User Manual Wireless Flash Transceiver V6 II
Table of Contents 1. Getting to Know the Cactus V6 II 4 2. Cautions and Warnings 6 3. Major Specifications 7 4. Package Contents 8 5. Nomenclature 9 6. LCD Panel 11 7. Compatibility 13 8. TTL Pass-through 17 9. Getting Started 19 10. Camera Setup (TX) 30 11. Flash Setup (TX/RX) 34 12. Flash Triggering 39 13.
14. High Speed Synchronization 54 15. Camera Shutter Release 61 16. Advanced Operations 66 17. Personalizing the V6 II 73 18. Working with Cactus Gear 78 19. LED Signal Guide 83 20. USB Connection 84 21. Optional Accessories 86 22. Troubleshooting 87 23. Notices 94 24.
1. Getting to Know the Cactus V6 II Thank you for purchasing the Cactus Wireless Flash Transceiver V6 II. Compared with its predecessor V6, the Cactus V6 II allows you to command different brands’ flashes off-camera below or above x-sync speed. The freedom to adjust shutter speed equips you with the most flexibility in controlling apertures and power levels. The possibilities are endless! 1.1 Special Features 1.
5. Flash profile customization ensures accurate power output. 6. Auto-detect of camera and flash systems allows easy setup. 7. Works 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, Delay Mode. 1.
2. Cautions and Warnings Before using your V6 II, read the following safety precautions to ensure correct and safe use: 1. Turn OFF all your equipment (e.g., Cactus units, flash 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.
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: 79mm (L) x 77mm (W) x 48 mm (H) Weight: 96g Power input: 2 x AA batteries, 3V, 50mA, 0.15W; mini USB 2.
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Multi-system Shoe (male) Tripod Mount Hot Shoe Lock Lever Selection Dial Battery Door OK Button Menu Button LED Status Indicator
6. LCD Panel 6.1 TX mode Battery indicator group Channel Power level POWER LEVEL increment MAIN SCREEN Flash Profile sync MODE indicator POWER LEVEL/ ZOOM delay relay mode timer indicator status SCREEN Flash system camera system (The status screen is accessible by pressing and holding the Menu button while turning the selection dial to either the left or right at the same time.
6.2 RX mode flash Battery indicator profile Channel Power Level RELAY MODE indicator POWER LEVEL increment Delay Timer Flash system wireless sensitivity 6.
7. Compatibility The Cactus V6 II is both a wireless flash trigger and wireless remote control. While it triggers both portable flashes and studio strobe lights, it also supports remote control features with selected flash models. 7.1 Flash & Studio Strobes 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 II TX (see Section 18.1.1). 7.1.
7.1.3 Other Flash Models and Studio Strobes The Cactus V6 II triggers all other flash models via the hot shoe, and studio strobes with the PC sync male port, 3.5mm or 6.35mm port via optional cables (see Section 21). This includes high trigger voltage portable flash models, and all strobe models with a trigger voltage of 300V or less. The Cactus V6 II does not provide remote power control of these flashes and strobes.
For high-speed sync and AF-assist capabilities, the V6 II will work with Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, and Pentax cameras that (1) come with their specific system hot shoes, and (2) support these features when working with their system flashes. To use the V6 II as a wireless shutter release, specific shutter cables are required. For the list of optional accessories, see Section 20. 7.3 Flash Triggers 7.3.
7.4 Multibrand The V6 II transceivers can sync your camera with different flash systems within or beyond the x-sync shutter speed. Check the table below for the compatibility between the camera and the flash systems: Camera System Compatible Flash System * * RF60/RF60X Fujifilm flashes do not support HSS capabilities.
8. TTL Pass-through The V6 II transceiver comes with a multisystem shoe that supports TTL pass-through. While the V6 II does not wirelessly command off-camera flashes to fire according to TTL metering, it is designed to pass the TTL signal from camera to flash via the transmitter (TX) and vice versa. The multi-system shoe supports the TTL passthrough of Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, and Pentax systems. Make sure the camera and flash unit belong to the same TTL system.
automatic flash output via TTL metering, AFassist light, second curtain sync, and high speed sync/FP shutter) provided by the TTL flash system. To enable the TTL pass-through in the V6 II for 2 seconds. The LCD TX, press and hold 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 II TX cannot control the power level of the flash attached. To disable the TTL pass-through mode, press for 2 seconds.
