Fine tuning via software
I am really enjoying my new Cactus V6s, they are small miracles of electronic engineering. I have a suggestion on how they can be improved even further though. I have been using the flash learning tool built into the V6s to profile my analog Metz 45 CL-4. The profile that the V6 generates provides much more flexibility than the four manual power levels of the CL-4, but the accuracy of the quench timings could be improved. Here are some test results from a profile I built using only two data points, half and quarter power:
1/2 Power = f/8 .5
1/4 Power = f/5.6 .5
1/8 Power = f/4 .7
1/16 Power = f/2.8 .9
1/32 Power = f/2.8 .4
1/64 Power = f/2 .9
1/128th Power = f/2 .5
Lo Power = f/2 .4
(measurements made with a Sekonic 758DR, factory profile, at 3 meters, ISO 100, dome down)
I have found that using the profile for the Metz 58 AF-2 with the 45 CL-4 actually yields more predictable results and a wider range of power from Full to "Lo". What would be great is if the user could connect the V6 to a computer via the USB cable, and tweak the timings of the flash profile generated by the V6 in a software application.
For instance my reading at 1/16 was f/2.8 .9, ideally the reading at 1/32 should be f/2 .9, one stop less. If I could edit the profile generated by the V6, I would shorten the quench timing between 1/16 and 1/32 by a few milliseconds. It would also be nice if users had the ability to duplicate a profile, like the factory profile for the Metz 58 AF-2, rename it, and adjust that profile instead. Ultimately, if the profiles could be stored in a file on the computer, users could upload their custom profiles to this forum or some centralized database so that other users may download and use them.
Just a thought for improving what is already a powerful tool.
- Michael Maxfield
1/2 Power = f/8 .5
1/4 Power = f/5.6 .5
1/8 Power = f/4 .7
1/16 Power = f/2.8 .9
1/32 Power = f/2.8 .4
1/64 Power = f/2 .9
1/128th Power = f/2 .5
Lo Power = f/2 .4
(measurements made with a Sekonic 758DR, factory profile, at 3 meters, ISO 100, dome down)
I have found that using the profile for the Metz 58 AF-2 with the 45 CL-4 actually yields more predictable results and a wider range of power from Full to "Lo". What would be great is if the user could connect the V6 to a computer via the USB cable, and tweak the timings of the flash profile generated by the V6 in a software application.
For instance my reading at 1/16 was f/2.8 .9, ideally the reading at 1/32 should be f/2 .9, one stop less. If I could edit the profile generated by the V6, I would shorten the quench timing between 1/16 and 1/32 by a few milliseconds. It would also be nice if users had the ability to duplicate a profile, like the factory profile for the Metz 58 AF-2, rename it, and adjust that profile instead. Ultimately, if the profiles could be stored in a file on the computer, users could upload their custom profiles to this forum or some centralized database so that other users may download and use them.
Just a thought for improving what is already a powerful tool.
- Michael Maxfield
Comments
Thank you very much for your suggestion, and it is a very good one too!
R&D said the method you mentioned is based on a different infrastructure the V6 currently uses, so they will be needing some time to implement your ideas before they can make the improvement (user define) on quench timings.
Please don't hesitate to point out other ideas you have on the V6 and I will forward them to our R&D team.
Thank you again and we appreciate your feedback!
Brand Manager