SHENZHEN YONGNUO PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT CO. LTD YN686EX-RT 用户手册

11

Set the power switch to [ON] position, the 
speedlite will turn on and start charging. After 
turned on, the [Charging Indicator] will bright 
with red light which indicates it can flash. 
If the battery is low, and the speedlite cannot 
be fully charged in 25s, the <Charging 
Indicator> will bright with blue light, the LCD screen shows low-battery 
icon, and the speedlite will shut down automatically. At this moment, 
please change batteries. 

Slide [Power Switch] to <LOCK> position, the 
[  ]and buttons of speedlite will be locked. 
T h i s   f u n c t i o n   p r e v e n t s   t h e   s e l e c t e d  
parameters from being changed accidentally.
 

When the charging indicator turns red, 
pressing [      

] button to test if the flash is 

normal or not. 

Short press [MODE] button to set the flash 
mode as ETTL mode. In ETTL mode, the light 
measuring system of the camera can detect 
the flash lighting reflected from the subject, 
adjust the flash output amount automatically 
and makes the subject and the background 
expose evenly. YN686EX-RT supports FEC, FEB, high-speed sync, 
second-curtain sync, exposure lock, aperture preview, menu access of 
Canon camera, etc.
In ETTL mode, the flash intensity can be compensated. The 
compensation range is -3EV~+3EV; the accuracy is 1/3EV or 1/2EV. 

SEL/

SET

SEL/

SET

Short press [MODE] button to set the flash 
mode as M mode. In M mode, the flash 
intensity can be asjusted according to your 
own need. By short presssing functional 
button [ 

] ,   a f t e r   < F l a s h   O u t p u t >   i s  

highlighted, the flash output power can be 
adjusted when you rotate [  ]. Adjustement 
range of flash output in M mode is 1/128~1/1. 
The output can be divided into 8 grades. 
Each grade has maximum 3 grades for find 
adjustment. With 1/3EV as adjustment 
increment, there are totally 22 grades for fine 
adjustment. In shooting, you just need to set flash output, adjust the 
camera and press camera shutter, the flash fires when it receives sync 
signal from the camera. 

Short press [MODE] button to set the flash 
mode as Multi (stroboscopic) mode. In Multi 
mode, the speedlite fires according to the 
selected flash output, flash frequency and 
number of flashes. The setting method of 
flash output is same as setting method in M 
m o d e .   T h e   f l a s h   o u t p u t   r a n g e   i s  
1/128-1/64-1/32-1/16-1/8-1/4. Select number 
of flashes through functional button [ 

]  

and select flash frequency through [      ]

 

button. Enter into parameter setting status 
and rotate [  ] to adjust number of flashes 
and flash frequency. The range of number of flashes is 1~100; the range 
of flash frequency is 1~100.

SEL/

SET

Automatically zooming: Short press [ 
] button, wait for the focal length value 
highlighted on the LCD screen and adjust the 
coverage range through [  ]. When <  >  
displays at the left side of <ZOOM> button, 
put the speedlite on the camera, the flash 
light cup will move back and forth along with the change of the focal 
length of the lens to fit different flash coverage range (Defaults to 
35mm). 
Manually Set the zooming position: Press[ 

] button to select 

focal length value, and adjust the focal length value with [  ]   b u t t o n .  
When <  > displays at the left side of [ZOOM] icon, the flash coverage 
(24, 28, 35, 50, 70, 80, 105，200mm) can be manually adjusted.

8.Camera Menu (Supports newer versions of Canon 

For the newer versions of Canon cameras which supports ETTL,you can 
operate the flash through the camera menu.On the Flash Control 
Menu,you can set relevant parameters of the flash through “External 
flash func. Settings” or “External Flash C.Fn settings” ,for 
example,ETTL switching mode,M mode,MULTI mode,Gr mode,Wireless 
Flash mode,Synchronization method, Exposure bracketing,Exposure 
compensation ,zoom and self-defined functions.

When it is difficult to autofocus on the subject 
in low-light or low-contrast shooting 
environment,the flash will activate the built-in 
AF-Assist Beam to help autofocus,the 
AF-Assist Beam can be set to be enable or 
disable.

When the camera’ s depth-of-field preview button is pressed,the flash 
fires continuously for approx.1 second,this feature is called “Modeling 
Flash” .For detailed operation,please refer to the user manual of the 
camera.

This product is designed with power saving 
mode,and the power saving mode can be 
achieved by setting self-defined function,for 
detailed settings,please refer to subsequent 
“Self-defined function setting” chapter.When 
the power saving mode is on ,the flash will 
keep idle for a while and go to sleep,in sleeping mode,the flash keeps 
idle for a while and powers off automatically.
If the flash is in sleeping mode,you can half press the shutter of the 
camera or press[  ]to wake up the flash.

