Metz M400 TTL/HSS Flash (version for Fujifilm X-Cameras) with Cactus V6 II

jstaiger

Yesterday I updated the brand new firmware FUJ.1.001 for Cactus V6 II but the Metz TTL/HSS flash M400 (Fujifilm Version) is still not supported by cactus-images. The flash fires but with full power all the time. HSS is also not working. It is a pity because this flash M400 in my mind is the best choice at the moment for Fujifilm X-Cameras. It is a high quality small but strong flash with the newest technology and you are able to update the firmware by yourself. This flash together with Cactus V6 II could be a dream team for all DSLMs models to change the of camera flash problems into a pleasure. When will you work on this? Cheers Juergen

itsme

Unfortunately I can only confirm jstaigers observations.  I hope there will be support for the M400 soon.

Foxjet

I am another Metz 400 user interested in knowing if compatibility is planned in the future. 

raychan

Thanks all for the report. We are getting the Metz M400 to study. Stay tuned for more updates. 

At the same time, can you select the <FLASH SYSTEM> in the V6II RX unit to <FUJIFILM> when sitting on the Metz M400. Please give it a try, see if it works. 

All the best

itsme

At the same time, can you select the <FLASH SYSTEM> in the V6II RX unit to <FUJIFILM> when sitting on the Metz M400. Please give it a try, see if it works. 

 

Ihad tried that (https://www.cactus-image.com/community/discussion/comment/5573/#Comment_5573) unfortunately, it still does not work correctly when manually setting the RX to Fujifilm. As described in that post, zoom settings work, power settings do not.

I am looking forward to reading about your results and improvements with the M400.

I hope the connection between in-camera menu and TX-unit settings can be improved as well by the way (and AF-assist lights and the like).

raychan

We have the M400 for Fuji in hand. 

The problem has been fix and that will include that in the next firmware update for X-TTL Fuji. 

jstaiger

Thank you for your hint which I just tested but sorry to say your Cactus V6 II does not support Fujifilm Camera X-Pro2 and X-T2 with the Metz flash M400. Please see my attached photo. The flash does fire when I shoot but always with full power. That means you are not able to control the power of the flash by Cactus and also not when by the minus power set of the flash. The only thing which works is when you switch the flash to manual and control the power by limit it at the flash with the power control button. The power control with Catus does not influence the power of the M400 flash. Cheers Juergen

raychan

@jstaiger

Thank you for the picture. We are working on the fix on M400 with V6II TTL. 

Stay tuned!

itsme

With the update to FUJ.1.002 the power can be regulated from 1/1 to 1/64 (although it should be possible to manually regulate the flash down to 1/256, it will not go below 1/64 even when the TX-unit is set to <1/64), but somehow I cannot get the TTL-mode to work right. But I was a bit short on time trying, I will take a better look soon.

itsme

After some more experimentation I conclude besides the phenomenon mentioned above regarding the minimum flash power, for some reason the camera always sets flash mode TTL +1/3 instead of TTL when the V6II-TX is freshly powered on and:

TTL does not work with the M400 on a V6II-RX, the power stays at a fixed level. I have tried spacing the hotshoe etc, but this does solve the issue. Also the V6II-TX apparently works just fine with a RF60X in TTL&HSS, so I suppose it cannot be related to the TX-module. Manually setting power and zoom for the M400 from the TX module works (except for the limit at 1/64 instead of 1/256)

X-Pro2 fw 3.10
V6II fw FUJ.1.002
M400 (Fuji-version) fw 1.2

itsme

I have tried again, but I cannot get TTL to work, manual settings work

What  could cause this/is this a known issue?

jstaiger

I just updated to the firmware FUJi 1.002
- mounted the m400 on the V6 II
- switched this flash on
- switched the V6 II on receiver mode
- mounted the other V6 || on the hot shoe of my Fujifilm X-T2
- switched the camera on
- Pressed the shutter release button half way down and switched on the V6 II on the camera hot shoe to transmitter mode
It works perfekt, supports TTL mode and HSS. I repeated this in this way many times and have not had any problems.
so far. For me personaly the biggest success cactus-images.com now did.

The receiver automaticly switched to
- flash profile auto fuji
- flash system auto

The transmitter
- camera system fuji
- flash system auto

I now can strongly recommend the combination Metz M400 with Cactus V6II for the Fujifilm X-Pro2 and X-T2 (i work with both cameras)

itsme

For me it still does not work for some reason, while I have followed exactly the steps in jstaigers description above.
X-Pro2 fw 3.10
V6II fw FUJ.1.002
M400 (Fuji-version) fw 1.2

TTL mode: does not work, the flash stays at a low power output
M mode: works, except for a limit at 1/64, when setting 1/128 and 1/256 the flash stays at 1/64

What could cause this issue? I have repositioned the flash to see if it might be an issue with the contacts, but I alwas het the same results (except if I adjust the position too much of course, then nothing works)

itsme

I have tried again from scratch, after firmware resets. TTL&HSS work!!!!

BUT: apparently it does not work with all channel settings, for example on channel 11 with radio code 0753 it does not work, I had tied a few more, some work, some don't.

