RF-602: Good & Affordable Wireless Triggers

For slightly more than a year, I grew increasingly frustrated with the PT-04 wireless flash triggers. They were cheaply made products from China. But despite being manifolds less expensive than their well-known counterparts in the U.S. (Pocket Wizards, Cybersyncs, for example), they actually worked in taking the flash off the top of your camera.

Over time, those PT-04′s began to break down. They were flimsy and the unusual swivel stand made it difficult to mount on light stands. When I made the decision to go pro, I knew I could no longer rely on them. The king-of-the-hill Pocket Wizards came to mind as a possible replacement, but at around US$200 for just one transceiver, it was not an easy decision to make. Plus, those PWs cannot be bought in Singapore (restricted by the government).

Then a friend tipped me off to the Yongnuo’s new RF-602 wireless triggers. At only $20 for either a transmitter or receiver, they are literally only a tenth of one PW transceiver. I decided to take a shot at it. They arrived a few days ago in what I must say is  shockingly-impressive packaging. The old PT-04s arrived in plain white boxes, but these new triggers came compartmentalized, and even came with a instruction booklet!

‘Copycat’ products have really come a long way.

What I like with the new RF-602s over the old PT-04s are the sturdy construction and lower profiles (no more flimsy stands). I haven’t used them enough to say if the transmissions are more reliable but they’ve worked at a 10-yard distance, which is good enough for me. I wouldn’t recommend triggering through multiple walls, but others say there haven’t been any problems. Myself, it’s sometimes hot, sometimes cold. If there’s a massive wall between your transmitter and the flash, there have been occasions when it didn’t go off. But like I said, I need more field testing.

Overall, for the money spent, I don’t think these can be beat. PWs will always retain the highest standards with regards to distance and reliability, but remember, I can buy 10 Yongnuo triggers for only one PW, and you can’t do anything with just one PW anyway.