Yongnuo YN565

The Yongnuo YN565 is the upgraded version of the popular YN560 from Chinese manufacturer Yongnuo. Where as the YN560 is only a manual control speedlite the YN565 has major upgrades, it's now totally ETTL/Manual this means it's in direct compositions with Canon's and Nikon's flagship speedlites and at a third of the cost.

The main features are (Provided by Yongnuo)

ФAWL SUPPORTED FOR N’s & C’s SYSTEM

The YN565EX can be triggered by 580EX II, SB-900/800/700, 7D/60D/600D, Nikon c-command and ST-E2, and flashes as TTL mode as well as M/Multi mode. To enjoy wireless TTL lighting, ratio control, as well as remote control of output level, you may only take a camera with built-in commander mode, and the YN565EX.

ФTTL FLASH WITH LARGE GUIDE NUMBER

GN58@ ISO100, 105mm; which reaches the level of the mainstream hot shoe flashes, supports TTL/M/Multi mode.

ФMULTIPLE TRIGGER MODE SUPPORTED

The YN565EX can be triggered by hot-shoe, flash command slave mode, optical S1, and S2(pre-flash-canceled mode).

ФSUPPORTS AUTO/MANUAL ZOOMING

The YN565EX covers a focal length range of auto, and 24 to 105mm, supports full-frame/half-frame camera.

ФCOMPREHENSIVELY SUPPORTS TTL FUNCTIONS

FEC, FEB, Rear-curtain sync, FE lock, Modeling Light, Canon camera menu accessable

ФSUPER SPEED OF CHARGING RECYCLE

It only takes 3 seconds to finish a charging cycle after a full level output, you can use external power pack to accelerate the charging speed once more.

ФPROVIDES CHARGING SOCKET FOR EXTERNAL POWER PACK

YN565EX provides charging socket for external power pack, to meet your higher demand for charging recycle.

ФPC PORT PROVIDED

YN565EX provides PC port，you can make the flash synchronously by connecting to the PC port.

ФSOUND PROMPT SYSTEM

Turn on the sound prompt function, different sounds indicate working situations help you focus on shooting.

ФMODELING LIGHT FUNCTION

Press down the camera’s depth-of-fired preview button, the YN565EX will send out continuous flash lasting one second.

ФADVANCED SETTINGS ON FLASH

The YN565EX supports advanced settings; you can customize the unit according to your shooting preferences.

ФAUTOMATIC SETTINGS SAVING

YN565EX can save the current settings automatically.

ФLCD PANEL USER INTERFACE WITH SUPER GELIVABLE METAL HOT-SHOE STAND

As you can see the flash has some great features, and will give the strobist more flexability. 

Cactus V5 wireless Triggers

I'm still the proud owners and user of the previous V4 Cactus trigger, they are a solid performer and are 98% reliable, I say 98% because there are a few design issues with the V4's. To name but a few, the clips that hold the batteries in place will become lose over time with then cut the flow of power, the radio frequency setting toggles are hard to adjust once a flash is attached and finally you need a transmitter and receiver.

Enter the new Cactus V5's, these have been totally redesigned and now have a much better battery compartment, one unit is both transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) hence Transceiver. They also us the same type of battery (AAA) the V4 was AAA in reciever and CR2 in the transmitter.

Here are the specs, provided by Gadget Infinity:

Specifications (each V5 transceiver):

• Working radio frequency: 2.4GHz;
• 16 channels selectable;
• Support sync speed: up to 1/1000 second (subject to camera’s sync speed limitation);
• Compatible with all DSLR and SLR cameras with standard ISO hot shoe or PC sync output;
• Compatible with portable flashes and studio strobes;
• Low battery indicator;
• Maximum effective area: 100 meters (328 feet);
• Operating temperature: -20°C to +50°C (-4°F to 122°F);
• Flash voltage handling: up to 300V;
• Camera voltage handling: up to 6V;
• Power input: 2 x AAA 1.5V batteries;
• Connection port: 3.5mm (1/8") mono mini-phone;
• Dimensions: 82mm (L) x 70mm (W) x 37mm (H);
• Weight: 58g;
• Designed using RoHS compliant parts and components
• Package contents:
  • Cactus V5 Transceiver x 2;
  • Flash Stand (FS-5) x 2;
  • 3.5mm Plug Cable (CA-350) x 1;
  • 6.35mm Plug Adapter (PA-635) x 1;
  • PC Sync Cable (CA-100) x 1;
  • AAA Battery x 4;
  • "When Light Dances 2" Photo Album x 1;
  • English User Manual x 1.

