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Cactus V6 IIs User manual

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User Manual
Wireless
Flash
Transceiver
V6 IIs
2
Table of Contents
1. Getting to Know the Cactus V6 IIs 4
2. Cautions and Warnings 6
3. Major Specif ications 7
4. Package Contents 8
5. Nomenclature 9
6. LCD Panel 11
7. Co mpatibility 13
8. TTL Pass-through 16
9. Getting Started 18
10. Flash Setup 29
11. Flash Triggering 34
12. Remote Manual Power and Zoom 36
Control
3
13. High Speed Synchronization 50
14. Camera Shutter Release 55
15. Advanced Operations 60
16. Personalizing the V6 IIs 67
17. Working with Cactus Gear 72
18. LED Signal Guide 78
19. USB Connection 79
20. Optional Accessories 81
21. Troubleshooting 82
22. Notices 88
23. Warranty 91
4
1. Getting to Know the Cactus
V6 IIs
Thank you for purchasing the Cactus
Wireless Flash Transceiver V6 IIs.
The Cactus V6 IIs is specially designed for
Sony cameras and ashes with the MI (Multi-
Interface) hot shoe. Yet when working with
the Cactus V6 II, it allows you to command
different brands’ ashes off camera below or
above x-sync speed. The freedom to adjust
shutter speed equips you with the most
exibility in controlling apertures and
power levels. The possibility are endless!
1. Cross-brand wireless manual power
and zoom control of Canon, Fujif ilm,
Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, and Pentax
ashes with Cactus V6 II .
2. Specif ically designed for Sony cameras
a n d a s h e s w it h t h e M u lti-I n t e rf a c e (M I)
shoe.
3. Two cross-brand high-speed sync modes:
Normal HSS and Power Sync.
- Normal HSS supports shutter speeds up
to 1/8000s.
- Power Sync boosts ash contribution
1.1
Special
Features
5
above the x-sync shutter speed.
4. Multi-master supports up to 20
photographers f iring the same set of
ashes at their own power setting.
5. AF-assist light assists focusing in low
light environments.
6. Flash prof ile customization ensures
accurate power output.
7. Work seamlessly with the RF60 series to
support HSS and Power Sync.
8. Plenty of useful features inherited from
the V6: including Lo Power, Absolute
Power, TTL Pass-through, Group Sequence,
Sports Shutter, Remote Shutter, Relay
Mode, and Delay Mode.
Both V6 IIs and V6 II transceivers compile
t h e D - T T L (d i g it a l t h r o u g h -t h e -l e n s)
protocols from different camera systems and
build up a common language between cameras
a n d a s h e s.
When working with the V6 II, the V6 IIs
transceiver is a gateway to sync your Sony
cameras to almost any digital ashes in the
world.
Ready to go? Let’s get started and see what
the V6 IIs can do!
1.2
Cactus
V6 IIs
Core
6
2. Cautions and Warnings
Before using your V6 IIs, read the following
safety precautions to ensure correct and
safe use:
1. Turn OFF all your equipment (e.g., Cactus
units, ash units, cameras, etc.) before
changing batteries. Observe the correct
polarity when changing batteries. There
is a danger of explosion if the batteries
are installed incorrectly.
2. Switch off the transceiver and remove
batteries during storage.
3. Do not permanently store the product in
a high temperature environment (i.e.,
under strong direct sunlight, near
cooking stoves/oven).
4. The Cactus V6 IIs should never be
submerged in liquid or exposed to heavy
rain unless it is properly protected.
5. Do not operate the device in the presence
of a m m a b l e g a s e s o r f u m e s.
6. Do not disassemble.
7. Do not crush the V6 IIs and do not expose
it to any shock or force such as
hammering, dropping, or stepping on it.
