Cactus V4 + Pentax flash + cold = :(

dom777 · 03-18-2010, 04:29 PM

Mh, I guess I am going to try that, too. But I don´t think it is a problem with the cold alone. When I use it indoors it works perfectly, but yesterday I tried it outside for the first time. Must have been 15°C (60F?), but like 70% of the pictures were black, although the flash did fire. Tried reducing the shutter down to about 1/60, still having the same problem. Setup was with an old Braun-flash, connected to the receiver via cync-cable. Could it be a problem that I was shooting near a lake? Will try changing batteries next time and if this doesn´t seem to work out, try the method described here.

aerodave · 03-18-2010, 04:53 PM

60 degrees F might well be too cold for some copies of these triggers. I never quite figured out where the lower temperature threshold was for mine, but it may have been as high as that. All I know is that if they were the least bit chilly, I had to sync at 1/15 to get the flash to show up in my pictures.

StarDust · 03-19-2010, 12:34 AM

I always figured it was around 10 degrees, but it might be around 15. When you test it at 1/15 s, set the camera to max power so you get a proper over exposure and can be sure that it's a shutter speeds problem.

Class A · 01-26-2011, 01:56 AM

BTW, the new Cactus V5 don't have this problem anymore. They don't support reverse polarity flashes to start with.

milesy · 07-25-2012, 04:13 AM

i know this is an old thread but thank you thank you thank you......this was driving me insane!!!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Cactus KF36 Portrait Flash Combo	Class A	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	0	07-04-2009 08:35 PM
Is the Cactus KF36 Flash the same as Vivitar 285HV Flash?	NorthPentax	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	12	06-22-2009 02:14 PM
How not to test your Cactus Wireless Flash Trigger	xs400	Post Your Photos!	7	02-10-2009 07:01 AM

03-18-2010, 04:29 PM	#16
dom777 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: nbg Posts: 29	Mh, I guess I am going to try that, too. But I don´t think it is a problem with the cold alone. When I use it indoors it works perfectly, but yesterday I tried it outside for the first time. Must have been 15°C (60F?), but like 70% of the pictures were black, although the flash did fire. Tried reducing the shutter down to about 1/60, still having the same problem. Setup was with an old Braun-flash, connected to the receiver via cync-cable. Could it be a problem that I was shooting near a lake? Will try changing batteries next time and if this doesn´t seem to work out, try the method described here.

03-18-2010, 04:53 PM	#17
aerodave Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 365 Original Poster	60 degrees F might well be too cold for some copies of these triggers. I never quite figured out where the lower temperature threshold was for mine, but it may have been as high as that. All I know is that if they were the least bit chilly, I had to sync at 1/15 to get the flash to show up in my pictures.

03-19-2010, 12:34 AM	#18
StarDust Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Posts: 400	I always figured it was around 10 degrees, but it might be around 15. When you test it at 1/15 s, set the camera to max power so you get a proper over exposure and can be sure that it's a shutter speeds problem.

01-26-2011, 01:56 AM	#19
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	BTW, the new Cactus V5 don't have this problem anymore. They don't support reverse polarity flashes to start with.

07-25-2012, 04:13 AM	#20
milesy Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 379	i know this is an old thread but thank you thank you thank you......this was driving me insane!!!