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Yongnuo Slave Flash/50mm Gear Questions

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zahava
Posts: 7791 - Karma: 12,039
Hey guys, so I have two questions for you.

1. Yongnuo YN 560 Flash:

I only plan on using this as a slave, so no need for ttl. I've read the reviews, this seems like a great budget flash, way more control than my current flash (vivitar 285hv). My only concern is the flash speed, its 1/200 at full power, compared to around 1/1000 on the vivitar. Now, I'm new with flash, but from my understanding thats your effective shutter with no ambient light. I'll be using these 50% for portraits, but the other 50% is urban/night/skiing/skateboarding. I'm worried that it won't be fast enough. Again, the gn is much higher, but i'm wondering how the slower speed will affect me. Have any of you had experience with this flash, or yongnuo products? They seem pretty legit.

Here's a stat comparison between the two flashes I talked about:
http://speedlights.net/compare-speedlight-specs/?model=285HV&model2=YN560


2. Canon 50mm 1.4, how much better is it than the 1.8 (I own). I use my 50mm 75% of the time, 80mm (crop factor) is my perfect focal length. Its just right for portraits, and then if I want to go long lens for skiing, unless I'm shooting jumps, 80mm is pretty perfect (I rarely need my 70-200). Since I use it that much, is it worth it to upgrade, I can afford it. It has more aperture blades (better bokeh), its faster, just wondering if I have better options (sigma 50mm 1.4?). INB4 old 50's but I 100% need auto focus.




Thanks guys,
Zack.
Dec 20 2011 3:55PM
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
1:

I have a YN-560 and I love it. Yongnuo is really legit. Have the 603 triggers too, as well as a trigger shutter and synch chord. Everything works fine!

That aside, I don't quite get what your question is. Are you referring to the max sync shutter speed? Because I think your Vivitar doesn't have HSS. The max sync shutter speed of the YN-560 is 1/250, pretty much the max of non HSS-flashes (some have 1/320, but not many).
Unless your Vivitar has HSS (which I don't think for such a cheap flash), you won't be able to get anything faster than 1/250.

2:
As for the 50mm's: yes the f/1.4 is a better than the 1.8: Build quality, USM and bigger aperture being the main things. As far as IQ goes I wouldn't say it blows the 1.8 out of the water but it is slightly better.
The Sigmalux (50mm f/1.4) is really hit or miss: when you got a copy that focuses right it's a true beauty and puts the 50mm f/1.4 by Canon to shame. The odds that you'll get one that front or back focuses are pretty big (as in like 25%), so you're gonna have to send it in for calibration and all that blabla. I'd recommend you'll just get a second-hand copy that focuses well. It's really an awesome lens as long as its focus works.
Dec 20 2011 4:37PM
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zahava
Posts: 7791 - Karma: 12,039
I'm referring to the duration of the flash burst at full power. Vivitar lasts for 1/1000, yongnuo for 1/200.
Dec 20 2011 4:39PM
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zahava
Posts: 7791 - Karma: 12,039
But with no ambient light, your flash freezes the subject, therefore your "affective" shutter would be the flash speed.
Dec 20 2011 4:39PM
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Ah like that. If that's the case, it depends on the output level of the flash. Because the Vivitar is much less powerful, the duration of the burst is much shorter. Personally I don't think the Yongnuo's is as long as 1/200 - or I don't think it will come anything near that actually.

I understand where you're coming from with the speeds and freezing the subject, but you can always not use it at full power.
Dec 20 2011 7:36PM
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deciblast
Posts: 52 - Karma: 10
The YN-460II is 1/800 at full power. Maybe you should switch if you need a faster duration at full power.

Dec 20 2011 10:12PM
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zahava
Posts: 7791 - Karma: 12,039
Bump. Just ordered two of the Yongnuo 560's. Should be here in a just over a week. Any more thoughts on the 50mm 1.8 VS 1.4?
Jan 12 2012 2:38PM
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