Jianisi PT-04TM

[David Zeno]

Hi everyone,

I just received my 4 channel Jianisi PT-04TM today ( bought off of eBay ). The thing was just less than $30.

Build is nice, seems to work well, however, something I didn't realize at the time was that my Canon 420EX flash has no way of manually reducing power to it, as the Canon 580 EX II for example.

So, when I fire my Canon 50D, with this new wireless device, my off-camera 420 EX, flashes at 100% / full power. There is no way to control the flash, and so all settings have to be done in-camera, which doesn't work out so well in daylight.

#2 - With this device, the output from the flash is 100% - all-the-time, ... I now wonder if this is good for the flash ? , will the flash become damaged from firing this way ?

I guess in the long run it was $30 terribly spent. I should have just bought a 580EX II or a couple of Pocket Wizards ( however - ! ... I don't know if the Canon 420EX is even 100% compatible with the Pocket Wizard series of devices seeing you cannot manually reduce the power output on the flash )

If anyone would like to add to this thread, I'd appreciate hearing from you.
I'm a bit disappointed in myself for not really doing enough searching for into before buying this device.

Dave.

[dle42]

#2 - With this device, the output from the flash is 100% - all-the-time, ... I now wonder if this is good for the flash ? , will the flash become damaged from firing this way ?


The flash shouldn't be damaged as long as you don't fire several full-power shots in quick succession. (otherwise, you might run the risk of melting the flash head, I think)

Pocket Wizards (the Plus II's and such) wouldn't do you any better; nor would Cybersyncs, because they're not ETTL triggers. If you want to pursue Pocket Wizards, the Flex/Mini series would work best with your 420EX.