Cheap back up flash gun yongnuo 460?

ukglyn · 11 Mar 2011

Hi all
I am looking for a back up flash to use at weddings for my sb900, i have been reading & the reviews on the Yongnuo 460-11. Is this a better option than the jessops own brand ones:shrug:. Like I say it is only going to be a back up to get me out of the mire if needed so dont want to be spending big, but need something fairly reliable.
So cheap yongnuo or jessops, or any other you think should go into the mix.

ronnus · 13 Mar 2011

Depends why you need a backup I'd say... is your 900 giving you reason to think it'll die soon?

If you're making money from these weddings the only real backup is another 900 IMHO. Failing that, get an SB600 used for around £150, but it won't have the same power.

I have a Yongnuo for messing off camera, but wouldn't trust it for anything serious. Just my 2p!

ukglyn · 13 Mar 2011

ronnus said:
Depends why you need a backup I'd say... is your 900 giving you reason to think it'll die soon?

If you're making money from these weddings the only real backup is another 900 IMHO. Failing that, get an SB600 used for around £150, but it won't have the same power.

I have a Yongnuo for messing off camera, but wouldn't trust it for anything serious. Just my 2p!

Thanks for the reply.

No had no probs with my sb900 at all, reason for this is I have just bought a second d700 body as my back up camera, my back up before was a Sony brand so obviously the flash gun will not fit the nikons, Just didn't really want to be spending too high on a back up which will hopefully never see any action. I was leaning towards a sb600 but saw these & wondered just how good they are for a get out of jail card so to speak. Think another speedlite will be the end result I go for, but dont hurt to check out all the options.

DekHog · 13 Mar 2011

You'd be better spending the extra £10 or so and getting the Yonguno model that does TTL and manual (560? Can't remember the model number for sure) - wouldn't like to have to work with a flash on manual only at a wedding, which is all the YN460-II will give you....

They'd certainly do as a backup - not much chance of the SB and the YN both dying at the same time...

ukglyn · 13 Mar 2011

DekHog said:
You'd be better spending the extra £10 or so and getting the Yonguno model that does TTL and manual (560? Can't remember the model number for sure) - wouldn't like to have to work with a flash on manual only at a wedding, which is all the YN460-II will give you....

They'd certainly do as a backup - not much chance of the SB and the YN both dying at the same time...

Ok thanks will look into that 1 & have a read up on it, I was working on the theory that for both to die at the same time is going to be pretty rare.

Thanks for the info

Flash In The Pan · 13 Mar 2011

DekHog said:
You'd be better spending the extra £10 or so and getting the Yonguno model that does TTL and manual (560? Can't remember the model number for sure) - wouldn't like to have to work with a flash on manual only at a wedding, which is all the YN460-II will give you....

They'd certainly do as a backup - not much chance of the SB and the YN both dying at the same time...

The YN-560 is, like the 460-II, completely manual. To get TTL you need either a YN-465/467 or 468. The trouble, imho with the 467 and 468 is they are just to expensive for what they offer - a Jessops 360 or a Nissin Di622 would be a much better (safer too, as you'd have a UK warranty) bet.

ukglyn · 13 Mar 2011

Flash In The Pan said:
The YN-560 is, like the 460-II, completely manual. To get TTL you need either a YN-465/467 or 468. The trouble, imho with the 467 and 468 is they are just to expensive for what they offer - a Jessops 360 or a Nissin Di622 would be a much better (safer too, as you'd have a UK warranty) bet.

Thanks Graham, I did think of the jessops 360, but unsure of the quality of them, are they decent enough:shrug: will read up on the Nissin now, have looked at them in the past but forgot all about them just now.

33L · 14 Mar 2011

I have had a flash battery die on me during a shoot, having an identical spare was a god send. just put in the same power correction and i started shooting again. If it was a 3rd party i would have to almost start from scratch as it has a different power rating etc.

a backup should operate in the same way as the original. just my 2p but saving on your insurance policy may hit you later down the line especially if you are not clued up on it.

will the 3rd party have high speed sync/rear curtain for when you need it? will that shot be missed by faffing about remembering how to adjust it. Will the head of the 2nd gun fit all yourcurrent light modifiers?

The23rdman · 14 Mar 2011

REMOVED

chrizzy184 · 15 Mar 2011

I have a sb600 and a yonguno YN 460-II. The one i find reliable is the sb600 on camera and off. The yonguno has less when problems off camera used as a slave.

Steelfish · 15 Mar 2011

If it helps you I've had both the jessopps 360 and now a Nissin di622. The jesopps one would frequently fire off full power when in ittl mode, so i got the Nissin.

Have had no such instances of the Nissin mis-firing like the Jessopps one. Plus it's much better built.

The23rdman · 15 Mar 2011

Sorry about breaking the rules. Was only trying to help.

incapete · 15 Mar 2011

I've got a couple of the Jessops 360AFD flashes and for on-camera and/or TTL work they're great value - I've always found them to be very reliable and easy to use.

Their main limitation for me is that they go into standby mode if left unused, this is deactivated if you use the built-in optical slave but if you use a wireless trigger they'll go into standby which is a pain if you're fussing around moving/changing things.
I've tried a number of tricks to get around this (and subsequently have one in pieces from the attempts) but I've yet to solve it - it's obviously not a problem if you plan on using it on-camera, in which case it's a good flash.

I've also got a couple of YN-460 II units which don't have TTL so aren't great for on-camera stuff but are the perfect units for off-camera/strobist work since they don't have a standby mode and the power controls are big and easy to use.

They're both about the size of a Canon 430EX and take the same size light modifiers, eg Stofens. They both have an optical slave, both have good swivel/tilt and have built-in diffusers and bounce cards - the 360AFD has a zoomable head, the YN-460II doesn't.
They both sell for £30-£40 second hand.

For a cheap backup TTL flash I'd be happy with the Jessops... I've got two. In TTL mode there's really nothing to learn/familiarise yourself with - so no problem switching between it and your usual unit. The one thing that you might see a difference with is the lack of high-speed sync but you're not going to get that with any flash at this level (and you might not use it in the first place if you like to get some ambient light in your shots?).

jdfotos · 21 Mar 2011

I bought one of the YN flashes (think it was a 460), paid £35 for it new. Worked fine as a slave with my 580exii for a couple of shoots, then just stopped working altogether. Tried changing batteries etc etc, power light came on, just wouldnt flash in any mode. To be honest, when I buy another, it will be a Canon flash - as others have said, you just know exactly where you are.