Issue with Yongnuo 565EX Flash

[stevejh]

I have just bought a Yongnuo 565EX flash from Amazon for my D7100. It only arrived on Thursday and I have probably taken around 30 shots with the flash on camera in TTL mode since then and it seemed to be working perfectly. This morning I took half a dozen shots on camera then tried to set the flash up as a slave. I couldn't get it to work so went to put it back on the camera but then it switched itself off and when switched back on it was showing PL (power loss) on the display.

I decided to replace the batteries so took out the old ones (actually brand new eneloops) which were almost too hot too handle and replaced them with four more brand new eneloops.

Back on the camera the flash was clearly communicating with it as it was zooming and showing the correct aperture but it just wouldn't flash. It also won't flash at all when the pilot button is pressed.

Before I return it to Amazon I just wanted to see if anybody has any idea what the issue might be. I have reset it so I doubt it is anything to do with any settings I changed when I was trying to get it to work in slave mode and my understanding is that, whatever the settings, it should flash when the pilot button is pressed. Am I missing something or should I just send it back?

[Golaboots]

Is the 565ex the one that can handle Nikon and canon wireless slave?
Is it set to Nikon and the same channel and group as per camera menu?

[stevejh]

I'm pretty sure that I had the settings right but it just refused to work. It then wouldn't work when I put it back on the camera and was getting very hot. Once I got the 'power loss' error message I removed the batteries, which were almost too hot too handle, and replaced them with new ones. Although it was zooming and changing aperture in sync with the camera it wouldn't flash and it also wouldn't flash when 'pilot' was pressed.

I hope I wasn't missing some obvious setting as it's now on it's way back to Amazon.

I'm hoping it was one of the 10% of faulty Yongnuo flashes (seems to be the % if you check online) as I've ordered another one.

For the amount of times I am likely to use it I really can't justify the cost of a Nikon flash - well, I can justify it to myself but justifying it to the wife might be another matter.

[Simpo Two]

stevejh said:

For the amount of times I am likely to use it I really can't justify the cost of a Nikon flash - well, I can justify it to myself but justifying it to the wife might be another matter.

I agree they seem poor value by comparison but in the big scheme of things it's not much, so get one and enjoy trouble-free flashing. And you'll have the smug satisfaction of not having 'ECONOFLASH' stuck above your camera

[ExPat2B]

It sounds like the flash is broken - the batteries shouldn't get that hot so quickly, only after about 10-20 consecutive flashes should it get really hot.

I put about 400 shots at full power in one hour on a Yongnuo 568EX at the weekend, no problem.

Does the flash work on your camera ? Best to separate the issue off from wireless mode. I have never had any problem moving from optical slave to on camera, never any erorrs.

[stevejh]

I tried it back on the camera and it still wouldn't flash. It's on it's way back to Amazon now and I've just had an email to tell me the refund has been made.

And my new YN565 is waiting for me at home. Gotta love Amazon Prime.

The new one will be getting lots of testing over the next few days (as long as it lasts that long).

[steveatesh]

Simpo Two said:

I agree they seem poor value by comparison but in the big scheme of things it's not much, so get one and enjoy trouble-free flashing. And you'll have the smug satisfaction of not having 'ECONOFLASH' stuck above your camera

Can't argue with that really but I decided to buy the YN568 based on reviews and initially a recommendation from here (I'd never heard of the make until then!)

They get very positive reviews and I got one plus the wireless triggers that allow TTL metering for under a hundred quid. I was a little dubious at first but the build quality is excellent and I've never had a technical problem at all, touch wood.

Of course understanding flash and balance with ambient light then learning how to use them properly is another matter!

Edited to add I have been so pleased with them that I bought another and wireless trigger too, so now learning how to work two flash together,as well as ambient light. What have I done for my sanity!