Table of Contents 1. Getting to Know the Cactus V6 II 2. Cautions and Warnings 3. Major Specifications 4. Package Contents 5. Nomenclature 6. LCD Panel 7. Compatibility 8. TTL Pass-through 9. Getting Started 10. Camera System: Auto Detect and Learning 11. Flash Profile: Auto Detect and Customization 12. Flash Triggering 13. Remote Manual Power Control 14. High Speed Synchronization 15. Camera Shutter Release 16. Advanced Operations 17. Personalizing the V6 18. Working with Cactus Gear 19.
. Two cross-brand high-speed sync modes: Normal HSS and Power Sync; - Normal HSS supports shutter speeds up to 1/8000s; - Power Sync boosts flash contribution above x-sync shutter; 3. Rear curtain sync and slow sync supported; 4. Multi-master supports up to 16 photographers firing the same set of flashes at their own power setting; 5. AF-assist LED illuminates focusing blind spot when needed; 6. Flash specific profiles with calibrated power levels for many current and previous flash models; 7.
Each flash model has its individual power level characteristics. In V6 II, we have profiled them in two ways: 1. System-specific Auto Flash Profiles: The V6 II can auto detect the camera system of the connected flash and activate the ‘Auto’ profile that will work with all flash models of the same camera system; 2. Model-specific Profiles: For more accurate power output, users can choose from the V6 II menu the flash profile that would work perfectly with the specific flash model.
2. Cautions and Warnings Before using your V6, read the following safety precautions to ensure correct and safe use: 1. Turn OFF all your equipment (e.g., Cactus units, flash units, cameras, etc.) before changing batteries or making connections. 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.
5 31 61 4. Package Contents (image) V6 II Transceiver (image) Flash Stand FS-2 (image) Album & User Manual 5.
TRIPOD MOUNT MULTI-SYSTEM SHOE (MALE) HOT SHOE LOCK LEVER SELECTION DIAL OK BUTTON MENU BUTTON LED STATUS INDICATOR BATTERY DOOR 6. LCD Panel 6.1 TX Mode BATTERY INDICATOR GROUP CHANNEL POWER LEVEL POWER LEVEL INCREMENT 6.
BATTERY INDICATOR GROUP POWER LEVEL POWER LEVEL INCREMENT SELECTED FLASH PROFILE WIRELESS SENSITIVITY CHANNEL DELAY TIMER RELAY MODE INDICATOR SLAVE MODE INDICATOR 7. Compatibility The Cactus V6 II is both a wireless flash trigger and wireless remote control. While it triggers both portable flashes and studio strobe lights, it also supports remote control features with selected flash models. 7.1 Flash & Studio Strobes 7.1.
For studio flashes to work with high-speed sync, they have to maintain a flash duration of 1/100 second or longer. Caution: Flashes or strobes with reversed polarity connectors DO NOT WORK with the Cactus V6 series. 7.2 Cameras The Cactus V6 II works with practically all cameras that come with either (1) a standard ISO hot shoe, or (2) a female sync port connection.
The V6 II transceiver comes with a multi-system shoe that supports TTL passthrough. While the V6 II does not command slave flashes to fire TTL exposures wirelessly, it is designed to pass TTL signal from camera to flash via the transmitter (TX) and vice versa. The multi-system shoe supports TTL pass-through of Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, and Pentax systems. Make sure that camera and flash unit belong to the same TTL system.
9. Getting Started 9.1 Installing the Batteries 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 front. 9.2 Attaching to and Detaching from the Camera To mount the V6 II on a camera’s hot shoe mount: 1. Turn the lock lever of the V6 II to the left to unlock the multi-system shoe (male). 2. Slide the V6 II into the camera’s hot shoe. 3.
flash is not locked securely on the Multi-System Shoe (female), try half-locking the flash and retracting it slightly from the Multi-System Shoe until the locking pin hits the pinhole. Then lock your flash fully to the V6 II. 9.3 Buttons and Dial The V6 II control panel is equipped with a Menu button , an OK button , and a selection dial for quick access to different functions and the configuration menu. The selection dial has a built-in push-in button that serves as a quick OK button.
Adjust power level of a single group (e.g., group A) Main screen Adjust power level of the Master flash Main screen Quick power adjustment Main screen Zoom (Cactus) mode (needs configuration in Main screen + Hold then + menu beforehand) Navigating the Menu (see Section 9.7) Function Mode LCD Enter the menu TX/RX Main screen Browse through menu items and options Menu Choose a menu item or Menu Key option Leave the menu Menu TTL Pass-through / Flash Lock (see Sections 8 and 10.
