radio trigger issues

Albert Siegel · 01-03-2009, 09:05 PM

I am new to radio triggers and decided to try some of the el-cheapo PT-04 types from eBay. They seem to work fine except for one issue that I think is something I'm doing wrong.

I cannot get anything other than complete black when I shoot at any shutter speed above 1/30 when using the radio triggers. Have any ideas on what it could be?

inferno10 · 01-03-2009, 09:32 PM

Which mode are you shooting at? With those radio triggers, you should only use M or X on the dial, as the other automated modes will suffer without the P-TTL (lost when using radio triggers). Furthermore, you must use your flashes in M or Manual mode and specify the power ratio, as the flashes can't communicate with the camera body in P-TTL anymore. Once you're using M, shooting at 1/30s and still getting completely black, try widening the aperture or increasing the power output of the flashes. You should see improvement.

Albert Siegel · 01-03-2009, 10:55 PM

I'm shooting in manual both on camera on on the flash. The camera does not seem to sync with the flash avbove 1/30 when used with the trigger. I need to be able to use it above that. I tried this with the K20, K200, 360 and 540 all with no luck.

Mike Cash · 01-04-2009, 03:47 AM

There's a reason those things are so cheap; they're crap. Make sure you have fully charged batteries in everything. It does make a difference.

*isteve · 01-04-2009, 05:08 AM

Originally posted by AlbertSiegel

I am new to radio triggers and decided to try some of the el-cheapo PT-04 types from eBay. They seem to work fine except for one issue that I think is something I'm doing wrong.

I cannot get anything other than complete black when I shoot at any shutter speed above 1/30 when using the radio triggers. Have any ideas on what it could be?

These cheap triggers have appalling lag times - they dont fire till the shutter is already closed (if you use a fast shutter).

Note. You cant use radio triggers at the sync speed anyway (there is a time delay even with the best ones) but most work from 1/120 or slower. Very cheap ones are best avoided (as with everything else).

Or buy a cheap IR trigger.

I would only use the X setting with extension cords personally!

Albert Siegel · 01-04-2009, 07:03 AM

I was hoping there would be a fix... I guess these just don't work the way they should. I found a few reviews on these and they seemed to work fine till 1/250 for Canon and Nikon people. I will give it a try on a Canon and see what happens. It might just not like Pentax. I know they have issues with Sigma flashes. Perhaps it may not work well with Pentax flashes.

*isteve · 01-04-2009, 07:44 AM

Originally posted by AlbertSiegel

I was hoping there would be a fix... I guess these just don't work the way they should. I found a few reviews on these and they seemed to work fine till 1/250 for Canon and Nikon people. I will give it a try on a Canon and see what happens. It might just not like Pentax. I know they have issues with Sigma flashes. Perhaps it may not work well with Pentax flashes.

Ah - are you using them with Pentax AF 540s? You need to set the flash to slave type 2.

Hold the "light" key down for 2 secs and change the SL1 setting to SL2 by pressing the "S" button. Press "light" again to go back to normal operation.

They are firing on the preflash.

Even so I would not recommend you try using speeds faster than 1/90.

cwood · 01-04-2009, 08:05 AM

I've tried a few variations and radio triggers won't sync Pentax flashes at speeds higher than 1/30. I had an OLD vivitar flash that I could sync at 1/180 so I went to Ritz and picked up 2 $10 flashes for a project I was working on. I could slave all three flashes at 1/180 no problem.

I don't know why Pentax flashes don't work

Peter Zack · 01-04-2009, 08:20 AM

I've never had an isue with FW"s sync'ing with either the AF540 and AF360. Just set the flashes up *ISteve's advice. Unless the V2's just won't work right at all. The V2's have exibited all number of issues.

