I’ve never been a fan of using flash. They are bulky and big, this was especially true when I was still using DSLR’s. Although I am fully aware of the many advantages of using flash. Plus, I have always been interested on how flash looks when used on street photography. Martin Parr, Bruce Gilden, and Daniel Arnold are some of the street photographers who uses flash, whose work I admire. But I’ll never be as bold as them.
Anyway, back to me using flash. Ever since I’ve shifted to a smaller mirrorless system, I’ve been on a hunt for a flash. I just needed 2 things for it to be the ideal flash for me. It needs to be portable and versatile, which is surprisingly still hard to find even for the mirrorless system. But then I found the Yongnuo YN6 mini flash. Not only is it portable and versatile, it also looks like a retro flash. Which is a perfect match for my Fujifilm x100s and Fujifilm X-E3, and maybe my film cameras too?
The Yongnuo YN6 mini flash isn’t the smallest flash available. Still, it’s very impressive to be this compact considering the many features it offers. This flash is fully manual with four brightness levels. Has a 90-degree angle adjustment for the body, and a 105-degree rotation angle for the flash head. Most compact flashes won’t have these features. So it’s refreshing to see these on a flash that is almost the same size as a credit card. Plus, the Yongnuo YN6 mini flash only weighs 93 grams. Talk about light weight.
The Yongnuo YN6 mini flash also comes with some accessories. A small reflector panel and an orange CTO gel to give you more control over your preferred lighting. Both accessories attach to the flash easily either by magnet or clip. Very clever implementation if you ask me. It also doesn’t take batteries but instead is rechargeable via USB-C and is rated at 500 shots per full charge.
I find the Yongnuo YN6 mini flash to be a great deal considering it only costs around Php 1,500 (30 USD). Of course, I wouldn’t use this flash on professional jobs like events or any fast paced shooting. And the built quality remains questionable since it is made mostly out of plastic. But for everyday casual use, I think this flash is powerful and capable enough.
With the rise of digicams and film photography, I found myself using this flash head on to my subjects. Which gave the photos a more raw, point-and-shoot vibe. I also found the flash’s power plenty enough even when shooting outdoors. Though it still remains to be seen if I can muster enough courage to use this flash for street photography. Overall, I can recommend this flash to anyone who’s looking to try out flash photography and uses a compact/small camera.
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King 