YongNuo YN685 C Radio Slave Flash

While inspecting the case of the 685, I rubbed/polished the two bridging contacts in the battery-holder's flip hatch. Checked operation, and repeatedly got a 3-sec recharge after a 1:1 pop, without replacing the previously-used batteries. I could have thought of that!

So, yes the ultrafast recharging system can be confirmed. It may be necessary to clean off manufacturing residue from the contacts.

The battery hatch is very much better designed and easier to use than was the one on the YN568. It may be that a reduced spring pressure on the batteries were part of the contact problem.

PhilClubman wrote in post #17727272
Think I spoke too soon. I've had a chance to test the flash really briefly and it seems the metering is badly under exposing. Does anyone else have have a copy that they can test and tell me if it's just mine?

I don't understand what you mean when you indicate "the metering is badly under exposing (sic)." Are you using ETTL?

PhilClubman wrote in post #17727272
I've had a chance to test the flash really briefly and it seems the metering is badly under exposing.

The flash does not do metering.

How are you setting up the camera and flash?

With the camera in manual set to 1/250 f2.8, the flash in ETTL, shots are under exposed. I can bump the flash exposure compensation up all the way (+3 is as high as it goes) and still not get the exposure that I want. I will be returning the flash. My yn-565 and yn468 both give good exposures.

Does this make sense?

PhilClubman wrote in post #17728580
With the camera in manual set to 1/250 f2.8, the flash in ETTL, shots are under exposed. I can bump the flash exposure compensation up all the way (+3 is as high as it goes) and still not get the exposure that I want. I will be returning the flash. My yn-565 and yn468 both give good exposures. Does this make sense?

It does not make sense, technically, but as a way for you to move forward, it does.

Are you using a 40D? The flash control menus on that are slightly improved on my 50D, but IIRC are very similar.

50D on M1/250 F2.8 ISO 1000 for approx. -3 stops ambient (so the changes can be seen)
50D Ext. Flash control menu has FEC 0 (and is shown enabled) Range is -2 to +2, limited by camera.
YN685. - Cleared the flash back to factory defaults, incl. E-TTL and FEC 0

Test shots of 50D + YN685 with various FEC set on camera produced images at the right comp. levels, as indicated by the histogram.

50D's FEC returned to 0. Repeated tests using the 685 FEC setting, with now -3 to +3 available. Shots are exposed in agreement with the flash-set FEC.

So that works as expected.

When menu is checked (with flash-set +1 FEC), it is now greyed and cannot be selected, but shows -3 to +3 set to +1.

Do you see that behaviour? Is the flash on-camera?

Yep, using a 40D. Even with FEC at +3, whites are not white.

I'll be sending it back.

Hi all.

I was wondering if the general consensus now from those that have received their 685s is that they work correctly and appear reliable?

I was thinking of getting quite a few but don't want to beta test them like I was forced to with the yn600s.

I think there may be stock issues.

Ebay stockists seem to have increased their prices dramatically to retain their places without pulling their listing.

hkyongnuophotoequipmen​t seem to have pulled their yn685 listings too.

Hmmm.

Trailboy wrote in post #17744001
I think there may be stock issues. Ebay stockists seem to have increased their prices dramatically to retain their places without pulling their listing. hkyongnuophotoequipmen​t seem to have pulled their yn685 listings too.

Hmmm.

My search came up with 120 listings, including from YN ebay stores Jianisi and HKYN. The single prices have dropped. Many listings are for combined devices, hence a higher price. I understand that supply was good prior to the Chinese holiday shutdown early this month, but there was some inactivity at that time.

The flash announcement states that the yn685 can be triggered by a 622c. (Act as Slave of 622)
My question is, can the yn685 trigger a 622C (act as master to 622) ?

Very interested in this flash, as I could use an extra one and I already have a pair of 622c.

So far all reports are that the 685 is a slave only

Trailboy wrote in post #17744001
Ebay stockists seem to have increased their prices dramatically to retain their places without pulling their listing.
Hmmm.

CliveyBoy wrote in post #17744348
My search came up with 120 listings, including from YN ebay stores Jianisi and HKYN. The single prices have dropped. Many listings are for combined devices, hence a higher price. I understand that supply was good prior to the Chinese holiday shutdown early this month, but there was some inactivity at that time.

Seems to vary just a teensie little bit depending on where you base your search. Starting from a UK base instead of NZ, I came across three of these offerings from "different" (haha) UK "stockists" (haha again)
http://www.ebay.co.uk …ae473b:g:qWcAAO​SwiLdWBNX4
(To save anyone the hassle of converting £ 173.99 ≈ US$ 269.15 ≈ NZ$ 392.33 ≈ AU$ 366.95 ≈ € 236.53 at current exchange rates 23:00 on 15 Oct 2015)
Now either:

1. This is the most phenomenally over-priced YN685 you're ever likely to find
   
2. The flash is priced on a par with other offerings from other than UK suppliers (they're always going to be higher than HK, etc because we have the delight of paying 20% tax on everything except air - and they're working on that too) and the add-on goodies are the most outrageously over-priced rechargeable cells on the entire planet.
   
3. There's a certain degree of optimism in the pricing!
   

vapore0n wrote in post #17746551
The flash announcement states that the yn685 can be triggered by a 622c. (Act as Slave of 622)
My question is, can the yn685 trigger a 622C (act as master to 622)

From post #1 in this thread -

Not available
- Master mode (it is stand-alone or slave only)
- Optical sync S1 and S2
- USB port for firmware updates

CliveyBoy wrote in post #17746953
From post #1 in this thread -

Not available
- Master mode (it is stand-alone or slave only)
- Optical sync S1 and S2
- USB port for firmware updates

To my mind, lack of USB update port is a serious, serious, serious misjudgement on their part.
Is it a failure to acknowledge that any need could ever arise to update their firmware (the ports on the 622C Mk II and 622C-TX rather give the lie to this)?
More worryingly, is this a covert indication that the wider 622 line is destined for a succession of new models which simply have to be purchased to accommodate upgraded camera requirements / new camera models / greater capabilities?
Finally, does it suggest that the YN685 is considered merely an interim measure slated for early upgrading into the flash they should have made in the first place?

Whortleberry wrote in post #17747000
does it suggest that the YN685 is considered merely an interim measure?

It may be that the omission of an update facility in original 622C was an error, which has been corrected in the 622C II. With the 622C-TX also having an USB port, both master/transmitters can be updated to handle curve-balls thrown by Canon. The receivers can still be talked to without update.

The cost saved by omitting the update facility (both hardware and software maintenance) could well be less than the sales reduction due to objection to the product inflexibility.

And the product may last only two years before needing replacement!