Does the Yongnuo RF-603 II work on the A7 & A6000?

[fotowbert]

... snip ...
BTW, I assume the 560TX works with a6000 right? I am reading the amazon review, and someone posted that "grouping not functional in single pin trigger mode".

The 560TX should work just fine. The Canon/Nikon distinction is again for wake up purposes.

I don't understand the grouping quote or what "single pin trigger mode" is.

The "grouping" function is between the 560TX and the 560 mkIII (or mkIV) flashes it controls. The flashes are assigned to any one of six groups on the 560TX and the settings on the 560TX for that group are applied to all units of that group.

The 560TX can also function with your RF-603CII triggers allowing you to combine other flashguns with the 560 mkIII. The caveat here is the 560TX can't change the power level or prevent the firing of these flashes. You will have to do that directly on the flash itself.

To overcome part of this issue YongNuo released the new RF-605 triggers which incorporate the "group" identity function. When the 560TX setting for a group is "--" (do not fire) the RF-605 will obey. This may be what the quote was about.

• John

 

[User1486714124]

Hi all, i have purchased yongnuo RF603C for canon version 2, C3 and it doesnt connect c with my Sony A7 and the Yongnuo 560IV.....what should do? I am noob with flashes since it's my first one....
The trigger has no switch and i put fpash on M rx mode...

 

[fotowbert]

Hi all, i have purchased yongnuo RF603C for canon version 2, C3 and it doesnt connect c with my Sony A7 and the Yongnuo 560IV.....what should do? I am noob with flashes since it's my first one....
The trigger has no switch and i put fpash on M rx mode...

You say your Mark II RF-603 has no switch? If your trigger is the Mark II version there will be a switch on the side marked "OFF", "TX", and "TRX". The original version RF-603 has no such switch.

The original version by design will not transmit a signal to fire the remote flash unless it detects being in a Canon hot-shoe. Forget about using the original on an A7 unless you are willing to do this modification to one unit to make it permanently a transmitter.

The Mark II version should work on any make camera with a standard hot-shoe provided it isn't defective and is making good contact with the hot-shoe. Many have reported here they played the YongNuo Trigger Lottery and lost, having received RF-603 II triggers that didn't work.

Here is a way to test the Mark II trigger. Have your 560IV on and set to Rx mode.

Take the trigger in hand and set its side switch to "TX". With its test button half-pressed the RH LED should be steady green and the 560IV LED steady blue. With full-press both LEDs go red and flash should fire. This confirms RF transmission is working.

Now short the center pin to the trigger's foot to the metal plate. By "short" I mean take a metal object and hold it against the metal foot plate and slide it forward to touch only the center pin. Both LEDs should go red and flash should fire. (Shorting the center pin simulates the action of the camera's flash sync circuit) If this was successful your triggers are working correctly. If not you have defective units and you should return them and decided if your want to play the YongNuo Trigger Lottery again. If you do play again I recommend purchasing from a vendor with a no hassle return policy.

• John

 

[User1486714124]

Hi all, i have purchased yongnuo RF603C for canon version 2, C3 and it doesnt connect c with my Sony A7 and the Yongnuo 560IV.....what should do? I am noob with flashes since it's my first one....
The trigger has no switch and i put fpash on M rx mode...

You say your Mark II RF-603 has no switch? If your trigger is the Mark II version there will be a switch on the side marked "OFF", "TX", and "TRX". The original version RF-603 has no such switch.

The original version by design will not transmit a signal to fire the remote flash unless it detects being in a Canon hot-shoe. Forget about using the original on an A7 unless you are willing to do this modification to one unit to make it permanently a transmitter.

The Mark II version should work on any make camera with a standard hot-shoe provided it isn't defective and is making good contact with the hot-shoe. Many have reported here they played the YongNuo Trigger Lottery and lost, having received RF-603 II triggers that didn't work.

Here is a way to test the Mark II trigger. Have your 560IV on and set to Rx mode.

Take the trigger in hand and set its side switch to "TX". With its test button half-pressed the RH LED should be steady green and the 560IV LED steady blue. With full-press both LEDs go red and flash should fire. This confirms RF transmission is working.

Now short the center pin to the trigger's foot to the metal plate. By "short" I mean take a metal object and hold it against the metal foot plate and slide it forward to touch only the center pin. Both LEDs should go red and flash should fire. (Shorting the center pin simulates the action of the camera's flash sync circuit) If this was successful your triggers are working correctly. If not you have defective units and you should return them and decided if your want to play the YongNuo Trigger Lottery again. If you do play again I recommend purchasing from a vendor with a no hassle return policy.

