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Howdy! New to Cactus need buying advice !

ruberube
in General discussions
Matt here, Pentax k70 landscape shooter.  As such, available light has been my elusive friend.
   Time to start learning lighting.
 Off camera seems to be where it is at. Cactus seems to be the place to go.
           My first foray had my research go sideways and I thought the onboard wireless of a Metz 52 af-1 would work with a single v6. I bought them, but...no go.
 I seem to be learning that the 52 af-1 is in no way compatible with Cactus v6 on a Pentax system. 
 What about returning the Metz and getting a Cactus rf60x. Do I get on and off camera P-ttl, On and off HSS, zoom and power control? Any scenario where Metz 52 is of value or does that just muck things up.
    I am a blank slate. Can anyone point me in the best right direction

Comments

  • ruberube
    Seems like I'm disadvantaged with a k70. The v6ii doesn't list it as compatible. So with an rf60x and a v6 I suppose I would get remote power adjustment and triggering and not much else. Maybe that would be enough for a beginner but not much to grow with. Hmmmm!
  • AntonioAntonio
    Pentax K-70 is compatible!

    We will add it back on the compatible list.  Thanks!

    As for RF60X, when triggered by a V6 II...

    on-camera P-TTL: yes
    off-camera P-TTL: yes
    on-camera HSS: yes
    off-camera HSS: yes
    power control: yes, manually adjusted or automatic TTL
    zoom control: yes, manually adjusted

    RF60X is the way to go, unless you need on-camera flash with TTL.  

    You could still keep a Metz flash mounted on-camera, TTL mode, have the Metz flashing with auto P-TTL, using TTL Pass Through on the V6 II, and at the same time trigger an RF60X off-camera, also with P-TTL and HSS. 

    Hope this helps!

    Antonio Lao
    Brand Manager
    _____________

    To help us better help you, always state the exact firmware version installed on your Cactus device(s), such as: "1.1.013", "NIK.A.001", "v.103", or "A06".

    TTL or HSS not working on Cactus V6 II and V6 IIs? Be sure to check hot shoe connectivity by doing the <CAMERA INFO> check.

    Feel free to suggest an improvement or share product ideas. Contact us directly at info@cactus-image.com.  At Cactus, we listen. 
  • Class A
    @rube

    Note that Antonio has provided you with info about the V6 II. For your older V6 model, there is indeed no support for HSS or P-TTL.

    I believe the Metz 52 AF-1 works with the V6II but you'd need a second V6II unit as a receiver. I'd recommend getting an RF60x as it is a great flash and you won't need an extra V6II unit.
  • ruberube
    Great advice!
    I did indeed pick up the V6II and the RF60X.  
    Seemed to be easy to configure and use off camera but what about stacking it on camera - on top of the V6II. 
    I figure you should be able to still control it with the V6II just as if it were off camera but even though I left the TTL passthrough off, the RF60X would only work as manual flash.
       Would you be kind enough to share how to configure this?
     I even thought about blocking the pins on the contacts with a plastic film so that the RF60X would not "know" that it was on camera, but that shouldn't be necessary.
  • Class A
    edited December 2017
    Blocking the hot-shoe contact may indeed be necessary.

    You definitely need to still run the RF60x as a radio slave. I think you should be OK with respect to the short distance between trigger and flash if you keep the "WORK RANGE" of the V6 II set to "SHORT".

    My recommendation would be to use a flash bracket, i.e. avoid mounting the flash on the trigger.
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