And in M I can still not go below 1/64 (on any channel).

jstaiger could you check if you can go below 1/64 in M & if TTL does not work on channel 11 / 0753 to see if it is not an issue just with my sample?

jstaiger

On the wish of "itsme" I just made this test and KINDLY ASK CACTUS FOR ATTENTATION

After testing I like to confirm what "itsme" find out

- Manual mode on V6 II does not support below 1/64 that means the images are allways exposed in the same until 1/512

- Instead of the standart channel 1 / ID 0000 on the wish of "itsme" I tested with another channel 11 and ID 0753 and can confirm that
-TTL mode is not not support any more
- Manuel is totally not supported you are getting a full power flash instead iallways

Hope this will help you to find the bugs.

Antonio

Thanks guys for reporting your findings. 

I have forward them to R&D for bug fixing. Your help is very much appreciated.

@jstaiger, the Metz M400 indeed ONLY goes down to 1/64. That's the minimum it could go.

Thanks!

itsme

Thanks guys for reporting your findings. 

I have forward them to R&D for bug fixing. Your help is very much appreciated.

Great, thank you for picking the feedback up!

@jstaiger, the Metz M400 indeed ONLY goes down to 1/64. That's the minimum it could go.

That is not true for all synchronization modes: in HSS/FP-mode the flash is limited to a minimum of 1/64, but if FP-mode is switched off (so rear or front sync are used) it is possible to go down to 1/256. It looks like the RX unit switches the flash into FP-mode automatically, I do not think that makes sense for the M mode, and it would be preferable if sync modes could be set through the TX unit/camera menu.

Antonio

Thanks @itsme for your observation about the M400 power level in different modes. Let me check with R&D.

itsme

Thanks @itsme for your observation about the M400 power level in different modes. Let me check with R&D.

Thanks, ideally the flash would only be set to FP mode automatically when/if necessary or set by the operator through the TX-unit or camera menu.

Antonio

Thanks @itsme for your observation about the M400 power level in different modes. Let me check with R&D.

Thanks, ideally the flash would only be set to FP mode automatically when/if necessary or set by the operator through the TX-unit or camera menu.

Please see my reply here:

https://www.cactus-image.com/community/discussion/comment/6075/#Comment_6075

Ideally, yes. But even with direct on-camera you have to select an option in camera flash menu. And we do not have such a menu on the TX and do not plan on adding due to space requirement.

Thanks!

Foxjet

Thanks @itsme for your observation about the M400 power level in different modes. Let me check with R&D.

Thanks, ideally the flash would only be set to FP mode automatically when/if necessary or set by the operator through the TX-unit or camera menu.

Please see my reply here:

https://www.cactus-image.com/community/discussion/comment/6075/#Comment_6075

Ideally, yes. But even with direct on-camera you have to select an option in camera flash menu. And we do not have such a menu on the TX and do not plan on adding due to space requirement.

Thanks!

Antonio,

Has R&D followed up on this question?

Antonio

Thanks @Foxjet, the HTML codes on the forum is not always working.

itsme

I still would very much like to be able to use the power level settings below 1/64 with the Metz M400. As had been discussed before, the limit of the M400's minimum power level is 1/64 in HSS/FP-mode, and 1/256 in normal operation.

Since my last remarks on the possible improvements for setting the power level of the Metz M400 with the Cactus V6II transceiver, there has been quite some developments on the firmware front, so I have good hope even more improvements can be made.

I believe the Cactus transceiver should enable setting the FP/HSS mode for the M400 either manually or automatically (whenever the shutter speed requires HSS, the unit switches it on), thereby enabling lower flash power settings for the M400.

Antonio

Unfortunately, switching M400's HSS mode on / off is not possible on the V6 II The M400 does not allow this, it's not a shortcoming on the firmware. Once it's on, it's always on, unlike Fujifilm's own EF-X500.

If you must, you will have to walk over to the flash and adjust the setting manually. This means if you shoot between HSS and x-sync you will have to walk back and forth, not at all civilized.

Sorry but there's nothing we could do in firmware to help.

itsme

It is no problem to switch sync modes for the M400 from the in-camera menu, at least with my M400(FW1.2) and X-Pro2 (FW 5.0). FP, front and rear all work, with the expected limits of 1/64 in FP mode and 1/256 in front and rear modes. It is no problem to switch back and forth by using the in-camera menu item, the lower limit always changes accordingly.

So it is clearly possible to transmit the sync mode from camera to flash. Therefore I do not understand why it would not be possible to do so via the V6II.

Antonio

Possible on the camera does not mean it's also possible on the V6 II.

itsme

Thanks for your reply. It should at least be theoretically possible, if all necessary electrical contacts to replicate the Fuji-hotshoe are present on the V6II and they can be switched freely. I understand it might not be practically possible due to choices you have to make because of constrains imposed by the limitations of the V6II hardware (memory, hotshoe contacts... but these might be useful to consider improving for a V7 of course).

Antonio

Certainly.

For the V6 II hardware, we have pretty much stretched it to the max already.

Thanks!