• John

 

[fotowbert]

Thanks for detailed reply my friend . Here is some pics of my trigger just to make sure that we are talking for the same version :
https://www.dropbox.com/s/unv5zhpgylbvm14/IMG_20160217_072907.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ldyoy6pzqbo8us8/IMG_20160217_072914.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v0m0zq0qwrfzirm/IMG_20160217_192558.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/antmml6rnofoeoe/IMG_20160217_192605.jpg?dl=0

Yours looks like the original version to me. I'm don't know why it says V2.0 on the side of the box.

Here is info on flashhavoc.com about the Mark II YN RF-603 triggers with pictures . Note it says "RF-603C II" on top and down a bit is an image showing the side switch.

• John

--
"[If you don't sweat the details] the magic doesn't work." Brooks, F. P., The Mythical Man-Month, Addison-Wesley, 1975, page 8.

 

[User1486714124]

Thanks for detailed reply my friend . Here is some pics of my trigger just to make sure that we are talking for the same version :
https://www.dropbox.com/s/unv5zhpgylbvm14/IMG_20160217_072907.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ldyoy6pzqbo8us8/IMG_20160217_072914.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v0m0zq0qwrfzirm/IMG_20160217_192558.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/antmml6rnofoeoe/IMG_20160217_192605.jpg?dl=0

Yours looks like the original version to me. I'm don't know why it says V2.0 on the side of the box.

Here is info on flashhavoc.com about the Mark II YN RF-603 triggers with pictures. Note it says "RF-603C II" on top and down a bit is an image showing the side switch.

• John

--
"[If you don't sweat the details] the magic doesn't work." Brooks, F. P., The Mythical Man-Month, Addison-Wesley, 1975, page 8.

John,

i did the mod (http://betterfamilyphotos.blogspot.gr/2013/01/yongnuo-rf-603-olympus-om-d.html) to 1 trigger but still no connection ....strange ..Only solution left to buy the hot shoe or try other mod ...

Flash of course was at M mode RX mode

Any other suggestion ?

UPDATE: i tried to put the modded trigger on top of a metal plate and IT WORKED !! when i put it on the camera SONY A7 it doesnt so it about the connection . Only solution is hot shoe right ??

 

[fotowbert]

John,

i did the mod (http://betterfamilyphotos.blogspot.gr/2013/01/yongnuo-rf-603-olympus-om-d.html) to 1 trigger but still no connection ....strange ..Only solution left to buy the hot shoe or try other mod ...

Flash of course was at M mode RX mode

Any other suggestion ?

UPDATE: i tried to put the modded trigger on top of a metal plate and IT WORKED !! when i put it on the camera SONY A7 it doesnt so it about the connection . Only solution is hot shoe right ??

Not sure I understand your update. I think you are saying the remote flash fires when you press the triggers' foot onto a metal plate. That's similar to item 2 below but also involves the 4 proprietary Canon pins. My understanding is the mod forces the trigger to always be a transmitter and you can actually remove the proprietary pins. (I have the mark II version so no first hand experience with this)

Here are two tests you can do with the modded trigger. Have your 560IV on and set to Rx mode.

1. Take the modded trigger in hand and when its test button is half-pressed the RH LED should be steady green and the 560IV LED steady blue. With full-press both LEDs go red and flash should fire. This confirms you don't need any involvement of the 4 proprietary Canon pins and that the RF transmission is working.

2. Now short the center pin to the trigger's foot to the metal plate. By "short" I mean take a metal object and hold it against the metal foot plate and slide it forward to touch only the center pin. Both LEDs should go red and flash should fire. (Shorting the center pin simulates the action of the camera's flash sync circuit) If this was successful your modded trigger should accept a signal from the hot-shoe's center contact.

If you can't pass both of these your mod isn't working.

If you do pass both of these I would expect the trigger to work in the A7 hot-shoe provided it is (1) making good electrical contact with the hot-shoe center contact pad and underside of the hot-shoe rails and (2) not shorting any of the MIS contacts under the front edge of the hot-shoe. I've seen a report that pulling the trigger out slightly has worked. Also there has been mixed reports that an MIS to std hot-shoe adapter between the camera and trigger solved the problem.

Hope this helps.

• John

 

[JoseJones]

I spent about five hours messing around with this problem today before I found this thread. So, I have an A7, a YN560 IV, and the RF-603CII. The trigger communicates with the flash every where but the hot shoe. Heck, I can trigger it by running my finger over the pin off the camera. So, the question is what can I get that will trigger the flash from the A7 hot shoe? Try another set of the Canon version? Get the Nikon version? Buy another model of trigger? Any help is appreciated as long as it's not open up the trigger and do a mod. ; - ) Thanks!

