Yongnuo YN 568 EX power test
Hi,
my brother wanted a cheap flash, but he was overwhelmed by the numerous options in ebay. Most tests all over the interwebs show that all of these (Pixel King, Yongnuo, Wansen, Neewer, Alture, JJC, Meike, Sunpak, Sigma, whatnot, ...) provide the typical functions. They work in hotshoe, can do i-TTL BL and full manual, work as slave and so on. Many tests overlook the accuracy and output power tests altogether and instead cite the manufacturer's claims. Which, when it comes to chinese pirate flashes, seem to be extremely inflated.
First I was interested in a Meike 910 flash that is a Nikon SB-910 lookalike pirate, but its guide number exaggerates the power output by a factor of four, so I had to disqualify it. It claims a GN of 42 (meters) but the truth is closer to 22 (meters).
YN568EX claims to offer HSS too, and it claims to have a guide number of 39 (meters @ 35mm) which would make it more powerful than even the strongest Nikon flash SB-800 that has GN of 38 (meters @ 35mm). SB-910 is a tiny bit weaker with GN of 34 (meters @ 35mm).
Well, funnily enough, the YN568EX has more oomph than SB-800. Yes, that's a fact. Not much, but it seems that the GN is correct. Compared to SB-910 the YN 568 EX has a bit over 1/3 stop more power. When it comes to color, the YN light seems to be somewhat cooler (bluer) than Nikon's, not much, but noticeable.
On the other hand the YN568EX seems to not quite understand the commands the camera tells it in i-TTL BL mode. After copious tests with different backgrounds I believe the YN568EX puts out a full stop less light in i-TTL BL bounce mode compared to Nikon SB-800. It is notable that the D3s+SB-800 combo itself already underexposes by one stop in that same situation, so the YN568EX results are two stops underexposed.
Verdict: a cheap (I paid 60 euros ~ 65 USD maybe?) flash with a lot of power and a lot of features. Works consistently imho and requires +2 stops flash compensation in i-TTL BL mode (Nikon flashes need +1).
I have a horde of other test shots, but I felt that these will suffice for this short power output write-up. I gave the Youngnuo to my bro and he seems happy. Recommended.
YN among a few SB-800
SB-800 i-TTL BL direct flash, f/22 (insufficient power)
YN568EX i-TTL BL direct flash, f/22 (insufficient power, but brighter than SB-800)
SB-800 i-TTL BL direct flash, f/16
YN568EX i-TTL BL direct flash, f/16
SB-800 i-TTL BL bounce f/4
YN568EX i-TTL BL bounce f/4
SB-800 i-TTL BL bounce f/4 (+1 flash comp)
YN568EX i-TTL BL bounce f/4 (+1 Flash comp)
SB-800 manual full power bounce f/11 (max output comparison)
YN568EX manual full power bounce f/11 (max output comparison)
YN wins the raw power output comparison.
Hi,
my brother wanted a cheap flash, but he was overwhelmed by the numerous options in ebay. Most tests all over the interwebs show that all of these (Pixel King, Yongnuo, Wansen, Neewer, Alture, JJC, Meike, Sunpak, Sigma, whatnot, ...) provide the typical functions. They work in hotshoe, can do i-TTL BL and full manual, work as slave and so on. Many tests overlook the accuracy and output power tests altogether and instead cite the manufacturer's claims. Which, when it comes to chinese pirate flashes, seem to be extremely inflated.
First I was interested in a Meike 910 flash that is a Nikon SB-910 lookalike pirate, but its guide number exaggerates the power output by a factor of four, so I had to disqualify it. It claims a GN of 42 (meters) but the truth is closer to 22 (meters).
YN568EX claims to offer HSS too, and it claims to have a guide number of 39 (meters @ 35mm) which would make it more powerful than even the strongest Nikon flash SB-800 that has GN of 38 (meters @ 35mm). SB-910 is a tiny bit weaker with GN of 34 (meters @ 35mm).
Well, funnily enough, the YN568EX has more oomph than SB-800. Yes, that's a fact. Not much, but it seems that the GN is correct. Compared to SB-910 the YN 568 EX has a bit over 1/3 stop more power. When it comes to color, the YN light seems to be somewhat cooler (bluer) than Nikon's, not much, but noticeable.
On the other hand the YN568EX seems to not quite understand the commands the camera tells it in i-TTL BL mode. After copious tests with different backgrounds I believe the YN568EX puts out a full stop less light in i-TTL BL bounce mode compared to Nikon SB-800. It is notable that the D3s+SB-800 combo itself already underexposes by one stop in that same situation, so the YN568EX results are two stops underexposed.
Verdict: a cheap (I paid 60 euros ~ 65 USD maybe?) flash with a lot of power and a lot of features. Works consistently imho and requires +2 stops flash compensation in i-TTL BL mode (Nikon flashes need +1).
I have a horde of other test shots, but I felt that these will suffice for this short power output write-up. I gave the Youngnuo to my bro and he seems happy. Recommended.
YN among a few SB-800
SB-800 i-TTL BL direct flash, f/22 (insufficient power)
YN568EX i-TTL BL direct flash, f/22 (insufficient power, but brighter than SB-800)
SB-800 i-TTL BL direct flash, f/16
YN568EX i-TTL BL direct flash, f/16
SB-800 i-TTL BL bounce f/4
YN568EX i-TTL BL bounce f/4
SB-800 i-TTL BL bounce f/4 (+1 flash comp)
YN568EX i-TTL BL bounce f/4 (+1 Flash comp)
SB-800 manual full power bounce f/11 (max output comparison)
YN568EX manual full power bounce f/11 (max output comparison)
YN wins the raw power output comparison.
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