Pentax Strobist group? Is there such a thing?

[geoduck]

Smart question, but alas no luck with X mode on camera and M setting on Metz.

Next. . .

No luck with X mode?

Paul

 

[elcahall]

This sounds interesting. I assume a "strobist" is someone who uses a flash?

 

[Paul Hunt]

I'm interested in the outcome of this, because 1 - I own the Metz, and 2 - I'm interested in getting the Cactus triggers!

Just a few more random thoughts:

Is your Cactus version 1 or 2? (Apparently there were some triggering issues with v1, on flashes with strobe voltage less of than 12V?)

Is is known that the the Metz PTTL model can in fact be triggered by the centre contact? I understand that a firmware update was needed for C/N models, but I'd have thought that this would be ready by the time the Pentax version was released.

Is the receiver battery fresh?

Hope this gets work out!

Paul

 

[geoduck]

More good questions. The Cactus is V2s the low voltage model. New battery on the receiver. BTW, the US battery is a tad fatter than the one that came with the unit, and thus the cover pops off easy. Mine is taped.

Metz firmware updates says that all firmware updates were baked into the initial Pentax release.
No luck.

 

[geoduck]

Yes, but it more flash with an attitude. This is the mother of all strobist sites:
http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/

This sounds interesting. I assume a "strobist" is someone who uses a
flash?

 

[Kevin OReilly]

When I originally swapped my cactus batteries I had the same problem with the US ones being bigger then the originals, and with the cover popping off occasionally as a result.

I also noticed that when the cover was off the receiver triggered, but when it was on it would not. In my case it turned out that with the cover on I was breaking the contact between the battery and the terminals. Searching around the internet I found that this was a common problem. Many people had solved this by using a dremmel tool to hog out a small amount of material on the inside of the cover so that it would not force the terminal away from the battery any more. Not having a dremmel I inserted a small wedge of tin foil to ensure contact when ever there was some force on the terminal. I've not had a problem with them since. All this was about a year ago.

I don't know if this is your issue but it might be worth investigating.

Kevin

More good questions. The Cactus is V2s the low voltage model. New
battery on the receiver. BTW, the US battery is a tad fatter than the
one that came with the unit, and thus the cover pops off easy. Mine
is taped.

Metz firmware updates says that all firmware updates were baked into
the initial Pentax release.
No luck.
--

 

[geoduck]

Thanks for the Dremel tip. I'll do that if I hold on to this Cactus thing.
Unfortunately nothing has changed.
Ugh.

 

[hermanlee]

Yes it works.

After I set my 540 to SL2, I used another flash AF160 just to model the flash trigger (since my camera is still in repair) and it optically trigger the 540 wirelessly.

Can't wait to try it with my camera. Pentax says it will arrive on Sep 8. Hopefully I'll be able to have it before my trip.

Thanks again, Kevin.

Yes - the onboard flash on the K100D will trigger the 540 if it is
configured in SL2 mode. You might get some mixed results though since
the triggering flash will also be illuminating your subject. If that
is what you want that fine. For example, you could use the on camera
flash a trigger and as fill light, and use the 540 off camera as a
main light. But if you only want the 540 as main you won't easily be
able to block the on camera flash from getting into your image.

If you can afford it a cheap pair of Cactus wireless triggers from
eBay can help, or you can get a wired solution even cheaper from
MPEX. In that case you stick a "flash to Household" adapter on your
K100D flash socket, and then string a power cable extender (that's
the "Household" part) from the adapter to a "Household to flash"
adapter on your flash. It's not wireless, but it works and it is
really cheap, and it gets all your flash off-camera so you can really
get creative.

So will I be able to trigger the 540 optically using the K100D's on
board flash?
My K100D is in repair now so I couldn't try it myself.

The 540 does have an optical trigger. In the setup mode there is an
"SL" or slave setting. SL1 means wireless flash, SL2 means optical
triggering from another flash as describer below.

--
'I will treasure every moment in my life!'
Herman

 

[BiscuitMonster]

The SB-24 and SB-26 are perfect for this use. I've also used the SB-26 quite a lot in "A" mode (thyristor auto), and have found it to be very consistent. The only downside to me is that it doesn't have an AF assist beam. And it's a bit more finicky to dial compensation than it would be with a P-TTL flash. But the point is that it's surprisingly useful when mounted on the camera hotshoe!

--
Pavel
http://flickr.com/photos/pavel/

 

[hamidlmt]

Just joined the group and posted a couple shots... thanks for staring it up! : )

--
~
http://hamidlmt.smugmug.com/
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/hamidshibatabennett

'Let the beauty we love be what we do, there are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground...' -Rumi, 13th century Persian mystic

 

[MikeChip]

Bookmarked

Mike

 

[cyberlord]

Just curious about a strobist type group specific to Pentax owners. I
have bought some new toys and want to get as much help as I can.
--
Pat from Western Mass. USA

I'm doing a few articles on Pentax wireless flash on my blog.

[edit] Oops.. can't post the link as it is in violation of the forum rules.

[link removed]