Yongnuo RF-603 II

Shoestring budget contenders like this can often end up disappointing users, however, first impressions of the RF-603 II are actually very encouraging. You get two identical units for the asking price, which are set to either transmit or receive, and the fit and finish are more than acceptable for what you’re paying. Although there are no group options, 16 frequency channels are available to avoid interference, though they’re set using a bank of fiddly mini switches. There’s no TTL metering or High Speed Sync support. A full-on 2.4GHZ radio frequency link provides a 100-metre range and, when testing at closer distances, Yongnuo claims sync speeds of up to 1/250 sec. We could only manage a reliable 1/160 sec sync in our testing, although the connection was stable enough to avoid misfires during burst shooting. The final trick up the RF-603 II’S sleeve is it can be used as a wireless shutter release: just connect the receiver to your camera’s remote socket, then the two-stage button on the transmitter focuses before firing the shutter – a very neat and handy little trick. PROS Good fit and finish for a bargain price; can be used as a camera release CONS No group options, TTL or High Speed Sync support; fiddly channel selection