Looking for advice, multiple flashes or nicer single?

Hey guys,
I'm looking to get a speed light or two and I'm looking for a direction to go.

I can afford around $150 to get started, and I'm wanting either one flash and trigger, or multiple cheaper flashes and a trigger.

Basically I'm looking at:

Yongnuo 685 w/ 622 controller
or
Pair of 560 IV's with 560 TX controller
or
Single yongnuo 600, and wait to buy a trigger til later
or
Maybe a mix of 560 3's and 4's?

I shoot mostly portraits, seniors, my kids etc. I occasionally shoot mid-day, so HSS would be nice, and being new I think ETTL would be nice too, but I can learn quickly and am used to doing things manually.

I shoot with a 5d, so I don't know what menu capabilities it has for Exposure comp, etc.

I have heard good things about the Godox system's, but I don't know anything about them.

I'm open to suggestions! Thanks in advance.

Heya,

Well, starting out, start with one light. If you go with Yongnuo, I'd go with the 685 at first. It's very good. It works on the 5d classic just fine too, and does HSS, ETTL, etc, appropriately. I use mine on a 5d classic, it's great. But starting with one light is a great way to learn everything, as bouncing will be your most common use of the speedlite inside, with ETTL and some FEC compensation. Outdoor, you're more likely to direct flash with ETTL/HSS and FEC dialed in as fill light. One light does this fine and you can learn from it.

Multiple lights is for when you're setting up a stage/studio/event/etc​. The beauty of the Yongnuo is that you can add 560 series or more 685 series and they all function off the same triggers and all of them have built in wireless receivers so you don't spend a lot of money on triggers/transceivers/​batteries, and just get flashes for your money.

Alternatively the Godox system is very good, probably the best right now. You could get the equivalent Godox flashes in the form of Adorama Flashpoint (Flashpoint Zoom R2 TTL has the HSS/TTL, built in receiver, etc and the R2 Manual is the same thing but without ETTL/HSS, and is a manual flash but has the built in receivers, etc; these are Godox flashes rebranded under Flashpoint so you get Adorama's support) or Cheetah (Cheetah V850, etc) if you want some support in the US. Might cost a bit more, but you get them in the States with warranties and support in the States which is very good.

I started out with the Yongnuo manual flashes. I traded them all in for the 560 III series Yongnuo's because of the built in receivers, that is a big deal to me, and the ability to use the TX-560 which lets you use 6 groups of manual flashes remotely and remotely change their power levels, zoom, etc, turn on/off groups, etc. Love the system. So simple and convenient. The III & IV 560 series are virtually the same, so doesn't matter which you go with. I have a fleet of 560 III's. I use them for setting up multiple lights and control them remotely with a single controller (TX-560) from the camera (works on 5D classic just fine!). I used to have the 565EX flashes as well, but I sold them in favor of the 685. The 685 works properly on the 5D classic with ETTL/HSS and the 685 can work on the 560 protocol or the 622 protocol, so I can add it to my manual fleet just like another flash, etc, but I mainly got it for the on-camera ETTL/HSS usage for spontaneous shooting where there's no setup time, no metering, no modifiers, etc. If I were doing it all over again, I'd probably spend a bit more and get the Flashpoint R2 system simply due to the warranty/support. But that said, I'm still very happy with my Yongnuo system, it's bullet proof for me for years now.

Very best,

So the 685 can be triggered by the tx-560 as well?
Thanks for the extended reply!

turnmybassup wrote in post #18162348
So the 685 can be triggered by the tx-560 as well?
Thanks for the extended reply!

Yes, the 685 can be used just like a 560III or 560IV in manual mode and operated by a TX-560. It can also be used in this way, in 622 mode, with the TX-622.

Fits right into the systems nicely, doing both sides.

Very best,

Thanks again for the reply.

I think I'm leaning toward a single 685 so that I can go manual to learn, but throw it on ttl for spontaneous kid stuff, etc like you said.

Now I'm trying to decide between the 622c and the tx560. What are the differences in those?

turnmybassup wrote in post #18169130
Thanks again for the reply.

I think I'm leaning toward a single 685 so that I can go manual to learn, but throw it on ttl for spontaneous kid stuff, etc like you said.

Now I'm trying to decide between the 622c and the tx560. What are the differences in those?

The TX-560 is strictly manual, it will trigger anything that receives the 560 or 603 protocols. That's the 560III & 560IV and the 685 in manual mode. The 622C is if you want something to transmit ETTL/HSS. This will only work with the 685 and not the 560's. You can get a TX-622 to control any ETTL/HSS Yongnuo flashes with a 622 attached, or the 685 as it has a built in receiver for this.

If the majority of your flashes are the 560 III/IV's, get the TX-560. It allows remote power control, etc, in up to 6 groups.

The 685 will also fit into that and fire from it manually.

If you want to use the 685 for ETTL/HSS it will work right away on-camera. If you want it to do that off-camera, you'll need a 622 transmitter on your camera as the 685 has a built in receiver.

You will not be able to mix ETTL/HSS and manual with all these, they will trigger on one protocol or the other.

Very best,

Well, I ended up ordering a Flashpoint ETTL R2 (AA, not Li-on) and a used R2 transmitter. I'm preparing myself to not like the transmitter based on how it looks online, but I guess I'l find out and see!


Edit: I'm now seriously thinking about the Flashpoint TTL R2 and adding a Flashpoint R2 Manual flash, and not getting the trigger. It seems the ETTL will trigger the manual flash, and so if I had both I would at least have the option of using one flash or two, I'd get HSS out of both and Adorama has the deal that if you buy one, you get the manual flash for 50 bucks. So a total of 150 bucks for two flashes, vs. 135 for my new flash and used trigger. What do you think?

I just bought into the flashpoint R2 system. I like to have the transmitter just because I don't like having a flash attached to the camera if I don't have to because they are big and awkward. I tend to carry my camera with a Capture Clip and the flash just sticks out too far. Im afraid I will hit it on something and break it off.