Phottix Strato or Yongnuo rf 602 or ?

The local shop (National Camera) carries Phottix Strato triggers. They sell them for about the same price as you can find them online for, and a few extra bucks is worth it to me to support the local place. My question is what would make the stratos better than the Yongnuo's or iShoots that you can get for 1/3 the price?

Thanks for any input!

No comment on your question as I'm not in the position of making such an A/B comparison but,if I'm allowed,I'll throw in another product,the Aputure Trigmaster Plus.Same origin,good reviews.
Cheers,

I guess my question should be brand/product specific. More what I am interested in the "mid tier" level of flash triggers. There are pocket wizards at one end and stuff like the cowboystudio stuff at the other. I am just wondering where the mid price fits in usage/feature wise.

The Strato II's are pretty much the best option I've found so far. They have the built quality others lack as well as all the refinements which should have come to all the triggers after the 602's but are missing in one way or another on most.

I wrote a few comments on the Strato recently here -
https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=13667014&po​stcount=15

The RF-602 where the first good "ebay triggers" (actually great is better description), but they have their weak points still. The later RF-603 (and others) introduced new weak points, so to me at this stage either bargain price 602's or just going straight to the Stratos makes the most sense.

elv wrote in post #13721893
The Strato II's are pretty much the best option I've found so far. They have the built quality others lack as well as all the refinements which should have come to all the triggers after the 602's but are missing in one way or another on most.

I wrote a few comments on the Strato recently here -
https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=13667014&po​stcount=15

The RF-602 where the first good "ebay triggers" (actually great is better description), but they have their weak points still. The later RF-603 (and others) introduced new weak points, so to me at this stage either bargain price 602's or just going straight to the Stratos makes the most sense.

What do feel are the "new" weak points? Just curious as I have 603's and have not experienced any problems with them.

Hi Tim,

They didn't fix some basic issues to start with like no locking ring on the TX (particularly now it has a pass thru hotshoe that is a complete joke), but also the on/off switch still can't be used with a flash in place, still 12volt max trigger voltage.

But because they are now transceivers there's a hotshoe on the recievers as well so mounting directly via a threaded brass stud is not possible anymore, the test fire button doesn't work off camera (for lightmeter use), the sync speed has gone down (and the 602's were not great to start with, Strato & V5's etc better). They won't work on non dedicated cameras (Canon/Nikon) at all due to the self switching transceivers. No all channels option like the 602's. 602's are also smaller (and cheaper). No backward compatibility with anything.

They did obviously fix things like all AAA batteries and 2.5mm sockets, and the main advantage is you can fire a shutter and flash at the same time with one TX. Also possible back up Tx being transceivers.

Given all that I don't really have a preference as to which is better, but the the 602's are cheaper so that kind of makes sense if your looking for cheap and good.

When it comes to spending more, to me the Strato II are the standout, there's ok options from Cactus and Pixel etc but you may as well just spring for the Stratos when looking for something that has made all the refinements and is built well.

Hopefully they will make a cheaper version without the extra features like groups and pass thru TTL shoe, but still a simple solid convenient unit with the common sense refinements of the Strato.

For what it is worth, I am quite content thus far with my Starto set (not the Strato II). The only thing I wish it had of the II's was the locking mechanism on both components, instead of just the transmitter.

elv, thanks for the reply. I agree on the locking foot, that seems to me something that should have been a no-brainer. For me, the lack of a 1/4-20 mount isn't a big deal. A nice cold shoe like FlashZebra sells is cheap and solves the off camera mount/no locking foot problem. On-camera with a flash mounted on them is a BIG problem. I dont use mine like that but again it should have been dealt with. On/Off switch while not real handy hasn't been an issue for me either. Turn it on before mounting the flash. I have had them on for a three hour shoot and had zero problems.

What is/was the sync speed of the 602's? I get 1/200 with my 50D and the 603's.

I get 1/250 with my 50D and the 602's

Tim S wrote in post #13726256
What is/was the sync speed of the 602's? I get 1/200 with my 50D and the 603's.

Yes, you can probably get 1/250th sometimes too but they eventually fall back to 1/200th or less sometimes.

The Strato will get 1/250th all the time though.

If you go past the x-sync like this you can see a little more of where they are really at -

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/15168416@N00/4​885002992/

Stratos2 run on AAA, have 4 groups and ETTL pass through.

http://flashraw.com …ti-wireless-flash-trigger

I went ahead and picked up the Stratos II and while having nothing to compare them to, I am pleased w/ them as triggers.

mtuepker, you made a wise choice. I picked up one transmitter and three receivers a couple of weeks ago. If they continue to satisfy me into spring I will get another transmitter set.

I actually picked up another receiver already, Im a big fan of the bush button groups on the transmitter.