Yongnuo YN-460 II Speedlite

Yongnuo YN-460 II is a simple manual speedlite intended for photographers who want basic, predictable flash output without TTL automation or a built-in radio system. It is an upgraded version of the original YN-460, with a higher guide number, faster recycling and finer manual power adjustment. Its straightforward controls make it particularly suitable for off-camera lighting, basic portrait setups, product photography and learning manual flash techniques without additional automatic exposure functions.

GN38 output with fine manual power adjustment

The YN-460 II is rated at GN38 at ISO 100 and 35 mm. Flash output is controlled manually, with 46 adjustment steps in approximately 1/7-stop increments. This gives more precise control than the original YN-460 and makes it easier to balance several flashes in a small studio setup. Flash duration ranges from approximately 1/800 to 1/20,000 second, while full-power recycling is specified at around four seconds with AA alkaline batteries.

M, S1 and S2 modes for simple off-camera lighting

The flash provides three core operating modes: M, S1 and S2. Manual mode is used when the unit is mounted directly on a compatible centre-contact hot shoe or connected to an external trigger. S1 works as a conventional optical slave and fires when it detects another flash. S2 is designed to ignore an initial metering pre-flash and respond to the main flash, which can make the unit easier to combine with some automatic on-camera flashes when it is being used as a separate manual light source.

Tilting and rotating head for bounce flash

The head tilts from -7° to 90° and rotates through 270°, allowing the flash to be bounced from ceilings or walls or aimed into umbrellas and compact modifiers. Unlike later Yongnuo speedlites, the YN-460 II does not have a motorised zoom head, TTL exposure or integrated radio triggering. Its simplicity is the main advantage: once the flash power and position are set, the output remains consistent from shot to shot until the photographer changes it.

Four-AA power for lightweight lighting setups

The unit runs on four AA alkaline or Ni-MH batteries. Depending on the selected flash power and battery type, specifications list approximately 100 to 1500 flashes per set. The body weighs around 250 g without batteries and measures approximately 72 × 135 × 85 mm, making it easy to carry several units for compact multi-light setups.

Manual hot-shoe compatibility

Because the YN-460 II is a manual centre-contact flash, it does not provide Canon E-TTL, Nikon i-TTL, Sony TTL or other brand-specific exposure automation. It is best used with cameras that can fire a standard centre-contact flash, or off camera with an appropriate trigger. Compatibility should therefore be checked by hot-shoe type rather than by expecting dedicated TTL communication with a particular camera brand.

Rent Yongnuo YN-460 II at CamCam Rental

At CamCam Rental the YN-460 II is a straightforward choice for manual portrait, product or background lighting, especially when several inexpensive flash sources are needed. We can help you select suitable triggers, stands, umbrellas or other modifiers and check the planned camera connection before the shoot. Availability can be checked online and the rental can be ordered directly through the website.