Good, dirt cheap flash?

cwebsterlusk · 10-29-2011, 02:26 PM

I recently purchased a Bell & Howell P-TTL flash with all the bells and whistles and I am quite pleased with it. However, I'd like to have a couple of flashes to be triggered remotely whether by RF triggers or optical slave. I do not want to pay much for them at all, but I do want something that will last. All manual is fine with me, I just want something that can at least be triggered by my Cowboy Studio triggers. Any and all suggestions will be much appreciated!

adpo · 10-29-2011, 02:33 PM

check out the yonguos, you can grab a yn560 or yn460 ii for pretty cheap. They work with radio triggers via pc sync and hotshoe. They also have an optical slave that works with manual or pttl triggering

jolepp · 10-29-2011, 02:53 PM

+1 for the yn560: tilt&swivel, zoom, output can be adjusted down to 1/128 (with fine adjustment between full stops), straightforward controls, cycle time at full output ~1s with Eneloops, build quality is very decent for the price (~$65): kind of basic, but certainly not flimsy

.

SOldBear · 10-29-2011, 03:17 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by jolepp

yn560...cycle time at full output ~1s with Eneloops.

With all due respect, sir, if that's the case, Quantum Instruments, Dyna-Lite, ... will be going of business pretty soon.

jolepp · 10-29-2011, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by SOldBear

With all due respect, sir, if that's the case, Quantum Instruments, Dyna-Lite, ... will be going of business pretty soon.

Then I'm probably mistaken

. Feels about that fast between an occasional pair of closely spaced shots, but then I have not actually clocked it.

cwebsterlusk · 10-29-2011, 04:51 PM

Thanks for the input! I've been directed toward Yongnuo flashes before but I wanted to see how fellow Pentax users felt.

I'm leaning more toward the YN460 because of the features it offers for almost half the price of the YN560. I took a look at the YN460-II as well, but I couldn't see the difference between it and the regular 460, except I can get the 460 for $14 less. When buying 2 units on my budget, that's a substantial difference in price. If there are any feature differences could someone let me know?

adpo · 10-29-2011, 04:54 PM

between version 1 and 2 of the 460, the second one is slightly better built (metal foot) and i think its a tad more powerful, correct me if i'm wrong. The 560 comes with a zoom head as well as tilt and swivel capability. You can also later get a battery pack for the 560

cwebsterlusk · 10-29-2011, 05:16 PM

The more I look at the 560 the more I want to save my money. This really has been a big help for me. Thanks!

elliott · 10-29-2011, 05:49 PM

Originally posted by jolepp

Then I'm probably mistaken

. Feels about that fast between an occasional pair of closely spaced shots, but then I have not actually clocked it.

It is fast, but not quite 1 second, on a fresh set of Eneloops mine is around 3 seconds at full power. Anything below full power is pretty much instant, around 3/4 power it will keep up with my K100D easily. The only other flash it is really competing with, the Vivitar 285HV is painfully slow in comparison.

I love my YN560, it is an amazing flash for the price.

jolepp · 10-31-2011, 04:16 AM - **1 Like**

When I tried the YN560 with a watch in my hand I found that the recycle time in full power between the first two shots is actually about 2 s with fresh Eneloops. However recharge for the 3rd, 4th, ... shots would seem to take a bit longer (~3 s) and a half dozen full power flashes in rapid succession results in the 'ready' light going blinking for a few minutes with the flash disabled presumably to avoid overheating. So the folks at Quantum Instruments, Dyna-Lite, ... need not to worry

. As mentioned this is much improved at partial power. At 1/4 output it would seem that I get a sustained cycle time of around 1 s (30+ shots without protection kicking in), which is still plenty useful these days when the ISO can be cranked up to 400 or even 800 with virtual impunity

.

**klh** · 10-31-2011, 04:50 AM

Originally posted by cwebsterlusk

The more I look at the 560 the more I want to save my money. This really has been a big help for me. Thanks!

