Cactus V6 IIs, V6 II User Manual

User Manual

Wireless
Flash
Transceiver
V6 IIs

2

Table of Contents

1. Getting to Know the Cactus V6 IIs 4

2. Cautions and Warnings 6

3. Major Specif ications 7

4. Package Contents 8

5. Nomenclature 9

6. LCD Panel 11

7. Co mpatibility 13

8. TTL Pass-through

16

9. Getting Started

18

10. Flash Setup 29

11. Flash Triggering 34

12. Remote Manual Power and Zoom 36
Control

3

13. High Speed Synchronization 50

14. Camera Shutter Release 55

15. Advanced Operations 60

16. Personalizing the V6 IIs 67

17. Working with Cactus Gear 72

18. LED Signal Guide 78

19. USB Connection 79

20. Optional Accessories 81

21. Troubleshooting 82

22. Notices 88

23. Warranty 91

4

1. Getting to Know the Cactus
V6 IIs

Thank you for purchasing the Cactus
Wireless Flash Transceiver V6 IIs.

The Cactus V6 IIs is specially designed for

Sony cameras and ashes with the MI (Multi-

Interface) hot shoe. Yet when working with
the Cactus V6 II, it allows you to command

different brands’ ashes off camera below or

above x-sync speed. The freedom to adjust
shutter speed equips you with the most
exibility in controlling apertures and
power levels. The possibility are endless!

1. Cross-brand wireless manual power
and zoom control of Canon, Fujif ilm,
Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, and Pentax

ashes with Cactus V6 II .

2. Specif ically designed for Sony cameras

a n d  a s h e s w it h t h e M u lti-I n t e rf a c e (M I)

shoe.

3. Two cross-brand high-speed sync modes:

Normal HSS and Power Sync.

- Normal HSS supports shutter speeds up
to 1/8000s.

- Power Sync boosts ash contribution

1.1

Special
Features

5

above the x-sync shutter speed.

4. Multi-master supports up to 20
photographers f iring the same set of

ashes at their own power setting.

5. AF-assist light assists focusing in low
light environments.

6. Flash prof ile customization ensures
accurate power output.

7. Work seamlessly with the RF60 series to
support HSS and Power Sync.

8. Plenty of useful features inherited from

the V6: including Lo Power, Absolute

Power, TTL Pass-through, Group Sequence,
Sports Shutter, Remote Shutter, Relay
Mode, and Delay Mode.

Both V6 IIs and V6 II transceivers compile
t h e D - T T L (d i g it a l t h r o u g h -t h e -l e n s)
protocols from different camera systems and
build up a common language between cameras

a n d  a s h e s.

When working with the V6 II, the V6 IIs
transceiver is a gateway to sync your Sony

cameras to almost any digital ashes in the

world.

Ready to go? Let’s get started and see what
the V6 IIs can do!

1.2

Cactus
V6 IIs
Core

6

2. Cautions and Warnings

Before using your V6 IIs, read the following
safety precautions to ensure correct and
safe use:

1. Turn OFF all your equipment (e.g., Cactus
units, ash units, cameras, etc.) before

changing batteries. Observe the correct
polarity when changing batteries. There
is a danger of explosion if the batteries
are installed incorrectly.

2. Switch off the transceiver and remove
batteries during storage.

3. Do not permanently store the product in

a high temperature environment (i.e.,

under strong direct sunlight, near
cooking stoves/oven).

4. The Cactus V6 IIs should never be
submerged in liquid or exposed to heavy
rain unless it is properly protected.

5. Do not operate the device in the presence

of  a m m a b le g a s e s o r f u m e s.