7
3. Major Specifications
• Working radio frequency: 2.4 GHz
• Number of channels: 16
• Number of groups: 4
• Support sync speed up to 1/8,000 second
• AF-Assist LED: 1W
• Maximum effective distance: 100 meters
• Operating temperature: -20°C to +50°C
• Camera voltage handling: up to 6V
• Flash voltage handling: up to 300V
• Dimensions:
79 m m (L) x 77 m m (W) x 4 6 m m (H)
• Weight: 89g
• Power input: 2 x AA batteries, 3V, 50mA,
0.15W; mini USB 2.0, DC input 5V
• Estimated battery life in hours
(with LCD backlight on):
Alkaline AA
Batteries 1000mAh
Rechargeable NiMH AA
Batteries 2500mAh
TX RX TX RX
55 32 65 34
8
4. Package Contents
Album, Sticker
& Quick Start
Guide
Flash Stand FS-2V6 IIs Transceiver
9
5. Nomenclature
LCD DISPLAY
HOT SHOE
(FE M A L E)
X-SYNC PORT
MINI USB PORT
MODE SWITCH
AF-ASSIST
LIGHT
LANYARD
LOOP
TEST BUTTON/
SHUTTER RELEASE
BUTTON
GROUP BUTTONS
10
HOT SHOE
(M A L E)
HOT SHOE
LOCK LEVER
BATTERY DOOR
TRIPOD MOUNT
LED STATUS INDICATOR
MENU BUTTON
OK BUTTON
SELECTION DIAL
11
6. LCD Panel
(T h e s t a t u s s cr e e n i s a c c e s s i b le b y p r e s s i n g
and holding the Menu button while turning
the dial to either the left or right at the
same time.)
6.1
TX mode
CAMERA
SYSTEM
FLASH PROFILE
FLASH
SYSTEM
SYNC MODE
INDICATOR
RELAY MODE
INDICATOR
DELAY
TIMER
CHANNEL
POWER LEVEL POWER LEVEL INCREMENT
BATTERY INDICATOR
GROUP
MAIN SCREEN
STATUS SCREEN
POWER LEVEL/
ZOOM
12
Sony Others
6.2
RX mode
WIRELESS
SENSITIVITY
CHANNEL
BATTERY
INDICATOR
FLASH
PROFILE
POWER LEVEL
INCREMENT
POWER
LEVEL
DELAY
TIMER
RELAY MODE
INDICATOR
FLASH
SYSTEM
6.3
Camera
and Flash
Indicators
13
7. Compatibility
The Cactus V6 IIs is both a wireless ash
trigger and wireless remote control. While
it triggers both portable ashes and studio
strobe lights, it also supports remote
c o nt r ol f e a t u r e s w it h s ele ct e d a s h m o d e l s.
7.1.1 Cactus RF60X / RF60
With the built-in Cactus V6 module, the
Cactus RF60 series can be remotely
commanded and triggered by the V6 IIs (see
Sectio n 17.1.1).
7.1.2 Flash Models for Sony cameras
The Cactus V6 IIs works with ashes that
come with either (1) a Sony MI shoe, or (2)
a legacy Sony/Minolta iISO hot shoe with
an appropriate hot shoe adapter (e.g., Sony
A DP - M A A).
Flash prof iles pre-installed in the V6 IIs
include:
7.1
Flash &
Studio
Strobes
14
• Sony HVL-F60M, HVL-F58AM*, HVL-F43M
• Metz 64 AF-1, 44 AF-1*
• Nissin i40
7.1.3 Studio Strobes
The Cactus V6 IIs triggers studio strobes
with the PC sync male port, 3.5mm or 6.35mm
p o r t v i a o p tio n a l c a ble s (s e e S e c tio n 20).
This includes high trigger voltage portable
a s h m o d el s, a n d a l l st r o b e m o d e l s w it h a
trigger voltage of 300V or less. The Cactus
V6 IIs does not provide remote power control
of t h e s e a s h e s a n d s t r o b e s.
F o r st u d i o a s h e s t o w o r k w it h h i g h - s p e e d
s y n c, t h e y h a v e t o m a i nt a i n a a s h d u r ati o n
of 1/100 second or longer.
Caution:
Flashes or strobes with reversed polarity
connectors DO NOT WORK with the Cactus V6
series.
*
requires an appropriate hot shoe adapter
15
7.2
Cameras
The Cactus V6 IIs works with all cameras
t h at a r e e q u i p p e d w it h (1) t h e S o n y M I s h o e,
or (2) t h e l e g a c y S o n y/ M i n o lt a i I S O h o t s h o e
with an appropriate hot shoe adapter (e.g.,
Sony ADP-AMA).
