[tomart]

Not sure whether this was already pointed out by someone but if not I wanted to share with you my recent discovery after switching to K3II from K5. I`m using Yangnuo YN560-III flashes for interior photography. I picked this model due to the build in wireless trigger. Today I thought I will try one on camera and I discovered that they don`t fit any more. As the K3II prism shape has changed the flash cannot be slide in all the way. I thought I will share with you that discovery to save you disappointment while planning to buy one and use this flash on camera.

For me this is no problem as I`m mainly using this off camera but it could be frustrating in some cases.

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Last edited by tomart; 08-09-2015 at 06:29 AM.

[biz-engineer]

Wondering if this is also an issue with other external flashes.

[Mikesul]

This flash has a very sharp forward lean. I just got one and the first thing I thought was that it might cause problems on the K-3ii. It fits the K-3 but awkwardly. I think the problem is with the Yongnuo foot. I tried in on a Sony A6000 and it was very difficult to get a solid fit although that was caused by the fixer being too close to the camera.

[tomart]

As the YN560-III is an older design then the K3II they could not predict this problem but looking on the picture they should extend the foot a bit more anyway just to be safe.
Regarding K3II - great camera and I`m very happy that the build in flash have been removed.

Not sure whether this was already pointed out by someone but if not I wanted to share with you my recent discovery after switching to K3II from K5. I`m using Yangnuo YN560-III flashes for interior photography. I picked this model due to the build in wireless trigger. Today I thought I will try one on camera and I discovered that they don`t fit any more. As the K3II prism shape has changed the flash cannot be slide in all the way. I thought I will share with you that discovery to save you disappointment while planning to buy one and use this flash on camera.

For me this is no problem as I`m mainly using this off camera but it could be frustrating in some cases.

Good catch! Just looked at a Pentax 540 and 560II for comparison. Eyeballing the difference, it looks like at least 3/4" more protrusion with the YN angled foot. Like you, I mostly use off camera but occasionally will shoot on camera at events with the flash flagged , have a Grip & Grin event later this month, moving around at venue. Luckily, I'm still using K5IIs bodies.

Never noticed before but mounting a YN 560III on a K5, there's maybe 1/8" of clearance. Thanks for posting

[rawr]

FWIW, I have some YN 568 EX and they fit OK on K-3, but there is only 1mm to spare above the pentaprism hump. On the K-3 II there might be problems.

I don't know why Yongnuo flashes have such a low overhang in front of the hot shoe. My Metz 52 has no such overhang at all.

However I do see that the pentaprism hump in Nikon and Canon DSLR's (eg 6D, D610) curves downwards in front of the hot-shoe, instead of curving upwards like all my Pentaxes. So maybe both Pentax and Yongnuo need to share some blame here.

[farhaddad]

This can be solved by using a small hot shoe adapter, no?

[Mikesul]

This can be solved by using a small hot shoe adapter, no?

Yes, I think that is the solution but it adds one more thing to mess with. Not a big deal but Yongnuo should have had a better foot.

[6BQ5]

Is there such a thing as a hot shoe vertical riser or extender? Maybe this would be enough to lift the flash upward?

[brink]

On the topic of Yongnuo, I can affirm that, although the YN560III doesn't fit on the K3II, the wireless flash controller YN560-TX does fit on the K3II.

[Mikesul]

I have also thought about just using my very inexpensive Cowboy Studio controllers for the same result. Just keep the controller on the camera and grab the flash which will also be on a controller when needed. I will check it out over the weekend.

[totsmuyco]

I've ordered a K-3II and will be arriving this September. I also have a yongnou 560II. Should I expect some problems like the 560III?

[Mikesul]

I've ordered a K-3II and will be arriving this September. I also have a yongnou 560II. Should I expect some problems like the 560III?

If the 560III has the same foot and configuration as the 560IV you will not be able to get it into the flash shoe without forcing it. I did get it on once but I do not want to do that again since it pressed very hard against the top of the prism housing.

[totsmuyco]

Yep. I tried my 560II and it's not good to force the issue. What would be a good replacement flash?

[TheOneAndOnlyJH]

Yep. I tried my 560II and it's not good to force the issue. What would be a good replacement flash?

Just a quick idea, has anyone tried mounting a Yongnuo RF-603 II on the camera as a sort of spacer to raise the flash up? (I mention RF-603 II since it has a locking ring to keep it secured to the camera while the original RF-603 relied on friction.) It would add slightly to the height, but would allow you to keep using the same flash in addition to having a wireless trigger for off camera flash and a radio shutter trigger. A pair of RF-603 II goes for about $33 on Amazon (though I lucked out with 3 for $29 in a listing last month).

The Nikon and Canon variants allow waking the flash from standby when you tap the trigger on their respective cameras. The Nikon and Canon RF-603 II models will both work on Pentax, just without flash wake-up from standby since they only support center firing pin hot shoes. If I recall correctly the Nikon specific RF-603 version 1 works with Pentax out of the box while the Canon specific RF-603 version 1 can be modified to work on Pentax with some soldering. To use any of them for triggering your Pentax camera shutter you need Canon cable C1, which you can get cheap on eBay. (Yes, Canon C1 shutter cable works with a 'Nikon' RF-603. It's just a different connector on the camera end.)