6. Do not disassemble.

7. Do not crush the V6 IIs and do not expose
it to any shock or force such as
hammering, dropping, or stepping on it.

7

3. Major Specifications

• Working radio frequency: 2.4 GHz

• Number of channels: 16

• Number of groups: 4

• Support sync speed up to 1/8,000 second

• AF-Assist LED: 1W

• Maximum effective distance: 100 meters

• Operating temperature: -20°C to +50°C

• Camera voltage handling: up to 6V

• Flash voltage handling: up to 300V

• Dimensions:
79 m m (L) x 77 m m (W) x 4 6 m m (H)

• Weight: 89g

• Power input: 2 x AA batteries, 3V, 50mA,

0.15W; mini USB 2.0, DC input 5V

• Estimated battery life in hours
(with LCD backlight on):

Alkaline AA
Batteries 1000mAh

Rechargeable NiMH AA
Batteries 2500mAh

TX RX TX RX

55 32 65 34

8

4. Package Contents

Album, Sticker

& Quick Start

Guide

Flash Stand FS-2V6 IIs Transceiver

9

5. Nomenclature

LCD DISPLAY

HOT SHOE

(FE M AL E)

X-SYNC PORT

MINI USB PORT

MODE SWITCH

AF-ASSIST

LIGHT

LANYARD
LOOP

TEST BUTTON/
SHUTTER RELEASE
BUTTON

GROUP BUTTONS

10

HOT SHOE

(M A L E)

HOT SHOE
LOCK LEVER

BATTERY DOOR

TRIPOD MOUNT

LED STATUS INDICATOR

MENU BUTTON

OK BUTTON

SELECTION DIAL

11

6. LCD Panel

(T h e s t a t u s s c r e e n i s a c c e s si bl e b y pr e s s i n g

and holding the Menu button while turning
the dial to either the left or right at the
same time.)

6.1

TX mode

CAMERA
SYSTEM

FLASH PROFILE

FLASH

SYSTEM

SYNC MODE
INDICATOR

RELAY MODE
INDICATOR

DELAY

TIMER

CHANNEL

POWER LEVEL

POWER LEVEL INCREMENT

BATTERY INDICATOR

GROUP

MAIN SCREEN

StAtuS SCREEN

POWER LEVEL/

ZOOM

12

Sony Others

6.2

RX mode

WIRELESS

SENSITIVITY

CHANNEL

BATTERY

INDICATOR

FLASH

PROFILE

POWER LEVEL

INCREMENT

POWER
LEVEL

DELAY
TIMER

RELAY MODE

INDICATOR

FLASH

SYSTEM

6.3

Camera
and Flash

Indicators

13

7. Compatibility

The Cactus V6 IIs is both a wireless ash

trigger and wireless remote control. While

it triggers both portable ashes and studio

strobe lights, it also supports remote

c o n t r o l f e at u r e s w it h s e le c t e d  a s h m o d e l s.

7.1.1 Cactus RF60X / RF60

With the built-in Cactus V6 module, the
Cactus RF60 series can be remotely
commanded and triggered by the V6 IIs (see
Sectio n 17.1.1).

7.1.2 Flash Models for Sony cameras

The Cactus V6 IIs works with ashes that
come with either (1) a Sony MI shoe, or (2)

a legacy Sony/Minolta iISO hot shoe with

an appropriate hot shoe adapter (e.g., Sony

A DP - M A A).

Flash prof iles pre-installed in the V6 IIs
include:

7.1

Flash &
Studio
Strobes

14

• Sony HVL-F60M, HVL-F58AM*, HVL-F43M

• Metz 64 AF-1, 44 AF-1*

• Nissin i40

7.1.3 Studio Strobes

The Cactus V6 IIs triggers studio strobes
with the PC sync male port, 3.5mm or 6.35mm

p o r t v i a o p tio n a l c a bl e s (s e e S e c tio n 20).

This includes high trigger voltage portable

 a s h m o d el s, a n d a l l st r o b e m o d el s w it h a

trigger voltage of 300V or less. The Cactus
V6 IIs does not provide remote power control

of t h e s e  a s h e s a n d s tr o b e s.

