Cactus V6 Mk II Announced

NeverSatisfied · 01-29-2017, 11:15 AM

Any other suggestions? It seems like it"s got to be something simple that I've overlooked... I was pretty excited about the new HSS capability of the V6ii. Maybe I should return it for an exchange, and see how the replacement works? I just think all the trouble-shooting possibilities should be explored first, but I'm fresh out of ideas...

paulster · 01-29-2017, 03:31 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by NeverSatisfied

Class A or Cactus, I'm looking for advice on the V6ii and RF60 flashes. I've been using the V6 with four RF60's, and they work great. Just bought a V6ii and can't get it to fire them. The V6ii is FW 1.1.006, and all of the RF60's have been upgraded to FW 204. They continue to work with the V6. For my testing I have the V6ii set to Short Range, TX to flash distance about 3-4 feet, flashes on Slave, group A, channel 1, V6ii set the same. I've also tried Reset on the V6ii. How can I get these to work with the new V6ii transceiver? Thanks for any assistance you can provide.

Did you check the Channel and Radio ID? If you changed either of these on your V6/RF60 setup then the V6 II won't work out of the box.

MarkJerling · 01-29-2017, 06:32 PM

Happy to report that I have just received my V6II transceiver and RF60X flash. (Thank you Adorama!) I'm happy to report that setup was easy, intuitive and the manuals are easy to follow. RF60X works well on my K-5 and equally well when commanded by the V6II transceiver mounted on camera and flash located remotely.

I have not fiddled with firmware updates (yet), so this is with firmware as shipped.

NeverSatisfied · 01-29-2017, 07:29 PM

Originally posted by paulster

Did you check the Channel and Radio ID? If you changed either of these on your V6/RF60 setup then the V6 II won't work out of the box.

Hi Paulster,
You know, the V6ii ID was set to "0000". Pretty sure I checked it before and after, but I did change it to "0001". I'll try changing it back to 0000 plus do the factory reset, and see what happens. Yea I've been keeping the channels consistent, tried a few different ones but for most attempts the RF60 and V6ii have been on channel 1.

---------- Post added 01-29-17 at 09:48 PM ----------

Paulster you-are-a GENIUS! Changed Radio ID back to 0000, did Factory Reset, and we have a winner! V6ii and RF60 flashes communicate perfectly now. Thank you!

MarkJerling · 02-04-2017, 02:44 PM

I have now updated the V6II's firmware. (The RF60X shipped with the latest firmware) Happy to report that firmware updating was a breeze.

Class A · 03-27-2017, 05:02 AM

Just came across this press release by Cactus: The V6II will receive P-TTL functionality as a free firmware upgrade!

It seems it will take them some time until they get round to Pentax, but that's great news, AFAIC. Personally, I'll keep using manual mode in the majority of cases but I guess even I will probably find applications where P-TTL may come in handy.

jake14mw · 03-27-2017, 02:03 PM

That is good news, thanks for the info.

kenspo · 03-30-2017, 03:44 AM

I have been asked to betatest the new Cactus FW. Will do a review when its done

jake14mw · 03-30-2017, 04:39 AM

Originally posted by kenspo

I have been asked to betatest the new Cactus FW. Will do a review when its done

What is an "FW"?

kenspo · 03-30-2017, 04:51 AM

Originally posted by jake14mw

What is an "FW"?

FirmWare

jake14mw · 03-30-2017, 10:29 AM

Originally posted by kenspo

FirmWare

Ahh, darn, you got me excited there for a minute, I thought they were coming out with a new product I hadn't heard of! Are you going to be a beta tester for the Pentax PTTL firmware update?

kenspo · 03-31-2017, 12:01 AM

Originally posted by jake14mw

Ahh, darn, you got me excited there for a minute, I thought they were coming out with a new product I hadn't heard of! Are you going to be a beta tester for the Pentax PTTL firmware update?

Yes

rawr · 03-31-2017, 05:45 PM

Cactus v6II doing P-TTL directly would be very handy.

Watch out, Acon.

HMPENTAX · 04-02-2017, 02:58 AM

PENTAX K-3 + Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8

Successful Power Sync Off Cam Flashes at 1/8000 second!

On cam(hotshoe): Cactus V6 II + Godox X1T C (taped 4 pins leaving 1 pin active only).

Flashes: Godox TT600 1/8 power 20mm controlled by X1T C & Yong Nuo YN 560 IV 1/1 power 24mm in S2 mode as optical slave of TT600.

EXIF: FL 42.5mm; F/2.8; 1/8000 second; ISO 800.

https://500px.com/photo/205924459

HMPENTAX · 04-03-2017, 10:32 AM

PENTAX K-3 + Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8
Successful Power Sync Off Cam Flashes at 1/8000 second!

On cam(hotshoe): Cactus V6 II + Godox X1T C (taped 4 pins leaving 1 pin active only).

Flashes: Godox TT600 controlled by X1T C & Yong Nuo YN 560 IV in S2 mode as optical slave of TT600.