 

[fotowbert]

I spent about five hours messing around with this problem today before I found this thread. So, I have an A7, a YN560 IV, and the RF-603CII. The trigger communicates with the flash every where but the hot shoe. Heck, I can trigger it by running my finger over the pin off the camera.

This sounds like your finger is shorting the center pin. Try it with a metal object as follows to be sure.

1. To short the center pin of the trigger's foot to the metal plate take a metal object and hold it against the metal foot plate and slide it forward to touch only the center pin (and the metal plate of course). Both LEDs should go red and flash should fire. (Shorting the center pin simulates the action of the camera's flash sync circuit)

2. If this was successful your trigger should accept a signal from the hot-shoe's center contact unless there is some interaction with the four proprietary Canon pins. Pressing the triggers foot down on a flat metal surface should short all the pins to the foot plate. The flash still should fire.

If you pass both items the trigger is operating properly. If not return it as defective after recording its serial number.

So, the question is what can I get that will trigger the flash from the A7 hot shoe? Try another set of the Canon version? Get the Nikon version?

There are reports of problems with both Canon and Nikon versions of the YN RF-603II triggers. If you want to continue to play the YongNuo Trigger Lottery do so from a vendor with a no hassle return policy. One person received a 2nd set of defective triggers from the same vendor and a good set from a different vendor.

Buy another model of trigger?

Why not consider the YN 560-TX transmitter which allows you to remotely control the power of the 560IV from the camera position. Otherwise the YN RF-602 and RF-605 triggers will work with the RF receiver built into the 560IV. Do not get the original version RF-603. Check out manual flash triggers with this Gear Guide on flashhavoc.com . If you go with other brand triggers you will need to put the flash on a receiver.

Any help is appreciated as long as it's not open up the trigger and do a mod. ; - ) Thanks!

Will the YN 560IV flash fire when in the camera's hot-shoe? If it does your A7 flash sync circuit is working. The trigger should also work in the hot-shoe if it makes good contact. Clean all contact surfaces with a soft white pencil eraser. Try sliding the trigger back a tiny bit or cover the front surface of the metal foot plate with tape so there is no possibility of it touching the MIS contacts at the front edge of the shoe. There has been mixed reports that an MIS to std hot-shoe adapter between the camera and trigger solved the problem.

• John

 

[zorglub76]

I have just received couple of RF-603N II and I already have a couple of YN-622N and they all work the same - detached from camera they can trigger my YN560 IV, but attached to camera they don't get any signal from camera.

Now I found this thread and tried shorting the middle pin to the plate and nothing happens. Is it really possible that I got 4 faulty triggers??

Or does Nikon work different from the rest?

 

[fotowbert]

I have just received couple of RF-603N II and I already have a couple of YN-622N and they all work the same - detached from camera they can trigger my YN560 IV, but attached to camera they don't get any signal from camera.

Are you aware of the contact issue with YN gear and some Sony hot-shoes? Link 1 , Link 2 Clean all hot-shoe contact location with a soft white pencil eraser. My experience is that sometimes an invisible coating of finger oil or ? can prevent good contact.

Now I found this thread and tried shorting the middle pin to the plate and nothing happens.

That's a bad sign. Does the transmitter's test button fire the remote (side switch must be "TX")? Shorting the center pin to the metal foot plate will fire the remote regardless of the switch position. That is how my 4 RF-603II Nikon versions work. If you can't get the RF-603II to work shorting the center pin there is no way it will work on camera.

Is it really possible that I got 4 faulty triggers??

It's possible considering YongNuo's price point. When purchased as a pair both units are from the same production batch making it very likely if one is bad then both will be. I now advise purchasing YN triggers only from a vendor with an easy return policy.

Another explanation might be your camera's hot-shoe center contact pad is dead. I assume the 560IV works when mounted directly in the camera's hot-shoe without any adapter so it uses the center contact pad.

Or does Nikon work different from the rest?

No. Nikon's flash sync circuit drops the center pin voltage to near zero (I've measured a small residual voltage) to fire the flash. Shorting the center pin achieves the same thing which is representative of legacy cameras with a mechanical sync switch. Electronic circuits are now used and are subject to damage from excessive voltage on the sync contacts of film era flash units.

