YongNuo Speedlite YN468
by Harvey G (Photocommission.com) on Mar.26, 2010, under Flash, Hardware, Specifications
[Note the date I posted this article (March 2010)]
I held off buying a new flash. Whilst I love the tech specs and build quality of the Nikon SB range, new they are just a bit too rich for my blood. (I subsequently bought 2x SB-800′s 2nd hand ). I have been using older manual flashes (Minolta and Vivitar) triggered either via sync cable or optic slave mode (indoors).
I have been watching this brand, YongNuo, with interest for the past few months, and read write-ups on the Strobist site as well as on Flickr about their various models.
Many good reviews and as usual a few not so good, by mostly “reviewers” who gave no satisfactory reasons for their dislike of the product. Take those reviews with a Pinch of salt.
I held one in my hand recently, the YN460II at a local supplier, and tested it. optically triggered by a basic DSLR popup flash, it fired flawlessly in all directions optical slave mode and felt pretty solid, when it’s used as a manual off-camera flash, being fired either by light (optic slave mode) or by a radio trigger, like a Cactus 3/4, a Phottix Tetra/Aster/Atlas, AlienBees or Pocket Wizard’s.
However as an eTTL I have no doubt it will function as well as the Canon original albeit with some small configuration and menu differences. Quality and durability remains to be seen by owners and regular users.
ETA: June 2010: I’ve since bought a new YN460II (and the 2 x 2nd hand SB800′s) and have carried it (the YN460II) all over Africa as a spare off-camera kicker or on camera hot shoe flash when I want to go totally [M]anual at events or need fill light. It’s WB temperature looks spot-on, it’s rugged and very efficient on Li-Ion or NiMH rechargeable batteries. It’s much simpler to use than my 2 x SB800′s on CLS! Recharge time on 4 x fresh AA’s is under a second on full power.
Here’s a sample image of a pre shoot lighting test taken with the YN460II on a D90. All I’ve done with this image is smooth Christa’s skin and a bit of softness to everything but skin. No light modifiers whatsoever. Very acceptable.
ETA: July 2011, YongNuo 460II still behaving perfectly.
ETA: November 2011, YongNuo 460II still behaving perfectly.
However, for my primary flash(es) I need more than just a manual flash with optic slave mode triggering or radio/cable triggering. Cactus, Phottix, AB’s or PW’s are great but I still would like the option of iTTL. The YN468 has it! The Canon version is expected April 2010 and the Nikon version in May 2010. (ETA July 2011!: when is the Nikon version being released?). I deduct that it will be shipped to the USA before we even sniff it out here in the RSA. There is no indication of pricing yet, but I expect not more than US $200-00, probably less. In South African Rands? Your guess is as good as mine, but typically less than an SB 800/SB 900, maybe by a 1/3rd less?
Specs: for Canon. (Nikon Spec yet to be released but is expected to be almost identical)
YN-468 for Canon
TTL Flash Speedlite for Canon Cameras, Fast Recycle Time of Less than 1s
Model Number: E-TLL Speedlite YN-468
LCD Screen
Multi Flash [Ed: This is the stroboscopic mode!]
Yong Nuo YN-468 flash speedlite dedicated E-TTL for Canon DSLR cameras
Main features:
TTL mode, manual mode, optic slave mode
Auto zoom head
AF LED
Super fast recycle time: <2s (full power)
Note: this mode can only be used with Canon E-TTL cameras (not compatible to Canon A-TTL)
It is not compatible with the Canon 20D
YN-468 has 7 different flash power levels ( 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64) in the manual mode
Note: manual mode is compatible to all cameras except Sony and Minolta models
Specifications:
o Guide number: 33
o Flash mode: TTL, M
o Circuit design: insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT)
o Vertical rotation angle: 0 to 90 degrees
o Horizontal rotation angle: 0 to 270 degrees
o Power: 4 x AA size batteries (alkaline or Ni-MH are usable)
o Recycle time: approximately 2s (AA alkaline cell used)
o Color temperature: 5,600K
o Flash time: 1/800 to 1/20,000s
o Flash control: TTL auto flash or manual Level 7 light quantity output control
o Dimensions: 72 x 135 x 85mm
o Net weight: 250g
o Accessories: flash light (1), bag (1), and user manual (1)
Gear I use: Bodies: Nikon D-SLR’s / Lenses: Nikon, Sigma, Tokina, Vivitar /
Filters: Hoya UV & Polarizing / Flash: Nikon Speed-lights / Bag: Lowe Pro /
Tripods & Heads: Manfrotto / Grips, Triggers, Timers, Batteries: Phottix /
Editing Plug-in: Topaz Labs for Noise Reduction, HDR.
