which is intended to serve as a stop for the lid. These potential nerve factor so use extra care in incoming inspection.
The flash head can be tilted relatively heavy compared to the model I and rotate (so extreme that I first thought there was this pivotal function is no longer), it is happening in the field of Rotationsfuge a noticeable gap on. After some use loosens the mechanism YN apparently vorgebaut and will not create a bobblehead. Any (reasonably sensible usable with the Nikon SB-600) Push Button for locking the head there is no - that does not bother in the least, yes, I welcome even. Behind the rubber covers for the tilt mechanism are the way screws for the separation of the head.
In my model Monday, the wide-angle diffuser was quite fiddly and only with unpleasant excessive force pull out (that case the reflector card comes along the same, well systemimanent and therefore forgivable) - but at least deburring would have the thing can indeed. The replacement device with the orange screen works much better snaps still good but not fingernagelmordend and is meticulously crafted. If you have responded here on complaints?
The buttons are slightly harder plastic blocks with platinum contact below. After all, the test flash button triggers a little easier, I was the model for virtually the KO (Flash) Light Painting.
Nerve beeps can be luckily suppress flash (some) benefits are for each mode (M - Full Manual, S1 - optical slave mode, S2 - optical slave mode with preflash) individually and stored even after switching off (hooray!) - The head position at least for all modes, in stark contrast to this regard extremely forgetful Metz. There is also a readily releasable energy saving function for which one has to laboriously wade through submenus in the long-established competitors. Unfortunately, means "Auto Standby: Off" just not "all", so that the YN but then sets sometime sleep and manually on the device will be woken up again (!). The test flash button on the radio transmitter is not enough there. Annoying, especially when the flash sticks anywhere on the ceiling.
The very useful flash stand (polycarbonate) unfortunately is still an annoyance: So bad injected that you can press in the shoe by YN with difficulty itself, the Metz 50 AF-1 slides do not enter without violence and probably only with explosives again out. In unmodified state m. M. n. Unusable, the handyman will go in here with a small cutter and widen the side guides slightly. On that occasion, also equal to the recess for the locking pin (yes even the YN560-II has it, it springs and is already at about 3/4 turn the handwheel fully extended) slightly increase, then plays the part with Nikons and various Metzen. Grooves to relieve the contacts (as in the Nikon AS-19) were not provided and are thus always pressed.
In the accessories there is also a superbly finished Weichtasche (without belt loop), which can beherrbergen the above stand and possibly a few color filters as well as a comparable or Metz Niko flash.
### Now for the hard facts:
- Guide Number 58 (course in 105mm head position) - is plausible by comparison measurement with flash meter with standard focal length.
- Recycling time with Eneloop HR3 UTG (A) about 3s.
- Power regulation 1 / 128-1 / 1 in increments.
- Strobe mode to 100x @ 100Hz, depending on power reduction (60x @ 1/64, 30x @ 1 / 32nd, 15x @ 1 / 16th, 7x @ 1 / 8th, 3x @ 1/4, no-stop increments). The strobe mode is not running fully through, but only as long as the Trigger Pin in the foot is connected to ground (= the flash fires) is.
- Weight (ready for operation with 4 Eneloop HR3 UTG (A)): 460g.
- Trigger voltage: 4.13V, that is compatible with all cameras and flash controllers. Caution: The trigger voltage is removed when not trigger (as well as in most Canon flashes), antique, based thyristors optical daughter Blitzauslöser why not work unchanged, or only once and then the flash must be removed and turned back on or taken off.
- Modes M (anual, only center contact), S1 (optical slave mode), S2 (with preflash), MULTI (strobe mode).
- Easy to read, red-orange backlit display (fortunately no dot matrix) with indicators for mode, flash output, head position, Stroboskopparameter activated confirmation beep, power-saving feature, and (for the first time in this model) battery warning indicator.
- Reflector head with wide-angle diffuser and reflector card, -7 to 90 ° tilt, swivel angle -150 to + 120 °.
- Multiple screwed ABS housing with sockets for PC-contact and external battery pack (proprietary 3-pin-stretched Höchst Ecker with polarization nose).
- Keys for ON / OFF, Zoom, mode, confirmation beep and flash test, cursor cross for power control with middle button.
- 4-fold screwed metal flash foot with knurled knob for locking and securing spin.
- Red acrylic glass window to display the Tochterblitzmodi with flashing LED and phototransistor.
Hardly anything has changed in the flash duration compared to the YN560-I:
[See table please diktengleicher font, for. As Courier New]
Performance Metz 50 AF-1 | YongNuo YN560-II | Nikon SB-600
-------------------------------------------------- ------------------
1/128 | 110US | 98us | ---
1/64 | 145us | 116us | 114us
1/32 | 180US | 155us | 151us
1/16 | 290us | 225us | 203us
1/8 | 440us | 325us | 296us
1/4 | 700US | 488us | 488us
1/2 | 1.4ms | 870us | 940us
1/1 | 8.2ms | 5ms | 8.8ms
### Conclusion:
Obtained no mon product, the YN560-II is konkorrenzlos in the ranks of full manual (strobist) flash units. In performance, functionality, workmanship and value. Point. To be fair, I correct my rating from two to four Amazon asterisk each 1/2 point deduction for marginalia as the crashed flash foot and the not fully disconnectable power saving mode.
Allow a short statement to hardly more expensive Yongnuo YN560-III flash for Canon / Nikon / Pentax / Olympus camera with built-in radio trigger for tripping with Yongnuo RF-602 or RF-603? OK: Who has the RF-602/3 Funkauslöser or wants to purchase, which may well speculate on the third remake of 560s family. All others I recommend the type II and a charge Ojecoco H-430 TX / RX from cotswoldphoto-Ebay shop. Those things are more versatile, cheaper, more robust and have never let me down. In TechPhotoBlog TPB # 64 You will be presented and discussed their suitability for wireless Hochgeschwindigkeitsblitzdingserei.
Happy flashing!
PS: Apparently there are several revisions of the series II. A revised (see also Flash Speedlight YONGNUO YN560 II new model with LCD display and better control keys for Canon 1D 1DS EOS 5D 60D 50D 40D 30D 20D 10D 1000D 600D 500D 450D 400D 350D -. Nikon D80 D7000 D3100 D5000 D90 D40 D60 D300 D200 D100 D1 D2 D3 - Panasonic Lumix DMC L1 L10 G1 GF1 GH1 GH2 GF2 G2 G3 G10 FZ100 FZ150 FZ50 LX5 DMW FL500 FL366 FL220 - Olympus E30 E450 E620 E520 E510 E500 E420 E410 E1 E2 E3 E5) with red backlight and the "old" version with green display, I got into the hands (umtauschte and after some pondering).
Since I am a fan YongNuo spite of everything, I tried my luck again (serial number 54430818) and was not disappointed.
