This is a review of the Yongnuo YN-622 Flash Trigger. This trigger simply allows you to use your camera flash while it is detached from your camera.
In order to take great pictures, experts often say moving your flash off your camera is the best way to improve your photograph.
This creates very interesting shadows and drastically improves your pictures.
The easiest way to do it is to use remote triggers. Since the Yongnuo YN-622 flash trigger has several different options available, I will explain each one below.
Let’s go over the features, benefits, and costs so you can make up your mind on which one is best for you.
I have bought and tested several versions that work on my Nikon cameras. The results will likely be similar on the Cannon so I have included links to the Cannon versions too. These link to Amazon so you can review the current prices and read the reviews of thousands of others who bought them. This will help you make up your own mind.
Lastly, I will show you how to mix this trigger into your existing manual triggers to increase your options and keep the costs down even more.
You can buy the Yongnuo YN in several different packages.
It is sold in a kit with one transmitter and one receiver or you can buy them separately.
You can also buy 2 receivers and use one as the transmitter and one as the receiver but this is rather difficult to use and I don’t recommend it.
The trigger comes in a Nikon and Cannon version (ending letter tells you which camera it will work on) and both support TTL mode.
The newest version (YN-622ii) will support both TTL and the manual mode flashes and triggers but not together for the reason I will explain below.
Is it Worth it?
The Yongnuo YN622 with the Neewer Speedlite 750II is probably the best accessory in my camera bag!
Light is the most important part of any picture.
It is more important then the camera, lens, and megapixels.
It is everything!
Getting your flash off your camera and creating interesting shadows and perspectives will allow you to be way more creative with your pictures.
Lets be honest, the creative and interesting pictures are always the best ones in your album.
Let’s compare buying the Yongnuo YN-622 Flash Trigger and the Neewer Speedlite 750II compared to the Nikon SB-910.
The Nikon SB-910 speedlite costs almost $900.
For around $300 (1/3 the price), I can get 3 Newer Speedlite 750ii, a Yongnuo YN-622N-Kit, and two extra Yongnuo YN-622N receivers.
The performance is almost identical and the construction excellent.
I will honestly admit the Nikon equipment is slightly better but not in anyway worth the extra money.
For my photography business, I went the budget friendly way and am extremely happy I did.
What makes this different then the manual flash triggers?
I wrote another post about the manual Cowboy triggers which you can read about.
The biggest different is you get way more control over your lighting and you get TTL.
What I mean by this is you can put a flash in TTL mode and then increase or decrease the power as you want.
The flash trigger supports 3 channels and each channel can have a different power level.
All this is controlled from the transmitter you connect to your camera.
You now have the ability to go to a family party, put a flash in the corner of the room, and take great candid pictures of everyone there.
I take this a step further, I have 2 flashes in 2 opposite corners in the room.
This allows me to take a picture anywhere in the room with amazing results.
Sometimes I use my Lambency flash diffuser or sometimes I bounce it off a wall. I have many different light modifiers in my bag but these are my current favorites.
Different Trigger Options
YONGNUO YN622N-KIT
YONGNUO YN622C-KIT
Wireless TTL Flash Trigger Kit with LED Screen for Nikon or Cannon including one YN622-TX Controller and one YN622 Transceiver.
This is the best way to get into remote triggering in one simple box.
Lets be honest, two light sources are always better then one and this kit only lets you control one flash.
I personally use a single flash for 80% of all my pictures.
Why? Because most of the time, I don’t need to provide all the light in a room.
I would balance one flash with a window or use it as a fill in for outside pictures.
And since we are being honest, one light is twice as easy to setup as two lights.
But since I love controlling my light, I sometimes use one transmitter (TX) and 3 receivers.
This allows me to use 2 flashes (and one remote trigger) to fully control the light in just about any room.
Yongnuo YN-622N
Yongnuo YN-622C
This is a wireless TTL 2.4-GHz Wireless Flash Trigger Transceiver Pair DSLRs. You get 2 triggers and either can be used as a transmitter or receiver.
The YN-622 TTL wireless transceiver is a high performance 2.4G wireless flash trigger designed for Nikon or Cannon users. Different photographic effects can be realized through setting the flash at 360 degrees.
It supports TTL and manual flash, front-curtain sync, rear- curtain sync and high-speed sync(Auto FP), the highest sync speed is 1/8000s*. it can remote change flash exposure compensation or flash output of each group, supports different flash mode mix using.
Supports the transmitter installed TTL flash, in addition, it supports the master unit on transmitter sets the parameters of each group. This product is a wireless transceiver design , the distance of remote control reaches 100M, supporting 7 wireless channels and A/B/C three groups, and with AF assist beam emitter function.