F o r st u d i o  a s h e s t o w o r k w it h h i g h - s p e e d
s y n c, t h e y h a v e t o m a i nt a i n a  a s h d u r ati o n

of 1/100 second or longer.

Caution:

Flashes or strobes with reversed polarity
connectors DO NOT WORK with the Cactus V6
series.

* requires an appropriate hot shoe adapter

15

7.2

Cameras

The Cactus V6 IIs works with all cameras

t h at a r e e q u i p p e d w it h (1) t h e S o n y M I s h o e,
or (2) t h e l e g a c y S o n y/ M i n o lt a i I S O h ot s h o e
with an appropriate hot shoe adapter (e.g.,

Sony ADP-AMA).

To use the V6 IIs as a wireless shutter
release, specif ic cables are required. For
the list of optional accessories, see
Section 20.

The Cactus V6 IIs in TX mode works
seamlessly with Wireless Flash Transceiver
V6 II in RX mode.

The Cactus V6 IIs is compatible with the
Wireless Flash Transceiver V6, V5, and Laser
Trigger LV5. See Sections 17.2 and 17.3 for
details.

The Cactus V6 IIs is NOT compatible with

any other ash trigger model, including the

Cactus V4, Cactus V2s, and Cactus V2.

7.3

Flash
Triggers

16

8. TTL Pass-through

The V6 IIs transceiver comes with a pair of
hot shoes that supports TTL pass-through

with Sony cameras and Sony system ashes.

While the V6 IIs does not wirelessly command

off-camera ashes to f ire according to TTL

metering, it is designed to pass the TTL

signal from camera to ash via the
transmitter (TX) and vice versa.

Wit h T T L p a s s -t h r o u g h , t h e T T L  a s h e s

behave as they would when directly
connected to the camera hot shoe. The V6 IIs

will work as a wireless ash commander while
s u p p o r t i n g a l l t h e a u t o m atic f e a t u r e s (e.g.,
automatic ash output via TTL metering, AF-

assist light, second curtain sync and high
speed sync/FP shutter) provided by the TTL

ash system.

17

To enable the TTL pass-through in the V6 IIs
TX, press and hold

for 2 seconds. The LCD
will show the TTL pass-through indicator
at the left bottom corner where the channel
indicator used to be.

In TTL pass-through mode, the V6 IIs TX

cannot control the power level of the ash

attached.

To disable the TTL pass-through mode, press
and hold

for 2 seconds. The TTL pass­through indicator will be replaced by the
channel indicator on the LCD.

Alternatively, the TTL pass-through mode can
be enabled or disabled in the <FUNCTIONS>

m e n u (s e e S e c t i o n 9.7).

18

9. Getting Started

Open the battery door by pushing it
backward. Flip open the latch and insert two
AA batteries using the correct polarities.
Then close the battery door by pushing it to
the f r ont.

To mount the V6 IIs on a camera’s hot shoe
mou nt:

1. Turn the lock lever of the V6 IIs to the

left to unlock the multi-system shoe

(m a l e).

9.1

Installing
the
Batteries

UNLOCK

LOCK

9.2

Attaching
to and

from the
Camera

Detaching

19

2. Slide the V6 IIs into the camera’s hot

shoe.

3. Turn the lock lever of the V6 IIs to

the right to lock the multi-system shoe

(m a l e).

4. When detaching the V6 IIs from the

camera’s hot shoe, turn the lock lever to

t h e lef t t o u n l o c k t h e h o t s h o e (m a le).
Otherwise, the hot shoe (male) may be

da maged.

The V6 IIs control panel is equipped with a
Menu button

, an OK button , and a

selection dial

for quick access to
different functions and the conf iguration
menu.

The selection dial has a built-in push-in
button that serves as a quick OK button. You

may conf igure how the dial works to suit

y o u r w o r k i n g h a bit (s e e S e c tio n s 16.1-16.3).

Major functions of the V6 IIs listed below
are easily accessible by the buttons and
dial.