Instagram

04-02-2017, 02:58 AM	#104
HMPENTAX New Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 9	PENTAX K-3 + Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8 Successful Power Sync Off Cam Flashes at 1/8000 second! On cam(hotshoe): Cactus V6 II + Godox X1T C (taped 4 pins leaving 1 pin active only). Flashes: Godox TT600 1/8 power 20mm controlled by X1T C & Yong Nuo YN 560 IV 1/1 power 24mm in S2 mode as optical slave of TT600. EXIF: FL 42.5mm; F/2.8; 1/8000 second; ISO 800. https://500px.com/photo/205924459 Last edited by HMPENTAX; 04-04-2017 at 02:57 AM.

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01-29-2017, 11:15 AM	#91
NeverSatisfied Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 688	Any other suggestions? It seems like it"s got to be something simple that I've overlooked... I was pretty excited about the new HSS capability of the V6ii. Maybe I should return it for an exchange, and see how the replacement works? I just think all the trouble-shooting possibilities should be explored first, but I'm fresh out of ideas...

01-29-2017, 03:31 PM - 1 Like	#92
paulster Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 159	Originally posted by NeverSatisfied Class A or Cactus, I'm looking for advice on the V6ii and RF60 flashes. I've been using the V6 with four RF60's, and they work great. Just bought a V6ii and can't get it to fire them. The V6ii is FW 1.1.006, and all of the RF60's have been upgraded to FW 204. They continue to work with the V6. For my testing I have the V6ii set to Short Range, TX to flash distance about 3-4 feet, flashes on Slave, group A, channel 1, V6ii set the same. I've also tried Reset on the V6ii. How can I get these to work with the new V6ii transceiver? Thanks for any assistance you can provide. Did you check the Channel and Radio ID? If you changed either of these on your V6/RF60 setup then the V6 II won't work out of the box.

01-29-2017, 06:32 PM	#93
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,408	Happy to report that I have just received my V6II transceiver and RF60X flash. (Thank you Adorama!) I'm happy to report that setup was easy, intuitive and the manuals are easy to follow. RF60X works well on my K-5 and equally well when commanded by the V6II transceiver mounted on camera and flash located remotely. I have not fiddled with firmware updates (yet), so this is with firmware as shipped.

01-29-2017, 07:29 PM	#94
NeverSatisfied Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 688	Originally posted by paulster Did you check the Channel and Radio ID? If you changed either of these on your V6/RF60 setup then the V6 II won't work out of the box. Hi Paulster, You know, the V6ii ID was set to "0000". Pretty sure I checked it before and after, but I did change it to "0001". I'll try changing it back to 0000 plus do the factory reset, and see what happens. Yea I've been keeping the channels consistent, tried a few different ones but for most attempts the RF60 and V6ii have been on channel 1. ---------- Post added 01-29-17 at 09:48 PM ---------- Paulster you-are-a GENIUS! Changed Radio ID back to 0000, did Factory Reset, and we have a winner! V6ii and RF60 flashes communicate perfectly now. Thank you!

02-04-2017, 02:44 PM	#95
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,408	I have now updated the V6II's firmware. (The RF60X shipped with the latest firmware) Happy to report that firmware updating was a breeze.

03-27-2017, 05:02 AM	#96
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251 Original Poster	Just came across this press release by Cactus: The V6II will receive P-TTL functionality as a free firmware upgrade! It seems it will take them some time until they get round to Pentax, but that's great news, AFAIC. Personally, I'll keep using manual mode in the majority of cases but I guess even I will probably find applications where P-TTL may come in handy.

03-27-2017, 02:03 PM	#97
jake14mw Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 977	That is good news, thanks for the info.

03-30-2017, 03:44 AM	#98
kenspo Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Oslo Posts: 2,207	I have been asked to betatest the new Cactus FW. Will do a review when its done

03-30-2017, 04:39 AM	#99
jake14mw Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 977	Originally posted by kenspo I have been asked to betatest the new Cactus FW. Will do a review when its done What is an "FW"?

03-30-2017, 04:51 AM	#100
kenspo Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Oslo Posts: 2,207	Originally posted by jake14mw What is an "FW"? FirmWare

03-30-2017, 10:29 AM	#101
jake14mw Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 977	Originally posted by kenspo FirmWare Ahh, darn, you got me excited there for a minute, I thought they were coming out with a new product I hadn't heard of! Are you going to be a beta tester for the Pentax PTTL firmware update?

03-31-2017, 12:01 AM	#102
kenspo Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Oslo Posts: 2,207	Originally posted by jake14mw Ahh, darn, you got me excited there for a minute, I thought they were coming out with a new product I hadn't heard of! Are you going to be a beta tester for the Pentax PTTL firmware update? Yes

03-31-2017, 05:45 PM	#103
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Cactus v6II doing P-TTL directly would be very handy. Watch out, Acon.

04-03-2017, 10:32 AM	#105
HMPENTAX New Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 9	PENTAX K-3 + Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8 Successful Power Sync Off Cam Flashes at 1/8000 second! On cam(hotshoe): Cactus V6 II + Godox X1T C (taped 4 pins leaving 1 pin active only). Flashes: Godox TT600 controlled by X1T C & Yong Nuo YN 560 IV in S2 mode as optical slave of TT600. Instagram