Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

[Nathaniel]

I have noticed that many members have bought the chinese Yongnuo flash guns in preference to the Canon speedlites as they are much cheaper but being more or less carbon copies of the more expensive canon flash guns. Any reason why the big price differential? Is it the cheaper labour costs in China or have they found a more economical way of producing their flash guns in comparison to Canon? Or does the "canon" label give the right to charge more for almost identical flash guns made by the Youngnuo company.

[rajjayaraj]

Re: Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

Nat, i own both Canon and Youngnuo and although they look very similar in size they are about 1 stop less than the big guns.
Raj

[Nathaniel]

Re: Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

Does the 1 stop difference make a big difference? I don't know.

[rajjayaraj]

Re: Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

Normally it does not as i now know what my output is, but it did made a difference when i recently did some group photography for my friends and used two flash with umbrella and you can clearly see one side of the lighting were different to the other (as one was canon and the other is YN)

[the black fox]

Re: Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

Nat I have just bought a yongnuo TTL flash ,and i,m more than happy with it ,build quality ,ease of use ,you can use it as a slave off camera and fired by your pop up flash ,if you have ETTL it will only give you the amount of flash needed anyway .your welcome to look before you buy as well if you want ,I bought from a e.bay company based in the U.k and got it in 4 days ,signed for ..in all honesty this equals the £400 nikon flashgun I used to own and it cost me £63.00 delivered.

As for price they have cut out the middleman importers ,where often prices are set selling either direct or through small dealers ,you won't find these in the big camera shops ,and I can assure you that the generation of flash I have bought is really top quality

And rumor has it they are soon to start making lenses and that might shake up a few things .

[Nathaniel]

Re: Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

I suppose I can safely use them on my 6D and 100D, even as the main flash?

[the black fox]

Re: Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

Yes nat .just make sure you get a up to date one not one of the early models and a ETTL one to ,I can recommend the 565ex ,if you need I will give you a link to the supplier

[CanonLad]

Re: Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

I have the yongnuo 560II manual flash and it's ok. I want a TTL and the new Yongnuo 600RT looks like a winner. My 560II has been going strong for years and they are only £40. Sometimes the best investment is a flash. It totally changes the dynamic of how you think about light though. I was bamboozled by it at first.

[Nathaniel]

Re: Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

Thanks folks for all your good advice. I am toying between the 565EX and the updated 560II which has ETTL. Since most of my indoor pics are flashless, I have now sold my Canon 580EX and looking for a cheaper alternative to use mostly as fill flash. My philosophy is that if I am not using something and it is simply lying in my holdall or wardrobe I would sell it so that someone else could find a better use for it, but I always bought a cheaper but equally "on par" replacement. I wouldn't mind if this "cheaper" alternative rests in my holdall unused for long periods as it wouldn't burn a hole in my financial pockets.

[Nathaniel]

Re: Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

Just thought I'd mention that I have now bought the Yongnuo YN560ii mk2 for the princely sum of £37 plus a few pence. So I am quids in after selling my Canon 580EX. It should arrive next week. It has got everything I need from a flash gun including ETTL.

[2Beers]

Re: Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

Nat I dont think the YN560ii isETTL as its a manual flash.

http://speedlights.net/2011/11/16/yongnuo-speedlite-yn560-ii-manual-flash-new/

[the black fox]

Re: Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

That's correct nat the 560 is not ETTL ,good price but might make it hard work

[Iron Man]

Re: Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

Yougnuo do seem to be decent, a lot of strobists use them. I'm waiting for them to release the YN600RT, and I'll be getting a couple of them as well as the YN-E3-RT.

[Nathaniel]

Re: Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

Thanks for all the info Alex,Jeff and Iron man. If I am not very happy with the 560ii I will contact the seller and exchange it for the 565ex just for the cost of the postage. OR I might get the 565Ex in addition to the 560ii as the price is so good on both flash guns. I would still be quids in a tthe price I sold my Canon 580EX!!!

[Nathaniel]

Re: Yongnuo and Canon speedlite flash guns. why the big price difference?

Just as a matter of interest, what is the big advanatage of having an ETTL flash against a manual flash and most of us seem to be shooting pics in manual mode for greater control?