Can someone help confirm if Metz 58 can work as a HSS master with Cactus stuff

Grognard · 02-27-2017, 05:33 PM

Currently what in my hand are K1, Cactus V6II and RF60x. With this combination I certainly have perfect remote control (w/ HSS but w/o PTTL).
However I have recently decided to foray into the P-TTL world for not missing the "fleeting wonderful moments".

After doing some search I chose Metz 58 AF-2 over the AF540 FGZ II, for Metz's build quality. Don't worry about the Metz availability.
I did a lot of digging in the forum, and found that with an old firmware 58 AF-2 cannot work in HSS master mode but Metz promised a fix. (Large test of Pentax 540 and Metz 58 - PentaxForums.com)

So here's my question. Can someone help confirm if Metz 58 can work as a HSS master with Cactus RF60x as the slave, if I apply the latest Metz firmware?
Thank you, folks!

As a supplement, my first priority is to use two speedlites on a transmitter-and-receiver-triggering basis.

Last edited by Grognard; 02-27-2017 at 05:49 PM. Reason: Information supplementation

mcgregni · 02-28-2017, 12:02 AM

You already have the V6II, so nothing to gain really from using the Metz as a trigger. Your Cactus will work as an optical slave fired from the Metz, but you can do that much better with the V6II.

You need another V6II to make a further significant gain, ie 2 off-camera HSS flashes.

Grognard · 02-28-2017, 01:21 AM

Thanks, mcgregni! How about not using RF60x as an optical slave? I mean, to mount V6ii on K1 and then Metz on V6ii, and use V6ii as the master? According to this setup, can I get P-TTL and HSS simultaneously?

mcgregni · 02-28-2017, 02:06 AM

With that set-up, which is using the V6II 'TTL Passthrough' feature, you will have radio triggering and Manual power control over the RF60. Your Metz flash will work as an on-camera P-TTL flash. It sounds as if you are expecting P-TTL exposure control of the RF60 via the V6II ? That is not possible, because the RF60 is a manual flash only, and the V6II system is not P-TTL. It uses aspects of the P-TTL protocol to enable the trigger signal to be generated beyond the max sync time, but that it all.

So, yes, you can mix a P-TTL flash exposure from the Metz with the manual exposure from the RF60, they will sync ok. But you must control the RF60 exposure manually.

Grognard · 02-28-2017, 02:42 AM

Thanks, mcgregni! You have settled all my questions!
I have downloaded and am reading your wonderful guide. Thumb up!

mcgregni · 02-28-2017, 06:53 AM

Great, glad to help. I hope you get the flashes up and running the way you need. Come back with any further questions, there's plenty of people here with the knowledge to help.

02-27-2017, 05:33 PM	#1
Grognard New Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 23	Can someone help confirm if Metz 58 can work as a HSS master with Cactus stuff Currently what in my hand are K1, Cactus V6II and RF60x. With this combination I certainly have perfect remote control (w/ HSS but w/o PTTL). However I have recently decided to foray into the P-TTL world for not missing the "fleeting wonderful moments". After doing some search I chose Metz 58 AF-2 over the AF540 FGZ II, for Metz's build quality. Don't worry about the Metz availability. I did a lot of digging in the forum, and found that with an old firmware 58 AF-2 cannot work in HSS master mode but Metz promised a fix. (Large test of Pentax 540 and Metz 58 - PentaxForums.com) So here's my question. Can someone help confirm if Metz 58 can work as a HSS master with Cactus RF60x as the slave, if I apply the latest Metz firmware? Thank you, folks! As a supplement, my first priority is to use two speedlites on a transmitter-and-receiver-triggering basis. Last edited by Grognard; 02-27-2017 at 05:49 PM. Reason: Information supplementation

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02-28-2017, 12:02 AM	#2
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	You already have the V6II, so nothing to gain really from using the Metz as a trigger. Your Cactus will work as an optical slave fired from the Metz, but you can do that much better with the V6II. You need another V6II to make a further significant gain, ie 2 off-camera HSS flashes.

02-28-2017, 01:21 AM	#3
Grognard New Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 23 Original Poster	Thanks, mcgregni! How about not using RF60x as an optical slave? I mean, to mount V6ii on K1 and then Metz on V6ii, and use V6ii as the master? According to this setup, can I get P-TTL and HSS simultaneously?

02-28-2017, 02:06 AM	#4
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	With that set-up, which is using the V6II 'TTL Passthrough' feature, you will have radio triggering and Manual power control over the RF60. Your Metz flash will work as an on-camera P-TTL flash. It sounds as if you are expecting P-TTL exposure control of the RF60 via the V6II ? That is not possible, because the RF60 is a manual flash only, and the V6II system is not P-TTL. It uses aspects of the P-TTL protocol to enable the trigger signal to be generated beyond the max sync time, but that it all. So, yes, you can mix a P-TTL flash exposure from the Metz with the manual exposure from the RF60, they will sync ok. But you must control the RF60 exposure manually.

02-28-2017, 02:42 AM	#5
Grognard New Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 23 Original Poster	Thanks, mcgregni! You have settled all my questions! I have downloaded and am reading your wonderful guide. Thumb up!

02-28-2017, 06:53 AM	#6
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	Great, glad to help. I hope you get the flashes up and running the way you need. Come back with any further questions, there's plenty of people here with the knowledge to help.