Take your flash off-camera with Cactus

Once you start dabbling in flash photography, you realise that the single most important accessory to your camera has to be your flash. It has the ability to transform dull, flat images into warm, flattering images that complement the subject.

But, your creativity does not have to stop there – take your flash off-camera with Cactus radio flash triggers and experiment with light from different angles.

© Ilko Allexandroff, Cactus Image Ambassador

Compose your photos from a different vantage point with wired and remote

Cactus triggers for cameras and flashes.

Connect your portable flash with one of our highly-compatible Cactus shutter release cables, laser or wireless flash triggers. You will need a controller and a receiver (or a transceiver that does both!) – the controller sends the signal to the off-camera flashes that the shutter is released, and the receiver registers the signal from the camera to fire flash.

Whether you prefer Canon, Nikon or Fujifilm, our selection of shutter release and flash sync cables allow you to connect Cactus products with portable flashes, studio strobes and cameras so that you can trigger your camera or flash remotely. In essence, the cable allows your camera and lighting equipment to flash with shutter release at exactly the right time. But, cables may restrict movement and present a trip hazard, particularly when using off-camera flash at weddings where guests are, rightfully so, more focused on the bride and groom than the cables on the floor. With that in mind, laser and wireless triggers offer greater mobility.

Sync cameras with laser (infrared) triggers

Perfect for studio lighting setups and trigger traps, laser triggers communicate with each other exactly like you would expect them to – by looking at each other!

Cactus Laser Trigger LV5 & Cactus Foldable Softbox (60 cm)

Unlike shutter release cables, laser triggers allow more complex high-speed photography setups, ideal for freezing high-speed action like bursting water balloons or gravity-defying dance moves that are normally invisible to the human eye. Even though they require a direct line of sight, nifty infrared camera triggers like the Cactus LV5 allow you to set trip-traps for fast-moving, shy creatures in the bushveld.

Simply place your camera on a tripod and set up the shot. The Cactus LV5 has unique custom Delay and Freeze options so that you can pre-focus and pre-frame the shot. Select one of 15 delays en set the time from 1 m/s to 400 m/s, or select the freeze period from 20 m/s to 4 sec.

Don’t forget to soften your light with the Cactus 60 cm foldable softbox that controls the quality of light with its reflective silver interior and two white diffuser cloths, and the angle of light with the tilting lock handle. Its soft rubber clamp allows for easy fastening.

Have you read Wouda’s interview with self-portrait photographer, Alison Titus?

Benefit from increased versatility and mobility

Place multiple flashes at various positions and at greater distances. In fact, flash sync an entire setup with a Cactus radio flash trigger. Unlike optical flash trigger setups, wireless flash triggers are more versatile as you can place flashes around corners.

The Cactus LV5 is a clever flash trigger hybrid that works with a wired connection, and remote or wireless flash units such as the Cactus V5, V6, RF60 and RF60X making it the ideal investment for the prosumer. Not only does it allow you to trigger flash from 100 m away, but other impressive features include high-speed sync (HSS) up to 1/1000 sec (subject to the camera’s sync speed limitation), and 16 radio channel frequencies that allow multiple photographers to work within the same environment without triggering each other’s flashes. Weighing a mere 300 g, there is no reason not to take this trigger with on wildlife photography expeditions.

You have the trigger, now you need a flash. The Cactus Wireless Flash RF60X functions as a transmitter and a receiver (yes, a transceiver!). This means that you can set up various RF60X transceivers, each in control of their own lighting scenario, and quickly switch between several lighting setups, ideal for wedding and studio photography. Having a flash off-camera allows you to preplan lighting setups, saving you time while shooting. 

Cactus Wireless Flash RF60X

*Remember that wireless flash triggers require batteries to work: AA, AAA or CR2. The RF60X uses 4 AA Alkaline or rechargeable Ni-MH batteries.

Cactus Wireless Flash Transceiver V6 II

The Cactus V6 II supports Cross-Brand HSS:

It can control the power output and zoom angle of Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Olympus, Panasonic and Pentax system flashes all at the same time (it works on any camera with a standard shoe or PC sync port). As you start up your devices, the Cactus V6 II auto detects the various flash profiles.

Cross-Brand TTL functions:

• Cross-brand wireless manual power control with HSS support of Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Pentax flashes. Instant adjustment of a single group and ratio power adjustment by one quick swipe of the rotary dial.
• Cross-brand wireless manual zoom control of Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Pentax flashes.

Two High-Speed Sync Modes:

1. Normal shutter speed up to 1/8000 sec.
2. Power Sync that boosts flash contribution above the camera’s x-sync speed in situations where normal HSS is simply not powerful enough.

Autofocus Assist:

The V6 II has an automatic LED AF-assist light that makes auto-focusing possible even in pitched-black environments! Besides the camera-mounted V6 II, off-camera units will also activate the AF-assist light, which helps focusing even when the camera is far from the subject.