Wireless flash triggering

I am looking for some replacements for my now defunct PT-04TM gear. I have 3 receivers, 2 have a wireless range of less than 2 cms, the other has a reasonable range but refuses to trigger a flash.

So in my quest for replacements, I came across this which I thought others might find useful. I found the tables at the end very useful.

I'm almost decided on finding a reasonably priced set working in the 2.4GHz band as the range is superior and triggering seems to be more reliable.

Has any member used the Yongnuo RF-602 with Pentax kit? The yseem to be only dedicated to Canon and Nikon kit.

Hi Peter

I have a set of RF-602's designated for use with my Nikon system.

I have tried them with my K7 and an AF-500FGZ and they do seem to work.....BUT.....I have major issues with them on the D300, all seems fine, everything works as advertised but after a dozen or so shots the system stops working (I had the same issue with a CTR-301 set) so no more Yongnuo for me.

I've been looking at aquiring a set of Seculine triggers http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-seculine-twinlink-t2d-transmitter-and-receiver-kit/p1033478, a bit more expensive but they seem to be a lot more reliable and also have a greater range.

EDIT

20 quid cheaper at Park Cameras

There are loads of threads on other sites about the RF-602's very good kit and can be used to fire the camera from about 100m away.

I've got the Pentax version.... two of them. The only minor problem is the flash has a black band at 1/180th due to a timing problem. 1/125th works most of the time, but I have had a couple with black bands. 1/90th should be OK.

The Nikon version needs a small wire cutting see this thread

i have 602s for my nikon gear and they work top, no problem at all right upto 250/sec, i also have these which are better as the locks into position on camera and works a dream.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400168173505&ssPageName=STR...

Hi Brian, I just came across those and they look very good. In fact I saw a pair of these in an electronics store in Murcia only this morning on my way back from an airport run. €149.95 in Media Markt, but they don't have any additional receivers.

I like the belt 'n braces idea of them using both IR and radio.

Rcvr only is £75.00 at Bristol Cameras.

I have the Twinlink and it works well.
My only gripe is the receiver.

You have a hotshoe on the receiver and the remote flash sits in this.
You then need to mount the receiver and flash.
But the screw thread is 1/4". So it doesn't sit natively on either a tripod or on a lighting stand.

So budget in an adapter to sit on your tripod/stand, hold a brolly and finally end up in a male 1/4" thread mount for the receiver to sit on (and hold the flash).

I ended up getting a 1/4" to square hot plate adapter
and a lightstand/tripod +brolly to hot shoe adapter.

There is somebody on the strobist sites that does a specific brolly holder but I didn't know at the time.

Pocket Wizards?

Too expensive for my needs and not very robust apparantly.

The RF-602 is worth buying just as a wireless remote release.
It's the best ever made for Pentax (jackpug same as Canon).
All releases should be made like this. Half push Green LED
comes on. Full push Red LED comes on.... you know 100% for
sure exactly what signal you have sent to the camera.

If using another set for flash just set it on another channel.

Very well made and robust the only problem is the sync time
of 1/125th unless they have fixed it.

REVIEW

Do the RF-602s work properly on Pentax?
It appears from the review they have different wake-up pins for Nikon & Canon on the TX unit, and that the RX wakes up both Canon & Nikon flash guns.

It'd be interesting if they wake up the Pentax guns (and even respond to the wake up from the camera on the TX)...

A friend of mine has some from ebay (not sure which make) but they will only sync at 1/30s or slower on the Pentax Everything else gives nasty black bands. They work fine with his Canon gear, and his Canon will trigger my AF-540FGZ (so it appears it's the TX on the Pentax that has a problem).

...hence my caution with ebay triggers

Matt

So far I think the Seculine Twinlink TD2 is favourite. The dual IR + radio triggering appeals to me and it has a simple (dumb) hot shoe with only a centre contact so no dedication issues.

I'm not too sure that I am 100% comfortable with electronic items that have no on/off switch though.

The mounting issues noted by dougf8 are easily overcome with these. The seller has other variations as well.

The one's I've got Matt are specifically for Pentax. See thread I gave above for note about snipping the wire on the Nikon version.

I don't think they wake up Pentax. I only fire a small flash with them which then triggers the photocells on two Bowens Monolights and sometimes a Minolta and Sunpak flash. Seem about 98% safe at 1/125th. I would expect the Mk2 to have sorted the timing out to allow 1/180th.

1/125th isn't a problem indoors.

Some reports suggest that the Nikon version on Pentax
works at 1/180th.

They come with a lot of leads and top brand batteries.

I've had mine for over a year and still use the original batteries.

The transmitter hasn't got an on/off switch but the receiver has...... I keep forgetting to switch it off

It does 45 hours on 2 triple A's so cheap to run.

This one shows the different ways of using it. It does
say that it will wake the Pentax flashguns.