Review: Yongnuo RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger

By admin • Reviews • 10 Jul 2010

If you mount a flashgun directly onto the hotshoe of your camera you can normally achieve decent results, using the swivel head to bounce light off static objects such as walls and ceilings to achieve ambient light effects.

Whats lacking though, is the ability to light subjects from the side, or the back (for silhouettes), or to trigger multiple flashguns or lights simultaneously. This is where a wireless flash trigger comes into play.

After a fair amount of research and careful deliberation I placed an order for the Yongnuo RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger. This comes as a boxed set containing a Transmitter that mounts on the hotshoe of your camera, a wireless Receiver, which can be mounted on a tripod, umbrella or softbox, with the flashgun attached via the hotshoe adapter, and a cable which can be plugged in to studio lights.

This wireless flash trigger operates on the 2.4gHz frequency, and therefore does not rely on direct line of sight (as some of the cheaper triggers do), meaning you can trigger through walls. This is ideal for triggering flashguns behind a wall or screen in a studio and won’t be affected when your subject strays into the area between your flash and your camera.

Installation is painless, requiring only that the batteries are inserted correctly, the transmitter attached to the camera and the flashgun attached to the receiver. A quick visual check to ensure the channels match and a press of the button sets off the flash. Success, inside of a minute from opening the box.

I took the camera for a walk around the house, trying to put as many walls and objects between my wife (who was holding the Canon 430 EXII flashgun) and my camera as I could. 10 tests, both from inside and outside the house, through numerous walls, and the flash triggered each time.

Whats in the box:

  • RF-602TX (Transmitter)
  • RF-602RX (Receiver)
  • LS-02 Cable Plug with 3.5mm plug
  • 3.5mm to 6.35mm adaptor
  • AAA and CR2 batteries
  • English language manual

    • yongnuo rf-602

    For less than £30 this is a great way to improve indoor, portrait and product shots, allowing you to light your subject in all the right places

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    • http://5mcoffee.com Glenn Watson

      Since the initial ‘out of the box’ review was posted I have used these on numerous occasions without a single misfire. They have been reliable and proven to be fairly sturdy (even dropping them once or twice with no damage)

      I would recommend getting an extra trigger and receiver to keep as backup or in case the batteries fail at any stage.

      Thoroughly impressed with these.