Hi, after my first (and positive experience) with the YN565EX (you could read about it here or read my review for the yn560EX here ) I decided 
to get one more flash unit into my strobist bag. As for strobist needs I only need a manual flash, good controls and flash power. I must say that at first glance you get it from the yn560ii, big time!
Update : There is another YN560 Model the YN560III available now, read our YN560III preview here. New our YN560III review (20/3/2013)
So lets start with some quick specs with the new model yn560II:
- Power: The Yongnuo Flash has a guide number of 58 which puts it in front with the other big flashes like the Canon 580/600 and Nikon 800/900/910. This will be plenty of light for your needs.
- Manual control (only): This flash is manual only flash, no TTL support and no af assist beem, but it offers lots of control, actually all the control you’ll need from a strobist flash.
- Salve Modes : That’s what I like about this on, it has accurate and very useful S1 and S2 slave modes.S1 and S2 are optical slaves sensor in the flash that will fire the flash when the sensor senses an other flash fires around.S1- triggers the flash normally while S2 mode will trigger the flash avoiding the pre flash, in case you camera uses pre flash to adjust focusing.That makes it handy as an off camera flash even if you don’t own triggers yet.It can even be used with your pocket camera
- Connectivity : It has a standard PC socket in case you’ll need to trigger via PC connection. An external battery pack can be used here too for getting its recycling times even better and getting some more flash fires before juicing up your batteries.
- Bouncing : You can tilt it both ways right/left and up/down like all other flashes.
- Zoom Control – the flash head can be controlled from 24mm to 105mm all manually.
Click Image to check the Price at Amazon
I must say that I came to this test with lots of concerns, there are some negative reviews about Yongnuo stuff on the net, so I was very surprised when I got mine, so here are my first impressions of the yn560II flash:
- Building Q : Very good! when I oppened the box and got my 560II I was very positively surprized, the plastics and feel are very good! It even surprised me more when I tilted its head, it has a smooth sound and good feel.
- Recycling times : this was actually a big surprise for me, it recycles noticeably faster than my Canon 580II. At full power with fresh batteries in both flashes, the Yongnuo yn560II is ready for the next flash faster than Canon’s flash, I was actually thinking at first, that I did something wrong or don’t understand it right, but that how it was…
- The screen : If you had the first yn560 version youl’d probably remember the mini lamps for the flash power, well now you got those numbers where you can see’em.
- Power Control : In the older version, there where those mini lamps for full stop control – 8 steps from 1/1 full power to 1/128th full power.In the YN-560II you can now control the flash power with 1/3 stops too, in a very easy way – the right and left arrows will adjust the power in full stops steps while the up and down arrows while make 1/3 steps jumps. This makes this unit very versatile!
Update: There is a more recent model in the YN560x arsenal, the YN560III. In general both give the same output and same good old strobist stuff you want, but there are two differences between the ii model and the iii model:
- The YN560III has a built-in radio trigger and it will work with your RF602 and RF603 triggers!!! This is a very cool new feature.
- YN560III costs about 20$ more than the “older” model. While the YN560II starts on eBay at about 70$-72$, the YN560III starts at about 92$.
YN560II side by side with the Canon 580II
Bottom line: The newer yn560II is a much more user-friendly flash unit for the strobist compared to the yn560(I), the read LCD screen is a very welcomed change. Building Q is very good.
If you are looking for a second manual flash for your strobist fun time, this one is a very good option to consider. For under 80$ this flash is a great bargain! I enjoy it!!!
What do you think about it?!
YN-560 II Review - Is It The Best Strobist Flash Out There?,
[...] you don’t need the TTL and wireless features, you might want to read my review for the YN560-II a very affordable strobist flash for less than [...]
[...] http://www.diyphotographystuff.info/1795/yn-560ii-review/ Share this:Like this:LikeBe the first to like this. [...]
I use YN460s exclusively and can’t be happier! They are a quality product; they can take a beating and keep working (I almost destroyed one but put it back together and it works fine!); the price can’t be beat. I use them with YN radio frequency flash triggers and have off camera flash for a great price! Thanks for an honest review!
TNX!
I don’t have any personal experience with the 460′s, I got only 2 YN565′s and 2 560II’s and they wprk just fine after about 10 weddings= ~1000 flashes per wedding.
My second shooter has some 460′s version one and is pleased with them.
But, however, I know a photographer that used the 460′s and wasn’t so pleased (broken one or two, some stopped working), so he started using second hand Nikon SB’s as slaves…
What kind of usage you do with your 460′s?
TNX!
[...] I posted a review for the YN560II that I got a while ago and the review came out very popular, so many visitors mail me for questions [...]
[...] Buy the YN560EX Hi I finally got the new YN560EX flash for review and had to run my tests for it for a while, but I’d like to share some of my first impressions with you in this post, and there are some nice things to say about this one, so stay tuned and keep on reading!!! I’d first say the this new flash is a more advanced version for the YN560 and YN560II with one major difference , and it is it’s ability to have TTL while its off your camera. There for if you are a TTL shooter (Like Scot Kelby likes to do on his video tutorials and nikon flashes), this unit will be great for you! Its another step in the YN flash development as they offer some impressive stobist flash units already, and it has the same specs like the YN560II (You could read my YN560II review here) [...]
[...] I’m asked what is the cheapest strobist flash to start with, I usually say that the best flash for money in my opinion is the YN560II, but is there a cheaper flash to start with? Yes there are two flash units that answer all the [...]
This one is the best flash for your money out there. You might want to consider the 460II if you don’t need the 50+GN power, but getting so much for +-70$ is amazing.
Only considering the fact that the most popular flash 3 years ago was the Vivitar and no real budget option…
Hi,
I think that the YN560II is a great flash , but in the 50GN flash erea, I like the YN560EX better. It costs 30 bucks more but it can work with my YN622 in manual modes and can also do some TTL.
You had Vivitars as strobist flashes? Lucky me they couldn’t ship’em to Israel so I got “only” some Metz 45c…
For 70$ the 560II is the best flash you can get.
TNX, Moshe, Israel.
[...] dark , there where no light reflection from the left side of the shop, so I added my YN560II (reviewed here). The yn 565EX as main light/umbrella was trigger by a radio remote trigger and set to about 1/16th [...]
how can I use YN-560 II in fast shutter….only in slave…
You can use it as slave only up to your camera’s max flash sync speed, ussually about 1/200-1/250 depending on your camera model.
You can use it however with pocket cameras up to 1/500th…
TNX
I just purchased two YN560II as my first strobes – love them already. Great manual controls, great build quality and an unbeatable price. Here’s my two of my three girls with 2-light setups.
http://robertmckenziephotographer.com/people/photo/1
http://robertmckenziephotographer.com/people/photo/2
Looking forward to more experimentation – loads of fun.