DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Wireless Trigger - Yongnuo rf-603 or Cactus V5?
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 14 of 14, (reverse)
AuthorThread
05/27/2011 02:55:18 PM · #1
I have been doing some research to decide between these two. Anyone has experiences with either of these - good or bad? I have Nikon SB800. I may buy a couple of SB-26's too.

Looking for some advice please. Thanks.
05/27/2011 03:03:46 PM · #2
I've had experience with both of the preceding products. I originally ordered Cactus V4's and was never able to get them to fire reliably with my Canon gear. Presently I have a set of Yongnou RF-602's and they have worked flawlessly. That may or may not have any bearing on the newer models.
05/27/2011 03:24:27 PM · #3
I had the same experience with my Cactus V4's. It's extremely embarrassing to have subjects at a dance studio pulling all sorts of poses in the hopes of finally perfecting one, only to have the flash not go off 1 out of 4 times. The second time this happened was while doing portraits for a doctor at her office in between patients.

After that I took the plunge for Pocket Wizards and, although they are a bit pricey, I haven't regretted it. I just finished eight days of shooting at another dance studio and I didn't have a single miss with the Pocket Wizards.

If you really want to take a chance on the Cactus V4's, I have three that I'll sell cheap.
05/27/2011 03:32:44 PM · #4
I too have the yongnua 602's and they work very well when they do miss fire I know it's low battery's
05/27/2011 03:33:24 PM · #5
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

I've had experience with both of the preceding products. I originally ordered Cactus V4's and was never able to get them to fire reliably with my Canon gear. Presently I have a set of Yongnou RF-602's and they have worked flawlessly. That may or may not have any bearing on the newer models.


That's what I could read from other forums about Cactus V4. I was hoping to see if the V5's are any better. Reviews of RF-603's look good too. But I'm a bit confused which one to pick.
05/27/2011 03:35:45 PM · #6
Originally posted by yakatme:

I had the same experience with my Cactus V4's. It's extremely embarrassing to have subjects at a dance studio pulling all sorts of poses in the hopes of finally perfecting one, only to have the flash not go off 1 out of 4 times. The second time this happened was while doing portraits for a doctor at her office in between patients.

After that I took the plunge for Pocket Wizards and, although they are a bit pricey, I haven't regretted it. I just finished eight days of shooting at another dance studio and I didn't have a single miss with the Pocket Wizards.

If you really want to take a chance on the Cactus V4's, I have three that I'll sell cheap.


Thanks for the offer on V4's. I will get in touch with you if I make my mind up for V4's. And the Pocket Wizards are out of my budget at this point.
05/27/2011 04:57:02 PM · #7
I recently got the CowboyStudio NPT-04 4 set and have not had any issues with misfires, but based on the issues others have had I set up my lightstands so the flash was velcroed onto a T bracket so the trigger had no weight on it and hung off the back of the flash in the air. Most of the issues I have heard of with the cowboy stuff were related to the lightweight cases and stress pulling on the solder points. By not putting the weight on the casing the cowboy stuff seems to work much better.
05/27/2011 06:01:25 PM · #8
I have the RF-602's. Have never had a problem with them. Use them on SB28 and SB26 also a sunpak. I have two transmitters and 4 receivers. Love them.
05/27/2011 08:14:08 PM · #9
Can't speak to the ones you mention, but I have used the Paul Buff CST and CSRB for years now, with great, reliable success. The only time they have failed to trigger is when the battery died. They are reasonably priced, and backed by the best customer service in the business.
05/28/2011 08:50:43 AM · #10
Thanks everyone for the inputs.
05/28/2011 08:57:41 AM · #11
Another Rave for RF 602's. The 603's provide the ability to mount a speedlite on the camera above the transmitter but non TTL. Also the 603 transceivers have no locking ring unlike the 602's receivers which do.
05/28/2011 10:24:05 AM · #12
Originally posted by photodude:

Also the 603 transceivers have no locking ring unlike the 602's receivers which do.

You must have a different RF-602 than I do. None of mine have any lock rings on either transmitter or receiver. I do have to be careful with the transmitter, as it sometimes comes off the hotshot contacts. I've just developed the habit of periodically giving it a push with my thumb to keep it fully inserted. A minor issue for the price. I would expect a pricier design to lock in more securely.

One other thing worth mentioning. The RF-602 can be used as a wireless shutter release as well. Just make sure to buy the kit that comes with the shutter release cable to fit your camera. That cable is the only difference between an RF-602 kit for the different makes & models. Otherwise all the units are the same. The shutter button on the 602 transmitter stick up a bit and if you keep it in your pocket you may accidentally actuate the shutter. I solved it by attaching a small piece of sticky back velcro on top of the transmitter with a hole in the middle for the button. It recesses it a bit so it does not actuate by accident.

If you buy the RF-602's you can get them from Ebay, and they will take some time to get to you from China. HKYongnou is the manufacturer so if you order from them, you are getting it direct. I have also ordered from this vendor (the site links to his Amazon store for purchases). He stocks the Yongnou products in the US, so you get them faster. There is some upcharge compared to buying them on Ebay, but he is reliable and the couple of times I have contacted him, he's been very responsive. This is the same guy who explained to me a while back about how the Amazon marketplace works for vendors.

Message edited by author 2011-05-28 10:33:55.
06/01/2011 03:11:16 PM · #13
Thanks for all the inputs... I might most likely go for Yongnuo RF-603 :)

Raj
06/01/2011 05:55:12 PM · #14
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by photodude:

Also the 603 transceivers have no locking ring unlike the 602's receivers which do.

You must have a different RF-602 than I do. None of mine have any lock rings on either transmitter or receiver. I do have to be careful with the transmitter, as it sometimes comes off the hotshot contacts.


A fix for this is to put a rubber bank (the thicker red ones {hope you have the same as us}) at the base of the transmitter and then loop it under the flash mount area. See if that works for you.

Cheers
Maria
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 05:53:38 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 05:53:38 PM EDT.