help needed:cactus v2 & AF-540 sync problem

emonsas · 10-26-2007, 04:00 PM

hi
I'm very new here. got to know the forum from my search on google. Was hoping to find a solution of the problem I'm having with my AF-540.

I recently acquired two sets of cactus v2 (ebay triggers). I've tried to sync it with my AF-540 & k10d, but it got some problems. It wouldn't sync higher than 1/25s. Above 1/25s, the A-540 fires, but it is not at the same time as when the shutter opened. ie, the flash fires, but it was not captured in the final image. Fyi, I'm putting the AF-540 under normal mode, in manual. It seems that is the only setting the cactus V2 is able to trigger the AF-540

I've tried the same triggers with my old 350d, 580ex and sigma 500 super, and it work flawlessly. I'm hoping it is just the setting that caused it to behave like that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Last edited by emonsas; 10-26-2007 at 06:34 PM.

anomaly · 10-27-2007, 08:30 AM

ask on the strobist forums

roscot · 10-28-2007, 05:47 AM

I don't know about those particular triggers, but the cheap units that came with my studio kit, won't sync with my K10D faster than 1/60th sec. I believe the guts of all these inexpensive triggers are probably the same design. I finally broken down and bought Pocket Wizards ( Plus II's). These work much better,but of course are much more expensive. Even these do not fully sync at at 1/180 with my studio strobes. I'll sometimes get a dark edge where the trailing curtain is closing. My max with the Pocket Wizards is about 1/125th sec.

emonsas · 10-28-2007, 09:26 AM

thanks roscot for sharing the problem..

my assumption is that pentax flash is a bit different in design compared with the others. i can sync my k10d with sigma and canon flash, but not with the af-540, which is a bit confusing... thinking of emailing the manufacturer of the cactus v2 remote...will inform of their answer soon..

thanks

anomaly · 10-28-2007, 09:48 AM

as i said, look on strobist. I believe I saw a solution to this there on their flickr forums.

it will involve some soldering.

anomaly · 10-28-2007, 11:57 AM

I checked here:

Flickr: Discussing Help with 360FGZ in Strobist.com

Seems like you need the V2s triggers rather the V2 triggers to work with the pentax flash. Sometimes there may be polarity issues where you would have to open the reciever and switch around the contacts.

10-26-2007, 04:00 PM	#1
emonsas New Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 3	help needed:cactus v2 & AF-540 sync problem hi I'm very new here. got to know the forum from my search on google. Was hoping to find a solution of the problem I'm having with my AF-540. I recently acquired two sets of cactus v2 (ebay triggers). I've tried to sync it with my AF-540 & k10d, but it got some problems. It wouldn't sync higher than 1/25s. Above 1/25s, the A-540 fires, but it is not at the same time as when the shutter opened. ie, the flash fires, but it was not captured in the final image. Fyi, I'm putting the AF-540 under normal mode, in manual. It seems that is the only setting the cactus V2 is able to trigger the AF-540 I've tried the same triggers with my old 350d, 580ex and sigma 500 super, and it work flawlessly. I'm hoping it is just the setting that caused it to behave like that. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Last edited by emonsas; 10-26-2007 at 06:34 PM.

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10-27-2007, 08:30 AM	#2
anomaly Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Barbados Photos: Gallery Posts: 264	ask on the strobist forums

10-28-2007, 05:47 AM	#3
roscot Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach VA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,363	I don't know about those particular triggers, but the cheap units that came with my studio kit, won't sync with my K10D faster than 1/60th sec. I believe the guts of all these inexpensive triggers are probably the same design. I finally broken down and bought Pocket Wizards ( Plus II's). These work much better,but of course are much more expensive. Even these do not fully sync at at 1/180 with my studio strobes. I'll sometimes get a dark edge where the trailing curtain is closing. My max with the Pocket Wizards is about 1/125th sec.

10-28-2007, 09:26 AM	#4
emonsas New Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 3 Original Poster	thanks roscot for sharing the problem.. my assumption is that pentax flash is a bit different in design compared with the others. i can sync my k10d with sigma and canon flash, but not with the af-540, which is a bit confusing... thinking of emailing the manufacturer of the cactus v2 remote...will inform of their answer soon.. thanks

10-28-2007, 09:48 AM	#5
anomaly Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Barbados Photos: Gallery Posts: 264	as i said, look on strobist. I believe I saw a solution to this there on their flickr forums. it will involve some soldering.

10-28-2007, 11:57 AM	#6
anomaly Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Barbados Photos: Gallery Posts: 264	I checked here: Flickr: Discussing Help with 360FGZ in Strobist.com Seems like you need the V2s triggers rather the V2 triggers to work with the pentax flash. Sometimes there may be polarity issues where you would have to open the reciever and switch around the contacts.