Function Mode Key Check firmware version OFF Hold mode + Hold mode and switch on to TX or RX Firmware update mode and switch on to TX or RX 9.4 Choosing the Operating Mode (image) The Cactus V6 II is a wireless transceiver that is capable of transmitting and receiving radio signals. Set the V6 II 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. 9.
5. Pressing the group button(s) of activated groups again on the V6 II TX will turn off the group(s). The V6 RX units that have been set to the off group(s) will not f ire. 6. The V6 II will memorize the group selection in both TX and RX when it is switched off. Next time you switch on the V6 it will start up with the saved setting. 9.7 Navigating the Menu There are a number of configurable menu options in the V6 II. To change a menu option: 1. 2. 3. 4. Press to bring up the first menu item.
OLYMPUS (M43) PENTAX OTHERS FLASH PROFILE CANON √ √ FUJIFILM NIKON PENTAX OLYMPUS (M43) OTHERS CUSTOM* GROUP SEQUENCE OFF A-B-C-D AB-CD √ HIGH SPEED MODE DISABLE HSS NORMAL HSS POWER SYNC √ LEARN HSS START SKIP √ SUB-MENU LCD BACKLIGHT √ √ SLEEP DIAL DIRECTION SWAP CONTROL WORK RANGE FACTORY RESET BACK TO MENU *when available The following configuration items are grouped under the “sub-menu”.
SLEEP OFF 15 MINS 60 MINS √ √ DIAL DIRECTION CLOCKWISE √ √ ANTI-CLOCKWISE BACKLIGHT POWER 1-10 √ √ DAY LIGHT MODE DISABLE ENABLE √ √ TEMPORARY UNLOCK DISABLE √ ENABLE RADIO ID 0-9999 √ SWAP CONTROL QUICK POWER ADJ ZOOM (CACTUS) √ AF ASSIST POWER 1-10 √ MAX. X-SYNC SPD 1/160 SEC 1/180 SEC 1/200 SEC 1/250 SEC √ WORKING RANGE LONG √ √ √ SHORT FACTORY RESET NO √ √ YES 10.
The V6 II TX is capable of auto detecting the camera system of the attached camera. It facilitates photographers to switch camera system promptly. To initiate the auto detection of camera system: 1. Attach your camera to the V6 II (see Section 9.2) and turn on your camera. 2. If you would like to command a master flash, attach your flash to the V6 II and turn on your flash. 3. Half press the shutter release of your camera while switching on the V6 II to the TX mode; 4.
detection of the camera system when it is powered on. If you would like the V6 II to detect the camera system for you, choose . The option will display the camera system detected last time in the brackets (e.g., ). 10.3 Learn HSS Even when you have assigned the correct camera system, there would be a chance that the camera does not sync with the slave flashes above x-sync speed.
Section 11.3). On the V6 II LCD screen, the configured flash system will be represented by the icons below: Canon Fujifilm Nikon Olympus / Panasonic (M43) Pentax (Canon Flash Icon) (Fujifilm Flash Icon) (Nikon Flash Icon) (Olympus Flash Icon) (Pentax Flash Icon) 11.1 Detecting an Auto Flash Profile The auto flash profile is camera system specific. It works with all digital flash within the same camera system to produce a moderately accurate (error within 0.3EV) flash output.
Choose the appropriate flash profile from the pre-installed profile list for each V6 II RX you will use with your flash. 1. Switch on the V6 II in RX mode. 2. Press , and then turn the selection dial to . Press . 3. Turn the selection dial until the LCD shows your flash system (e.g., ). Press . 4. Turn the selection dial until the LCD shows your flash model (e.g., <580EX*>). Press . 5. Connect the flash unit to the V6 II.
Each V6 II can save up to 10 custom flash profiles from the Cactus Profile Editor. Note: The Profile Editor supports profile sharing via codes. When customizing a flash profile, the editor will generate a code representing the changed parameters. You can share this code to friends, or simply enter the code received from others in the SHARE CODE column to generate a new customized profile in a second. 12. Flash Triggering To command the flash units in different groups to fire: 1.
