A review - Flash Trigger PT-04M

[yamcake]

hmm not sure if this belongs here..

anyway, I got a set of the PT-04M from ebay (the newer version that works with the 580exII)
Paid around $40sgd for 1 trigger, 2 receivers.

The built quality of this thing is crap. Cheap plastic, and when inserting the batteries, u can see the quality of circuit boards inside, is really that of inferior quality..
The best part is the battery that came with the set, got literally twisted and bent, destroyed when i wanted to open it from the packaging... hahaha.... which was reasonable, what u pay is what u get..

Tightening the angle of which you want your flash to point via the flash trigger is tough. The knob u have to turn very tight, the design is not that good ar..

Coming to the operation of it,
its a very simple flash trigger that just triggers the flash. Setting this thing to work is a breeze, not much a problem is operations at all.. No ETTL of course.. camera and flash in manual mode.. if not it blast at full power.. and the handphone signal didn't interfere with the operations..

My verdict, very very worth the money... no need $300, $400 flash trigger to do the same thing.. spoil or damage just buy another one.. haha no need heart pain..

[modenaslim]

Originally Posted by yamcake hmm not sure if this belongs here.. anyway, I got a set of the PT-04M from ebay (the newer version that works with the 580exII) Paid around $40sgd for 1 trigger, 2 receivers. The built quality of this thing is crap. Cheap plastic, and when inserting the batteries, u can see the quality of circuit boards inside, is really that of inferior quality.. The best part is the battery that came with the set, got literally twisted and bent, destroyed when i wanted to open it from the packaging... hahaha.... which was reasonable, what u pay is what u get.. Tightening the angle of which you want your flash to point via the flash trigger is tough. The knob u have to turn very tight, the design is not that good ar.. Coming to the operation of it, its a very simple flash trigger that just triggers the flash. Setting tathis thing to work is a breeze, not much a problem is operations at all.. No ETTL of course.. camera and flash in manual mode.. if not it blast at full power.. and the handphone signal didn't interfere with the operations.. My verdict, very very worth the money... no need $300, $400 flash trigger to do the same thing.. spoil or damage just buy another one.. haha no need heart pain..

About the same as this one?

(1) Cactus Wireless Flash Trigger V2
http://martybugs.net/reviews/cactus.cgi

or
(2) YongNuo PT04 RF Wireless Flash Trigger
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6201


If i'm not wrong Sim Lim square level 5 is selling this PT04 and the guy quote me S$55..
Me still waiting to see if anyone do MO for this item..

[liquidityzero]

Hi sorry gotta borrow this thread for a while. Does anyone knows how to do the antenna mods for the Cactus V2s transmitter & receiver?
I don't have the equipment to do the soldering & know nuts about going about doing it, even after reading through the tutorial.
Am willing to pay. Anyone willing to help a brother out? Thanks!

[Headshotzx]

Originally Posted by liquidityzero Hi sorry gotta borrow this thread for a while. Does anyone knows how to do the antenna mods for the Cactus V2s transmitter & receiver? I don't have the equipment to do the soldering & know nuts about going about doing it, even after reading through the tutorial. Am willing to pay. Anyone willing to help a brother out? Thanks!

Um.. Do you really need that..? lol

[modenaslim]

OMG~~~

Bought it at Sim Lim 6th floor and now the stupid receiver keeps triggering flash by itself when i mount the receiver on my flash 430EX!!

I observe that:

When not flash attached, the LED on receiver is blinking according to transmitter
When flash is attached, the LED on receiver KEEPS trigger by itself!! Very very annoying!


Dun have this problem today when i test it at the shop...
Very trouble-some to bring back to the shop..

Think a bit lost confidence to this cheap PT04 liao..
Does anyone has similar experience??

[Dream Merchant]

Some of those are very common problems, sad to say.

That's why all those $350 (Skyport) to $1K (Pocket Wizard) triggers sell like crazy - because they work without problems, and are reliable.

[Dream Merchant]

Sorry ... to eloborate...

