Yongnuo YN-622C Controller Trigger

andrew vincent wrote in post #15260692
Canon 5d3 using a 622c on camera and a 622c on a 580 EX II off camera. Could the 580EXII then act as a commander to control other flashes through TTL optically, and would those other flashes be able to be set up via on camera menus if compatible with canon TTL?

No. There is only one Master - the on-camera 622.

There is a trick (Syl Arena calls it "Free Agent Wireless" that can be used, but the 580EXII must be in Master and Manual modes (No ETTL). There can also be a significant "propagation delay" as the remote Master starts to set up any slaves only after the Fire! signal has been given by the camera.

Of course, Mix mode should accommodate any special configurations. You simply need to buy a sufficient number of YN-622s.

The triggers quit working on me yesterday momentary. No on/off cycling of the camera or triggers helped; neither did switching channels.

They snapped out of it when I switched the unit on the camera to the flash and vice versa. They've worked fine since.

I'm ok with minor glitches, but should I consider asking for the pair to be replaced? Has anyone else experienced similar?

They work great otherwise.

I wonder if the receiver had switched into transmitter mode, or vice versa, for some reason (like an intermittent shoe contact or something)...?

The 622 usually determines what mode it's in by what's connected to it.

I've had issues with one or both having bad connections to the camera and/or the flash. The flash would fire, but could not be controlled by the camera menu. Resetting everything did not help, but reseating the connections and making sure they were tight did the trick each time.

Probably a bad connection. That makes sense. I'll make sure they are tight and contacts clean before the next outing. Thanks. I'll update if there's anything further.

I have 4x YN-622c. Had them for about a month with 2 problems so far:

1. Up until now, I've had misfires, about 2-3 misfires on each shoot I've done. There was with about 1 minute in between shots, so the problem wasn't the flash recycle.

2. 1 out of the 4 units' AF-Assist light has stopped working. I have changed batteries, the AF just doesn't work. Tried everything, including hard reset.
I've contacted the seller and they said I could ship it back and have it fixed, but I have a wedding shoot coming up and I can't have one less trigger, so it'll have to wait...

I don't fully understand the 622C functionality - what kind of on camera flash does it emulate in order to get the full in camera flash menus?

When I put a 580EX on my 7D i don't get all of the menus which is expected and I can't set the remote flash levels through the camera.

However, when I put a 580EX II on my 7D I do get the full on camera menus and I can adjust the manual levels on my remote 580EXs (two). I switched the Group A manual level on the 7D from 1/2 to 1/4 to 1/16 while taking a picture in between each step with two 580EXs configured to Group A. I visually confirmed on the 580EX LCD screen that the manual power level was being reduced between shots to match what was set on the 7D and the pictures taken show less exposure confirming that the actual firing power level was reduced.

So it seems to me if the 622C emulates a type II flash (580EX II or later) then I get the full on camera flash control menus which can set the power levels/etc. on the gen 1 580EXs which seems to contradict what I've read in the official and unofficial manuals (or I've badly misunderstood what is written). If true this is good news for me as I can keep my two 580EXs and be able to control them from the camera as opposed to having to buy two newer flashes.

DDL wrote in post #15270227
I don't fully understand the 622C functionality - what kind of on camera flash does it emulate in order to get the full in camera flash menus?

DDL - All it needs to do is convince the camera that it is a full Master flash in functionality, and the camera will make the full menu set available. (Later menus, later models vary.) The 622 does modify the camera's flash control menus to present a consistent interface.

Prior to 2007, the camera talked to the mounted Master, and it was programmed to communicate with slaves the full command range via light-pulse. From 2007, the command set could also be transmitted via the hot-shoe contacts. The YN-622C needs this facility to do its full job.

Before Flash Control Menus, E-TTL, FEC and some other ETTL functions could be transmitted through the remote shoes. This is the basis of the type A and type B camera distinction.

The 580EX is a class 2 Speedlite and the 622 can control its ETTL functions but not its Manual settings, because the 580EX does not have that capablity through the hot-shoe; only via the light-code receiver. (You see that on remote slave versus on-camera capabilities.)

Canon provides the facilities; Yongnuo handles the communications as best it can.

CliveyBoy:

Now i'm more confused.

If my 580EX II (when mounted on the 7D) can remotely control the remote 580EXs manual power level via the 7D flash menu then wont a 622c (mounted in place of the 580EX II on the 7D) be able to do the same?

When i put a 622c on a 7d and have a bunch of remote flashes (580EX - Gr A, 580EX II - Gr b, 600EX - Gr C) then what flash control menu shows up on the 7D? Is it the reduced function set (similar to having a Type 2 old flash directly mounted) or the full set menu (similar to a newer Type 1 flash directly mounted)?

Or would i need to have a type 1 flash only set in group A?

Thanks

DDL wrote in post #15271686
If my 580EX II (when mounted on the 7D) can remotely control the remote 580EXs manual power level via the 7D flash menu then wont a 622c (mounted in place of the 580EX II on the 7D) be able to do the same?

Camera with menus
580EX!! master-capable flash
580EX remote slave
The camera conveys menu instructions via hot-shoe to the Master flash.
The master interprets those instruction and conveys what is necessary to the slave by light pulses in the preflash.
The slave receives those instructions by its light-pulse sensor and uses them. When the narrow requirements of light coding are met.

Compared to

Camera with menus
YN-622C as master
YN-622 as remote slave with 580EX on top as light-emitting unit.
The camera conveys menu instructions via hot-shoe to the YN-622C Master.
The master interprets those instruction and conveys what is necessary to the slave YN-622C by radio frequencies.
The 580EX receives those instructions through its hot-foot (just as it does on-camera, and with exactly the same capabilities.)

The 580EX has two paths to its microprocessor - one from the light-pulse sensor and another through the hot-foot. Canon has implemented different capabilities for each path. An external device cannot re-manufacture the flash: it has to work with what is there.

DDL wrote in post #15271686
When i put a 622c on a 7d and have a bunch of remote flashes (580EX - Gr A, 580EX II - Gr b, 600EX - Gr C) then what flash control menu shows up on the 7D? Is it the reduced function set (similar to having a Type 2 old flash directly mounted) or the full set menu (similar to a newer Type 1 flash directly mounted)? Or would i need to have a type 1 flash only set in group A?

The 622C on the camera actually controls the camera's menus - especially the External Custom Function ones. Many of these are not available, and those that are show only the enforced setting.

It does not matter what flashes are on-line. The camera menus are between 622C transmitter and the camera. You will get the same menus when no flash is on-line.

^ Good explanation. If I understand this correctly, features not available through the camera's menu with the flash attached to the hot shoe are also not available through the 622's.

I just received 2 sets of this trigger today. can't wait to play with it tonight. i need another flash with HSS? Probably the YN 568, can anyone recommend it?

CliveyBoy:
Is it possible to adjust the power directly to the flash 580EX(550EX, 430EX), if it is located on the transmitter and in the camera menu select "Manuall Flash", "Wireless func. in groups A: B, C"?

If possible, this is the only way out for DDL, use the 580EX in manual control with YN-622C.

I do not have 550EX, 580EX, 430EX to test this configuration

I have re-checked my 550EX behaviour. There are some menu functions that work on the 622 (eg sync mode) that are niot available when the 550 is on the camera shoe. These are largely camera functions. For common use, oldvultureface is right.

from oldpedanticcodger