RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger

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Although I learned wireless “Strobist”flash techniques using the Cactus PT-04, I recently switched to the Yongnuo RF-602. In addition to being more reliable, the RF-602 can be used as a wireless shutter release for my Canon 7D. When I twisted off yet another PC connector from a Cactus PT-04 receiver, I gave up and ordered the RF-602. Perhaps I was just looking for an excuse but, whatever the reason, I now use the RF-602 for wireless flash triggering.

Like the Cactus units, the RF-602 is a simple trigger; that is, the flash is told “Fire” but flash intensity must be set in advance by the photographer. The transmitter, shown above, mounts on the camera and sends the signal to the receiver. The transmitter does not have an On/Off switch but does have a large button that can be used to trigger the flash or camera by hand. The transmitter uses one 3V CR2 lithium battery. The battery was included in the kit. The RF-602 system uses 16 channels but out-of-the-box is set to “ALL” so the first thing I did was to set a channel. The little switches are covered by a piece of tape. I left the tape on the switches and used a pencil point to change them.

The RF-602 receiver, shown above, uses two AAA alkaline batteries that were included in the kit. The battery door is a bit difficult to open – probably a good thing. The little switch on the receiver must be set to match the switch on the transmitter. The receiver does have an On/Off switch. The receiver has a flash shoe on top and a screw mount on bottom.

The RF-602 kit included a shutter connecting cord for my Canon 7D and a flash connecting cord. The flash connecting cord has a 3.5mm plug and a 6.35mm adapter plug. The basic kit does not include a PC cord so I've ordered one. Normally, I'll be using the hot shoe connection.

So far, the RF-602 system has handled everything I've thrown at it: Nikon SB24 and SB28 flashes, Vivitar 285HV, Canon 380EX, 420EX, 580EX, Yongnuo 460-II. The system works from my Canon G3, G9 and 7D. It triggers my Canon 7D. It appears to be more robust than the Cactus PT-04 system.

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More 7D DOF

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I'm still often surprised by the limited depth of field from the 7D and similar sized sensors.  Sometimes the limited DOF is just what is wanted but other times more is needed.  It is those "other" times that I'm likely to forget to go to a higher numbered f-stop.

The above shot was taken today at f8.  Giving myself at least a little bit of credit, I purposely selected f8 as likely to give both foreground and background blur in the scene.  The point of focus was the first group of birds on the pier at a distance of about fifty feet or so.  I used the single point focus and recomposed -- probably focusing a bit short of the first bird.  According to the DOF calculations, the near focus should be about 38 feet and the far focus about 73 feet.  I didn't take any measurements but these distances are probably representative of the scene.

In this web sized view, the DOF is not so apparent but, believe me, it shows on a full size display.
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