Just a thought, for the extra price of the 560, you get a zoom head and an extra power setting at 1/128. That may not seem like much, but I've been surprised how much I use 1/128 in multi flash setups.

bdery · 10-31-2011, 05:02 AM

Originally posted by adpo

check out the yonguos, you can grab a yn560 or yn460 ii for pretty cheap. They work with radio triggers via pc sync and hotshoe. They also have an optical slave that works with manual or pttl triggering

I second that advice. The other option would be to find used Vivitar 285HV heads, they'd be about the same power and the same price as a Vivitar flash.

hoanpham · 10-31-2011, 05:24 AM

i m happy with any manual flash. 10-15usd range, use with radio trigger, power output must be adjustable.
the youngnuos may be the best bang.

cwebsterlusk · 10-31-2011, 06:34 AM

Anyone had any experience with the Neewer TT560 or Neewer in general? Looks to be almost identical to the Yongnuo YN560 except the Neewer is about $20 cheaper on Amazon. Advice?

elliott · 10-31-2011, 07:12 AM

The plastic shell of the TT560 is completely different from the YN560. The internals could be the same though, hard to tell. If they are the same, it is even harder to know if they are keeping up with the latest revisions, since the early Yongnuos had problems. It looks like Neewer sells a YN560 that is identical to the Yongnuo, the TT560 looks like it could be a cheaper made version. When the "expensive" version of the flash is $60, imagine the corners they cut to save another $20. It does look like the GN is different, but neither one list a zoom setting for it, so you can't compare them.

I'd spend the extra and go for the Yongnuo. Make sure you get a recent revision, one with a metal hotshoe. The early ones with the plastic hotshoe were not reliable. They've made quite a few internal changes since the first revision. The latest ones have proven to be quite reliable.

10-29-2011, 02:26 PM	#1
cwebsterlusk Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Belton, SC Photos: Albums Posts: 33	Good, dirt cheap flash? I recently purchased a Bell & Howell P-TTL flash with all the bells and whistles and I am quite pleased with it. However, I'd like to have a couple of flashes to be triggered remotely whether by RF triggers or optical slave. I do not want to pay much for them at all, but I do want something that will last. All manual is fine with me, I just want something that can at least be triggered by my Cowboy Studio triggers. Any and all suggestions will be much appreciated!

10-31-2011, 04:16 AM - 1 Like	#10
jolepp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Finland Photos: Albums Posts: 3,196	When I tried the YN560 with a watch in my hand I found that the recycle time in full power between the first two shots is actually about 2 s with fresh Eneloops. However recharge for the 3rd, 4th, ... shots would seem to take a bit longer (~3 s) and a half dozen full power flashes in rapid succession results in the 'ready' light going blinking for a few minutes with the flash disabled presumably to avoid overheating. So the folks at Quantum Instruments, Dyna-Lite, ... need not to worry . As mentioned this is much improved at partial power. At 1/4 output it would seem that I get a sustained cycle time of around 1 s (30+ shots without protection kicking in), which is still plenty useful these days when the ISO can be cranked up to 400 or even 800 with virtual impunity . Last edited by jolepp; 11-01-2011 at 06:09 PM. Reason: typo fix

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10-29-2011, 02:33 PM	#2
adpo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 888	check out the yonguos, you can grab a yn560 or yn460 ii for pretty cheap. They work with radio triggers via pc sync and hotshoe. They also have an optical slave that works with manual or pttl triggering

10-29-2011, 02:53 PM	#3
jolepp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Finland Photos: Albums Posts: 3,196	+1 for the yn560: tilt&swivel, zoom, output can be adjusted down to 1/128 (with fine adjustment between full stops), straightforward controls, cycle time at full output ~1s with Eneloops, build quality is very decent for the price (~$65): kind of basic, but certainly not flimsy .

10-29-2011, 03:17 PM - 1 Like	#4
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	Originally posted by jolepp yn560...cycle time at full output ~1s with Eneloops. With all due respect, sir, if that's the case, Quantum Instruments, Dyna-Lite, ... will be going of business pretty soon.

