Help with Cactus V5 wireless flash setup...

splproductions · Mar 20, 2012

I should be able to use a Cactus unit on my 500D hotshoe (w/o a flash on it), set it as my transmitter, and then have two receivers, right? So I'm triggering two 580's with one transmitter.

I can only get one flash to fire. When I press the little "test" button on the transmitter, both of the receivers light up green, so they are all talking. All of them are on channel 1. I can press the "pilot" button and get the non-working one to fire, so it's not a battery issue or anything.

Any help?

analog.universe · Mar 20, 2012

weird...

Have you tried a sync cable from the cactus to the 580 instead of the hotshoe? Also, maybe try a different channel?

splproductions · Mar 20, 2012

analog.universe said:
weird...

Have you tried a sync cable from the cactus to the 580 instead of the hotshoe? Also, maybe try a different channel?

So I just did some swapping of units and swapping of flashes... if my diagnosis is correct, the new single unit I just got in the mail (I already had the "Duo" - 2 units) only wants to act as a transmitter. When I put this new unit on the camera, it will trigger both flashes, but if I try to put it under a flash and switch it to receiver - no go.

I'll try turning everything to a different channel. It'll be a bummer if I got a lemon, but with shipping to China, it would probably be better just to put a label on that unit that says "Transmitter" and always use it as such.

Weird is right....

Big Mike · Mar 20, 2012

I wouldn't be too surprised. That's why these things are 1/4 the price of things like Pocket Wizards & Cyber Syncs.

2WheelPhoto · Mar 20, 2012

Big Mike said:
I wouldn't be too surprised. That's why these things are 1/4 the price of things like Pocket Wizards & Cyber Syncs.

^^^^that. Any cheaper than these and you'll be using the light from the friggin' pop-up. I've had zero issues with my pocketwizards (other than they hurt my pockets!)