I know you earn income from your cameras and don't count on these. Get a better and more reliable system like these:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-camera-accessories/31950-those-con...-triggers.html

I know a local studio that used V2's for about a year (all Canon gear) and every 2 months or so they would toss them all in bin and get more. Finally they switched to Skyports and have no issues since.

kyrios · 01-04-2009, 08:33 AM

See if this help:
Minolta 4000 AF + ebay trigger

Kyrios

bigben91682 · 01-04-2009, 08:56 AM

Originally posted by *isteve

Note. You cant use radio triggers at the sync speed anyway (there is a time delay even with the best ones) but most work from 1/120 or slower. Very cheap ones are best avoided (as with everything else).

This may be true for ebay triggers, but I wouldn't make a broad statement that radio triggers don't work above 1/120. I have Alienbee cybersyncs that I use at (the pentax max) 1/180 all the time, and I've used them at 1/2000 with my G9.

Albert Siegel · 01-04-2009, 09:16 AM

Well, I just tried it with an old Vivitar flash and it worked perfect till I stopped testing at 1/125. The issue here is the Pentax flashes. Now either I simply set the flash wrong or the trigger just does not like Pentax flashes.

Anyone care to tell me how you have your Pentax flash set when you use a radio trigger?

kyrios · 01-04-2009, 09:43 AM

I did tested 5 minutes ago without any problem with RD-604. It shares with the same transmitter (RF-604 or RF-04), like yours.
K20D + 540 FGZ @ 1/160s.
Are you sure you've replaced the stock battery with the new one?

Kyrios

Albert Siegel · 01-04-2009, 10:36 AM

but why does it work fine with a cheap old flash and not with either Pentax 360 or 540 above 1/30?

kyrios · 01-04-2009, 11:24 AM

It was taken 10 minutes ago. I took 10 pics and all are synced fine @ 1/160s.
So... which trigger you currently have?

Kyrios

01-03-2009, 09:05 PM	#1
Albert Siegel Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tokyo Photos: Albums Posts: 372	radio trigger issues I am new to radio triggers and decided to try some of the el-cheapo PT-04 types from eBay. They seem to work fine except for one issue that I think is something I'm doing wrong. I cannot get anything other than complete black when I shoot at any shutter speed above 1/30 when using the radio triggers. Have any ideas on what it could be?

01-04-2009, 08:20 AM	#9
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	I've never had an isue with FW"s sync'ing with either the AF540 and AF360. Just set the flashes up ISteve's advice. Unless the V2's just won't work right at all. The V2's have exibited all number of issues. I know you earn income from your cameras and don't count on these. Get a better and more reliable system like these: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-camera-accessories/31950-those-con...-triggers.html I know a local studio that used V2's for about a year (all Canon gear) and every 2 months or so they would toss them all in bin and get more. Finally they switched to Skyports and have no issues since. Last edited by Peter Zack; 01-04-2009 at 05:44 PM.*

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01-03-2009, 09:32 PM	#2
inferno10 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 342	Which mode are you shooting at? With those radio triggers, you should only use M or X on the dial, as the other automated modes will suffer without the P-TTL (lost when using radio triggers). Furthermore, you must use your flashes in M or Manual mode and specify the power ratio, as the flashes can't communicate with the camera body in P-TTL anymore. Once you're using M, shooting at 1/30s and still getting completely black, try widening the aperture or increasing the power output of the flashes. You should see improvement.

01-03-2009, 10:55 PM	#3
Albert Siegel Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tokyo Photos: Albums Posts: 372 Original Poster	I'm shooting in manual both on camera on on the flash. The camera does not seem to sync with the flash avbove 1/30 when used with the trigger. I need to be able to use it above that. I tried this with the K20, K200, 360 and 540 all with no luck.

01-04-2009, 03:47 AM	#4
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	There's a reason those things are so cheap; they're crap. Make sure you have fully charged batteries in everything. It does make a difference.

