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Wireless Triggers for K3II/K-1

Posted 11/11/2016 - 13:47 Link
I have been looking at wireless triggers for the K3II, K-1, AF360 FGZ II and AF540 FGZ II.

I borrowed a pair of Yongnuo YN-603C II (Canon) and they work intermittantly on both cameras, I have also been looking at he Cactus v6 trigger.

Does anyone use the Cactus or recommend an alternative?

Thank you,
Digital: Pentax K-1 II + Grip, Pentax K3II + Grip, Pentax MX-1.
Lenses: Pentax D-FA 24-70mm 2.8, D-FA 15-30 2.8, D-FA 70-200 2.8*, Pentax 35mm 2.4, 50mm 1.8, 18-135mm WR, 55-300mm HD, Sigma 70-300mm (macro), Tamron 17-50mm F2.8.
Film: Mamiya C330 Medium Format, Pentax Super ME.
Chrism8
Posted 11/11/2016 - 14:05 Link
I used a pair of these chucked on a 645z on a recent studio shoot and was well impressed
Chris

www.chrismillsphotography.co.uk

" A Hangover is something that occupies the Head you neglected to use the night before".

-------------------------------------------------------------
K1 - Sigma 85mm F1.4, Pentax DFA 150 -450 F4.5 / 5.6, Pentax DFA* 24 - 70 F2.8

Samyang 14mm F2.8, Pentax DFA* 70-200 F2.8

K3iii + K3ii + K5iis converted to IR, Sigma 17 - 70 F2.8, Pentax 55 - 300 F4.5 / F5.6 PLM
Edited by Chrism8: 11/11/2016 - 14:08
Posted 11/11/2016 - 14:56 Link
They look interesting, were you using same brand flashes?

They look similar to the Neewer triggers.
Digital: Pentax K-1 II + Grip, Pentax K3II + Grip, Pentax MX-1.
Lenses: Pentax D-FA 24-70mm 2.8, D-FA 15-30 2.8, D-FA 70-200 2.8*, Pentax 35mm 2.4, 50mm 1.8, 18-135mm WR, 55-300mm HD, Sigma 70-300mm (macro), Tamron 17-50mm F2.8.
Film: Mamiya C330 Medium Format, Pentax Super ME.
Posted 11/11/2016 - 15:05 Link
Digital: Pentax K-1 II + Grip, Pentax K3II + Grip, Pentax MX-1.
Lenses: Pentax D-FA 24-70mm 2.8, D-FA 15-30 2.8, D-FA 70-200 2.8*, Pentax 35mm 2.4, 50mm 1.8, 18-135mm WR, 55-300mm HD, Sigma 70-300mm (macro), Tamron 17-50mm F2.8.
Film: Mamiya C330 Medium Format, Pentax Super ME.
McGregNi
Posted 11/11/2016 - 15:08 - Helpful Comment Link
The main point of the V6 transceivers is that they offer remote manual power control, in 1/2 or 1/3 ev steps, and they provide this with compatible dedicated system flashes, such as your Pentax ones. So you can manage exactly your light balancing, and switch each light on and off, without moving from the camera.

You need 3 transceiver' units in order to control 2 flashes, one in Transmitter (TX) mode on the camera hotshoe, and one on each flash in Receiver (RX) mode. So not the cheapest solution, but a reliable and practical one, especially if your flashes are placed in difficult positions or you need to make frequent adjustments to power, and want to experiment with differing effects.

Or go a big step further and get the latest V6II models, and you can add remote manual High Speed Sync plus remote flash head zooming to your arsenal!
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
Edited by McGregNi: 11/11/2016 - 15:13
cardiffgareth
Posted 11/11/2016 - 15:47 Link
So the V6 offer HSS wirelessly?

My Metz 44 AF-1 is a HSS flash head and I'd love to use that in bright daylight, off camera in a softbox for portraits.

One thing that bugs me is the Canikon shooters can shoot wirelessly in HSS with a range of battery studio heads or flashguns on location but we Pentax shooters can't
Gareth Williams ARPS

My outfit: K1ii - Pentax D FA 24-70mm f2.8 - Pentax DA* 300mm f4 - Pentax modified DA* 60-250mm f4 - Irix 15mm Firefly - Pentax FA 35mm - FA 50mm f1.4 - Tamron SP 90mm macro - Pentax AF 540 FGZ II

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McGregNi
Posted 11/11/2016 - 16:04 Link
The V6II does it Gareth .... But, they're a jump up in price! Your flash must be HSS capable, and even though the flash normally works in P-TTL mode for automatic wireless HSS exposures, with the V6II system it will be MANUAL power control (remotely from the V6II TX unit on the camera) only.

Manual HSS is a good step up in complexity over automatic HSS, more difficult to manage in a dynamic environment, because every exposure time adjustment ('shutter speed' ) requires a compensating adjustment to another parameter ...(ISO, aperture, distance). This is not the case for automatic HSS exposure (ie the Pentax proprietary system), as the flash output is automatically adjusted in that case.

So, in outdoor, dynamic fluid situations, and especially where the ambient light exposure needs adjustments, then manual HSS adds to the workload. But, the advantage of remote radio control, plus the big benefit that brings with communication reliability over high distances, may outweigh that other disadvantage.

I'd be careful to double check with Cactus, on their community forum, that your Metz flash is tested and confirmed as HSS compatible with the V6II before committing.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
Edited by McGregNi: 11/11/2016 - 16:07
stub
Posted 11/11/2016 - 16:58 Link
The Wansen manual triggers you mention work perfectly in manual mode. have a range of 20mtr. I also use them to fire my studio stobes. The draw back is. You cant remotely change their settings. Dont fire HSS. But on the plus side they are very very cheap... Every bit a match for Pocket Wizard. We await the Pentax / Godox TTL revolution.
K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..
McGregNi
Posted 11/11/2016 - 20:39 Link
Sorry. just need to correct something I didn't write properly before .... When I was saying adjustments are needed to compensate for shutter speed changes, I meant to say that normally it would be flash power that would be adjusted. ISO and aperture plus the distance would all naturally stay fixed once they are set well for the subject. The V6 and V6II make the power adjustments very easy from the camera position, but the extra step involved with manual HSS does make it a more involved process with more to consider.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
Posted 12/11/2016 - 16:18 Link
For the moment I have gone for a set of dirt cheap Neewer triggers, once I get the feel for things I probably invest in a set of Cactus triggers.

The Neewer/Cowboy/Godox triggers were £15.99 (from Amazon) and just have the centre pin but they work.
Digital: Pentax K-1 II + Grip, Pentax K3II + Grip, Pentax MX-1.
Lenses: Pentax D-FA 24-70mm 2.8, D-FA 15-30 2.8, D-FA 70-200 2.8*, Pentax 35mm 2.4, 50mm 1.8, 18-135mm WR, 55-300mm HD, Sigma 70-300mm (macro), Tamron 17-50mm F2.8.
Film: Mamiya C330 Medium Format, Pentax Super ME.

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