New Member Registered: June, 2008 Location: Pireaus, Greece Posts: 18 | Review Date: April 12, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $36.00
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | Good construction, cheap, easy to use | Cons: | Curtain shadow appear over 1/160 | | Camera that I use Pentax K-20D
The main problem is with strobe lights, where at 1/180 appears a little curtain shadow. At 1/160,the problem is minimum and at 1/125 is gone.
With Flash like Yongnuo YN-560 III, of camera, the curtain shadow is maybe less obvious (?).
Compatible is the Nikon version.
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Loyal Site Supporter Registered: August, 2012 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,685 5 users found this helpful | Review Date: December 24, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Price, reliability, simple | Cons: | No TTL or PTTL, no easy way to force into transmitter mode | | Note: This review is for the first-version RF-603. The RF-603 II model, released in late December 2013, has a locking foot and the power switch is moved to the side, with a TX (transmit-only) setting. I have a separate review for the second-version RF-603 II here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/accessoryreviews/yonnuo-rf-603-ii.html#review2892
10 is probably too high a rating, but I'm bumping it up to offset the previous review that says the RF-603 does not work with Pentax cameras.
The RF-603 N (for Nikon) absolutely does work on Pentax cameras. The previous reviewer must have tried the RF-603C (Canon) version, which does not work because the hotshoe pin layout is different. I've tested it with the K-5II, K-30, K-r, K-x, K-m, K100D, *istDS, and K-01, and it worked on all of them. I did not see any black stripes with the K-5 II, K-30, or K-01 at shutter speeds of 1/180.
You may see references to C1, C2, N1, N2 versions of the RF-603 - these are just describing which cable comes with the set. For a Pentax, you need the N transceivers and the C1 cable (2.5mm plugs on both ends). Some vendors will swap the cable out for free. Note that the K-m, K-x, K-r, and K-01 do not have a socket for a shutter release cable.
This RF trigger is basically just a really long sync cord. There's no P-TTL or TTL, just a dumb sync signal. You'll have to do some test shots to get your flash and camera settings right.
One minor annoyance is that if the RF-603N is on a camera, the camera needs to be 'awake' (not just on), in order for the RF-603N to be in transmitter mode. There are hacks out there to hardwire one unit into transmitter mode (it involves soldering a resistor into the unit). I haven't tried that. Off-camera, you can just use it as a remote fob to trigger flash and camera.
If you are looking at cheap Speedlite-type flashes, one advantage of the RF-603N is that the popular YN-560 III comes with a built-in RF-602/603 receiver. The RF-603N worked with all of my old manual or thyristor flashes.
Ironically, the only flash I had problems with was the Pentax AF360FGZII. I think this is because the AF360FGZ is putting information on the 'digital' pin, which is the 'Monitor', 'Speedlight Present' or 'Data' pin for Nikon. This confuses the RF-603N. I can get the AF360FGZII to work with the RF-603N if I insulate the flat little contact closest to the on/off switch (the digital pin) with a bit of tape or connect the transceiver and flash with an old sync cord that doesn't have a 'digital' contact.
Reliability and range seem to be good - when I've missed a flash firing, it was because it was an old flash that was slow to charge. The RF-603N works around corners and through walls. I set up my YN-560III, went outdoors, and walked further than I would ever need to go (60+ yards), and the RF603N would still trigger the flash consistently (even though the flash was still inside the building).
With the C1 cable, the RF-603N can trigger a camera as well as a flash - but it has to be a body with a wired remote port (K-5, K-30, K100D, etc.), not an IR-only body (K-x, K-r, K-01). It might be possible to DIY a cable with a cheap IR unit on the end. WIth the C1 cable, the RF-603N will support half-press for focusing.
Nitpicks: the power switch can be hard to reach with a flash installed, and there's no locking mechanism on the hotshoe, which can be an issue if you have a heavy flash attached. Otherwise, it seems to be well-designed and built.
Quick video I threw together demonstrating the RF-603 and RF-603 II on Pentax bodies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFt0ADfaqsQ
Based on some frequent questions, here's a quick how-to:
1) Mount one RF-603N in your camera's hotshoe, and set the power switch to the "On" position.
2) Mount a flash on a second RF-603N, set the power switch on the RF-603N to "On".
3) Turn on the flash.
4) Turn on the camera and set the shutter speed to 1/180 or less.
5) Fire away!
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New Member Registered: November, 2011 Posts: 16 | Review Date: April 13, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $32.20
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | Interchangeable. You can still use a flash in the camera if you need | Cons: | Not full speed syncro, position on/off button | | Trigger model Rf603-N1 tested with a pentax k5 and sigma 530 dg super flash.
Very good response, easy to set up, ocassional misfire but nothing to worry about.
Best syncro speed, at least for me: 1/125. If I try 1/160 I'll get sometimes a good shot, sometimes courtain shadow.
For me, this trigger is better from what I had, more reliable and versatile.
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Veteran Member Registered: September, 2011 Location: Vaasa Posts: 818 | Review Date: April 4, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $28.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Cheap and interchangeable | Cons: | location of on/off switch | | I have a pair and another pair is on the way.
I know some have had problems with some models.
I ordered the RF603N1. The cable ofcouse that comes with is not for pentax so I had to make some tweaks so it fits pentax.
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Veteran Member Registered: September, 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Posts: 12,285 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: August 17, 2012 | Not Recommended | Price: $27.00
| Rating: 1 |
Pros: | None | Cons: | WILL NOT WORK ON PENTAX CAMERAS | | There are several posts on the PF forum that seem to say that the RF-603s will work on the Pentax cameras and to use the Canon models. They WILL NOT work with Pentax Cameras as flash remotes at all. They will trigger the camera remotely if you use a C1 cord but that is all they will do with Pentax cameras. The RF-602s had their limites (like 1/125th sync speed unless you rubber banded them) but they do in fact work with Pentax Cameras. The RF-603s just plain don't. | |