9. Getting Started 9.1 Installing the Batteries 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 front. 9.2 Attaching to and Detaching from the Camera UNLOCK LOCK To mount the V6 II on a camera’s hot shoe mount: 1. Turn the lock lever of the V6 II to the left to unlock the multi-system shoe (male).
2. Slide the V6 II into the camera’s hot shoe. 3. Turn the lock lever of the V6 II to the right to lock the multi-system shoe (male). 4. When detaching the V6 II from the camera’s hot shoe, turn the lock lever to the left to unlock the multi-system shoe (male). Otherwise, the multi-system shoe (male) may be damaged. Note: Attach your flash to the V6 II as you would to the camera’s hot shoe.
your work habits (see Sections 17.1-17.3). Major functions of the V6 II listed below are easily accessible by the buttons and dial. Group Control (see Section 9.6) Function Mode LCD Key Select a group (e.g., group A) for adjusting parameters (power level/zoom) Main screen, Hold* when the group is not selected Deselect a group (e.g., group A) Main screen, when the group is selected Turn on/off a group (e.g., group A) TX Test firing a group (e.g.
Adjusting Power Level and Zoom (see Sections 13.1 and 13.5) Function Mode LCD Adjust power level/zoom of all groups Main screen Adjust power level/zoom of a single group (e.g.
Navigating the Menu (see Section 9.7) Function Mode Enter the menu Browse through menu items and options Choose a menu item or option Leave the menu LCD Key Main screen Menu TX/ RX Menu Menu Dial Lock (see Section 17.2) Function Mode Lock the dial Temporarily unlock the dial LCD Key Main screen, Hold when the dial is unlocked TX Unlock the dial Main screen, when the dial is locked Main screen, Hold when the dial is locked Firmware (see Section 20.
9.4 Choosing the Operating Mode 9.5 Setting the Channel and Radio ID The Cactus V6 II is a wireless transceiver that is capable of transmitting and receiving radio signals. Set the V6 II transceivers to the correct mode (transmitter to “TX”, receiver to “RX”) by sliding the mode switch to the correct position. This will automatically power on the transceivers. The Cactus V6 II transceivers communicate with one another via radio frequency. There are 16 channels available.
Use the wireless sensitivity indicator on the RX LCD display to check the strength of the wireless signal from the TX in the selected channel. The wireless sensitivity to poor . ranges from excellent Change your V6 II to another channel when the sensitivity is poor. To protect your setup from interference from other Cactus devices, assign all your and V6 II to a specific radio ID. Press turn the selection dial to . and turn the selection dial to Press .
1. All V6 II transceivers must be set to the same channel. 2. Assign RX units to Group A, B, C, or D by pressing one of the group buttons. Each RX can only be assigned to ONE group. The LED of the selected group will turn on. 3. Command the TX to fire any combination of groups by pressing the group button(s). You can fire any combination of A, B, C, and D groups. The LED of the activated group(s) will turn on. 4. To change the power level of a specific group, press and hold an activated group button.
9.7 Navigating the Menu The configurable menu items of the V6 II are grouped under categories shown in the following sequences: TX functions camera & flash setup Power Setup flash Setup radio Setup radio Setup preferences RX functions preferences To change a menu option: to bring up the first menu 1. Press category. 2. Dial right or left to scroll through each or the push-in menu category. Press button once to access a menu category. 3.
The configuration of the menu item will change immediately. to leave and go back to the main 5. Press screen, or dial right or left to the next menu item in the sequence.
radio setup - channel - radio id - multi-master - work range TX √ √ √ √ RX √ √ preferences - af-assist (Tx/RX) - backlight power - backlight time - daylight mode - swap control - dial direction - temporary unlock - sleep - factory reset TX √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ RX √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Shown only when a Fujifilm camera is used.
10. Camera Setup (TX) To fully utilize the advanced features of the V6 II transceivers, it is necessary to configure the correct camera system in the V6 II TX. 10.1 AutoDetect The V6 II TX is capable of auto detecting the camera system of an attached camera. It facilitates photographers to switch between camera systems promptly. To initiate the auto detection of a camera system: 1. Attach the V6 II to your camera (see Section 9.2) and turn on your camera. 2.
