YongNuo have announced the MK II version of the very popular YN-568EX TTL & HSS flash for Canon will be available from June 13.

The new YN-568EX II is exactly the same as the current YN-568EX except for an added Master control for the Canon optic wireless system.

For Canon users though this added optic master controller may not be all that important now that there are much more convenient (and inexpensive) radio based TTL triggers like the YongNuo YN-622C available.

This master controller will be a lot more advantage in the coming Nikon version of the YN-568EX II, because the YN-622N TTL radio triggers for Nikon require a master control unit mounted on top of the transmitter, if you want to have full functions and easy control of the system. Where the Canon YN-622C TTL triggers do not use this master at all, as everything is controlled through the cameras flash control menu.

So for Canon users the best part of this MK II release may actually be the opportunity to pick up some current YN-568EX at slightly better prices again. The YN-568EX II is expected around $10 more, with YN-568EX prices on Amazon with local shipping currently from around $185.

The YN-568EX / II is the current flagship TTL flash from YongNuo, and the first flash unit from a Chinese manufacture to feature High Speed Sync (HSS) allowing camera shutter speeds up to 1/8000th of a second.

The YN-568EX have overwhelmingly been the most popular flash unit to be combined with the also very popular YN-622C, and now YN-622N, TTL and HSS enables radio triggers, which provide the convenience of full remote control of off camera flashes in manual or TTL, directly from the camera.

In terms of power they YN-568EX / II are only 0.3 stops behind the top end Canon and Nikon flashes, and recycle time is around 2.8 seconds. The main feature missing in the YN-568EX is a high voltage port for external battery packs, and that has not been updated in the YN-568 EX II either. If you need the battery port the YN-565EX is the main option, great value at around $40 cheaper now, but without the HSS function.

Apart from that, the YN-568EX flash, and YN-622C trigger offer a very impressive system for the low price.

See a full review of the YN-568EX here, and YN-622C here.