Yongnuo, the Chinese photographic accessory manufacturer, has revealed two new shoe-mount flashguns. The Yongnuo Speedlite YN968N is a long-awaited Nikon version of the YN968EX-RT, the company’s first flash unit with an integrated LED modelling lamp. The YN568EX III is an upgrade to the YN568EX-series of mid-range TTL Speedlites (which include a Pentax version).
What’s new in the YN568EX III? The design of the flash unit is the same as the YN568EX II, with a similar user interface. The specified light output (GN 58) is the unchanged but the recycling time is faster: now 2 seconds rather than 3 at full power. A USB port has been added to allow firmware updates.
Like other flashes in the series, the YN568EX III supports both Nikon and Canon’s optical wireless transmission systems and has an E-TTL hotshoe foot. Master mode is available, so you can use the YN568EX III as an optical master unit to control Yongnuo or Canon EX-series flashes (except the Yongnuo YN565EX) on 4 channels.
There is also a basic optical slave function, but there are no radio capabilities built-in.
How about the new YN968N? It’s almost exactly like the YN968EX-RT, but has a Nikon i-TTL hotshoe foot and works as a radio master or slave for the YN622N 2.4GHz i-TTL radio system. As a commander, it can control other YN968N and YN685N flashes and YN622N (II) transceivers. As a slave, it supports radio TTL signals from other YN968N flashes and YN622N (II) and YN622N-TX transmitters. You can also control it in manual or stroboscopic modes using YN560-TX (II), RF-603 (II) or RF-605 radio triggers.
As well as radio capabilities, the YN968N supports Canon and Nikon’s optical wireless systems and basic optical slave triggering.
The LED lamp is underneath the flash head and has a removable colour-correction filter for balancing with tungsten lighting.
The company has also published a drop test, showing how the YN968EX-RT (the Canon version of the YN968N) can survive a fall from a light stand.
The Yongnuo YN968N is available now for $119 from Amazon, eBay, B&H Photo and other sellers. Pricing and availability for the YN568EX III have not yet been announced.
For more information, visit the manufacturer’s web site.