4. To check the detected camera system on the status screen, press and hold the , and turn the selection menu button dial to the left or right at the same time. The detected camera system will be shown at the lower right-hand corner of the status screen. 5. The V6 II will memorize the detected camera system until the next detection takes place.
Notes: 1. If you would like to command an oncamera flash, connect your flash to the V6 II and switch on your flash. Then switch on the V6 II while half-pressing the camera shutter. The V6 II will detect the camera and flash systems at the same time. 2. The auto-detect of the camera system can be used to cross-check the alignment of the hot shoe contacts. Only properly connected cameras will be detected by the V6 II. 10.
5. The V6 II will memorize the selected camera system until the next time you select another camera system from the menu. Note: By choosing the camera system on the menu, the V6 II will disable the auto-detection of the camera system when it is powered on. If you would like the V6 II to detect the camera system for you, choose .
11. Flash Setup (TX/RX) The V6 II transceiver commands flashes to fire at a particular power output via flash profiles. There are three ways to obtain the correct flash profiles: 1. Let the V6 II detect and apply the flash profile (see Section 11.1). 2. Choose from the pre-installed flash profiles in the V6 II (see Section 11.2). 3. Customize the auto profile in the Cactus Profile Editor on a PC or Mac (see Section 11.3). 11.
an attached flash during startup. The LCD display will show the auto-detected flash system at the top right-hand corner. 4. The V6 II will memorize the detected flash system until the next detection takes place. If you wish to obtain more accurate output that is fine-tuned for your specific flash units, choose the model-specific flash profiles (see Section 11.2) or customize the existing flash profiles (see Section 11.3). 11.
4. Turn the selection dial until the LCD shows your flash system (e.g., ). . Press 5. Turn the selection dial to . Press 6. Turn the selection dial until the LCD shows your flash model (e.g., <580EX*>). . Press 7. Connect the flash unit to the V6 II. Switch your flash to TTL mode and your flash will be ready for remote control. The chosen flash profile will be applied until you choose another flash profile.
1. Download the Cactus Profile Editor from the Cactus website. 2. Follow the firmware update procedures to connect the V6 II with your computer (see Section 20.2). 3. Choose the flash system. Input the guide number of your flash at the zoom angle of 105mm (which is the benchmark of the preinstalled profiles in the V6 II). 4.
the flash with the Auto Flash Profile, input the power adjustment you would like to achieve in each of the reference power levels. 5. Enter the profile name using a maximum of 6 digits in letters or numbers. 6. Press SAVE PROFILE button. The custom profile will be loaded to the connected V6 II. The LCD display on the V6 II will return to the main screen. To choose the saved flash profile from the profile list, see Section 11.2. All custom profiles will be stored in the menu.
12. Flash Triggering To command the flash units in different groups to fire: 1. Set the V6 II transceivers to the correct mode (transmitter to “TX”, receiver to “RX”). This will automatically power on the transceivers (see Section 9.4). 2. Set both the TX and RX to the same channel (see Section 9.5). 3. Assign RX unit(s) to A, B, C, or D group and activate the group(s) on the TX (see Section 9.6). 4. Connect the V6 II RX to portable flashes or studio strobes. completely. The 5.
8. Press the camera’s shutter release button. The flashes on the RXs will fire wirelessly and in sync. Tips: The V6 II transceiver can trigger portable flashes with or without remote power control. If you wish to wirelessly trigger the off-camera flashes without controlling their power levels, choose in the menu.
13. Remote Manual Power Control and Zoom Control Apart from flash triggering, the V6 II can also command the manual power and manual zoom angle of your flash. On each RX, choose the appropriate flash profile for each flash to be connected. The V6 II TX will then be able to command the flash to fire from 1/128 to 1/1 full power, and at a zoom angle between 16mm and 200mm. To remotely control the power and zoom angle of your flash units: 1. Connect the flash units to the V6 II. 2.
