Yongnuo YN560-TX II

Question

I watched a Kelby One lesson and per course purchased a Yongnuo YN560-TX manual controller to trigger my Nikon SB900 off camera with a softbox. Do I need to purchase something else to make this work (R-603 II or something). New to this and didn't mention in class. I have searched everywhere trying to figure this out because it doesn't work as is with D600, SB900, and the YN560-TX II manual controller.

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 08 '19 at 03:23

2

The YN-560-TX, as a dedicated radio transmitter requires a radio receiver to trigger a remote flash. The SB-900 does not have one built-in, so you need to add one onto the foot of the flash. You can use the RF-602, RF-603, RF-603 II, or RF-605. But all you will be able to do is fire the flash remotely. The YN-560-TX and an RF-60x cannot communicate TTL, HSS (use a faster shutter speed than your camera body's sync speed), or remote power/settings control. This gear is manual-only.

You would actually have more control (TTL, remote settings control) over an SB-900 if you used it as a "smart" optical (CLS/AWL) off-camera flash while using the D600's pop-up flash as your CLS commander.

To get similar control over radio, you could also use iTTL-capable radio triggers: the Yongnuo YN-622N, Godox X1R-N, Phottix Odin II, etc. etc. There are dozens of these types of radio triggers on the market today.

The YN-560-TX is actually best paired with the YN-560 III, YN-560IV, YN-660, or YN-560Li units, which have built-in radio triggers that allow for remote zoom and power control. But. In Yongnuo's system, you cannot mix manual and TTL gear, as you can in Godox or Phottix's systems.

answered Apr 08 '19 at 03:23

inkista

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Very comprehensive reply.
If you want to use your SB-900 I suggest to just start with a pair of RF-603 IIs. Later you can extend your system with the YN-560 III or newer YN-660 and then it makes sense to get an YN 560-TX.

One addition: Having one TTL flash helps. You can also control the TTL flash YN-685 using the YN-560TX in manual mode. However for off-camera flash I see no reason to use TTL anyway. As you already have the SB-900 this tip comes to late for you of course.
– Banzai Apr 08 '19 at 08:29
@Yaba, I'd actually say return the YN-560-TX, sell the SB-900 and go get a Godox TT685N and Flashpoint R2 Pro II-Nikon transmitter. :) Yongnuo just dead-ends very quickly when it comes to expansion. Also, a Godox TT600 and X1T transmitter cost the same a YN-560-TX and YN-560IV, but give you HSS, and much more room for expansion, including TTL and bigger-than-speedlight options in the same system. – inkista Apr 08 '19 at 19:51
AS said, TTL is of no use for off-camera flash. HSS is nice, but you loose way too much power. I have better experience using an ND filter. But yes, if you want to extend your flash portfolio to bigger flashes, Godox is a very good option. If you want to stay with speedlights however Godox is about twice the price for a more complex system, where you do not need most of the features. – Banzai Apr 10 '19 at 08:57
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@Yaba, it's not more expensive, if you only want manual-only gear. The TT600 and X1T combo costs the same as the YN-560IV/YN-560-TX combo. But you get HSS. And TTL is of use for off-camera flash if you have a triggering system with TTL lock. But most folks don't know this because affordable systems that do this only got released last year. – inkista Apr 10 '19 at 23:42
Thank you @Inkista. Didn't had the TT600 on my radar. Yes, that looks like a very good alternative to Yonguo indeed. Especially with the added HSS at the same price. You got me convinced. – Banzai Apr 12 '19 at 15:00

Michael C · Answer 2 · 2019-04-09T05:36:52.040

The Yongnuo YN560-TX II has a radio transmitter made to communicate with Yongnuo manual flashes with built in radio receivers that use the YN560/RF605/RF603 protocol.

Your SB900 has an optical receiver for Nikon's CLS/AWL wireless flash protocol.

Although the Yongnuo YN560/RF605/RF603 manual protocol and the YN622 TTL protocols are mostly incompatible, YN622 devices made since the end of 2014 can be set to receive YN560-TX signals to control manual flash power and manual zoom head settings as well as fire the flash. If you set a YN622N II to 'YN560 Rx' mode and attach it to your SB900 it should allow you to control the power and zoom head setting manually from the YN560N-TX attached to your camera and fire the flash in sync.

Yongnuo YN560-TX II

2 Answers2