Sequential flash causes the increase of the internal temperature of the 
speedlite,when the temperature reaches to a certain amount,the 

overheat warning appears.
If the speedlite is used too frequently,the 
overheat protection will be triggered,and the 
LCD screen shows the icon of <overheat 
protection>,with red and blue light of 
[

r e c y c l i n g   i n d i c a t o r   l i g h t   ] f l a s h i n g  

alternatively.When the overheat protection is 
triggered,the speedlite will be locked, the 
parameter  cannot be adjusted and the 
speedlite cannot flash.In this case,please 
keep the speedlite idle for over 10 minutes 
until the speedlite cools down for continual 
use.In order not to affect shooting,please try 
to use 1/4 output or lower output level when fast shooting is needed.

Through the C.FN20 option of Self-defined setting,you can turn on or off 
the sound prompt function.When this function is on,the speedlite will 
make different sounds to remind the working mode,for the specific 
sound method and meaning,please refer to “Component Description” 
chapter.

The speedlite will save the current settings automatically ,which is 
convenient for your next use.

Press the function button 2 and 3 at the same 
time for about 2 seconds,apart from the 
self-defined function setting,the parameters 

such as the trigger mode,flash mode,flash brightness and focal length 
will be restored to default setting.

This product supports firmware upgrade,please visit YONGNUO official 
website www.hkyongnuo.com to download the latest update software 
and firmware to upgrade the speedlite.The upgrading method is as 
follows,

(1) Connect with the PC through 
USB cord(USB cord is required to 
buy separately)
( 2 )   Tu r n   o f f   t h e   s p e e d l i t e ,  
press[MODE]until it enters the 
upgrade interface.
(3) Enter upgrade software, 
upgrade the speedlite according to 
the software prompts.

The YN686EX-RT supports wireless radio transmission flash 
shooting,realize wireless TTL,manual and stroboscopic function. As the 
master unit,the speedlite can trigger the YONGNUO and Canon RT 
series speedlites,such as the YN600EX-RT II/YN968EX-RT/600EX 
II-RT/430EX III-RT;as the slave unit, the same YN686EX-RT can 
respectively receive the YONGNUO and Canon RT series speedlites 
and the wireless signal of YN600EX-RT II/YN968EX-RT/600EX 
II-RT/YN-E3-RT/ST-E3-RT.
The flash mode,manual flash output,exposure compensation,exposure 
bracketing,exposure locking and etc settings of the master unit will be 
automatically transfer to each slave unit. 
•

Long press the [Mode]button to enter the 
trigger mode selected interface,rotate the[  
] until the LCD displays the <   

>to 

enter wireless radio master unit state.Short 
press the [MODE] button to swift the flash 
mode of the master unit.

•

Long press the [Mode] button to enter the 
trigger mode selected interface,rotate the[   ] 
until the LCD displays the<  

> t o  

enter wireless radio slave unit state. When 
the YN686EX-RT used as slave unit,the flash 
mode will be totally controlled by the master unit.If the master unit and 
slave unit are set the exposure compensation,the exposure 
compensation value from both units will be superimposed. 

•

In public if there are other photographers in use of the wireless radio 
multiple flash or other radio equipment, you can change the 
transmission channel and radio ID to avoid the interference.The 
YN686EX-RT is equipped with 15 physical channels,an automatic 

channel and 10000 ID for option . 
Channel setting: short press the[    ] button 
to enter the channel setting state,rotate the [ 
] to choose “AUTO” or choose the suitable 
channel from 1 to 15,short press the [SET] 
button for save. 
ID setting:short press the function button [ 

]

to enter ID waiting state,rotate the [  

]to choose the position need to change,short 
p r e s s   t h e   [ S E T ]   b u t t o n   t o   e n t e r   t h e  
responding ID position to adjust the state,then 
rotate the [  ] to choose the required number 
from 0 to 9,and short press the [SET] button 
to save the setting,press the function button [ 

]

to return to the wireless interface. 

In the wireless radio transmission flash 
shooting process, make sure the transmission 
channel and ID setting of the master unit and slave unit are the 
same,otherwise the flash could not work normally. When the master unit 
and the slave unit make connection establishment, the <LINK>indicator 
will be in green light. 

•

You can scan the radio receiving state and automatically or manually set 
the transmission channel of the master unit. 
When the channel set to “AUTO” ,it will 
automatically set the received signal 
channel.When manually set the channel,you 
can reset the transmission channel at the 
same time in the reference scan results. 
Scan setting: short press the function button[ 

]

to enter the scan interface,the flash 

LCD panel will display the scan results,the 
higher the peak of which channel on the 
chart,the stronger the radio the radio signals. 