01-04-2009, 05:08 AM	#5
*isteve Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 1,187	Originally posted by AlbertSiegel I am new to radio triggers and decided to try some of the el-cheapo PT-04 types from eBay. They seem to work fine except for one issue that I think is something I'm doing wrong. I cannot get anything other than complete black when I shoot at any shutter speed above 1/30 when using the radio triggers. Have any ideas on what it could be? These cheap triggers have appalling lag times - they dont fire till the shutter is already closed (if you use a fast shutter). Note. You cant use radio triggers at the sync speed anyway (there is a time delay even with the best ones) but most work from 1/120 or slower. Very cheap ones are best avoided (as with everything else). Or buy a cheap IR trigger. I would only use the X setting with extension cords personally!

01-04-2009, 07:03 AM	#6
Albert Siegel Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tokyo Photos: Albums Posts: 372 Original Poster	I was hoping there would be a fix... I guess these just don't work the way they should. I found a few reviews on these and they seemed to work fine till 1/250 for Canon and Nikon people. I will give it a try on a Canon and see what happens. It might just not like Pentax. I know they have issues with Sigma flashes. Perhaps it may not work well with Pentax flashes.

01-04-2009, 07:44 AM	#7
*isteve Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 1,187	Originally posted by AlbertSiegel I was hoping there would be a fix... I guess these just don't work the way they should. I found a few reviews on these and they seemed to work fine till 1/250 for Canon and Nikon people. I will give it a try on a Canon and see what happens. It might just not like Pentax. I know they have issues with Sigma flashes. Perhaps it may not work well with Pentax flashes. Ah - are you using them with Pentax AF 540s? You need to set the flash to slave type 2. Hold the "light" key down for 2 secs and change the SL1 setting to SL2 by pressing the "S" button. Press "light" again to go back to normal operation. They are firing on the preflash. Even so I would not recommend you try using speeds faster than 1/90.

01-04-2009, 08:05 AM	#8
cwood Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California Posts: 851	I've tried a few variations and radio triggers won't sync Pentax flashes at speeds higher than 1/30. I had an OLD vivitar flash that I could sync at 1/180 so I went to Ritz and picked up 2 $10 flashes for a project I was working on. I could slave all three flashes at 1/180 no problem. I don't know why Pentax flashes don't work

01-04-2009, 08:33 AM	#10
kyrios Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Indonesia Posts: 123	See if this help: Minolta 4000 AF + ebay trigger Kyrios

01-04-2009, 08:56 AM	#11
bigben91682 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 728	Originally posted by *isteve Note. You cant use radio triggers at the sync speed anyway (there is a time delay even with the best ones) but most work from 1/120 or slower. Very cheap ones are best avoided (as with everything else). This may be true for ebay triggers, but I wouldn't make a broad statement that radio triggers don't work above 1/120. I have Alienbee cybersyncs that I use at (the pentax max) 1/180 all the time, and I've used them at 1/2000 with my G9.

01-04-2009, 09:16 AM	#12
Albert Siegel Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tokyo Photos: Albums Posts: 372 Original Poster	Well, I just tried it with an old Vivitar flash and it worked perfect till I stopped testing at 1/125. The issue here is the Pentax flashes. Now either I simply set the flash wrong or the trigger just does not like Pentax flashes. Anyone care to tell me how you have your Pentax flash set when you use a radio trigger?

01-04-2009, 09:43 AM	#13
kyrios Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Indonesia Posts: 123	I did tested 5 minutes ago without any problem with RD-604. It shares with the same transmitter (RF-604 or RF-04), like yours. K20D + 540 FGZ @ 1/160s. Are you sure you've replaced the stock battery with the new one? Kyrios

01-04-2009, 10:36 AM	#14
Albert Siegel Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tokyo Photos: Albums Posts: 372 Original Poster	but why does it work fine with a cheap old flash and not with either Pentax 360 or 540 above 1/30?

01-04-2009, 11:24 AM	#15
kyrios Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Indonesia Posts: 123	It was taken 10 minutes ago. I took 10 pics and all are synced fine @ 1/160s. So... which trigger you currently have? Kyrios