1/1 full power. V6 II offers two power definitions for users to command the flashes’ power in the most convenient way. To remotely control the power of your flash units: 1. Connect the flash units to the V6 II. 2. Switch on the flash units in TTL mode. Then switch on the V6 II in RX mode. 3. Choose the correct flash profile for each V6 II. 4. If you may command the flash to fire above the x-sync speed, turn on the HSS or FP flash on your flash units (see Section 14.1). 13.
right to the desired power level. Note: The power level of the master flash is not affected by the multi-group adjustment. 12.1.3 Quick Power Adjustment Mode By turning the dial left or right one “click,” the power level of the chosen groups will increase or decrease by one step. The EV step in the V6 II factory setting is 1/3 EV. The EV step can be configured to 1/2, 1/3, or 1/10 in the menu (see Section 12.3).
17 58.0 64.4 69.0 73.9 16 41.0 45.5 48.8 52.3 15 29.0 32.2 34.5 36.9 14 20.5 22.7 24.4 26.1 13 14.5 16.1 17.2 18.5 12 10.3 11.4 12.2 13.0 11 7.2 8.0 8.6 9.2 10 5.1 5.7 6.1 6.6 9 3.6 4.0 4.3 4.6 8 2.6 2.8 3.0 3.2 7 1.8 2.0 2.1 2.3 6 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 When setting up the absolute power mode, the V6 II TX will collect the flash profiles being selected by the RX units in the same channel and rescale them to the unified light intensity scale.
EV, Flash A is firing the amount of light equal to its 1/16 power, while Flash C is firing equal to its 1/8 power.. To change the V6 II system to the absolute power mode: 1. Switch on the remote V6 II in RX mode. Choose the correct flash profiles for each of the V6 II RXs. 2. Switch on the V6 II that you would like to be the commander in TX mode. Make sure that it is on the same channel as the RX units. Press . Turn the selection dial to and press .
To adjust the EV step, switch on the V6 II in TX mode and press . Turn the selection dial to . Press and turn the dial to the desired increment level (1/10, 1/3, or 1/2). Press to confirm. Notes: 1. The selected EV step will be memorized upon switching off and will be applied when switching on again. 2. In the quick power adjustment mode (see Section 12.1.3), the configured EV step will be replaced by the 1EV step changes. 13.
14.1 Setup for Multi-brand High speed synchronization has to be operated in a highly precise manner. Apart from the system-wise profile, we recommend you to input your camera-specific profile to the V6 II before you command the V6 II to high-speed synchronization with flashes from multi-brands. 14.1.1 Learn HSS. Let V6 to learn HSS with your camera (see Section 10.3) 14.1.
selection dial to and press . Turn the selection dial to and press . On the status screen of the LCD screen, the HSS icon (ILLUSTRATION OF HSS ICON) would be shown. 3. Turn on the HSS or FP flash option on the flash units. 4. In case the camera does not completely sync with the slave flashes above x-sync speed, proceed to once for your camera (see Section 10.3).
This function requires the use of a separately purchased shutter release cable for connection between the transceiver and camera. This cable is NOT included in the V6 II transceiver package. 15.1 Basic Setup (image) A minimum of two Cactus V6 II transceivers is required to operate Cactus V6 II as a wireless shutter release. 1. Connect the V6 II RX to your camera using an appropriate shutter release cable. 2. Set both the V6 II TX and RX to the same channel.
3. Mount one of the V6 II RXs onto the camera’s hot shoe, and also connect the V6 II RX to the camera’s shutter release port with an appropriate shutter release cable (optional). Connect the other V6 II RXs to the flash units. 4. On the on-camera V6 II RX, press . Turn the selection dial to . Press .Turn the selection dial to . Press to confirm and then press to return to the main screen. The relay mode indicator will appear on the main screen. 5. In the handheld V6 II TX unit, press .
16.2 Multi-master The V6 II supports up to 16 TXs working together in a lighting set up. Photographers can share the same set of remote flashes and command them to fire the power output without being influenced by the others. There is no need to configure on the V6 II menu to support multi-master. By the time the any of the photographer in the group presses the shutter, the V6 II TX would trigger the RXs and command the flash to fire the configured power levels from that specific TX.
y y photographers can take two pictures of the same scene with contrasted flash power levels very quickly. The resulting pictures can be very handy in the postproduction of HDR photos. Evaluating the individual contribution of the slave groups: Taking a series of pictures in burst mode will allow you to review the contribution of each slave group individually.
