Can not enable TTL on Cactus RF60X

texas76301

I have the Cactus RF60x and I can not enable TTL with my Sony a7sii. I do not see TTL anywhere in the menu or on the screen. Even when I use the Cactus trigger, and place the RF60x off camera, TTL is not an option.

Please help me.

Antonio

Hello @texas76301

You may refer to the downloadable Quick Start Guide for Sony X-TTL firmware:

https://www.cactus-image.com/Cactus V6 IIs Quick Start Guide (Sony%20X-TTL).pdf



Or your RF60X, all you need is to set it to Slave mode with the corresponding channel (e.g. channel 5) and group (e.g. Group C).

Hope this helps!

texas76301

Thank you, when you say "group buttons" ... I see A, B, C, D... are you literally referring to pressing A, B, C or D?

Class A

texas76301 said:

Thank you, when you say "group buttons" ... I see A, B, C, D... are you literally referring to pressing A, B, C or D?

Yes, the four big buttons labelled "A" - "D" are the "group buttons".

Pressing them, should cycle you through the available modes. If you are running the "X-TTL" firmware variant then you should see "TTL" as one of the modes.

Which firmware version are you running? Keep group buttons "A" & "D" pressed simultaneously while turning the V6II on. You should then the firmware version being displayed. If it is not "SON.1. ..." then you are not running the "X-TTL" variant.

Antonio

That's right, those are the Group buttons as @Class A pointed out.

For your easy reference, please see below screen captures from the user manual. There's a downloadable PDF version as well as a printed version that came with each V6 II.





Cheers!

texas76301

Antonio, I've pressed and held each individual Group Button, and there is not a menu that pops up that allows me to choose TTL - M - OFF. When I press the button it lights up, or doesn't light up. Even when I hold it, no different information comes up on the screen - I still see 1/128 (as an example.)

texas76301

I'm using firmware update version 1.1.012 on my V6II and 2.1.001 on my V6I.

texas76301

I shoot on both a Panasonic GH4 as well as a Sony a7sii. Is that a problem? Do I need to select only one camera and keep it to that camera?

texas76301

Update - I've loaded the latest drivers on both the V6II AND THE V6I - I now hold the A button down, all it does is highlight the 1/128 section. Even if I hold the A button down for 30 seconds, no option for TTL - M - Off appears.

However, I on the V6i, I do now see TTL directly under the battery image on the main display. On the V6II when I go into the menu, and click FUNCTIONS, I've an option for TTL Passthrough - it's set to OFF, when I try to change it, it says TTL Systems Do Not Match.

Somehow I'm misunderstanding. Please help.

Class A

texas76301 said:

Update - I've loaded the latest drivers on both the V6II AND THE V6I - I now hold the A button down, all it does is highlight the 1/128 section.

The term "the latest ..." is not helpful. There are a number of most recent variants. Always provide the full firmware version (as you did when you stated "1.1.012").

The firmware versions you mentioned so far do not support TTL via radio. You need "SON.1. ..." or "SON.A. ..." firmwares. Otherwise the pointer by Antonio won't help. You may have to select "X-TTL" in the Firmware Updater to see the correct firmware variants.

Once you have the correct firmware variant, do not long-press on the group buttons. Just tap them. You'll then see the status display show how the respective group cycles through "TTL -- M -- OFF".

BTW, I'm assuming you want to use TTL with an off-camera flash. Using a flash on top of the V6IIs while the latter is mounted to a camera is a different matter. Only in the latter case you need to deal with "TTL pass-through".

Antonio

Yeah for your Sony camera, you need to install the "latest" firmware - in case you are running on a Mac, press the "Check for latest firmware" button (above the big Update button).

The latest version is, SON.A.001.

For your RF60X, the latest is version A05 or A06.

With the X-TTL firmware (SON.A.001) you only need to press the group button(s) once and you can toggle between the flash modes: TTL > M > off.

Shout if you need any further assistance.

Thanks!

texas76301

When I connect the trigger V6 or V6ii trigger to computer and fire up the Fireware Updater V3.05 - It lists is 2.1.001 from 20 Oct 2016 as the most recent update. I don't see anything about Son" or anything else. The only options it shows are:

2.1.001, 1.1.019, 1.1.016, etc.

