Back to School, Back to 3 Lights

It was great to see Cactus release the firmware update for the older V6 trigger, that makes it compatible with the newer V6II when the V6II is running the "XTTL" firmware version. As I have shown here before, I am a big fan of the ease and accuracy of multi-flash off Radio TTL with Cactus ( see these photo threads …. link
link ), great for certain situations.

Now its possible to run the XTTL frimware on the V6II for use with any compatible P-TTL flashes, but also to add a V6 (or more) into the mix if you want to switch to manual mode. This is with a single press on the group buttons, so very convenient. So my V6 has come back into use attached to the AF-540FGZII, with remote manual power control.

I had a chance to put 3 lights into practice as our eldest daughter started High School, a big event for us, so of course the softbox, umbrella and hair light were all set up ready to go when she got back!












The main light is a softbox just outside the left frame edge, angled down, and the fill is an umbrella slightly behind my right shoulder. The hair light is a bare flash (with max zoom) behind the subjects left shoulder, a few feet back.

I've been quite pleased with the softness of light I've been able to get from a fairly small softbox (25x25 inches) and a simgle flash gun. This type of collapsible box is really designed for bare bulb type lights, as the light should bounce around inside and reflect off all the walls. A hotshoe flash points directly at the subject and a lot of its light will not directly hit the walls, therefore it tends to create a hotspot on the face.

I am trying to avoid this with a Gary Fong LightSphere dome on the flash head which throws the light all around and I find creates a nicer effect ….

Great portraits Nigel. Love the hairlight.. Great to see your system getting cheaper too with the V6 coming back into play..

I have the colapable softboxes and studio strobes. You cant use them together. the neck of the softbox is too tight around the strobes bulb and more importantly the modelling lamp... 250 watt on mine . It would catch fire.

Once again though lovely portraits and now young lady...

Super portraits Nigel. The hair light really gives sparkle and depth to the pictures.

Great explanation of the technique. So when you add the V6 into the mix you have to use manual flash power for both V6 and v6II units ?

Hi Peter, thanks, I hadn't always found it easy to place the hairlight well in the tight confines available.

Actually you could mix TTL and M modes on the different groups. I could use TTL with the RF60s and include the Pentax flash with the V6 receiver also .... But there Pentax flash is limited to manual.

Mentally I prefer to work with all TTl or all manual, as I'm sure most of us would. However, as Stuart said, it's great value as the firmware was free, and I now don't have to swap firmwares if I need 3 flashes .... Thanks Cactus!

Thanks also Stuart, I'm pleased you saw them.

Though I own a Gary Fong diffuser and the 60cm Softbox. Ive never used them in conjuction with each other... (But im now sure gonna give it a try now...lol) Curiosity will kill me....!!

I'll be interested in the light spread and intensity difference. When using the Gary Fong as opposed to what I usually do when using a flashgun and just use the gun;s own diffuser to spread the light..

I am impressed with Cactus. For what is obviously a tiny company I think they provide very good service.

Hi Stuart, the wide angle panel on the flash spreads the light over the angle of view of around 13mm (generally), so on aps-c around 20mm FF equivalent. So this is still sending most of the light directly forwards..... Imagine a 20mm lens inside the softbox, it still wouldn't "see" the whole inside or reach the edges, nowhere near it. Likewise the light from the flash doesn't either. So we need the dome diffusser to spray the light everywhere and reduce the amount of direct front on light, which is what creates the hotspots.

I think this approach, plus having the softbox very close right up at the edge of the frame, makes the softest and most even light.

Yes, and the level of direct user engagement they have on their forum is excellent. They have come through with so many improvements and fixes in response to user feedback.

I just hope they can continue with the RQ250 development. Otherwise we are likely to he swamped with Godox.