In , the selection dial of the V6 can be configured to operate in a or direction. To increase the power level in the main screen, for example, you would have to turn the selection dial to the left in the clockwise setting, or turn it to the right in the anti(counter)-clockwise setting. 17.
1. LCD Backlight Auto Off: The LCD backlight of the V6 II will turn on whenever , , the selection dial, and any of the group buttons has been pressed or turned. In order to conserve energy, there is a timer setting that automatically turns off the backlight. In , choose from , <5 SECS>, <15 SECS> or . 2. LCD Backlight Power: In , configure the brightness of LCD display from 1 to 9. 3. LCD Daylight Mode: Enable if you work under direct sunlight.
The V6 II transceiver is compatible with the Cactus Wireless Flash RF60 series, Wireless Flash Trigger V6, V5, and Laser Trigger LV5. (image) 18.1 RF60 Series 18.1.1 RF60x/RF60 as Slave (image) With the built-in Cactus V6 module, the Cactus RF60x can be remotely commanded and triggered by the V6 II TX, within or beyond x-sync speed. The RF60 series in this set up would support both normal HSS and Power Sync flash.
and command other RF60 Slave and V6 II RX units. While the RF60 series Master can control the power and zoom levels of slave flashes, it would not be able to support high speed synchronization. 18.2 V6, V5 and LV5 The Cactus V6 II transceiver can work in pairs with the Cactus V6, V5 or LV5 for wireless triggering without group control. They all share the same 2.4GHz, 16channel platform.
Note: External USB Power cannot charge the rechargeable batteries inside the V6 II battery compartment. 20.2 Checking and Updating Firmware Cactus will release new firmware for the V6 from time to time. Get your V6 updated via the USB connection. To check the firmware version of the V6 II, press and hold and , then switch on the V6 II in TX or RX mode at the same time. The LCD display will show the firmware version installed in the unit.
- 3.5mm Plug Cable w/6.35mm Plug adapter CA-360 6. USB to mini USB cable MU-1 7. Lanyard CL-1 22. Troubleshooting Before reading this section, ensure that the Cactus V6 II transceiver have been set up correctly (following the instruction in Section 8-14 of this manual). If the problem persists after conducting the troubleshooting steps, contact your seller directly for further assistance. 1.
4. The ambient light around the scene is too prominent or unstable Try performing the flash learning in an enclosed space with low and stable ambient light 3. Flash Misfire (Unexpected Flash Firing) LED Blinks? TX: No RX: No Possible Causes Poor hot shoe condition TX: No RX: Yes (GREEN) 1.
(Red every 3 seconds) 5. Flash Not Triggered/Shutter Not Released LED Blinks? TX: No RX: No TX: Yes (Green) RX: No Possible Causes 1. Poor battery contact or insufficient battery on TX 2. Poor hot shoe condition 1. Poor battery contact or battery out of power on RX 2. Channel and group mismatch 3. Background radio interference 4. Beyond 100m effective range TX: Yes (Green) 5. TX and RX transceivers are placed too close to each other 1.
RX: Yes (Green) 2. Flash used is not compatible with the V6 II 3. Poor cable connection 4. Wrong cable is used (only when the V6 is used as a Wireless Shutter Release) shoe contact - Clean the hot shoe contacts of the V6 with a clean cloth Check that the flash used is compatible with the V6 II (see Section 7.1) - Check the cable connection - Change the cable Ensure that an appropriate shutter release cable is used 23. Notices Notices for Customers in the U.S.A.
TRANSCEIVER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY RADIO OR TV INTERFERENCE CAUSED BY UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS TO THIS EQUIPMENT. SUCH MODIFICATIONS COULD VOID THE USER AUTHORITY TO OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT. FCC FCC ID: VAAWFTV6II MADE IN CHINA This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
The application of low power frequency electric machineries shall not affect the navigation safety nor interfere a legal communication, if an interference is found, the service will be suspended until improvement is made and the interference no longer exists. NCC Korean Certification of Conformity logo Japan Electrical Safety Approval logo 24.
(d) authorized dealers. Without limiting the foregoing, water damage, sand/corrosion damage, battery leakage, dropping the transceiver, scratches, abrasions or damage to the body, or damage to the hot shoe or PC cables, will be presumed to have resulted from misuse, abuse or failure to operate the Wireless Flash Transceiver as set forth in the operating instructions.
TUEN MUN, HONG KONG PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. © HARVEST ONE LTD.