•

The master flash on or forbid flash （ON/OFF）

When the YN686EX-RT as master unit to 
process wireless radio transmission flash 
shooting,you can choose if the master unit 
participate in the flash or not. When the 
master unit set to ON,the master unit will 
participate the flash as Group A flash.Short 
press the function button 4 to display < 

> , s h o r t   p r e s s   t h e  

function button 1 [ 

]

to set the master unit to ON/OFF.  < 

>means the master unit flash ON， <  >means the master unit 
flash OFF。

•

Short press the function button[  ] o n  
the slave unit and set the slave unit as any 
group of group A,B,C. 
Short press the function button on the master 
unit to set the flash group,each short press[ 

],the setting change will change by: 

RATIO OFF、RATIO A:B、RATIOA:B C（or 
RATIO A:B:C）.Short press the function 
button [  ] and rotate the [  ] to select the 
flash group which need to set the flash ratio 
and flash output,then short press the[ 

]

button to enter the flash parameter 

setting state,through rotate the [  ]to adjust the flash ratio,exposure 
compensation or flash output of the group flash. 

If you need larger output or hope for better 
lighting,you can increase the number of speedlite 
on one slave group for maximum total 15 units. 
For example: if the three slave units set to group 
A,they will be seen as one speedlite and 
controlled by the master unit. 

•

Short press the [mode] button on the master 
unit and set tot Gr mode, then set the slave 
units group with different flash mode and 
flash output through the master unit. When in 
G r   m o d e   f l a s h i n g , u p   t o   5   g r o u p s

（

A/B/C/D/E/F） of speedlite can be triggered 

a t   t h e   s a m e   t i m e . S h o r t   p r e s s   t h e   [  

]

button,rotate the [  ]to select the flash 

group which need to set the parameter,short 
press the [ 

]

button to select the flash 

mode（ETTL、M、OFF）,short press the[ 

]

button and rotate the [   ] to adjust the  

e x p o s u r e   c o m p e n s a t i o n   a n d   f l a s h  
output.After the parameter set press the [ 

]

button to return to the shooting ready 

state.

The YN686EX-RT supports optical transmission wireless flash 
shooting,realize wireless TTL,manual and stroboscopic function.As 
master unit,the speedlite can trigger the YONGNUO EX series 
speedlite(excluding the YN585EX) through the wireless radio 
transmission;as the slave unit, the same YN600EX-RT II can 
respectively receive the wireless signal of YN686EX-RT、YN600EX-RT 
(II)、YN568EX II、Canon 600EX（II）-RT、580EX II、7D/60D/600D 
cameras built-in flash,Nikon built-in flash C command and optical 
transmission wireless signal.
The flash mode,manual flash output,exposure compensation,exposure 
bracketing,exposure locking and etc settings of the master unit will be 

automatically transfer to each subordinate unit. 
The YN686EX-RT in optical transmission wireless flash shooting,up the 
supports A、B、C three groups of slave unit flash control,with total four 
channels（CH1/2/3/4） for option.The setting method of flash grouping 
and transmission channel is the same as the wireless radio transmission 
flash shooting.

•

Long press the [Mode]button to enter the 
trigger mode selected interface,rotate the[  
] until the LCD displays the <   

> t o  

enter wireless radio master unit state.Short 
press the [MODE] button to swift the flash 
modes between the ETTL、M、MULTI three 
flash modes.  

•

Long press the [Mode] button to enter the 
trigger mode selected interface,rotate the[  
] until the LCD displays the<  

> t o  

enter wireless radio slave unit state. When 
the YN686EX-RT used as slave unit,there are Sc、Sn、S1、S2 four 
trigger modes for option.  

S c / S n   t r i g g e r   m o d e   c a n   r e s p e c t i v e l y   r e c e i v e   t h e  
YN686EX-RT,YN600EX-RT(II),YN568EX II,Canon 600EX（II）
-RT,580EX II,7D/60D/600D cameras built-in flash,Nikon built-in flash C 
command and optical transmission wireless signal,realize off camera 
TTL and manual flash.When the YN686EX-RT in Sc/Sn trigger mode,the 
flash mode and flash output of slave unit will be totally controlled by the 
master unit.  
Sc trigger mode:only accept the Canon optical transmission wireless 

flash signal
Sn trigger mode:only accept the Nikon optical transmission wireless 

flash signal

S1/S2 trigger mode is respectively suitable for the manual flash 
environment and TTL flash environment.When the YN686EX-RTin 
S1/S2 trigger mode, the flash mode will default to M mode, the setting 
method of flash output is the same as set top M mode.   

S1 mode: In this mode it will work with the first flash synchronously of 

the master flash, with the result consistent with the use of radio slave. To 
use this mode properly, the master flash should be set to manual 
flash,should not use the TTL flash system with preflight function and the 
red eye reduce function with multiflash. 
S2 mode: It is also called “pre-flash cancel mode” . This mode is similar 

with S1 mode, but it can neglect the pre-flash given by TTL flash. 
Therefore, it can support the master flash working in TTL mode. In 
particular, if S1 mode cannot flash properly and sync with your internal 
flash, you can try to use S2 mode.