11 Comments for this entry
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April 2nd, 2010 on 03:33
The previous model, the YN-467, goes for under $100 and has most of the same features. If the only new features are the LCD and multi-flash, I’d expect the price for the new one to be more like $120-150.
The Nikon version of the YN-467 should be coming out this month.
April 2nd, 2010 on 15:06
Hi LR, thanks for your response. That pricing would indeed be well worth it. Unfortunately on this side of the Atlantic we have some very greedy retailers. I’m looking forward to seeing the USA list price when it launches.
November 16th, 2010 on 18:26
Hey Harvey,
I am in the market for a flash and looking to get the Canon 430 EX II, but I just came across this YN-468 on ebay for under $100 and was wondering how these compare, so did a search for reviews and here I am…
Did you end up getting 1 of these? would you recommend it? I am also in South Africa btw. your feedback would be highly appreciated
Amien
November 16th, 2010 on 23:25
Hi Amien, thank you for your post. I bought the manual YN 460-II. Well worth the money and it can be purchased locally through Camerastuff.
http://www.camerastuff.co.za/shop?ref=2&data=hgp_pccom
They are very versatile and robust, I’ve had one for 6 months and very happy with it. Recharge time with fresh batteries quite fast, under 2s. I use it with a set of Phottix Triggers or on the hot shoe, generally at f/8, 1/160s Manual Mode
I eventually bought 2 x used SB-800 i-TTL for Nikon from Richard Miller (Panascape – Cape Town) and the YN gives as crisp and consistent results as the SB-800′s.
I trust the YN 468 (e-TTL Canon) will give you good service and beautiful results and at $100, a good buy. Understand it cannot be triggered through Canon Wireless e-TTL as a slave.
H
November 28th, 2010 on 22:58
Thanks for that heads up, will definitely look into it!
July 15th, 2011 on 17:15
I bought YongNuo YN-468 for my Canon G9. First time when I connected this flash into
G9′s hotshoe it worked . At that time I took only 10 test photos. I removed flash and now when I re-connected again, YongNuo YN-468 will not work.
G9 detects there is an external flash connected but neither camera flash nor YongNuo YN-468 will fire when I set G9 in auto mode.
Any suggestion?
July 18th, 2011 on 09:45
Thank you for the reply Bill. Odd it worked once then not again! They are good value for money and so far have not failed me at all. I’m not familiar with the G9 suffices to say it is not a “true” DSLR but a compact. However the hot-shoe is capable of accepting a Canon Speedlight. I’ll see what the technical documentation says and get back to you.
July 18th, 2011 on 13:34
Right, the theory is that the G9 can work with any Canon ETTL speedlight. For a list of know working speedlights: http://lightdescription.blogspot.com/2008/01/g9-flash-list.html
Have a look at page 148 onwards of your G9 manual. http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/0/0900009910/01/PSG9_CUG_EN.pdf
The YN 468 should work with it.
http://www.hkyongnuo.com/e-detail.php?ID=241
If it’s stopped as you say, test the flash on another DSLR. Make sure you have it in ETTL mode. Obvious things like new or full charged batteries are a given as well as setting the camera menu to external flash mode. Check the manual of the YN, see if you have changed any settings. If no further joy, return it to the supplier and let them test it.
October 25th, 2011 on 12:19
Great work! This is the kind of info that are meant to be shared around the net. Disgrace on Google for not positioning this put up higher! Come on over and discuss with my website . Thanks =)
November 8th, 2011 on 10:09
Thanks! I’ll post more in due course. Had a look and will be over at your www from time to time.
February 1st, 2012 on 01:59
Hi Harvey,
This information has helped me quite a bit! I have been taking photo’s for decades but only recently have I decided that I want to do it for income and I have run into the problem of upgrading the onboard flash for my Canon EOS XSI. I can’t afford the Canon 430EX that I really want and to be honest, I think I may be a hopeless case trying to do anything with manual settings on the camera or the flash. I am leaning towards the Bower SFD728C TTL Autofocus Flash or the YN468 but I am concerned with the number of people that seem to be having problems with the YN not flashing and the Bower has a cheap casing & shoe. I realize they are lower price range flashes but I can’t afford to replace it if either breaks. Any thoughts?
Tricia