If click the big arrow that points to the left, I go back to a menu that shows "Multi-Brand HHS", "Canon TTL, Nikon TTL, Olympus TTL, Pentax TTL, Fujifilm TTL, Sigma TTL." I don't see any option for Sony or for Panasonic.

When I click the Multi-Brand HHS, it gives options as: 1.1.013, 1.1.012, etc.

Antonio

I think you got confused by the different models.




There is the V6 IIs, made specifically for Sony camera and flashes. Notice the top and bottom Sony MI shoes on the unit.
https://www.cactus-image.com/v6iis.html

It is only with this unit that you would be able to select dedicated Sony firmware versions (SON.A.001).


V6 II is a multi-system compatible unit and Sony is not a supported system.
https://www.cactus-image.com/v6ii.html


V6, the one with orange display, works with most camera systems including Sony using one firmware, such as version 2.1.001. It does not support HSS nor TTL.
https://www.cactus-image.com/v6.html


For your Sony camera, use V6 IIs as TX.
For all other supported cameras, use V6 II as TX.

Here's a sample setup:

V6 IIs: SON.1.002
V6 II: FUJ.1.002
V6: 2.1.001

Not using the latest Sony X-TTL firmware version because you have a V6 and we do not yet have a new "A" firmware version for it to work with SON.A.001 and FUJ.A.001.

Hope this helps!

texas76301

Okay, thank you for clarification.

Does the V6II support TTL with a Panasonic camera? Again, I'm using Cactus flashes - RF60 and RF60X.

Also, please will you explain what the statement on the V6 description means "The V6 transceiver comes with a multi-system shoe that supports TTL pass through. With TTL pass-through, the TTL flashes behave as they would when directly connected to the camera hot shoe." - Again, I'm using Cactus RF60 and RF 60X flashes.

Thank you. I'm surprised this is so confusing. I'm quite adept with understanding equipment, but this has really boggled me.

Antonio

texas76301 said:

Okay, thank you for clarification.

No problem. We are here to help.

texas76301 said:

Does the V6II support TTL with a Panasonic camera? Again, I'm using Cactus flashes - RF60 and RF60X.

Most (if not all) Panasonic Lumix cameras run on Micro FourThirds system, so if you need HSS and TTL you can install Olympus (M43) X-TTL firmware, version OLY.A.001.

We listed tested compatible camera models on our website. Click on the Compatibiity tab:
https://www.cactus-image.com/v6ii.html




If you only need HSS, the factory-installed Multi-brand HSS, version 1.1.013 (or later) is sufficient for you.

texas76301 said:

Also, please will you explain what the statement on the V6 description means "The V6 transceiver comes with a multi-system shoe that supports TTL pass through. With TTL pass-through, the TTL flashes behave as they would when directly connected to the camera hot shoe." - Again, I'm using Cactus RF60 and RF 60X flashes.

Imagine this "TTL PASS THROUGH" function like using a TTL extension cord.

In the case of the V6, the "cord" is the transceiver itself - operating in TX mode. And what you need to use TTL Pass Through is to have both the camera and flash running on the same camera system, for example:

1. Panasonic Lumix camera; e.g. Lumix GX8
   
2. Panasonic Lumix flash; e.g. Lumix DMW-FL360L
   

Both RF60 and RF60X "when directly connected to the camera hot shoe", it becomes a full manual flash - note the single pin hot shoe. In other words it does not operate in TTL let alone the TTL system a Lumix camera would. Both flashes are designed to operate mainly as an off-camera flash, especially after it started supporting HSS and TTL. They also have a Master flash capability, but it's more useful when it is only triggering the original V6, no HSS and no TTL, as a manual flash system, shooting under maximum x-sync speed.

However, the "TTL Pass Through" function on V6 II running on X-TTL firmware is no longer a "pass through" but an actual flash mode toggle between TTL and M.

Further reading:
https://www.cactus-image.com/community/discussion/comment/7791/#Comment_7791

texas76301 said:

Thank you. I'm surprised this is so confusing. I'm quite adept with understanding equipment, but this has really boggled me.

We are sorry to hear you are overwhelmed by the complexity of the functions and we will try to improve our marketing materials, but the V6 series of flash triggers are indeed powerful wireless flash trigger system that is nothing but the ordinary. It may be a twist from the commonly known as standard. Cactus break the various benchmarks especially the barriers between systems / brands so it could be confusing at first.

Please let us know if you require further assistance / explanations.

Thank you.