I hope this helps. John

 

[zorglub76]

1. I can fire the flash when it's mounted directly on hot shoe.

2. I can fire the flash by manually pressing the button on RF603NII (using YN560IV's built-in receiver, or using RF603NII as a receiver)

3. I can't fire the flash with making a short between ground plate and the middle pin (on flash directly, or on trigger foot)

And this third situation bugs me. If you should be able to connect ground to middle pin, then flash should fire if you do that on its own foot. And it doesn't. But it works ok with some cheap Chinese triggers (I bought Yongnuo's just because they have metal foot, and i needed that foot to put the flash on an L bracket).

I also borrowed a friends D7000, but am not sure how to set it so that it doesn't use the pop-up flash....

 

[fotowbert]

1. I can fire the flash when it's mounted directly on hot shoe.

Good news. That is proof your flash sync on the camera is working (and it is making good contact with both center pin and ground with the camera hot-shoe and that the flash is set in M triggering mode to accept input from its hot-foot). While the flash is set this way shorting the center pin to the metal foot will fire the flash.

2. I can fire the flash by manually pressing the button on RF603NII (using YN560IV's built-in receiver, or using RF603NII as a receiver)

Using the built-in RF receiver requires the flash is set to Rf mode. With it mounted on am RF-603II acting as a RF receiver then the flash is set as in item 1 above. This can be easily overlooked.

3. I can't fire the flash with making a short between ground plate and the middle pin (on flash directly, or on trigger foot)
And this third situation bugs me. If you should be able to connect ground to middle pin, then flash should fire if you do that on its own foot.

Yes it should as in item 1 above. If you can't then there is something wrong with your technique because the camera can fire it. I use a metal object and hold it against the metal foot plate sliding it up to touch the center pin. Once you can make the flash fire by shorting its foot use the same technique on the 603II triggers. The triggers RH LED should go red while the center pin is shorted and the remote flash (set to Rx mode) fires.

And it doesn't. But it works ok with some cheap Chinese triggers (I bought Yongnuo's just because they have metal foot, and i needed that foot to put the flash on an L bracket).

It's likely the RF-603II triggers are defective if you can't get them to work by shorting their center pin.

I also borrowed a friends D7000, but am not sure how to set it so that it doesn't use the pop-up flash....

In PSAM modes the pop-up doesn't deploy unless you press the little button on the side of the prism housing. Scene mode will auto deploy the flash when the camera wants to. (I have two D7000 as my main DSLRs)

• John

 

[zorglub76]

New findings:

1. On D7000 - When trigger is in TRX mode, everything works like a charm. When trigger is in TX mode, it doesn't work.

2. Off the camera with inbuilt YN560IV receiver - If I connect middle pin of the trigger and the single pin above it, I get blue light on flash (as if I half-press the button on the trigger in TX mode - this is used for focusing, I guess). Then, while these two pins are connected, when I connect them to ground, flash fires. And this is consistent behavior.

3. When I put trigger on camera, all the pins except the middle one are connected to ground. When I press shutter button, flash doesn't fire.

4. Before all this, I disassembled the trigger and found that all the wires are connected ok.

EDIT:

2a. When I connect a wire to the ground first, and then connect the other side to both middle and front pin at the same time - nothing happens. But if I then remove wire and connect only pins, flash fires.

This all looks like I will give up and make the triggers present to the friend with the d7000. Damn....

 

[fotowbert]

New findings:

1. On D7000 - When trigger is in TRX mode, everything works like a charm.

There have been other reports of the Mark II models working fine in their native either Canon or NIkon hot-shoe but not when on other cameras. This was the issue with the original RF-603 design that the Mark II units corrected. The originals would only transmit when detecting they were in their native hot-shoe. This hack was needed to make the Nikon version original RF-603 transceiver a full time transmitter (can't receive).

EDIT: The hack for the Canon version is different.

When trigger is in TX mode, it doesn't work.

I've had my 4 RF-603N II triggers for over 2 years now so perhaps YN may have made some running design changes. On my D7000 they will fire remote flash with either TX or TRX switch setting. This is the same as when I short the center pin.

2. Off the camera with inbuilt YN560IV receiver - If I connect middle pin of the trigger and the single pin above it, I get blue light on flash (as if I half-press the button on the trigger in TX mode - this is used for focusing, I guess). Then, while these two pins are connected, when I connect them to ground, flash fires. And this is consistent behavior.

Same here

3. When I put trigger on camera, all the pins except the middle one are connected to ground. When I press shutter button, flash doesn't fire.

I can short all 3 Nikon proprietary pins to ground first and then short the center pin to ground and the flash will fire.

4. Before all this, I disassembled the trigger and found that all the wires are connected ok.

IMO you triggers are defective, and possibly have some of the original units circuitry inside.

