Okay, so I am getting ready to jump into flash photography. I would like to do this a little cheaper than the SB-700 speedlights. I was looking at the Yongnuo YN560-II as a good alternative. As I understand, these work great for slave strobes and off camera flashes with a wireless trigger. However, I have the privilege to borrow one of these and can't get the D7000 to recognize it while attached to the camera on the hot shoe. Everything I can find online says it is compatible with all standard hot shoes (including Nikon) but I get nothing. I understand it is a manual flash, but shouldn't it trigger via the camera when attached to the hot shoe?

Thanks for the help!
- Philip

Some flashes require a specific polarity in order to work properly. For those manual flashes with reversed polarity, with regard to the host camera, I have greater success with a Wein Safe-Sync in-between the flash and the camera.

Alternately, just try a different flash. If manual flash is all you need, try an old Nikon SB-28. The SB-28 also includes an "A", 'auto' mode which works independently of the body to control flash output.

Originally Posted by PhilD41 Okay, so I am getting ready to jump into flash photography. I would like to do this a little cheaper than the SB-700 speedlights. I was looking at the Yongnuo YN560-II as a good alternative. As I understand, these work great for slave strobes and off camera flashes with a wireless trigger. However, I have the privilege to borrow one of these and can't get the D7000 to recognize it while attached to the camera on the hot shoe. Everything I can find online says it is compatible with all standard hot shoes (including Nikon) but I get nothing. I understand it is a manual flash, but shouldn't it trigger via the camera when attached to the hot shoe? Thanks for the help! - Philip

Yes. What is your menu for flash set to? My Yonguo works on my Canon and my Nikon. My Nikon SB also works on my Canon. Also as a side tidbit, your Yonguo will slave from the Nikon's flash on-cam, sans wireless trigger. Flashing or slaving just from the Camera's flash. It has a setting to allow this, I think it's S2 ( on the flash) if memory serves.

Originally Posted by ziggy53 Some flashes require a specific polarity in order to work properly. For those manual flashes with reversed polarity, with regard to the host camera, I have greater success with a Wein Safe-Sync in-between the flash and the camera. Alternately, just try a different flash. If manual flash is all you need, try an old Nikon SB-28. The SB-28 also includes an "A", 'auto' mode which works independently of the body to control flash output.

Thanks ziggy, I will look into those safe-sync option. I thought the YN560-II was suppose to be compatible though. As for the SB-28. They look nice, but a little hard to come bit. I would love a SB-700, but don't know that I want to (or can afford) to start there.

Originally Posted by angevin1 Yes. What is your menu for flash set to? My Yonguo works on my Canon and my Nikon. My Nikon SB also works on my Canon. Also as a side tidbit, your Yonguo will slave from the Nikon's flash on-cam, sans wireless trigger. Flashing or slaving just from the Camera's flash. It has a setting to allow this, I think it's S2 ( on the flash) if memory serves.

I have successfully use the flash as a slave in both S1 and S2 mode. What I can't do is put it in the hot shoe and use it as a flash. The camera has no idea it is there. As for the settings? I am not sure what to change. I can set the onboard flash as TTL / Manual/ or Commander, but that don't affect the hot shoe. I don't see any other settings that would. Am I missing something. Again, my camera is a D7000.

Thanks for the replies!!

As with most things this appears to be user error. I have to have my D7000 in manual (M) mode for it to work. It doesn't in Aperture (A) mode. I tried it once in manual mode, but apparently the flash was in slave mode at that point. Doh! So manual mode on both works perfect.

Thanks for the help!!