Cactus V6 II / Olympus/Panasonic camera /Canon flash

wachkds

Hello; I use the following setup:

camera: Olympus OMD EM1 and Panasonic GH4 and GM5

flash : Canon 580 EXII, Nissin i40 / Canon TTL version/ Cactus RF60X .
trigger : CACTUS V6II

When trying to use the Canon flashes , using the Cactus V6II test button, the flashes output intensity varies as I change it on the TX trigger ( and the change is reflected on the RX trigger ) . When actually trying to ake a picture, the Canon and Nissin flashes configured in TTL mode always flash at the same output level, although the RX trigger displays the output defined on the TX trigger correctly .

The Cactus RF60EX works OK .

Any idea what causes this ?

I did reset both triggers, but this did not produce any fix .

Thanks befoehand for your help; and all the best for the new year ;

Pierre W

Class A

Just to make sure: You are not using "PowerSync" mode, right?

wachkds

Hello , Thank You for your feedback . I had reset the cactus to default parameters, so Powersync should not be active, to no avail .

I tried to load the latest legacy firmware on the TX and RX triggers, instead of the A version, the results were the same , when using the TX trigger test button, the flash output was responding to the setting I defined on the TX 1/128 1/64 etc , but when using the M43 camera trigger , the flash was always outputting at the same power level, whatever the output I defined myself on the TX trigger .

I finally loaded the Olympus u43 TTL firmware on the TX and RX Cactus V6II and setup the TX trigger for manual output . In this last case, the flash output and zoom function were responding correctly when triggering the Panasonic GH4 u43 camera .

As I use different brand's cameras (Pentax, Sigma and 43 ) , I was hoping that the multibrand firmware would allow me to work with different brand of cameras and flashes to define the flash output level , but my current experience is that I need to load the camera 's brand specific Cactus firmware for this to happen, except for the Cactus RF60X .

Is this "working as designed" or should I normally be able to drive different flashes output level with one of the normal multibrand firmware (legacy or A version )?

Best Pierre

Class A

Thanks for the clarification. I did notice that you had performed a factory reset but thought I'd made doubly sure that your first action after the reset wasn't to engage "PowerSync" not suspecting any negative impact.

I cannot imagine that the multi-brand firmware variant is working "as designed". In my opinion, you probably discovered a bug. The legacy multi-brand variant certainly works as expected for the camera (Pentax) and flash (Metz) models I use.

Hopefully someone from Cactus will chime in soon.

wachkds

Hello Class A, thanks again for your feedback . I went through other posts of the forum, and applied the guidances notably regarding the order to switch on devices and make sure that the triggers are well connected to the cameras.
After applying the latest A firmware for my cameras, i could succesfully use the triggers in multi brands environment, notably Pentax/Olympus/Sigma cameras with Canon/Nikon flashes , and I can now chaneg the manual output from the camera trigger on flashes which are from different brands . Really cool system .

Thanks again for the help, and all the best for the new year ;

Pierre W

Class A

Hi wachkds,

you are welcome; happy to help, if I can.

wachkds said:

I went through other posts of the forum, and applied the guidances notably regarding the order to switch on devices and make sure that the triggers are well connected to the cameras.
After applying the latest A firmware for my cameras, i could succesfully use the triggers in multi brands environment, notably Pentax/Olympus/Sigma cameras with Canon/Nikon flashes , and I can now chaneg the manual output from the camera trigger on flashes which are from different brands.

Glad you got it working!

I wouldn't have thought that the order of switching on devices makes a difference, given that the manual control was working when not involving the camera. The V6II should just use the manual levels it is displaying whether fired from the test button or the camera. Anyhow, the main thing is you found a way to make it work.

All the best for 2019!