Yongnuo YN622N II
Yongnuo YN622C II
The Yongnuo Wireless TTL Flash Trigger YN622 II with High-speed Sync HSS 1/8000s for Nikon Camera.
This is a newer model of the original YN-622 flash trigger adding better support for the Yongnuo YN-560 flash and their manual flash triggers (RF 603/605).
The problem I find with this design is you can either use the flash in iTTL (or e-TTL) mode or manual mode, but not both.
But there is a solution to get both TTL and manual mode to work together and I will describe it below.
Yongnuo YN622N-TX
Yongnuo YN622C-TX
The Yongnuo YN622-TX Wireless TTL Flash Controller Transmitter with LCD Display working with HSS& Full Function for Nikon and Cannon.
The YN622-TX transmitter acts as a master control unit to the popular YN622 TTL and Remote Manual transceivers, providing more functions and a far more user friendly built-in LCD user interface.
Also adding a USB port for firmware updates, which is major advantage over the current triggers.
The improved YN-622-TX also enhances stability, as well as improving information transmission speeds. You should use it with Yongnuo Flash Trigger YN-622 tranceivers.
Yongnuo YN-622 Features:
- 3 Groups ( A/B/C)
- Mix TTL, Remote Manual, and SuperSync Groups
- Syne mode ( 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, Hi-speed sync ( Auto FP ) )
- Max Sync. Speed: 1/8000s
- Trigger Interface: Hot shoe, PC
- Individual 1/3rd stop Manual Power and FEC adjustment
- Remote Flash Zoom in 3 groups, and Auto Zoom
- 2nd Curtain Sync, HSS, SuperSync
- USB port for Firmware Updates
- AF Assist Light
- Remote Shutter Release Function Compatible Camera: Nikon: D70 D70s D80 D90 D200 D300s D600 D700 D800 D3000 D3100 D3200 D5000 D5100 D5200 D5300 D7000 D7100 Compatible Flash: ( You should use it with YN-622N together )
- ETTL Flash: ( It suport wireless remote control through camera menu ) Nikon SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-28, SB-27, SB-26, SB-25, SB-24 Yongnuo Flashes Nikon version: YN-568EX, YN-565EX, YN-500EX, YN-468II, YN-467II, YN-465 Other brand flashes working with Nikon system: Metz, Sunpak, Oloong, Triopo
- Other Flashes: (Not support TTL function or HSS) Canon 580EX, 550EX, 540EZ, 430EX, 430EZ, 420EX, 420EZ, 380EX Yongnuo YN-560III, YN-560II, YN-560EX, YN-560, YN-460II, YN-460 Pentax AF-540 FGZ, AF-360 FGZ, AF-400 FT, AF-240 FT Sigma EF-500 DG Super, EF-500 DG ST, EF-430 Other brand flashes not for Nikon: Metz, Sunpak, Oloong, Triopo
Mixing TTL and Manual Mode Triggers and Flashes
Most photographers know you cannot mix TTL and manual flashes for one simple reason.
When you use TTL mode, your flash takes a preflash to measure the light needed and then adjusts the light on the following flash.
Manual mode flashes will only fire one time. This means you will not correctly measure the light in on your subject when you mix these 2 flashes.
The simple answer is to use the flashes on different subjects.
For example, I can use my TTL flashes on my main subject, then use my manual flashes (and triggers) and use them on the background and highlights.
This way I can reuse my older gear and get better, more interesting lighting.
Here is the best part!
I take the trigger that is connected to the manual mode triggers and I use it as my remote RF shutter control. I can snap a picture using the receiver so it serves double duty.
The other day, I was taking a picture of my kids by the fireplace.
To make the picture more interesting, I placed a manual flash in the fireplace with an orange filter to make the fireplace look like it was on.
The kids were standing in front with my TTL flashes pointed to them and the picture turned out perfect.
Sometimes when I take a portrait, I will take my manual flashes and flood the background with light so I get a complete whitewash look.
With the light on my subjects correctly metered (using TTL mode), I can get a great photo with a completely white background. The best thing about this, no post editing.
This means I can save a lot of time editing a bunch of photos.
I also get the satisfaction of knowing that I am getting the picture right from the start.
Just like I had to do in my film days.
Conclusion
I love my Yongnuo Flash Trigger yn-622 and cannot say enough good things about them, but please don’t just take my word for it.
Check out the reviews on Amazon (by clicking the images and links above) and read the reviews for yourself.
This is a great accessory and critical to taking your photography to the next level.
If you already own this trigger, tell us what you think and how you are using it? Do you agree with my opinion of it and what do you like best about it?
Do you have any questions, let me know.