To use the V6 IIs as a wireless shutter
release, specif ic cables are required. For
the list of optional accessories, see
Section 20.
The Cactus V6 IIs in TX mode works
seamlessly with Wireless Flash Transceiver
V6 II in RX mode.
The Cactus V6 IIs is compatible with the
Wireless Flash Transceiver V6, V5, and Laser
Trigger LV5. See Sections 17.2 and 17.3 for
details.
The Cactus V6 IIs is NOT compatible with
any other ash trigger model, including the
Cactus V4, Cactus V2s, and Cactus V2.
7.3
Flash
Triggers
16
8. TTL Pass-through
The V6 IIs transceiver comes with a pair of
hot shoes that supports TTL pass-through
with Sony cameras and Sony system ashes.
While the V6 IIs does not wirelessly command
off-camera ashes to f ire according to TTL
metering, it is designed to pass the TTL
signal from camera to ash via the
transmitter (TX) and vice versa.
Wit h T T L p a ss -t h r o u g h, t h e T T L a s h e s
behave as they would when directly
connected to the camera hot shoe. The V6 IIs
will work as a wireless ash commander while
s u p p o r t i n g a l l t h e a u t o m ati c f e a t u r e s (e.g.,
automatic ash output via TTL metering, AF-
assist light, second curtain sync and high
speed sync/FP shutter) provided by the TTL
ash system.
17
To enable the TTL pass-through in the V6 IIs
TX, press and hold for 2 seconds. The LCD
will show the TTL pass-through indicator
at the left bottom corner where the channel
indicator used to be.
In TTL pass-through mode, the V6 IIs TX
cannot control the power level of the ash
attached.
To disable the TTL pass-through mode, press
and hold for 2 seconds. The TTL pass-
through indicator will be replaced by the
channel indicator on the LCD.
Alternatively, the TTL pass-through mode can
be enabled or disabled in the <FUNCTIONS>
m e n u (s e e S e c tio n 9.7).
18
9. Getting Started
Open the battery door by pushing it
backward. Flip open the latch and insert two
AA batteries using the correct polarities.
Then close the battery door by pushing it to
the f r ont.
To mount the V6 IIs on a camera’s hot shoe
mou nt:
1. Turn the lock lever of the V6 IIs to the
left to unlock the multi-system shoe
(m a l e).
9.1
Installing
the
Batteries
UNLOCK
LOCK
9.2
Attaching
to and
from the
Camera
Detaching
19
2. Slide the V6 IIs into the camera’s hot
shoe.
3. Turn the lock lever of the V6 IIs to
the right to lock the multi-system shoe
(m a l e).
4. When detaching the V6 IIs from the
camera’s hot shoe, turn the lock lever to
t h e lef t t o u n lo c k t h e h o t s h o e (m a le).
Otherwise, the hot shoe (male) may be
da maged.
The V6 IIs control panel is equipped with a
Menu button , an OK button , and a
selection dial for quick access to
different functions and the conf iguration
menu.
The selection dial has a built-in push-in
button that serves as a quick OK button. You
may conf igure how the dial works to suit
y o u r w o r k i n g h a bit (s e e S e c tio n s 16.1-16.3).
Major functions of the V6 IIs listed below
are easily accessible by the buttons and
dial.
9.3
Buttons
and Dial
20
Group Control (see Section 9.6)
Function Mode LCD Key
Select a group
(e.g., g r o u p A)
for adjusting
parameters (power
le vel/zoo m)
TX
Main screen,
when the
group is not
selected
Hold*
Deselect a group
(e.g., g r o u p A)
Main screen,
when the
group is
selected
Turn on/off a
g r o u p (e.g .,
gr oup A)
Main screen,
when the
group is not
selected
Test f iring a
g r o u p (e.g .,
gr oup A)
Main screen
+
Group EV Offset
in absolute power
m o d e (e.g., t o
gr oup A)
Main screen,
in absolute
power mode
+
Change the RX to
another group
(e.g., t o g r o u p A)
RX
Main screen
* Hold = Pr e s s a n d hold th e butt o n fo r 2 se c o n d s,
then r ele ase.
/