[BentaxGer]

Hi,

i just had a conversation @ Facebook. Someone asked if it is possible to trigger studioflashes beyond 1/160th.
I had the same problem and after buying a lot of useless stuff i found a workaround... wasting 3 days, but worth it.

You don't need the RF603s - just ignore them - you have to use to Cactus V6 - the second V6(V5) triggers the flash
I'll change this after work, sorry

You need:

1x HSS compatible Flash (i use the Metz 50AF1)
2x Cactus V6 Triggers
2x RF603NII Triggers (maybe more, depending on how many flashes u use) - only needed for triggering my Yongnuos!

So... what i make is...

I first tried every wireless trigger i found... optical triggers... nothing worked (btw B&H has some optical slaves that could do the job!)
I bought Cactus V6 Triggers... as they bypass the ttl signal... works... even hss with my metz works... but no wireless trigger signal beyond 1/160th.

But it transmits the signal via hotshot. And the cactus v6 has a Delayfunction.I backpacked a yognuo RF603N II on the cactus... straped it on my Metz...

My Metz is on the camera and triggers optical (via flash) the cactus... this one triggers the RF603NII (TX) - goes wireless to the RF603NII and this last one triggers my Jinbei Portys.
The working Delaysetting for the Cactus is ~2ms

Works... looks strange but does the job.

To show some pictures:

Cactus V6 on Slave 2 (Mainflash)
Backpacked RF602N (NIKON!!! - the Canon version causes trouble)



Delay 2ms



Just laid it on the table... it's normaly strapped to the flash which is on cam (Flash pointed back or upwards)



Other RF603NII as receiver triggers Jinbei



Sample:
From upper left to downer right
1/4000th - 1/8000 - 1/200
1/400th - 1/800th - 1/1000

sorry for the mess

---

Last edited by BentaxGer; 06-11-2015 at 01:11 AM.

[rawr]

Interesting.

No doubt it will also allow HSS on 645Z too.

[Class A]

You need:

1x HSS compatible Flash (i use the Metz 50AF1)
2x Cactus V6 Triggers
2x RF603NII Triggers (maybe more, depending on how many flashes u use)

The setup you describe later only features 1 Cactus V6, but in the above you state "2x".

In fact, if you had two Cactus V6, you wouldn't need the RF603 triggers at all.

There is even a different approach where you don't even need an HSS-compatible flash (but a remote shutter release cable).

I bought Cactus V6 Triggers... as they bypass the ttl signal... works... even hss with my metz works... but no wireless trigger signal beyond 1/160th.

The lack of a signal is due to Pentax, not the fault of the Cactus (or any other triggers).

If you change your exposure steps from 1/3 to 1/2, you can increase the maximum shutter speed that still gives you a trigger signal to 1/180s.

I backpacked a yognuo RF603N II on the cactus...

Again, using another trigger system (like the RF603 in your case) isn't necessary, as long as you have two V6 (one of them could be a V5).

The V6 that gets optically triggered by the HSS-capable flash can directly trigger another V6 (V5) or RF60.

[Class A]

No doubt it will also allow HSS on 645Z too.

Yes, it does.

The only prerequisite for true HSS is the ability of off-camera flashes to allow engaging HSS mode manually (like the Cactus RF60).

Alternatively, you can use any flash/strobe using HyperSync instead. The difference between HSS and HyperSync is that HSS produces a long flash illumination by producing a burst of short pulses, whereas the HyperSync technique relies on a single flash pulse to be long enough to illuminate the whole frame. The latter will lead to a gradation across the frame as single flash pulses vary considerably in their intensity from start to finish. By using a delay, once can cut off the peak in the illumination, obtaining a smoother gradation, but also losing quite a bit of power.

Speedlights need to run on full power for the HyperSync technique whereas most (non-IGBT based) studio strobes yield longer pulses, the lower the power output is.

[Class A]

The working Delaysetting for the Cactus is ~2ms

If you use "MAIN FLASH" (S2) triggering, you shouldn't need any delay at all.

Did you find it necessary to dial in "2ms"?
What shutter speed still works with this approach?
I personally got up to 1/2000s with this main flash technique.

To obtain higher shutter speeds, e.g., 1/8000s, one has to use pre-flash (S1) triggering and a delay of ~94ms (on a K-5 II).

[BentaxGer]

The setup you describe later only features 1 Cactus V6, but in the above you state "2x".

In fact, if you had two Cactus V6, you wouldn't need the RF603 triggers at all.

There is even a different approach where you don't even need an HSS-compatible flash (but a remote shutter release cable).


The lack of a signal is due to Pentax, not the fault of the Cactus (or any other triggers).

If you change your exposure steps from 1/3 to 1/2, you can increase the maximum shutter speed that still gives you a trigger signal to 1/180s.


Again, using another trigger system (like the RF603 in your case) isn't necessary, as long as you have two V6 (one of them could be a V5).

The V6 that gets optically triggered by the HSS-capable flash can directly trigger another V6 (V5) or RF60.

You're right. Somehow i messed it up. Was a long day before
This is my Setup for triggering my Yongnuo flashes wireless with HSS
For my Jinbeis i only need 2 Cactus V6 - but still with delay of 2ms - I just tested it
Thank you for your advice

[BentaxGer]

If you use "MAIN FLASH" (S2) triggering, you shouldn't need any delay at all.

Did you find it necessary to dial in "2ms"?
What shutter speed still works with this approach?
I personally got up to 1/2000s with this main flash technique.

To obtain higher shutter speeds, e.g., 1/8000s, one has to use pre-flash (S1) triggering and a delay of ~94ms (on a K-5 II).

Don't know why. But i always need 2ms.
Maybe it's depending on your flashes?!
Jinbei DC600/1200/Freelander500 are the flashes i use.

[redcat]

wow, interesting ! bookmarked this page for further use ^^ thank you guys for sharing this with us ^^

[delegopa]

A pity that there is no software option to trigger external flash at any speed... As long as it would not be on by default it would not hurt the unimformed but would enable so many possibilities for the knowing.

[clackers]

A pity that there is no software option to trigger external flash at any speed... As long as it would not be on by default it would not hurt the unimformed but would enable so many possibilities for the knowing.

I don't think anyone would complain if they made that an option.

[Class A]

I don't think anyone would complain if they made that an option.

I think this feature will be released at the same time with the SDM->screw-drive switch, i.e. never (unless the firmware gets properly hacked one day).