9.3

Buttons
and Dial

20

Group Control (see Section 9.6)

Function Mode LCD Key

Select a group

(e.g., g r o u p A)

for adjusting

parameters (power

le vel/zoo m)

TX

Main screen,
when the
group is not
selected

Hold*

Deselect a group

(e.g., g r o u p A)

Main screen,
when the
group is
selected

Turn on/off a

g r o u p (e.g .,

gr oup A)

Main screen,
when the
group is not
selected

Test f iring a

g r o u p (e.g .,

gr oup A)

Main screen

+

Group EV Offset
in absolute power

m o d e (e.g., t o

gr oup A)

Main screen,
in absolute
power mode

+

Change the RX to
another group

(e.g., t o g r o u p A)

RX

Main screen

* Hold = Pr e s s a n d h o l d t h e b u t t o n for 2 se c o n d s,

then r elease.

21

Adjusting Power Level and Zoom (see Sections

12.1 a n d 12.5)

Function Mode LCD Key

Adjust power
level/zoom of all
groups

TX

Main screen

Adjust power
level/zoom of a

si n g l e g r o u p (e.g.,

gr oup A)

Main screen

+

Hold ,
then

Adjust power
level/zoom of the

on-camera ash**

Main screen

+

Toggle between the
power level and
the zoom control
panel

Main screen

Toggle to and from
the quick power
adjustment (needs
conf iguration in
menu beforehand)

Main screen

** T h e s a m e c o m m a n d i s u s e d t o c h e c k t h e T X s t a t u s

screen.

T T L P a s s - t h r o u g h (s e e S e c tio n 8)

Function Mode LCD Key

Enter/leave TTL
pass-through mode

TX

Main screen

Hold

22

N a v i g ati n g t h e M e n u (s e e S e c tio n 9.7)

Function Mode LCD Key

Enter the menu

TX/
RX

Main screen

Browse through
menu items and
options

Menu

Choose a menu item
or option

Menu

Leave the menu Menu

D i a l L o ck (s e e S e cti o n 17.2)

Function Mode LCD Key

Lock the dial

TX

Main screen,
when the dial
is unlocked

Hold

Temporarily
unlock the dial

Main screen,
when the dial
is locked

Unlock the dial Main screen,

when the dial
is locked

Hold

Fi r m w a r e (s e e S e c tio n 19.2)

Function

Mode

Key

Check f irmware
version

OFF

Hold

+ and switch

on to TX or RX mode

Firmware update
mode

Hold

and switch on

to TX or RX mode

23

The Cactus V6 IIs is a wireless transceiver
that is capable of transmitting and
receiving radio signals. Set the V6 IIs
transceivers to the correct mode

(transmitter to “TX”, receiver to “RX”) by

sliding the mode switch to the correct
position. This will automatically power on
the transceivers.

The Cactus V6 IIs transceivers communicate
with one another via radio frequency. There
are 16 channels available. Always make sure
that all of your V6 IIs transceivers are set
to the same channel:

1. To set both the TX and RX to the same

channel, press

. Turn the selection

dial to <RADIO SETUP> and press

. The
LCD will show <CHANNEL> and the default
channel number. Press

and turn the
selection dial to the preferred channel
number. Press

to set other menu items

or press

to exit.

9.4

Choosing
the
Operating
Mode

9.5

Setting
the
Channel
and
Radio ID

24

2. The selected channel number will be
displayed on the LCD display.

Use the wireless sensitivity indicator on
the RX LCD display to check the strength of
the wireless signal from the TX in the
selected channel. The wireless sensitivity
ranges from excellent

to poor .
Change your V6 IIs to another channel when
the sensitivity is poor.

To protect your setup from interference
from other Cactus devices, assign all your
V6 IIs to a specif ic radio ID. Press

and
turn the selection dial to <RADIO SETUP>.
Press

and turn the selection dial to
<RADIO ID>. You may then set up a 4-digit
key by turning the dial and pressing

for

each digit.