• John

 

[Tcduffy]

I just received the yongnuo RF-603C to trigger my alien bees from my Sony A7II but nothing is happening when I place one transceiver into my hot shot and the other into my alien bee sync cord. When I press the test buttons the triggers recognize each other but still don't trigger the flash. Is there anything I can do? Do I need to purchase the yongnuo PC cable? Is there another solution that anybody knows of?

 

[fotowbert]

I just received the yongnuo RF-603C to trigger my alien bees from my Sony A7II but nothing is happening when I place one transceiver into my hot shot and the other into my alien bee sync cord. When I press the test buttons the triggers recognize each other but still don't trigger the flash. Is there anything I can do? Do I need to purchase the yongnuo PC cable? Is there another solution that anybody knows of?

I hope you have the RF-603 mark II models. The original RF-603 C only works on a Canon unless you mod it.

Not sure what PC cable you mean. Transmitter unit goes in hot-shoe. You need to connect your ABs to the receiver's PC port or to its top hot-shoe.

Follow the following troubleshooting guide. Be aware there are defective RF-603 II units in the supply chain.

Troubleshooting YN RF-603II flash triggers (ver 1/5/17)

This process starts at the flash and confirms things are working as you progress toward the camera. When the flash doesn't fire as some point you have an indication of where the flash fire signal chain is broken.

1. Without using the RF triggers confirm the flash and camera's flash sync circuit are working, usually by connecting flash directly to camera.

2. Connect flash to trigger. Set trigger side switch to "TX" and press test button on this trigger. RH LED is green upon half-press, red upon full-press and the flash should fire. Now set side switch to "TRX". Switch setting is critical. See "Understanding the RF-603II side switch" in the notes section below.

3. Take the other trigger in hand and set its side switch to "TX". With its test button half-pressed both units RH LEDs should be steady green. With full-press both RH LEDs go red and flash should fire confirming RF transmission is working.

4. Now on the foot of this hand held trigger short the center pin to the metal foot ground plate. By "short" I mean take a metal object and hold it against the metal foot plate and slide it forward to touch only the center pin. The RH LEDs should go red and flash should fire. (Shorting the center pin simulates the action of the camera's flash sync circuit) If this was successful your triggers are working correctly. If not you have defective units.

5. Now put the hand-held trigger in your camera's hot-shoe. A half press of the shutter button won't do anything unless the trigger is the correct variant for your Nikon/Canon camera. In that case a half-press should give green on the RH LEDs of both units until the exposure meter times out. With any camera a full press of the shutter should produce a brief red LED on both units and fire the flash. A problem here would indicate a poor electrical connection still exists between the camera's hot-shoe and the trigger.

Notes:

Above process assumes both transceivers are on same channel, fresh batteries, all electrical contact points have been cleaned with a soft white pencil eraser, flash is seated in hot-shoe with the center contacts aligned, and your flash hasn't gone into standby/sleep mode. Trigger behavior is based upon RF-603 II Nikon units purchased Feb 2014.

Understanding the RF-603II side switch:

"TX" -> Test button fires flash, unit transmits only
"TRX" -> Test button activates shutter release circuit, unit transmits and receives

Hope this helps and please report back.

• John

 

[LesPickstock]

I thought only the Nikon Version II worked with Sony's?

I originally got a Canon pair - non functional. Swapped for Nikon version - fully working and reliable.

 

[fotowbert]

I thought only the Nikon Version II worked with Sony's?

I originally got a Canon pair - non functional. Swapped for Nikon version - fully working and reliable.

You won the YN RF-603 II Lottery on your second play!

There are many reports of both versions of these triggers "not-working" and "working" on Sony cameras.

Here are 12 reports of the Canon version RF-603 II working on non-Canon cameras, many are Sony.

Reports of RF-603C II working on non-Canon
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/54021380 (refusenik 7/14/14)
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/54974448 (Zapirian 12/23/14)
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/55074407 (Camo626 1/10/15)
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/55188631 (ahesharpe 1/28/15)
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/55676446 (2/19/15 LEDs indicated it works)
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/55855820 (EddieY 5/22/15)
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/55982836 (viperkeeper 6/13/15)

(6/2/15)
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/56304237 (AlbieR1 8/13/15)
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/56395017 (kamituel 8/29/15)
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/57332783 (TJ61 2/24/16)
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/57566771 (FF Pro 4/7/16)

 

[juanmaasecas]

I have the 603 version II for Canon. They worked perfectly on both my Canon and my fuji xe1, but they're not working in my Sony a7. Why?