V6 Sync Problems
I have been unable to get either my Nikon SB-800 or my YN560-II to fire before the shutter closes using numerous different settings with the V6 transmitter fired by either a Nikon D800 or a D90. Camera flash sync set to 1/250 (also tried 1/125 and 1/100), camera flash shutter speed (min) set to 1/60 (also tried slower). Have tried in TTL and manual modes (for the SB-800; the YN560 is manual only). I have tried firing with the camera in manual mode, Shutter-Priority, and Program modes. I have tried setting the the V6's to 1/2 power. I checked V6's to insure that Relay and Delay are off (and that channels and groups are set correctly). I have tried with both flashes on simultaneously, and have tried with one flash only.
With nothing having worked (and having checked both the manual and this forum), I updated my D800's firmware (no luck). I saw that there have been several firmware updates to the V6, but cannot find them on your website (found only the update notes) and also could not find an updater for Mac OS10 (only Windows, which does me no good). I also could not figure out (and could not find instructions) on how to check the firmware version of my V6's.
Please help, before I return these.
Comments
Make sure to have a recent firmware and use the "MANUAL" profile for the YN560-II, or use the "Nikon SB-24" profile when you have an older firmware and cannot update for some reason.
For the Nikon SB-800 it appears you need at least firmware version V1.0.184.
I believe with the above tips, you'll be successful. If not, let us know where you get stuck, i.e., try to fire the flash by pressing the test button on the receiver (on which the flash is mounted on), then try to fire the flash by pressing the test button on the sender, etc.
P.S.: Just to make sure that it isn't the camera settings: Set the camera to manual mode with a lowish shutter speed, say 1/125s. Make sure the flash head is in the frame so that you can see whether it is illuminated.
You can use a Windows emulator on a Mac. There are a least two emulators that support USB pass-through and I think you can use evaluation copies to perform the update.
Failing that, you may be able to use a friend's Windows machine. You may only ever need to update once.
It did not manifest itself with all flash models -- e.g., my Canon 540EZ worked just fine -- but a few models could not be fired at all. Unfortunately, the YN560-II was one of them. Have you tried using the Nikon SB-24 profile for it?
Regarding "triggered too late", I have never heard of this problem before. Have you tried manual mode on the camera with a shutter speed not higher than 1/180s (in principle you can go up to 1/250 on your camera, I just want to make sure that you aren't too fast)?
Can you describe your setup in detail, i.e., what is connected to what?
If you include further information, e.g., whether pressing the test button on the V6 sender causes the flash(es) on the V6(s) to fire, we should be able to get this working.
If you want to remote control the power level of the SB-800 from the V6 transmitter, the SB-800 needs to be in TTL mode. The V6 receiver cannot affect the power level of the SB-800 if the latter is in any mode other than TTL.