YN460-II or YN560??

Looking for some advice on this one. Basically wondering if I should go with (3) YN460-II's or (3) YN560's? Would be using them primarily for automotive and probably a portrait shoot here and there. Since I haven't made any money off my photography (so far), don't want to spend too much on a lighting setup for now. Was planning on using the YF-603 triggers aswell with a 1D Mark III. I did read that the YN460-II's aren't compatible with the 1D's, but I'm assuming if I used the YF-603 triggers eliminate that. Is that correct? Thanks!

Any compatability discussions regarding bodies and YN flashes are for ETTL versions. Neither the 460-II or 560's have ETTL so it's not relevant, both will work with any current body in manual mode.

I have 2 YN560's and 2 YN 460-II's. If I had to do it over again, I'd spend the extra $40-$50 to order 2 more 560's rather than the 460-II's. They work fine, but you don't get the zoom functionality, the back panel is a bit more unfriendly, and the battery door on the 460-II's is horrendous.

YN560 is a big improvement over the 460II in my book.

Thanks BrandonSi. I was reading on the 460-II's and that battery door does sound horrible. Definitely wouldn't want to buy something with a door that breaks when a fly lands on it hahaha What do you use for triggering the flashes if you don't mind me asking?

Am I correct about this:

I plan on picking up (4) RF-603 triggers and (3) YN560 speedlights. The (3) YN560's will be mounted on stands around the subject with a RF-603 trigger each and the fourth trigger mounted on my camera. I don't need a fourth YN560 speedlight also mounted on the camera correct? Or do I still need a speedlight mounted with the trigger on the camera? Hopefully I'm making some sense, cause in my head I know what I'm asking but when it comes to explaining it I find myself putting wwwwaaayyyy too many words into it hahaha

If you are asking if you need a speedlite on your camera to trigger the ones off camera, the answer is no.

Arteel wrote in post #12219245
If you are asking if you need a speedlite on your camera to trigger the ones off camera, the answer is no.

Thank you, now how come I couldn't put it that simple? hahaha

I use RF-602's.. I have two sets, one for the shutter, one for the speedlites. Sounds like that may not be an issue now though, since the 603's are RX+TX in one.

If you want to dedicate a trigger to each flash, then yes, you need one to act as transmitter (Tx) and 3 to recceive (Rx), one for each flash.

The camera will send the flash signal to the hotshoe when you press the shutter button. Whatever is in the hot shoe will get triggered, if it's a flash you get a flash.. if it's a Tx, that will send a signal out to the Rx units. You can do both if you want as well, sit a flash on top of the trigger, sitting in the hot shoe.

Keep in mind though, that the YN-560's have optical slaves.. so if you plan on using these indoors and within line of sight from the other flashes, you don't need a dedicated trigger for each unit. You could have the Tx on the camera send a signal to on Rx unit, and when the Rx unit triggers the flash to go off, the other two YN560's can be set in slave mode to "see" the flash, and then fire as a response. Of course if you start hiding flashes under / behind / around things, they may not see the original flash, and then they won't fire.. just depends on your needs.