Yongnuo YN565EX Review - Powerful TTL Flash for the Budget-Conscious

From the same company that manufactures the most popular strobist flash, the YN560, the new YN565EX is Yongnuo's most powerful TTL speedlite ever! With a guide number of 58, it provides a maximum flash power similar to flagship models from brands such as Canon, Nikon, Nissin, and Metz. Read on for our review of the YN565EX!

Key Features

• Large guide number of 58 (at 105mm, ISO100)
• Can be wirelessly triggered by the Canon and Nikon systems
• Full flash zoom range support from 24mm to 105mm; compatible with full-frame and APS-C cameras
• Three-second fast recharging speed with batteries; faster recharging times achievable with external power pack
• PC-sync port
• Optional audio cues to indicate flash status (similar to studio strobes)
• Modeling light function

Construction and Handling

The YN565EX is built with high-quality plastics. It is approximately the same weight and heft as the Canon 580EX II, and feels similarly well-built. The rubber cover for the PC-sync and power port closes snugly, and the battery compartment door feels durable as well. The buttons on the YN565EX depress with a satisfying click; there is no 'squishyness' that might make it difficult to ascertain if the button has been fully depressed. Rounding up the build quality of the YN565EX is the metal hot shoe with a twist-to-lock type mount.

As with other speedlites from competing brands, the YN565EX has a bounce card and wide-angle diffuser built into the flash head.

Existing users of the Canon 580EX II will feel right at home with the YN565EX; it's interface is virtually identical to the Canon system, with the exception of a 4-way pad instead of Canon's scroll wheel being used to modify settings. Operation is intuitive and straightforward.

On more recent Canon DSLRs, the YN565EX supports in-camera flash menus as well. We tested the YN565EX on both the EOS 7D and 60D, and are happy to report that in-camera flash menus work just as expected.

The flash head rotates 90-degrees clockwise and 180-degrees anti-clockwise, allowing for full 360-degree coverage and making it easy to bounce flash in the direction you want to.

Flash Modes

The YN565EX supports a full range of flash modes. On top of TTL mode, the YN565EX supports:

• Manual mode, with flash power adjustable from 1/1 to 1/128 in 1/3-stop increments
• Multi (stroboscopic) mode, with flash power adjustable from 1/1 to 1/128 in 1/3-stop increments, number of flashes from 1 to 100, and frequency from 1 to 100 hertz
• Second curtain sync
• Digital and analogue slave modes

The YN565EX also supports a one-second duration modeling light, activated by the depth-of-field preview button on the camera body. In practice, it is similar to a high-frequency stroboscopic flash firing.

Unfortunately, the YN565EX does not support high-speed sync shooting. If high-speed sync functionality is important to your shooting style, the YN565EX might not be for you.

Conclusion

With an estimated retail price of S$220-280, the YN565EX is a powerful TTL flash at a pocket-friendly price, able to perform many popular functions despite it's relatively low-cost. However, high-speed sync is notably missing, likely a deal-breaker for many. If the YN565EX suits your needs however, it's difficult to recommend a speedlite that offers more bang for your buck.