Cactus V5 radio flash trigger review

**smigol** · 06-10-2011, 11:15 PM

Also, don't forget if you have your flash set to "contrast control" it will double your shutter sync exposure. This setting should be disabled on your remote flash.

Andi Lo · 06-19-2011, 07:17 AM

I'm looking to use my V5s as wireless triggers but I'm not willing to pay the $10 they want for the cables... Does anyone know if any of these three will work as alternatives to the cable?
This is the one on gadgetinfinity http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=17590&cat=278&page=1

These are what I thought might be okay to use
$1.29 - 2.5mm Male to 3.5mm Female Audio Cable - Cables & Adapters
$0.97 - 3.5mm Male to 2.5mm Male Audio Cable (50CM-Length) - Audio Accessories & Earphones
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3-5mm-male-to-2-5mm-male-audio-adapter-cable-100cm-length-48641

Autodidact · 06-19-2011, 09:05 AM - **1 Like**

I assume so, cause the cable from Gadget Infinity is really nothing more than a male to male 3.5 to 2.5 adapter. The pin layout is the same in both ends. — I just double-checked with a multimeter.

The first one might be a bit short though. Personally I'd go for the last / most expensive one with a 90 degree bend in one end. That's practical, especially at the camera end.

Class A · 06-19-2011, 07:49 PM

Originally posted by Autodidact

Personally I'd go for the last / most expensive one with a 90 degree bend in one end. That's practical, especially at the camera end.

+1

Andi Lo, if you get one of these, let us know whether it worked. As Autodidact said, it should work. The only reason why it might not could be that the cables swap around contacts, but don't see why they should do that.

Note that your first one is a male to female. You'd have to add one of the supplied cables to connect it to the transceiver.

I'd get a male to male and your last one seems to be the best choice because of the flexible length and the 90° bend at the camera end.

jake14mw · 06-20-2011, 07:46 AM

I bought a cheap 2.5 to 3.5 male to male cable as suggested here. I tried it once and it worked fine. Any of these cables should work. Thanks.

philbaum · 06-20-2011, 11:54 AM

Originally posted by Class A

+1

Andi Lo, if you get one of these, let us know whether it worked. As Autodidact said, it should work. The only reason why it might not could be that the cables swap around contacts, but don't see why they should do that.

Note that your first one is a male to female. You'd have to add one of the supplied cables to connect it to the transceiver.

I'd get a male to male and your last one seems to be the best choice because of the flexible length and the 90° bend at the camera end.

I'm trying to guess why people are using cables. I think the one application is:
a. Some of the strobist information shows velcroing the rf trigger to the side of the flash with a short cable going to the trigger. I think this is so that the flash will still be centered within an umbrella mount.

b. The only application for a longer cable, is to use the Cactus as a shutter trigger. that must be it.

Other than the above, why not just let the flash stand on the top shoe of the trigger? Not sure why folks want longer cables?

Class A · 06-20-2011, 02:59 PM

Originally posted by philbaum

The only application for a longer cable, is to use the Cactus as a shutter trigger.

Yes, that was the context in which the above cable discussion was held.

If one uses a V5 as a receiver for a flash then often it is possible to put the flash on the receiver directly. Sometimes, as you observed, however, it is better to mount the flash directly on a cold shoe and connect the receiver via a short cable.

TOUGEFC · 06-20-2011, 04:15 PM

fwiw, i bought the cheap ebay cable and it works fine with camera and v5

Class A · 06-20-2011, 08:37 PM

Originally posted by TOUGEFC

fwiw, i bought the cheap ebay cable and it works fine with camera and v5

Thanks for confirming.

Class A · 08-17-2011, 07:00 AM - **1 Like**

I just came across this very good comparison between the Cactus V4, Cactus V5, Yongnuo RF602 and Yongnuo RF603.

Pentaxor · 08-17-2011, 07:42 AM

Originally posted by Class A

I just came across this very good comparison between the Cactus V4, Cactus V5, Yongnuo RF602 and Yongnuo RF603.

thanks.

jbrowning · 08-22-2011, 11:02 AM

I ordered my three on Saturday and they should be here on Wednesday.

Jim

Andi Lo · 09-23-2011, 06:47 AM

I just received my dealextreme 2.5 to 3.5mm cable and it works like charm

popt · 10-03-2011, 05:23 AM

Bonjour,
je possède les cacatus v5 et un pentax kr, ma question est bête : comment changer le channel sur l'appareil ? Par defaut mon boitier va sur le channel 1 et je n'arrive pas a passer sur une autre fréquence.
Merci

erkie · 10-03-2011, 02:47 PM

Originally posted by popt

Bonjour,
je possède les cacatus v5 et un pentax kr, ma question est bête : comment changer le channel sur l'appareil ? Par defaut mon boitier va sur le channel 1 et je n'arrive pas a passer sur une autre fréquence.
Merci

Bonjour,

Je crois que si l'émetteur est réglé sur le canal un il va déclencher n'importe quel récepteur fixé à un par cinq. (Les canaux bleu) mais ne déclenchera pas n'importe quel canal supérieur à cinq. J'espère que cela aide!