The group function in the V6 IIs can assign
RXs into Group A, B, C, or D, and allows you

9.6

Setting
and
Selecting
the Group

25

to choose which group(s) to f ire from the

TX u nit.

1. All V6 IIs transceivers must be set to

the same channel.

2. Assign RX units to Groups A, B, C, or D by

pressing one of the group buttons. Each
RX can only be assigned to ONE group.
The LED of the selected group will turn
on.

3. Command the TX to f ire any combination

of groups by pressing the group

button(s). You can f ire any combination

of A, B, C, and D groups. The LED of the

a ctiv at e d g r o u p(s) w il l t u r n o n.

4. To change the power level of a specif ic

group, press and hold an activated group
button. Quickly pressing the group
button again will de-select the group.

5. Pressing the group button(s) of activated

groups again on the V6 IIs TX will turn

of f t h e g r o u p(s). T h e V 6 I I s R X u n it s t h at
h a v e b e e n s e t t o t h e o f f g r o u p(s) w i l l

not f ire.

6. The V6 IIs will memorize the group

selection in both TX and RX when it is
switched off. Next time you switch on the

V6 IIs it will start up with the saved
setting.

26

The conf igurable menu items of the V6 IIs
are grouped under categories shown in the
followin g se q uences:

TX

FLASH
SETUP

PREFERENCES FUNCTIONS

POWER
SETUP

RADIO
SETUP

RX

FUNCTIONS

PREFERENCES

FLASH
SETUP

RADIO

SETUP

To change a menu option:

1. Press

to bring up the f irst menu

c a t e g or y.

2. Dial right or left to scroll through each

menu category. Press

or the push-in

button once to access a menu category.

3. Dial right or left to scroll through

each menu item. Press

or the push-in

button once to access a menu item.

4. Dial right or left to scroll through each

option of a menu item. Press

or the

push-in button once to select the option.

9.7

the Menu

Navigating

27

The conf iguration of the menu item will
change immediately.

5. Press

to leave and go back to the main
screen, or dial right or left to the next
menu item in the sequence.

Check the list of menu items in each
category below:

FuNCtIoNS tX RX

- SYNC MODE

- DELAY

- RELAY

- GROUP SEQUENCE

- SPORTS SHUTTER

- TTL PASSTHROUGH

√
√
√
√

√

√
√

√

FlASh SEtup tX RX

- FLASH SYSTEM

- FLASH PROFILE

√
√

√
√

powER SEtup tX RX

- POWER MODE

- EV STEP

- LO POWER

√
√
√

RAdIo SEtup tX RX

- CHANNEL

- RADIO ID

- MULTI-MASTER

- WORK RANGE

√
√
√
√

√
√

28

pREFERENCES tX RX

- A F - A S SI S T (T X/R X)

- BACKLIGHT POWER

- BACKLIGHT TIME

- DAYLIGHT MODE

- SWAP CONTROL

- DIAL DIR ECTION

- TEMPORARY UNLOCK

- SLEEP

- FACTORY RESET

√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√

√
√
√
√

√

√
√

29

10. Flash Setup

The V6 IIs transceiver commands ashes to
f ire at a particular output via ash

prof iles. There are three ways to obtain

the correct ash prof iles:

1. Apply the <AUTO> ash prof ile (see

S e cti o n 1 0.1).

2. Choose from the pre-installed ash
prof iles in the V6 IIs (see Section 10.2).

3. Customize the auto prof ile in the Cactus
Prof ile Editor on a PC or Mac (see
S e cti o n 1 0.3).

The Auto Flash Prof ile in the V6 IIs is the
default prof ile that works with all Sony

system ashes. To apply the auto prof ile, no

setup is required.

Alternatively, set up the auto prof ile as you

do in choosing a ash-specif ic prof ile in
t h e <F L A S H P R O F I L E > m e n u (s e e S e c ti o n 10.2).

10.1

Applying
an Auto
Flash
Profile