Phottix wireles remote & Cactus trigger - please help

[Axton]

Just got the Phottix wireless remote and must say it works great. Here's my strange problem that I hope to find an answer to:

The Phottix and Cactus work OK together. HOWEVER, I'm not able to set my shutter speed any higher than 1/60 in manual mode (XTi w/off camera flash)... Any higher and I get a black photo or just a sliver of a picture as if my shutter speed is higher than sync.

When I put the flash directly on the hotshoe and set my cam at 1/200 ss, the Phottix has no problems, works great.

I've heard of interference probs with the Cactus & Phottix, but My work well together.

Why can't I use a higher ss than 1/60??!!

Appreciate any feedback..

[michaelgreen78]

Have you tried enabling the high speed sync on the flash unit?

[Axton]

Have you tried enabling the high speed sync on the flash unit?

Not sure I'm able to. It's a Sunpak 383. I just noticed that if I set the camera to delay mode it works fine at 1/200 ss. Is there a way to set the XTi to delay for say, 1 second instead of the default 10 sec? It's bugging the *** out of me why I can't figure this out!

[hawk911]

1/200th isn't high speed. Something else is amiss.

[TRM]

in Custom functions w/ the XTi you could use the mirror lock-up command. i believe then it takes the 10 seconds down to 2-3 seconds.

[Axton]

1/200th isn't high speed. Something else is amiss.

Yes, seems like it. I always use 1/200 ss when using my off camera flash. For some reason I just get black pictures when remotely triggering the shutter unless I don't go above 1/60... Also tried all different combinations of channels on the phottix & Cactus...

It's like there's a delay between the flash pop and shutter when triggering remotely. As stated earlier, when I put flash directly on hot shoe (Cactus out oof the mix) the remote shutter works great at 1/200.

[hawk911]

Have you tried to call Cactus? Seems like a bug.

[Axton]

Have you tried to call Cactus? Seems like a bug.
No, but I set my XTi to mirror lockup enabled and there's a 2sec delay & for some reason, everything works like a charm. I'm still investigating this as I hate when I don't understand WHY!!

[hawk911]

Well, you've already identified it's the cactus that buggers things up. The remote works fine with flash only. Have you tried firing the cactus independent of the remote? is there a delay or do you get a decent picture?

[Axton]

Well, you've already identified it's the cactus that buggers things up. The remote works fine with flash only. Have you tried firing the cactus independent of the remote? is there a delay or do you get a decent picture?

Cactus works fine independently. I don't do a lot of remote shooting, but it comes in real handy for self portraits when I'm testing lighting setups instead of constantly pressing the sutter and running back in front of the camera and hoping the focus is OK. I use a big stuffed animal for test shots but nothing is better than the real deal.

[hawk911]

huh! I'm out of options. I just bought the remote, but don't have Cactus yet. Can't help beyond what I've already given.

[Axton]

appreciate all your input!