Some of those are very common problems, sad to say, it's like the 'norm', rather than the exception. Another issue is the low sync speed (aka, transmission lag) This is NOT a QC problem, but a design fault. But some people are very lucky because their sets work well and seem to have no problems at first. It's more like lucky draw lor.

There's a very simple reason why all those 'siao' photographers are willing to pay $350 (Skyport) to $1K (Pocket Wizard) triggers - because they work, without problems, and they work each and every time, reliably when you need them to.

[lennyl]

Originally Posted by modenaslim Bought it at Sim Lim 6th floor and now the stupid receiver keeps triggering flash by itself when i mount the receiver on my flash 430EX!!

Is it triggered by the transmitter? Try switching channels, removing battery from transmitter, and testing in a new location. It might be emissions from some other device in the background (don't know the design well enough to comment on the likelihood). At least eliminate those problems first before bringing it back to the store.

[catchlights]

Hi,

I have a faulty single channel flash remote control trigger to give away, anyone want to try to fix it or savage the parts, or modify it, or testing DIY skill. can come and collect it for FREE.

place to collect is 199A Punggol Field, priority will be give to the person able to collect it ASAP.

[modenaslim]

haiz..

May be go back and change to " off-show cord" lor..
Veri bad experience with this design...

[NeTHaCk]

err... why need to go so far to ebay when you can get from tagotech?

http://store.tagotech.com/index.php?...f1432563d0aa71

[tim]

Regarding the antenna mod mentioned, I have done mine a couple of months back.

[Sausage]

What did you use for the antenna housing?

[tim]

Is the question direct to me? If yes, this my answer, if not nvm

#. It's not any hollow housing, it is a real solid physical external antenna.

[ExplorerZ]

Originally Posted by NeTHaCk err... why need to go so far to ebay when you can get from tagotech? http://store.tagotech.com/index.php?...f1432563d0aa71

becos u can get 2 sets of it from eBay at 1 set the price from Tago.

[incubus]

*shameless plug*

anybody wats a set of 3 receivers and 1 tranasmitter for cheap?
these are V1's though.

visit my sales thread

[Redsun]

anyone wants my yonghuo trigger and receiver?
im giving them away
batteries not included

[dlens]

When buying from HK Ebay sellers - dont forget to factor in the overpriced shipping. The product is deceptively cheap because they're padding the shipping fee to save on Ebay commission. It might seem ok at first because the total price is within expectations. If you have bad luck and have to return a faulty product for testing or replacement, you'll be paying the overpriced shipping fee again. I decided not to return the dud I got and just eat the S$50-60 loss. Not promoting Tagotech but they're cheaper and their local shipping is $1. I got my 2nd set from them after I discovered their site.

If anyone wants a free dud PT04 transmitter and receiver, you're welcome to take mine to try and see if it works on your rig.
The receiver signal light blinks when the transmitter button is pressed but the receiver doesnt trigger any of my 4 flashes.
Self collect from YCK MRT station. Send PM if interested.

Originally Posted by ExplorerZ becos u can get 2 sets of it from eBay at 1 set the price from Tago.

[dxsibo]

thinking of doing a mod for my set but don't have the time yet

http://www.flickr.com/search/?ss=2&c...tus+mod&m=text

[ExplorerZ]

Originally Posted by dlens When buying from HK Ebay sellers - dont forget to factor in the overpriced shipping. The product is deceptively cheap because they're padding the shipping fee to save on Ebay commission. It might seem ok at first because the total price is within expectations. If you have bad luck and have to return a faulty product for testing or replacement, you'll be paying the overpriced shipping fee again. I decided not to return the dud I got and just eat the S$50-60 loss. Not promoting Tagotech but they're cheaper and their local shipping is $1. I got my 2nd set from them after I discovered their site. If anyone wants a free dud PT04 transmitter and receiver, you're welcome to take mine to try and see if it works on your rig. The receiver signal light blinks when the transmitter button is pressed but the receiver doesnt trigger any of my 4 flashes. Self collect from YCK MRT station. Send PM if interested.

actually, i just ordered 2 set of the trigger+receiver version 2 at about S$60 including shipping. yet to receive it, but sld be arriving in a few days more.