13.1 Relative Power Similar to a common flash display, the V6 II TX indicates the power level of the remote flashes in proportion to full power in relative power mode (i.e., 1/1 for full power, 1/2 for half power, etc.). Upon switching on the V6 II in TX mode, the LCD will show the relative power levels of all activated groups. Note that the small single digit indicates the increment between major power levels. 13.1.
selection dial to the desired power level. Press the group button briefly to leave the group selection. 2. Short cut: Press and hold the group button and turn the selection dial simultaneously. Once the adjustment is finished, release the group button. You may also adjust the power level of the on-camera flash that you have mounted on the V6 II in TX mode. 1. Make sure that the TTL pass-through mode has not been activated (see Section 8). and turn the selection dial 2.
13.1.3 Quick Power Adjustment Mode By turning the dial left or right one “click”, the power level of the chosen groups will increase or decrease by one step. The EV step in the V6 II factory setting is 1/3 EV. The EV step can be configured to 1/2, 1/3, or 1/10 in the menu (see Section 13.3). If you wish to quickly change the power level using a larger interval, use the quick power adjustment mode. 1. Switch on the V6 II in TX mode.
of the selection dial will increase the power level to 1/8 +3 or decrease it to 1/32 +3. 4. When you have finished the quick change, once to leave the quick power press adjustment mode. Each click of the dial thereafter will increase or decrease the power level in accordance with the setting you have made in the menu. Note: button to toggle to By configuring the and from the quick power adjustment mode, you will not be able to adjust the zoom levels of the remote flashes (see Section 17.3). 13.
The power levels in guide number have been rescaled to the absolute power scheme in EV as below: Guide Numbers (in meters) Absolute Light Intensity in EV +0.0 +0.3 +0.5 +0.7 17 58.0 64.4 69.0 73.9 16 41.0 45.5 48.8 52.3 15 29.0 32.2 34.5 36.9 14 20.5 22.7 24.4 26.1 13 14.5 16.1 17.2 18.5 12 10.3 11.4 12.2 13.0 11 7.2 8.0 8.6 9.2 10 5.1 5.7 6.1 6.6 9 3.6 4.0 4.3 4.6 8 2.6 2.8 3.0 3.2 7 1.8 2.0 2.1 2.3 6 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.
Absolute Light Intensity Scale in EV Relative Light Intensity Scale of 4 Flashes with Different Full Power Guide Numbers Flash A Flash b Flash c Flash d 18 17 gn58 16 1/2 gn41 15 gn29 1/4 14 1/2 1/8 gn21 1/4 13 1/4 1/16 1/2 1/8 12 1/8 1/32 1/4 1/16 11 1/16 1/64 1/8 1/32 10 1/32 1/128 1/16 1/64 9 1/64 1/32 1/128 8 1/128 1/64 7 1/2 1/128 6 When you set all flashes to 11 EV (see italicized section in the above table) in absolute power mode, all flashes will e
1/8 power. To change the V6 II system to the absolute power mode: 1. Switch on the off-camera V6 II in RX mode. Choose the correct flash profiles for each of the V6 II RX. 2. Switch on the V6 II that you would like to be the commander in TX mode. Make sure it is on the same channel as the RX units. . Turn the selection dial to 3. Press . Turn the . Press selection dial to and press . Turn the selection dial to and press 4.
6. Set all the activated groups to the same power level. Test fire the off-camera flashes and determine whether they produce the same flash output. 7. If the initial setup is not accurate enough, you may offset the absolute power scale of each group. Press any simultaneously to group button and get into the offset mode for that group. For example, if the flash output of group A is slightly stronger than the other groups at the same absolute power and simultaneously.
13.3 EV Step The control panel of the V6 II TX offers three EV step options: 1/10 EV, 1/3 EV, and 1/2 EV. The configuration applies to both relative and absolute power modes. To adjust the EV step: 1. Switch on the V6 II in TX mode. . Turn the selection dial to 2. Press . Turn the and press . selection dial to and press 3. Turn the dial to the desired increment to level (1/10, 1/3, or 1/2). Press confirm. Notes: 1.
hardly be detected by flash meter, but the extremely short firing duration helps freeze faster-than-lightning moments and is ideal for high-speed photography. To enable Lo Power: 1. Switch on the V6 II in TX mode and . Turn the selection dial to press . Turn the and press selection dial to and press . Turn the selection dial to and . press 2.
