Fujifilm X-T2 Compatibility with Cactus V6 II to support HSS (Now Supported! v.1.1.005)

Antonio

Is there an ETA for the updated firmware that doesn't have the "Learn HSS" requirement. ...

It's a matter of weeks, we are counting down to the release of the X-TTL firmware for Fujifilm. 

Thanks for the support and patience

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Actually I found the issue - the shutter speed on the camera has to be mechanical and not Electronic. That was a problem as flash do not synchronize when the shutter at Es mode
After this learn hss went through and were able to shoot hss

Ah-ha!  Yes, indeed the shutter must be mechanical. 

Thanks for posting an update.

camattreephoto

Hi guys, 
I've only used my Cactus V6ii Transceivers a couple of times before with my Fuji X-T2 and an Elinchrom ELB400 and all worked fine with with Firmware version 2.12 on the body and FUJ.1.002 on the V6ii's. 

I just tried using them again but this time the body firmware is 3.0 and I can't get the flash to fire at all with forced HSS on. Plus of course there is shutter curtain shadowing on anything over 1/250th sec. 

I've tried doing the learning thing and it's definitely not set to electronic shutter. 

Do you know if this is a known problem? 

Regards,

Cam.

camattreephoto

Hi guys, 
I've only used my Cactus V6ii Transceivers a couple of times before with my Fuji X-T2 and an Elinchrom ELB400 and all worked fine with with Firmware version 2.12 on the body and FUJ.1.002 on the V6ii's. 

I just tried using them again but this time the body firmware is 3.0 and I can't get the flash to fire at all with forced HSS on. Plus of course there is shutter curtain shadowing on anything over 1/250th sec. 

I've tried doing the learning thing and it's definitely not set to electronic shutter. 

Do you know if this is a known problem? 

Regards,

Cam.

**UPDATE

Ok guys, I finally found the reference to removing the hot shoe metal spring clip from the Fuji cameras (I wish this was easier to find!) and now, having done that, I am getting HSS to work with my X-T2 and Elinchrom ELB400. I do still notice some shadowing at the top of the frame, when framing horizontally, but I'm guessing that is normal? 

Cheers,

Cam.

Antonio

Hello Cam,

Thanks for the update. We have no experience with ELB400 so better to check with other Elinchrom users.

But what a shadow at top of the frame usually means is the flash does not react quick enough.

Thank you.

dfp771

Hello Antonio,
I am also using the Cactus V6ii triggers with the Elinchrom ELB400. They work fine with my Pentax K-1 in Normal HSS and Power Sync with a setting of 8. However, with the Fujifilm X-H1 in Normal HSS or Power Sync there is a darkening on the bottom of the frame. At any shutter speed above the X sync speed of the Fujifilm. I've also noticed the same in youtube videos using the ELB400 with the XT-2. Any advice on how to correct this? Thank you.

Antonio

Hi @dfp771

Sorry to say but we do not have the Elinchrom ELB400 so our team cannot check the exact setup.

Also, Power Sync only works with TTL portable flashes with hot shoe connection on the V6 II. The V6 II only see an ELB400 as a studio flash, not a TTL flash so all it does is triggering the flash to fire, there are not any other information from the V6 II TX.

Have you tried installing the X-TTL firmware (FUJ.A.001)?
Have you tried the test to see if there's indeed a good connection between camera and V6 II TX?



If there's a hot shoe connection problem, try removing hot shoe metal spring plate from camera hot shoe.




If your ELB400 does not support high-speed sync flash native, it may still support HSS if the flash duration is sufficiently long enough.

Good luck!

dfp771

Thanks for your prompt reply. Both HSS and Power Sync work with the ELB400 and the Pentax K-1. In fact, as you would suspect, Power Sync gains about 1/2-2/3 stop at the highest power on the ELB400 and Power Sync works 3.5 stops down from full power. On the Fujifilm X-H1, HSS and Power Sync work in mechanical shutter mode up to 1/2000 second. After that, banding appears on the bottom of the frame. Any delay setting using Power Sync does not affect this darkening on the bottom of the frame. The Fujifilm X-H1 shutter is very quiet and has extra dampening to reduce shutter shock. I'm guessing that the timing at the start of the front curtain shutter is off, not the closing of the rear curtain. But, that is just a guess. This video on youtube shows the same problem with the XT-2:

dfp771

Hello Antonio,
I did find in a previous thread from December 2016 by Umeilus that he successfully controlled the ELB400 using a Cactus V6ii (Transmit mode) on his Fujifilm XT-2 with an Elinchrom Skyport-Plus HS Transmitter for Canon on the Cactus V6ii. The Cactus translates the Fujifilm commands to Canon and the Elinchrom Skyport talks directly to the ELB400 in HSS mode or Hi-Sync (Power sync) mode. I am also aware that Elinchrom is supposed to release a new Skyport transmitter for Fujifilm X cameras. But looks like this solution will work now.

Antonio

@dfp771 I am surprised to hear you noticed a jump in power output using Power Sync. Did you measured it with a light meter? Because when you connect a V6 II (RX) to a portable flash / studio strobe using a sync cord (3.5mm / PC Sync), it does not carry any specific high-speed sync information from the V6 II (TX). It just send a "fire" signal.

Let us know if you require further assistance.

Thank you!

dfp771

Antonio,
Yes, regarding the ELB400 and Hi -sync, I think the reason is that this system is a "passive" system, the flash duration is primarily due to the design of the flash head. The HS head has a flash duration of about 1/550 sec. vs the Action head has a flash duration of about 1/6000 sec. Although, if you use their triggers, they must trigger the unit multiple times to extend the flash duration for their "Hi- Sync" mode...
I know that Elinchrom has HS triggers for Canon, Nikon, Sony, and now Olympus/Panasonic so I could wait until they support Fujifilm or use the above solution with a Canon trigger. Thank you.

dfp771

Antonio, No I did not use a power meter- very few work at high shutter speeds. I know Sekonic makes a very expensive one that can measure output and flash duration. I used the histogram on my camera while using my default portrait mannequin for testing.

Antonio

Thanks for the explanation and I hope our future Cactus monolight units could make their way into your gear list. But then, not everybody likes a built-in battery flash but prefers a separate power pack.

Do shout if you require further assistance with your setup.

Thanks!