FINE ARTS fun samples + REVIEW of Yongnuo RF602 wireless trigger set + YN642 flash - AusPhotography:: Australia's Premier Photography Forum::

JM Tran · #1 22-09-2009, 12:14am

Before I write anything else, I would like to boast that I have been setting off my flashes wirelessly at a range of over 150m, without any misfiring so far

This is a review of the latest wireless trigger/receiver set and flash from YONGNUO, a company hailing from Shenzhen in China. All I can say is WOW. Probably the best bang for your buck trigger set ever made so far. I bought the trigger and 2x receivers for 60 bucks and the YN462 flash for 40 on ebay - with free delivery to Adelaide from HK.

PROs

1. The receivers lie flat on the tripod/light stand screw thread and does not have the flimsy pivot mount like the Cactus products which is prone to breaking or bending over with heavy flashes
2. build quality is excellent! feels solid and well made, not cheap like other budget triggers
3. receivers use AAA batteries and trigger is CR2, with their own battery compartments and hatch
4. VERY LONG range - I have been able to set mine off at 150M away, and some have claimed up to nearly 200m, and I have shot through buildings, and a few stories up too
5. By mounting the receiver with flash onto the camera hotshoe - the trigger acts as a remote control and can be used to take photos - pressing it half way will auto focus the camera, and further will take the picture - amazing!
6. operating at 2.4gigahertz instead of the usual 300-433MHZ for other triggers, means that it suffers from less intereferences from electronics devices, and more legal to use internationally without getting into trouble

CONs

1. no lock for hotshoe mount when mounting the trigger or receiver on flash - but the chance of falling out is slim as its very stable and tight

YN642 FLASH

PROs

1. well built and very cheap
2. decent light output
3. very simple to use with only manual mode
4. full tilt and swivel head

CONs

1. flimsy battery door
2. no power rating on back, operated by a circular dial and u guess the power output, full power is full lock of the dial to the right obviously
3. average power ouput of GN23, apparently its the truth although they stated its GN33

SUMMARY

What can I say, but Pocketwizards, Skyports, Cactus, Radio Poppers eat your heart out for range and price! The Yongnuo RF602 is undoubtedly the best budget trigger set I have ever used and floors the oppositions like Cactus even their newer V4 designs. And will outrange the more expensive professional products - albeit at the cost of manual only settings and no TTL. But the icing on the cake is the ability to use my camera wirelessly with the trigger - I will be using it in a sports shoot coming up, setting up a camera right behind the goal keeper and sit in the stands to take shots with the remote trigger

The flash on the other hand represents a very good value for money light option, 2-3 of them will light up any room at a fraction of the costs of say, a single Canon 580EXII. It will be very handy for wedding photographers such as I am to mount 3-4 of them around a large hall or church, and shoot in the centre - for a better ambient lighting/flash feel. The drawback is the recycle time at full power, so dont expect to buy these and pop off shots at 1/1 every second!

Here are photos of the products, and samples of a shoot I did using them outdoors

In order to use your camera wirelessly to take photos with AF, it must be connected like this

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swifty · #2 22-09-2009, 2:24pm

Wow..thanks for that, Jackie. Just when I was looking for some radio triggers.
Had a lot of problems with my first and only outdoor shoot using remote strobes and I was contemplating getting an SU800 but this seems like really good bang for your buck.
Do u mind posting exactly which ebayer u bought this off or is there only one seller selling these.

I @ M · #3 22-09-2009, 2:27pm

Thanks for the review Jackie, silly me was looking at the remote triggers on ebay and SWMBO walked in and said "they look good, buy two", there goes the credit card again.

I @ M · #4 22-09-2009, 2:32pm

Swifty, the best priced ones I found are at --- http://cgi.ebay.com.au/YONGNUO-RF-60...d=p3286.c0.m14

JM Tran · #5 22-09-2009, 2:41pm

Ok guys here is the link to the powerseller's shop, I finally found it

http://shop.ebay.com.au/hkyongnuopho...1&_from=&_ipg=

I recommend buying at least 2x receivers, 1 isnt enough in the long run

ehor · #6 22-09-2009, 3:46pm

They certainly are great value. Been using them for over a month. DealExtreme.com have trigger and receiver set for $30 delivered if you want a 2nd transmitter.

MattC · #7 22-09-2009, 4:13pm

Great review - thanks!

trigger · #8 22-09-2009, 5:47pm

Nice review Jackie. I have the previous version of the Younuo triggers and these seem to be more solid.
However i noticed that these new ones are 2.4Ghz...:O this is in the the licenses free range and there are tons of devices that use this. Most common is bluetooth and your standard Wifi! But i wonder if it will trigger it?

Another important feature I would like to confirm is the sync-Speed. Does it do over 1/250? The ones that I have only sync at around 1/250<. Can you test these if they sync at something like 1/500 1/2000 ?