10-29-2011, 04:13 PM	#5
jolepp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Finland Photos: Albums Posts: 3,196	Originally posted by SOldBear With all due respect, sir, if that's the case, Quantum Instruments, Dyna-Lite, ... will be going of business pretty soon. Then I'm probably mistaken . Feels about that fast between an occasional pair of closely spaced shots, but then I have not actually clocked it.

10-29-2011, 04:51 PM	#6
cwebsterlusk Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Belton, SC Photos: Albums Posts: 33 Original Poster	Thanks for the input! I've been directed toward Yongnuo flashes before but I wanted to see how fellow Pentax users felt. I'm leaning more toward the YN460 because of the features it offers for almost half the price of the YN560. I took a look at the YN460-II as well, but I couldn't see the difference between it and the regular 460, except I can get the 460 for $14 less. When buying 2 units on my budget, that's a substantial difference in price. If there are any feature differences could someone let me know?

10-29-2011, 04:54 PM	#7
adpo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 888	between version 1 and 2 of the 460, the second one is slightly better built (metal foot) and i think its a tad more powerful, correct me if i'm wrong. The 560 comes with a zoom head as well as tilt and swivel capability. You can also later get a battery pack for the 560

10-29-2011, 05:16 PM	#8
cwebsterlusk Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Belton, SC Photos: Albums Posts: 33 Original Poster	The more I look at the 560 the more I want to save my money. This really has been a big help for me. Thanks!

10-29-2011, 05:49 PM	#9
elliott Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 1,720	Originally posted by jolepp Then I'm probably mistaken . Feels about that fast between an occasional pair of closely spaced shots, but then I have not actually clocked it. It is fast, but not quite 1 second, on a fresh set of Eneloops mine is around 3 seconds at full power. Anything below full power is pretty much instant, around 3/4 power it will keep up with my K100D easily. The only other flash it is really competing with, the Vivitar 285HV is painfully slow in comparison. I love my YN560, it is an amazing flash for the price.

10-31-2011, 04:50 AM	#11
klh Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, USA Posts: 827	Originally posted by cwebsterlusk The more I look at the 560 the more I want to save my money. This really has been a big help for me. Thanks! Just a thought, for the extra price of the 560, you get a zoom head and an extra power setting at 1/128. That may not seem like much, but I've been surprised how much I use 1/128 in multi flash setups.

10-31-2011, 05:02 AM	#12
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by adpo check out the yonguos, you can grab a yn560 or yn460 ii for pretty cheap. They work with radio triggers via pc sync and hotshoe. They also have an optical slave that works with manual or pttl triggering I second that advice. The other option would be to find used Vivitar 285HV heads, they'd be about the same power and the same price as a Vivitar flash.

10-31-2011, 05:24 AM	#13
hoanpham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Strand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,366	i m happy with any manual flash. 10-15usd range, use with radio trigger, power output must be adjustable. the youngnuos may be the best bang.

10-31-2011, 06:34 AM	#14
cwebsterlusk Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Belton, SC Photos: Albums Posts: 33 Original Poster	Anyone had any experience with the Neewer TT560 or Neewer in general? Looks to be almost identical to the Yongnuo YN560 except the Neewer is about $20 cheaper on Amazon. Advice?

10-31-2011, 07:12 AM	#15
elliott Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 1,720	The plastic shell of the TT560 is completely different from the YN560. The internals could be the same though, hard to tell. If they are the same, it is even harder to know if they are keeping up with the latest revisions, since the early Yongnuos had problems. It looks like Neewer sells a YN560 that is identical to the Yongnuo, the TT560 looks like it could be a cheaper made version. When the "expensive" version of the flash is $60, imagine the corners they cut to save another $20. It does look like the GN is different, but neither one list a zoom setting for it, so you can't compare them. I'd spend the extra and go for the Yongnuo. Make sure you get a recent revision, one with a metal hotshoe. The early ones with the plastic hotshoe were not reliable. They've made quite a few internal changes since the first revision. The latest ones have proven to be quite reliable.