13.5 Zoom On the main screen of the V6 II, press get into the zoom control panel. to In each group, the zoom angle can be configured to one of the following options: 16mm – 20mm – 24mm – 28mm – 35mm – 50mm – 70mm – 80mm – 105mm – 120mm – 135mm – 180mm – 200mm In case the zoom angle parameters of the connected flashes do not match with the options above, they will be adjusted to a zoom angle that is closest to the configured option.
1. Multi-group: Simply turn the selection dial to change the zoom angle of all activated groups. 2. Single group: - Press and hold the group button until the zoom level of the selected group is highlighted on the LCD. Turn the selection dial to the desired zoom level. Press the group button briefly to deselect a group. - Short cut: Press and hold the group button and turn the selection dial simultaneously. Once the adjustment is finished, release the group button. and 3.
14. High Speed Synchronization Most cameras support normal flash sync up to its x-sync shutter speed (commonly between 1/160 second and 1/250 second). Beyond this shutter speed, the cameras and the system flashes will behave differently. The high speed sync, which is also known as HSS or FP sync, has to be enabled on the system flash in order to synchronize the flash light with the camera beyond the x-sync shutter speed. Cactus V6 II supports cross-brand highspeed sync in two ways: 1.
Tip: HSS flash is commonly used outdoors, especially in sunlight. The faster shutter speed supported by the HSS flash allows you to use a wider aperture to achieve shallower depth of field while maintaining correct exposure. 14.
3. Turn on the HSS or FP flash option on the flash units. Tips: 1. The continuous light output of a normal HSS flash does not freeze a moving object as a normal flash does. Instead, it will cause motion blur, much like a continuous light source would. In order to freeze motion using a normal HSS flash, you need to use high shutter speeds. 2. Increasing the shutter speed in a normal HSS flash implies that the contribution of the flash decreases accordingly.
To activate the Power Sync mode: . Turn the 1. On the V6 II TX, press selection dial to and press . Turn the selection dial to and press . On dial to and press the status screen, the Power Sync icon will be shown. 2. Switch the camera shutter beyond its x-sync speed and take a picture. 3. If the frame is not illuminated from top to bottom, go back to the , menu (repeat step 1).
Notes: 1. Since the Power Sync always command the remote flashes to fire in full power, the power level cannot be adjusted. The power levels on the main screen will be executed when the shutter speed is within the x-sync. 2. If dark bands appear at both the top and bottom of the picture, the flash duration of the portable flash may not be long enough to support Power Sync. 3. The flash fires full power in Power Sync, so check for any overheat warning on your flash from time to time.
14.3 Forced HSS for Fujifilm Fujifilm cameras made before the X-Pro 2 do not support automatic high speed sync. However, the V6 II offers a workaround to support normal HSS and Power Sync with Fujif ilm cameras. 1. Auto-detect or manually select the Fujifilm camera system on the V6 II TX. 2. Learn the HSS timing with your Fujifilm . Turn the selection camera. Press dial to and press . Turn the selection dial to
turn off the forced HSS. The LCD display will show . Note: Since the timing of the Forced HSS is obtained by simulation, flash exposures may not cover the entire picture taken at the highest shutter speed.
15. Camera Shutter Release Note: This function requires the use of a separately purchased shutter release cable for connection between the transceiver and camera. This cable is NOT included in the V6 II transceiver package. 15.1 Basic Setup A minimum of two Cactus V6 II transceivers is required to operate Cactus V6 II as a wireless shutter release.
1. Connect the V6 II RX to your camera using an appropriate shutter release cable. 2. Set both the V6 II TX and RX to the same channel. On the V6 II TX, activate the group assigned to the V6 II RX. on the TX to test the 3. Half-press auto focus. The status LED on both the TX and RX will turn ORANGE to indicate completely on the auto focus. Press TX for shutter release. The status LED on both transceivers will turn GREEN to indicate shutter release. 15.2 Bulb Mode 1. Set the camera to Bulb. on the 2.
