YONGNUO YN560 IV Wireless Flash Speedlite, Master + Slave Flash + Built-in Trigger System, for Canon Nikon Pentax Olympus Fujifilm Panasonic Digital Cameras

I realize there are already almost 400 reviews for these flash units and mine will most likely get lost in the flood but I just wanted to weigh in on what makes them so awesome.First of all I have used Canon Speedlights in the past, still own a 430EX that sits in a box and collects dust.I really don't like using ETTL as I find it rarely gives me the kind of exposure I like in my photo's. I personally feel it looks flat and unprofessional so this review will be based on manual functions. This unit doesn't have a TTL function anyway so... on to the review.I have been using Yongnuo flashes for about 3 years now and I honestly have no gripes. None at all. Especially now that I've upgraded to the IV models and get the added wireless functionality built in.I dropped a 560III model about 4 feet onto the concrete a couple years back and the bottom of it broke off. It actually kept working for a full 2 hour shoot after that before it blew out completely. Probably due to some shorts after wires coming loose. But that just speaks to the durability of the Flash.Here's the thing, at this price, I was not upset. I dropped a Speedlight onto the concrete, watched a chunk of it fly off and thought, "Darn... well I guess I need to buy another."Try having that mentality with a Canon or Nikkon Speedlight.I take these hiking, out on major event shoots where I'm running around bumping into stuff, sometimes outside and getting rained on etc. etc.I never worry about breaking one because I know I can afford to grab another. It's a freeing feeling. I worry enough about my camera and my lenses as it is.Here's the other reason I love these.While I have a master controller for my speed lights, I prefer to use my flash in manual mode even when it's attached to my camera or on a trigger. On the Canon speed lights switching power while in manual mode takes a few extra clicks and requires you to depress the tiny center button first to let the unit know you want to start changing power level. It drives me a bit crazy now that I'm used to these.With the Yongnuo in manual mode, you just click one side or the other on the interface and your power level changes by standard stops. Click up or down to change power in smaller increments.I can get the exposure I want so quickly with these now that I really don't understand why Canon chose to design theirs differently.The wireless works well with the YN560-TX master controller though my shutter speed needs to drop to about 160 to avoid shutter shadow.They work flawlessly with the RF-603CII-C1 triggers.The power is also definitely up to par. Just one of these is enough to light up a medium-sized room with some bounced light.I have 3 (still less $$ than 1 canon) and dial them in at different levels for a better effect but have gotten by with 2 in very large rooms and been happy with my results.I've used them on both a t2i, t3i and a 6D and have friends who use them with 5D MarkIII's and love them just as much.If I had to pick one thing I don't like... I guess that they heat up and delay quickly. If you are firing off shot after shot the batteries get hot quick and the unit will force a delay until they cool down. You can attach an external power pack to eliminate the problem but I have learned to just work around it. I'm a bit more intentional with my shots anyway so I'm not one to just blast away, spray and pray style.I'd say I can get about 8 minutes of continuous shooting, full power, at maybe a shot per second before I start experiencing delays.You should also consider the speed, if you need to shoot at High Speeds like 250+ then these will not work. If you're using a controller you may even need to drop down to 160.Beyond that, no issues.Again, if you like automatic exposure and using the TTL or ETTL functions then this is obviously not for you since it doesn't offer that functionality at all. But if you use manual adjustments with your speed lights or you use a master controller then these are not only up to the job but they are incredibly affordable meaning you can have multiple flash units on standby if one gets broken.Really can't recommend them enough. I've bought 5 so far, broke one 560III and gave the other away once I got my IV's.I plan to buy a few more as backup and can happily say that I feel confident in my purchase.

There has been much said about the Yongnuo YN-560 series since it came out so I will not say much of its’ functionality as the IV model has the features of previous models and then some. The “and then some” features are what makes the IV a pleasure to use.I have owned two Yongnuo YN-468 II (TTL for Nikon) for some years and found them to be very reliable both on camera and off using Yongnuo RF-603II triggers. The YN-468 II is a smaller speedlight (the size of Nikon’s SB-600) with a guide number of 38. I wanted more power so I picked up the YN-560 IV that has a guide number of 58. The 560 IV can be used as a master and allows you to set groups. As an RF slave it works perfectly with my RF-603II triggers and the optical slave function works good as well. It is stated that the Yongnuo YN560-TX will allow you to adjust the power of the 560 IV remotely. I do not own one of those units. I tested the RF of the 560 IV and could trigger the flash form a block away with no obstacles. I could also easily fire the flash in every room of our home. As no external trigger is required, the 560 IV sits better on a light stand using modifiers such as umbrellas or a softbox. The build quality of this unit appears to be quite good and a battery pack can be used if desired. This flash just plain works every time. It is a fraction of the name brand flash (no TTL of course) making it a no-brainer for off camera use. Highly recommended.

The flash will work with any of my Nikon, Sony or Panasonic cameras without issue. It's a single pin connection with no TTL functionality. So everything is manual but I don't find this to be a problem and I'm okay with that.I got this after doing some research and hearing they might work with my Sony a6000. This review is for both the Yongnuo flash and 603N II triggers. This setup was a fraction of what it would cost to buy any of the name brand flash/triggers.When I first got it it was frustrating as it wasn't clear what I needed to do to get this setup to work on the Sony.First thing is to get the trigger and flash to communicate. They both need to be on the same channel, same group, in TX mode. Since I was already pairing it with the Yongnuo triggers this website http://www.davidpartington.com/m43/2015/01/03/yongnuo-yn560-iv-speedlite-review/ and this video review https://youtu.be/C-VukG3Cw9M gives a much better way to see how to set up the flash as the manual wasn't much help. Once the trigger and flash are communicating now you need to get the trigger on the camera.I read that the hot shoe on my Sony would need to have the black paint removed in order for it to work. This was false as the paint has nothing to do with it working or not.The pins on the triggers have to make a good contact with the hot shoe. What I found is that once you put the trigger on the camera the pins were not making a contact like they should. This is the key thing put some pressure down on the trigger pushing towards the hot shoe. Take a test photo while holding the trigger. It should fire and once it does lock down the trigger via the wheel lock.That is it...it just needed to have the pins make good contact before locking down. These also work for my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000. I highly recommend both the flash and triggers by Yongnuo. Very cheap alternative when comparing to big name brand components.