JM Tran · #9 22-09-2009, 6:20pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by trigger

Nice review Jackie. I have the previous version of the Younuo triggers and these seem to be more solid.
However i noticed that these new ones are 2.4Ghz...:O this is in the the licenses free range and there are tons of devices that use this. Most common is bluetooth and your standard Wifi! But i wonder if it will trigger it?

Another important feature I would like to confirm is the sync-Speed. Does it do over 1/250? The ones that I have only sync at around 1/250<. Can you test these if they sync at something like 1/500 1/2000 ?

I tried using it around other 2.4g devices in the house, such as cordless phone etc and it seems fine so far

wouldnt have much of a problem as this will be used mostly outdoors on locations anyway

I'll try to test the sync speeds for u later tonight, have to go to soccer now!

R1titan · #10 22-09-2009, 6:58pm

+1 for the Yongnuos!!
From recollection their fastest sync is 1/200 sec....

I bought the package with 3 receivers, so i have a spare in the case one fails or i get another strobe in the future

<$100 is a bargain indeed!!

eldean · #11 22-09-2009, 9:51pm

can you compare this to CTR301P?is this one better?

JM Tran · #12 22-09-2009, 9:56pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by eldean

can you compare this to CTR301P?is this one better?

All i know is that this is the latest model to supersede the CTR301s

some of the difference being the batteries used to a more common and cheaper AAA i think, and the change to the 2.4gigahertz for longer range and legal to use in more countries. And it can also operate the camera remotely and retaining the ability to auto focus too by controlling it with the trigger in your hands.

but I have never used the CTR301 set ever before, so someone else would be in a better position to comment

ehor · #13 29-09-2009, 5:09pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by trigger

Another important feature I would like to confirm is the sync-Speed. Does it do over 1/250? The ones that I have only sync at around 1/250<. Can you test these if they sync at something like 1/500 1/2000 ?

Sync speed is camera dependent.
Your 40D is rated at 1/250 but conditions will dictate if you can sync faster or even slower before you see shutter creep.

Canon 1D rated to sync at 1/500 but I've heard of 1/1000
Nikon D70 rated sync at 1/500

The above two have electronic shutters whereas everyone has seemed to move to mechanical shutters with CMOS sensors.

JM Tran · #14 29-09-2009, 5:32pm

one method I use to utilize a higher sync speed with shutter creep coming in is to shoot the photo in such a way that u can crop/frame the pic from the blacked out part of the shutter. But of course this is dependent on the subjects u are shooting.

I @ M · #15 30-09-2009, 2:46pm

We received 2 pairs of the RF-602 triggers in the mail today, impressive performance so far.

Colourised · #16 19-11-2009, 12:55am

i think im gonna jump for the 462s and the RFs too!

dtoh · #17 25-11-2009, 8:47pm

I just discovered this thread jackie - awesome stuff -I think I'm going to invest in a couple since I've had some issues with lighting in churches in particular

JM Tran · #18 25-11-2009, 8:55pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtoh

I just discovered this thread jackie - awesome stuff -I think I'm going to invest in a couple since I've had some issues with lighting in churches in particular

Hey Dylan, I have been thinking about solutions for dark churches with high ceilings too

perhaps something like 4x flashes in each corner of the church (if its square or rectangular) pointing inwards to the main altar etc - will give it a very nicely lit ambient feel and possible to work with higher shutter speed and lower ISO too. Plus the flashes will be far away from the audience enough to not distract and blind them.

I did some burst shots with the 580EXII with the receivers on, it was fine and never missed a beat. But for weddings and stuff one would be better off with higher end flashes like the aforementioned for faster recycling rate and reliability.

Colourised · #19 26-11-2009, 1:09pm

these 462s/460s are better off for local slow paced work it seems. no stress! if it doesnt switch on. try and try again. until it works

ausguitarman · #20 30-11-2009, 11:23pm

Which is better. The 460 or 462?

I'm just about to buy two plus the transmitter pack.

JM Tran · #21 30-11-2009, 11:32pm

the 460 is better, and the 465 just came out with TTL functions I think! but costs a bit more

Colourised · #22 05-12-2009, 5:03am

is it still working flawlessly now jackie?

JM Tran · #23 05-12-2009, 4:46pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colourised

is it still working flawlessly now jackie?

yeah mate, been using these about 3 times a week for studio and location shoots, still going fine

I @ M · #24 05-12-2009, 4:53pm

And --- just as a positive comment on the new Yongnuo triggers.

The earlier versions were prone to failing to synch at 1/250th on the old ( but reliable ) Courtenay monoblocs.

The new 2.4ghz triggers are 100% up to the job, couldn't ask for better value from anywhere.

Gregg Bell · #25 06-12-2009, 5:24am

I used one onf the youngnuo flashes for a product shoot, with some thingymajiggs, It did the job brilliantly, I couldn't have asked for more, and I am now interested in dropping some $$ into flash now...