15.3 Relay Mode: Camera Shutter + Flash The relay mode in the V6 series is an economic solution for coordinating the wireless shutter release with flash trigger systems. With relay capability, you need only three transceivers to wirelessly control both the camera and a flash unit at one time. 1. Make sure that all the V6 II units are set to the same channel. 2. Set the V6 II you would like to use as the handheld remote as TX, then all others as RX.
3. Mount one of the V6 II RXs onto the camera’s hot shoe, and also connect the V6 II RX to the camera’s shutter release port with an appropriate shutter release cable (optional). Connect the other V6 II RXs to the flash units. 4. The on-camera V6 II RX will apply the camera system setting last recorded in the TX mode. Make sure you have selected the correct camera system (see Section 10). 5. Set the on-camera V6 II RX to relay mode. . Turn the selection dial to Press . Turn the and press .
7. By pressing on the TX, both the camera and flash units will be triggered and sync with one another. In addition, you will also be able to control the power level of the flashes with your V6 II TX.
16. Advanced Operations 16.1 Autofocus Assist Light The V6 II is equipped with an auto-focus (AF) assist LED and it is capable of emitting an AF-assist light in accordance with the camera’s command. The power of the AF-assist light can be adjusted in either TX or RX mode to best suit your working environment. To configure the AF-assist LED: 1. Switch on the V6 II in TX or RX mode. Please note that the set up will be applied to that operating mode only. and turn the selection dial to 2. Press .
Note: The V6 II TX completely replicates the AF-assist signal commanded by the connected camera. If the camera does not support an AF-assist signal via the hot shoe, the AF-assist LED will not be activated. 16.2 Multimaster The V6 II supports up to 20 TXs working together in a lighting set up. Photographers can share the same set of remote flash units and command them to fire their desired power output without being affected by the others. To activate the Multi-master: 1. Switch on the V6 II in TX mode.
Note: If two TXs are triggering at the same time, the RXs may interfere with each other. Avoid triggering at the same time. 16.3 Delay Timer Every V6 II is equipped with a delay timer that is configurable in either the TX or RX mode. The delay timer delays the trigger response for the time period set. If you wish to fire the flash a bit later than the first curtain sync to create a different light effect (e.g.
2. To set a delay time in milliseconds, turn . Turn the dial to and press to the dial to set each digit, press confirm, and move to another digit. 3. To set a delay time in seconds, turn the . Turn dial to and press to the dial to set each digit, press confirm, and move to another digit. 4. The status screen of V6 II TX and main screen of the V6 II RX will show the status of the delay timer (see Section 6). 16.
•• Speed up the flash cycle: When you need to fire a series of flashes at high power levels, assign two or more flashes to different groups and adjust them to the same power level. Alternately firing the flashes will let the capacitors recharge during the longer interval, ensuring enough charge for the next high power output. The V6 II offers two group sequence modes for selection: A-B-C-D: The first trigger in a series will fire group A, then group B, and so on.
series will restart at group AB when there is no triggering event in 2 seconds. To select a group sequence mode: . 1. Switch on the V6 II in TX mode. Press Turn the selection dial to . Turn the selection dial to and press . and press 2. Turn the selection dial to or . and press 3. Depending on the group sequence mode you set, one or two cursors will point to the group alphabets on the main screen, indicating which group(s) will be fired next. 16.
In sports photography when the subject is in quick successive motion, photographers may shoot in burst mode to capture as many images as possible. The sports shutter in the V6 II is designed to maximize the frames per second (FPS) of the slave camera in this setup. When the sports shutter is activated, the V6 II RX will treat a series of triggering signals that are faster than three times per second as one triggering event.
17. Personalizing the V6 II You may configure a number of personalized options in the menu of the , turn the V6 II to suit your needs. Press selection dial to , and then . Turn the selection dial again press to scroll through all the personalized options. 17.1 Dial Direction 17.2 Dial Lock In , the selection dial of the V6 II can be configured to operate in a or direction.
2 seconds. The LCD will show at the upper left-hand corner. 2. To temporarily unlock the selection dial, press the selection dial or once. Alternatively, press and hold any group button to select a group for power level adjustment. The LCD will show to indicate the temporary unlock status. The dial will be locked again when no button or dial is pressed or turned in 2 seconds. 3. Temporary unlock can be enabled or disabled in the menu. 4.
