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Canon external flashes tend to be expensive, so if you're looking for an affordable alternative, Yongnuo flashes can also provide a significant amount of light. This is why I'm giving tips on how to choose the best Yongnuo flash for Canon, as well as options for different shooting needs.
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Several Yongnuo flashes are available, yet my reviews show that the strongYongnuo YN600EX-RT II Speedlite/strong is the best Yongnuo flash for Canon due to its powerful light output and recharge speed.
Whether you're into real estate
Many photographers use Canon cameras because of their excellent image quality, contrast, and focus. When your Canon camera doesn't have a flash or the built-in flash isn't powerful enough, the Yongnuo YN600EX-RT II Speedlite comes with multiple features that can go against in-house flashes of Canon.
One of its selling points is the navigation panel's ease of use. For instance, you can easily mount the YN600EX-RT II flash on a Canon 70D, and you can save a bunch of time in controlling the settings.
While the YN600EX-RT II's recharge rate is 0.5 seconds slower than the YN968N II, they both have a powerful flash output of 60m. Hence, this is still fast enough for landscape and real estate
Another strong competitor for the best Yongnuo flash for Canon is the Yongnuo YN968N II Speedlite, mainly due to its variable flash settings, user-friendly interface, and price point.
With a recharge rate of 2 seconds, the YN968N has the fastest recycle time out of all flashes on this list. In effect, you can fire the flash up to 1500 times using fully charged batteries.
With a powerful flash output of up to 60m, you can avoid straining your Canon camera by retaining low ISO levels. Whether you want to go wireless or manual, the multi-setting of this flash would help enhance your light output.
Whether it's a full-frame, crop-sensor, or mirrorless, investing in Canon cameras doesn't come particularly cheap. If you're looking to mitigate your expenses, try pairing your Canon camera with the Yongnuo YN-560 IV Speedlite.
While the flash output of the YN-560 IV is powerful enough to reach up to 58m and keep a Canon camera at ISO 100, its recharge rate of 4 to 5 seconds is significantly slower compared to its Yongnuo counterparts.
However, this is a fair trade-off as the flash offers a zoom range of 24-105mm, which you can expand up to 18mm when using a diffuser. Whether you prefer wireless or manual, you can use up to 8 levels of flash output to back up the sensor of Canon cameras.
Suppose your real estate
While the power output of this flash is way weaker than the other flashes, the guide number of 14m is enough for nearby and smaller subjects. Despite that, the YN-14EX is even 1 second faster than the YN-560 IV.
The downside is that getting close to the subject means putting the camera sensor right up against your shadow. However, at proximity, this ring flash can surround your subject with ample light to eliminate shadows.
Being a flash specifically designed for Canon cameras, the Yongnuo YN-568EX TTL Flash automatically adjusts its exposure according to the camera settings. This is exceptionally helpful when shooting scenes with varying light sources, much like in street or real estate
The YN-568EX has a similar power output to the YN-560 IV, although its recharge rate is 1 second faster. In effect, you have enough time to change your angle or modify the flash head's position.
With its TTL capacities, this flash is more effective when you need to shoot in several sequences as you activate the multiple trigger mode. Besides, it allows high-speed sync to make the shutter speed faster.
Yongnuo houses an extensive collection of external flashes you can use for your real estate
| Flash | Guide Number | Zoom Range | Recycle Time (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yongnuo YN600EX | 197′ at ISO 100 and 200mm | 20-200mm | 3 |
| Yongnuo YN968N II | 197′ at ISO 100 and 200mm | 20-200mm | 3 |
| Yongnuo YN-560 IV | 190’ at ISO 100 and 105mm | 24-105mm | 3 |
| Yongnuo YN-14EX | 45.9' at ISO 100 | 52mm, 58mm, 67mm and 72mm | 3-5 |
| Yongnuo YN-568EX | 190’ at ISO 100 and 105mm | 24-105mm | 2 |
Canon cameras boast superb image resolution, primarily because the sensors perform well in catching lots of light. However, this also means it's preferable to shoot at ISO 100.
When using standard ISO values, both the Yongnuo YN600EX-RT II and Yongnuo YN968N II emit a powerful light output of up to 60m.
Meanwhile, the YN-560 IV and YN-568EX can cover up to 58m. On the other hand, the YN-14EX can only reach up to 14m due to its direct ring light.
Some Canon cameras suffer from slow autofocus, particularly when there's not enough available light. While built-in flashes can fire light faster, the output tends to falter eventually.
This is why it's still ideal to use Yongnuo external flashes as they have among the fastest recycle rates. For instance, the Yongnuo YN968N II brags a 2-second recharge time, while the YN600EX-RT II comes close at 2.5 seconds.
Both the YN-568EX and YN-14EX can produce light at full power within 3 seconds, whereas the YN-560 IV needs at least 4 seconds to fire again.
While Yongnuo flashes are compatible with Canon cameras, you still need to crosscheck if a specific flash unit is compatible with your Canon model.
This is because you can't attach the external flash to the camera body if the hot shoe isn't suitable. The same rule applies to the trigger, as not all triggers work with other flashes.
Generally, if you have a long-range Speedlight with around 2.4 GHz wireless radio and transmitter, it is capable of triggering flashes at a maximum distance of up to 328 feet range. Usually, the range of a Yongnuo Speedlight depends on the radio and transmitter frequency.
The most associated problem with the Yongnuo Speedlight not firing is the Camera Live View mode on a continuous high drive or low mode. You can avoid this problem by using the viewfinder, pressing and holding the shutter button, and then setting a single-shot mode.
Download the latest corresponding firmware upgrade from the website. Unzip the software and open the READ_ME.txt file in the folder, then follow the instructions given on how to update your Speedlight. However, you should be careful about the specific firmware you download to avoid manipulations.
Yongnuo is among the credible third-party brands that produce compatible yet significantly cheaper flashes than Canon speedlights. With any of the Yongnuo flashes above, your Canon camera can take better exposed real estate photos. You can also read my review of the best Yongnuo flash for Nikon cameras.