MagneFlash Promising to make a Splash

I recently attended Focus on Imaging at the Birmingham NEC here in the UK. I was there with fellow N.T.P host Rick Bradbury checking out all the new flash kit, the usual suspect where there, Bowen's, Profoto as well as Westcott. These are the big guys and had stands that reflected that however in with all the smaller stalls was a new British lighting company call Magnaflash with their revolutionary new strobe design.

They call it Splash, for the very simple reason is that it's splash resistant, so should you be on location and it starts the rain  you be safe in the knowledge that the rain isn't going to fry your strobes. You see the unit it completely self contained in an acrylic casing, it even have a built in rechargeable battery. They've also developed the system so it's expandable using a series of battery tiles you can add more lights giving greater power and faster recycle times.

Key Features:

• Full power flash duration as short as 1/4000s (t=0.5)
• Bright 500 lumen, daylight-balanced, solid state lighting to aid flash setup. (modelling lamp)
• Fast, on-unit recharging
• Splash Proof

At present they company is looking for distribution agents.

Pixel Kings

The new wireless trigger from Pixel HK are the most hottly awaited trigger to come out since the Pocket wizard FlexTT5 and MiniTT1. The Kings offer fully TTL (ETTL) information transfer from camera to the flash via 2.4Ghz radio. they also promise full High Speed Syncing (HSS) of upto 1/8000s.

Here is the description from Pixel themselves:

Product Function For Canon1. Support Canon E-TTL.
2. Up to 3 difference group and 7 combination on the flash transceiver.
3. Support EOS E-TTL II.
4. When using the EOS EX II series flash, you can set difference setting on difference group, available to set 1/1~1/128 flash output, totally 23 difference levels.
5. When using EOS EX II series flash, you can adjust the
flash exposure compensation from camera.
6. Support all the shutter speed, sync speed up to 1/8000s;using the PC socket control the studio ight which also support 1/8000s sync speed.
7. Multi control the speedlite or studio light.

Support maximum performance equipment 1/8000S synchronization and 1/4000S synchronous depending on the camera‘s highest shutter speed

Support flash:	580EX II,580EX,430EX II,430EX,550EX
Vice factory flash:	Metz,SIGMA,Sunpak

Support through camera external flash control menu within the camera flash control :40D,50D,60D,5D,5D Mark II,7D,1D Mark III,1D Mark IV,1Ds ,1Ds Mark II,Support this function can through the camera flash control within the camera menu control 

Support through camera external flash control menu within the flash control:Canon 580EX II, 430EX II;Metz AF - 56 

Function

1	Support camera menu control flash output power
2	Support camera menu Settings flash output mode
3	Support exposure compensation
4	Support ae lock
5	Support camera Settings grouping
6	Support three flash group of output different power flash
7	Support manual transmitters setting on grouping flash
8	Support the former shade synchronization, high-speed synchronization
9	Support high-speed synchronous shadow room lights
10	Support other brands compatible with flash high-speed synchronization and TTL flash (Metz,SIGMA,Sunpak,Nissin)
11	Support other brands compatible with flash high-speed synchronization and TTL flash (May not support the high-speed synchronization and TTL flash)
12	Support update equipment program
13	Support a launcher control multiple receptors work
14	Support flash focusing lights work
15	Don‘t support three flash modes such as output different group - TTL and M model E while flash
16	Don‘t support multiple stroboscopic
17	Don‘t support. After shade synchronous
18	Don‘t support Canon wireless flash system
19	Don‘t support surrounded exposure
20	Don‘t support through the camera menu control EX series flash output model and parameters

Wireless system 

System model :	FSK 2.4GHz Wireless System
Operation Range:	100M above
Channel:	7

Properties

Flash mode :	E-TTL,TTL,M
Synchronous mode :	Former shade, high-speed synchronization
Operation Range:	100M
Group control :	Three categories (7 kinds of mode)
Synchronous speed:	1/8000S
Compatible with flash:	Airborne flash light, shadow room lights, outdoor flash light

Trigger mode

Transmitter :	Output support TTL mode, input support PC, hot boots triggered
Receiver:	Output support TTL, support hot boots, cable interface triggered

Interface

Transmitter :	USB, PC cable input socket, hot boots input and hot boots output
Receiver:	USB, PC cable outlet, hot boots output

Power Supply

Applicable battery :	TX :  AAX2pc (support 1.2 V rechargeable batteries) RX:   AAX2pc (support 1.2 V rechargeable batteries)
Standby Time:	TX :  5 Years RX:  250 Hours
Working Time:	TX:  100 Hours RX:  120 Hours

Thanks the Pixel for the information