Cactus RF60 series (see Section 13.5). •• Quick Power Adjustment Mode : expanding the power adjustment to 1EV step (see Section 13.1.3). The option can be configured in . 17.4 LCD Options The LCD display of the V6 II can be configured in the following ways: 1. LCD Backlight Auto Off: The LCD backlight , of the V6 II will turn on whenever , the selection dial, or any of the group buttons has been pressed or turned.
17.5 Sleep Timer To conserve energy when you forget to switch off the V6 II after use, the sleep timer will switch the V6 II to the sleep mode after a specified period. In , choose from , <15 MINS>, or <60 MINS>. To wake up the V6 II from sleep mode, press any button or turn the selection dial once. Local triggering via a hot shoe or x-sync port also awakens the V6 II. Note: Wireless triggering will not wake up the V6 II RX units remotely. 17.
17.7 Factory Reset To set the V6 II back to the original manufacturing setting, use Factory Reset. and In the menu, press turn the dial to . The screen will show to confirm. .
18. Working with Cactus Gear The V6 II transceiver is compatible with the Cactus Wireless Flash RF60 series, Wireless Flash Trigger V6 IIs, V6, V5, and Laser Trigger LV5.
18.1 18.1.1 RF60 series as Slave RF60 Series V6 II RF60X CAMERA With the built-in Cactus V6 module, the Cactus RF60 series can be remotely commanded and triggered by the V6 II TX, within or beyond x-sync speed. The RF60 series in this set up would support both normal HSS and Power Sync flash. Note: The Cactus V6 II can specify up to 1/10 EV step and communicate it with any flash of the RF60 series; however, the flash will only display the nearest 1/3 EV step.
1. Set the V6 II and the RF60 series to the same channel. 2. Activate the group assigned to the RF60 series slave on the V6 II TX. 3. Adjust the power level and zoom of each group as you would with the V6 II RX. You may also combine the RF60 series with TTL flashes to form a remote flash control system. For example, assign a RF60X to group A, a Canon 580EX II (with a V6 II RX) to group B, and a Nikon SB-900 (with a V6 II RX) to group C.
18.1.2 RF60 Series as Master RF60X MASTER RF60 SLAVE V6 II CAMERA You may assign the RF60 series as master on the camera’s hot shoe and let it trigger and command other RF60 series in Slave and V6 II RX units. While the RF60 series in Master can control the power and zoom levels of slave flashes, it would not be able to support high speed sync capabilities. 18.2 V6 Series The Cactus V6 II in RX mode can work in pairs with V6 IIs (for Sony cameras with an MI hot shoe) in TX mode, but not vice versa.
18.3 V5 and LV5 The Cactus V6 II transceiver can work in pairs with the V5 or LV5 for wireless triggering without group control. They all share the same 2.4GHz, 16-channel platform. Since the V5 and LV5 do not support groups and remote power control, the V6 II TX will trigger all V5s, independent of which group it considers active. Similarly, both V5 and LV5 will trigger any V6 II RX, independent of which group the V6 II RX has been assigned to.
19. LED Signal Guide Status Indicator on TX Flash triggering Indicator on RX Green Shutter triggering Green Half-press auto focusing Orange Power level command received N/A Orange Bulb mode activation Green (for 2 seconds) Bulb mode deactivation Green Low battery Red (every 3 seconds) Firmware update mode Red (every 0.5 second) TTL pass-through setup error Red (every 0.
20. USB Connection The V6 II transceiver comes with a mini-USB port that serves two purposes: providing external USB power and for firmware updates. 20.1 External USB Power Apart from AA batteries, the Cactus V6 II can also be powered by a 5V DC external USB power device. Check with the specifications of your USB power device to determine the compatibility with the V6 II transceiver. Note: External USB power cannot charge the rechargeable batteries inside the V6 II battery compartment. 20.
and the LCD display will return to the main screen after 3 seconds. To perform a firmware update when available: 1. Switch off the V6 II and remove the batteries inside. 2. Connect it to a computer via the Cactus mini-USB cable MU-1 (optional). , then switch on the 3. Press and hold V6 II in TX or RX mode at the same time. 4. The V6 II is now in firmware update mode. The status LED blinks red rapidly. The firmware update program will then recognize the connected V6 II and start the upgrade.
