Cactus V5 Flash Triggers

dixonduke

I did do a search and didn't find a thread about these, and thought I would share from a noobs perspective. MODS you can delete if this is redundant.

I am becoming more and more intrigued with off camera flash/lighting. Not so intrigued that I wanted to shell out the investment required for some Pocket Wizards, but curious enough to play around a bit.

I came "this" close to purchasing some ebay flash triggers (yongnuo?) multiple times but ended up snagging a set of the new Cactus V5's. They showed up in the mail yesterday (3/14/11) having purchased them online March 7th. I bought them from the Gadget Infinity Site, and paid via PayPal.

I recently picked up a deeply discounted SB-600 from my local electronics store which is discontinuing them because of the new SB-700. And I wanted a way to fire my now set of 3 speedlights, and not wanting to be limited to line of sight that the Nikon CLS affords. I will use these inside of a Westcott Apollo Soft Box I have heading my way from B&H for portrait work and I am wanting to start playing more seriously in architecture (interiors) photography.

I can't really tell you that my decision to purchase these was an imperical / educated one. I just picked these over the ebay triggers because they were just a bit more expensive (gotta be better right?) and various online reviews that were positive.

Here are some photos of the triggers and my quick not in any way scientific / technical test run.

The Box (I purchase 2 boxes = 4 transcievers)


The Set (SB-900 not included, only put it on to illustrate size of triggers)


Battery Door / Battery Compartment / Shoe Mounts & Metal Threaded Tripod, Light Stand Mount.


Up Close - Left side if it was mounted on a camera. You can see the 3 way selector switch Transmit -TX, OFF, Receive -RX. The PC sync port, and the confirmation light and test / TX button & hot shoe.


Up Close - Right side if it was mounted on a camera. You can see the channel selector dial (16 channels 2.4 GHZ), the test / TX button, confirmation light as it normally looks when not receiving a command, and hot shoe.


Them in use.... *NOTE* They will "wake up" my speedlights from standby mode, the SB-900 is instant, but the SB-600's I find that I have to cycle the "half way down" of the shutter button a couple of times, to wake them up.


Now for my non-technical more playing around test. When I got home from work today I had to give them a go around. So I paired one to each of my speedlights and of course had one on my camera. I strategically placed them where I could give them a test. Like so.... (TX turned off for this shot).


Then after walking down my driveway and across to my neighbors yard 60/70 paces or so.... All Three Fire!


Well that worked so how about a further away test... 125 paces. All Three Fire!


So I collected them off my culdesac's mail box, and "hid" them in the garage. The SB-900 is laid flat in the top of a stand up tool box with the tool box lid shut so that all that is exposed is the flash head in the back left corner. 1 SB-600 burried in the middle of 2 sets of new tires for my motorcycles shooting straight up to the ceiling in the middle of the garage. The remaining SB-600 is stuffed in my tank bag on one my bikes firing towards the windscreen. Then I walked back down to the end of my driveway (38 Paces). All Three Fire!


I wish I was more educated to give a more detailed review than what this ended up being. I would love to hear some tips / tricks from others that also practice with off camera flash.

Resources that I read/follow:
Strobist Blog & their Flikr Discussions (only in lurk mode)
Lightenupandshoot Blog
Kelby Training

ziggy53

Congratulations and thanks for the review. They seem to be working nicely.

dixonduke

Thanks Ziggy. I am having a lot of fun with them. So far they have yet to mis-fire for me.

pathfinder

I like the GS in your garage also.

Your Cactus triggers seem to work very well.

mpriest13

I want to buy these but they are SOLD OUT! Know anywhere else I can get some. I can't seem to find them anywhere else...

ziggy53

mpriest13 wrote: »

I want to buy these but they are SOLD OUT! Know anywhere else I can get some. I can't seem to find them anywhere else...

The first post in this thread has a link to "Gadget Infinity" and they list them as "in stock"?

JimKarczewski

THey release small quantities on M/W/F because of them selling so well. They are still very low in supply but they are releasing them.. you just have to catch the website at the right time...

mpriest13

Yeah, they were OUT OF STOCK yesterday. I just bought mine! Can't wait to try the. THANKS!

I am a little concerned they don't transmit TTL...I guess I will have to learn to use my flash in manual mode.

dixonduke

pathfinder wrote: »

I like the GS in your garage also.

Your Cactus triggers seem to work very well.

Thanks! By far the bike that has provided the most smiles per mile that I have ever owned.... 2006 R1200 GS Adventure, purchased new April 2006.

ian408

Thanks for the review! Looks like they're working and the shot of your GS is pretty nice (needs a tiny bit more up light).

Art Scott

dixonduke wrote: »

I am becoming more and more intrigued with off camera flash/lighting. Not so intrigued that I wanted to shell out the investment required for some Pocket Wizards, but curious enough to play around a bit.

I came "this" close to purchasing some ebay flash triggers (yongnuo?) multiple times but ended up snagging a set of the new Cactus V5's. They showed up in the mail yesterday (3/14/11) having purchased them online March 7th. I bought them from the Gadget Infinity Site, and paid via PayPal.



I can't really tell you that my decision to purchase these was an imperical / educated one. I just picked these over the ebay triggers because they were just a bit more expensive (gotta be better right?) and various online reviews that were positive.

I have been using the less expensive RD616 (RT16) for a little over 2 yrs now and they will fire my flashes at approx 100yrds and they have been really reliable....

Do the cactus V5 come with a pc cable as my triggers will also trigger my studio flash units......

mpriest13 wrote: »

I am a little concerned they don't transmit TTL...I guess I will have to learn to use my flash in manual mode.

Seriously...that should be the most important part of leaning to use your flash if it has a manual mode.....I incorporate several brands of flash in my work....Vivatar, Sunpak Nikon and White Lightning, Alien Bees...only the Nikon have a TTL offering which is no good in 99.9% of my set ups.......If you ever want to do studio work...studio flashes are strictly manual.....

MDalby

I am glad you have had good luck with the V5. I had the V4 and I was VERY unimpressed with the quality. I moved to the RadioPoppers and it was a world of difference. The quality and reliability between the V4 and RadioPoppers wasn't even close.

MD

dixonduke

Art Scott wrote: »

Do the cactus V5 come with a pc cable as my triggers will also trigger my studio flash units......

yes they come with pc cords.

snakephoto

I have been eyeing these triggers as well, the folks over at "clubsnap" http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/848593-Cactus-V5-Flash-Triggers-Mini-Review-(w-pictures) did a favorable review as well...I think they will work well on my gear , but they do look a bit large when mounted on some of the M4/3 rigs...