Eric

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06-10-2011, 11:15 PM	#166
smigol Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Menlo Park, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 422	Also, don't forget if you have your flash set to "contrast control" it will double your shutter sync exposure. This setting should be disabled on your remote flash.

06-19-2011, 07:17 AM	#167
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	I'm looking to use my V5s as wireless triggers but I'm not willing to pay the $10 they want for the cables... Does anyone know if any of these three will work as alternatives to the cable? This is the one on gadgetinfinity http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=17590&cat=278&page=1 These are what I thought might be okay to use $1.29 - 2.5mm Male to 3.5mm Female Audio Cable - Cables & Adapters $0.97 - 3.5mm Male to 2.5mm Male Audio Cable (50CM-Length) - Audio Accessories & Earphones http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3-5mm-male-to-2-5mm-male-audio-adapter-cable-100cm-length-48641

06-19-2011, 09:05 AM - 1 Like	#168
Autodidact New Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Haugesund, Norway Posts: 9	I assume so, cause the cable from Gadget Infinity is really nothing more than a male to male 3.5 to 2.5 adapter. The pin layout is the same in both ends. — I just double-checked with a multimeter. The first one might be a bit short though. Personally I'd go for the last / most expensive one with a 90 degree bend in one end. That's practical, especially at the camera end.

06-19-2011, 07:49 PM	#169
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251 Original Poster	Originally posted by Autodidact Personally I'd go for the last / most expensive one with a 90 degree bend in one end. That's practical, especially at the camera end. +1 Andi Lo, if you get one of these, let us know whether it worked. As Autodidact said, it should work. The only reason why it might not could be that the cables swap around contacts, but don't see why they should do that. Note that your first one is a male to female. You'd have to add one of the supplied cables to connect it to the transceiver. I'd get a male to male and your last one seems to be the best choice because of the flexible length and the 90° bend at the camera end.

06-20-2011, 07:46 AM	#170
jake14mw Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 977	I bought a cheap 2.5 to 3.5 male to male cable as suggested here. I tried it once and it worked fine. Any of these cables should work. Thanks.

06-20-2011, 11:54 AM	#171
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659	Originally posted by Class A +1 Andi Lo, if you get one of these, let us know whether it worked. As Autodidact said, it should work. The only reason why it might not could be that the cables swap around contacts, but don't see why they should do that. Note that your first one is a male to female. You'd have to add one of the supplied cables to connect it to the transceiver. I'd get a male to male and your last one seems to be the best choice because of the flexible length and the 90° bend at the camera end. I'm trying to guess why people are using cables. I think the one application is: a. Some of the strobist information shows velcroing the rf trigger to the side of the flash with a short cable going to the trigger. I think this is so that the flash will still be centered within an umbrella mount. b. The only application for a longer cable, is to use the Cactus as a shutter trigger. that must be it. Other than the above, why not just let the flash stand on the top shoe of the trigger? Not sure why folks want longer cables?

06-20-2011, 02:59 PM	#172
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251 Original Poster	Originally posted by philbaum The only application for a longer cable, is to use the Cactus as a shutter trigger. Yes, that was the context in which the above cable discussion was held. If one uses a V5 as a receiver for a flash then often it is possible to put the flash on the receiver directly. Sometimes, as you observed, however, it is better to mount the flash directly on a cold shoe and connect the receiver via a short cable.

06-20-2011, 04:15 PM	#173
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	fwiw, i bought the cheap ebay cable and it works fine with camera and v5

06-20-2011, 08:37 PM	#174
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251 Original Poster	Originally posted by TOUGEFC fwiw, i bought the cheap ebay cable and it works fine with camera and v5 Thanks for confirming.

08-17-2011, 07:00 AM - 1 Like	#175
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251 Original Poster	I just came across this very good comparison between the Cactus V4, Cactus V5, Yongnuo RF602 and Yongnuo RF603.

08-17-2011, 07:42 AM	#176
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by Class A I just came across this very good comparison between the Cactus V4, Cactus V5, Yongnuo RF602 and Yongnuo RF603. thanks.

08-22-2011, 11:02 AM	#177
jbrowning Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 996	I ordered my three on Saturday and they should be here on Wednesday. Jim

09-23-2011, 06:47 AM	#178
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	I just received my dealextreme 2.5 to 3.5mm cable and it works like charm

10-03-2011, 05:23 AM	#179
popt Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 56	Bonjour, je possède les cacatus v5 et un pentax kr, ma question est bête : comment changer le channel sur l'appareil ? Par defaut mon boitier va sur le channel 1 et je n'arrive pas a passer sur une autre fréquence. Merci

10-03-2011, 02:47 PM	#180
erkie Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Missouri Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 407	Originally posted by popt Bonjour, je possède les cacatus v5 et un pentax kr, ma question est bête : comment changer le channel sur l'appareil ? Par defaut mon boitier va sur le channel 1 et je n'arrive pas a passer sur une autre fréquence. Merci Bonjour, Je crois que si l'émetteur est réglé sur le canal un il va déclencher n'importe quel récepteur fixé à un par cinq. (Les canaux bleu) mais ne déclenchera pas n'importe quel canal supérieur à cinq. J'espère que cela aide! Eric