21. Optional Accessories 1. 2. 3. 4. Wireless flash RF60X/RF60 Wireless flash trigger V6 Laser trigger LV5 Shutter release cables (Cactus Shutter Cables are available for most camera models by Canon, Fujifilm, Leica, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung, and Sony. Please visit our website for compatible models.) 5. Sync cables and adapters - PC Sync Cable CA-200 - 3.5mm Plug Cable w/6.35mm Plug adapter CA-360 6. USB to mini USB cable MU-1 7.
22. Troubleshooting Before reading this section, ensure that the Cactus V6 II transceiver has been set up correctly (following the instruction in Section 8-15 of this manual). If the problem persists after conducting the troubleshooting steps, contact our authorized dealer directly for further assistance.
1. Wrong Flash Power Fired LCD Display Possible Cause Solution RX displays wrong power levels More than one TXs are controlling the flash power of the RXs - Set Radio ID to prevent the RX from receiving unintended commands by other TXs - Set all transceivers to another channel RX displays correct power levels 1. The chosen flash profile does not match the flash model Choose the correct flash profile or customize a new one 2.
2.
3. Delayed Triggering LED Blinks? Possible Cause Solution TX: Yes (Green) RX: Yes (Green) 1. Wrong camera setup Check Section 10 for camera system setup 2. Delay timer has been set Turn off the delay timer or adjust the delay timer to a correct sync time 3. Power Sync has been adjusted to a wrong timing Use Power Sync adjustment to set the correct sync time (see Section 14.
4. Flash Not Triggered/Shutter Not Released LED blinks? Possible Cause Solution TX: No RX: No 1. Wrong camera setup Check Section 10 for camera setup 2. Poor battery contact or insufficient battery on TX Replace batteries on TX and retry 3.
LED blinks? Possible Cause TX: Yes (Green) RX: No 1. Poor battery Replace the contact or batteries in the battery out of RX and retry power on RX Solution 2. Channel and Ensure both group mismatch transceivers are set to the same channel and the group assigned to the RX has been activated on the TX 3. Background radio interference - Set both transceivers to another channel and radio ID - Change the setup location as interference may come from other equipment in the surrounding area 4.
LED blinks? Possible Cause Solution TX: Yes (Green) RX: Yes (Green) 1. Poor hot shoe contact - Adjust tightness of hot shoe contact - Clean the hot shoe contacts of the V6 II with a clean cloth 2. Flash used is Check that the not compatible flash used is with the V6 II compatible with the V6 II (see Section 7.1) 3. Poor cable connection - Check the cable connection - Change the cable 4.
23. Notices Notices for Customers in the U.S.A. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Radio Frequency Interference Statements. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
HARVEST ONE LIMITED AND THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS WIRELESS FLASH TRansceiver IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY RADIO OR TV INTERFERENCE CAUSED BY UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS TO THIS EQUIPMENT. SUCH MODIFICATIONS COULD VOID THE USER AUTHORITY TO OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT. II FCC ID: VAAWFTV6II MADE IN CHINA This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules.
The crossed-out wheeled bin means that within the European Union the product must be disposed separately at the end of the product cycle. Do not dispose this product with other municipal waste. NCC Warning Statement Article 12 Without permission, any company, firm or user shall not alter the frequency, increase the power, or change the characteristics and functions of the original design of the certified lower power frequency electric machinery.
24. Warranty The limited warranty set forth below is given by Harvest One Limited in the world with respect to the Cactus brand Wireless Flash Transceiver purchased with this limited warranty.
(b) Failure to follow operating, maintenance or environmental instructions prescribed in Cactus user’s manual. (c) Receive services performed by someone other than Harvest One Limited or authorized dealers.
DEALERS AND CAUSING THE ALLEGED DAMAGE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, YOU ASSUME ALL RISK AND LIABILITY FOR LOSS, DAMAGE OR INJURY TO YOU AND YOUR PROPERTY AND TO OTHERS AND THEIR PROPERTY ARISING OUT OF USE OR MISUSE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE CACTUS WIrelESS FLASH TRansceiver NOT CAUSED DIRECTLY BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF HARVEST ONE LIMITED.
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