I was given the opportunity to be a tester of a new product from Cactus Imaging. Cactus definitely has a will to create the most useful and best product for photographers, putting their product through its paces, and getting additional must have features and fixes implemented before they go production. I am truly amassed by how they worked with us testers to come up with solutions that we suggested.
Overview:
The new Cactus Laser Trigger LV5 is an laser trip trigger. It is compatible with basically any trigger/ or shutter release that takes an pc or 3.5mm connection for triggering. This can be attached to flashes or other radio triggers. In addition to this one over unique feature is the fact that cactus imaging decided to integrate an Cactus v5 transmitter directly in the laser trigger. This means that if you have an Cactus V5 flash trigger already no cable needed to trigger the flashes or the camera if you have an cable for the v5 to use as a remote shutter release. You can also connect the LV5 directly to your camera via a compatible cable for your camera.
This trigger opens up a whole new world of possibilities from wild life photography to High speed photography. It is left up to your imagination on what you can do with it.
Main Features:
- Duo Mode Triggering (DMT) Cactus LV5 can be triggered by: (1) blocking the transmission between the laser Emitter and Sensor; or (2) removing the object between the laser Emitter and Sensor.
- Works wirelessly with Cactus V5 and subsequent V5-compatible models. Cactus LV5 combines laser and radio frequency (RF) technology in a single device. With a built-in Cactus V5 transceiver module in the Sensor, LV5 allows you to take instant camera trap photos with an unlimited number of portable flashes, wirelessly!
- Long working distance, the laser Emitter and the Sensor is up to 150 meters.
-Works under sunlight. The LV5 not only works under ambient light, its intelligent design also allows it to work under sunlight.
-Supports single and continuous shots. Supports bulb shot. The LV5 offers endless possibilities for your creative works.
-Shutter Delay and Freeze: Shutter delay and post-shutter frese period adjustable in 15 divisions
Package Contents:
1x LV5 Emitter
1x LV5 Sensor
LV5 hood
4x AAA batteries. 2x needed per component
3.5mm to 3.5mm and 3.5mm to pc cables
User manual and Poster, along with Delay/Freeze information stickers.
Review:
I have always wanted to mess around with high speed photography however the problem was normally you had to MAKE a device or buy an expensive multi trigger device where normally you have to rig up your own laser pointer. The cool thing that cactus did is make their system with a emitter, and an sensor, both are adjustable, can mount on a cold shoe mount, or any standard 1/4-20 thread! This means instead of making some awkward setup with tape and clamps and what not. You can already use the light stands, and tripods you already have and have a full adjustable placement. Another very cool feature is along with 3.5mm port used to trigger your flashes, flash trigger, wireless shutter release or camera through shutter cable you are able to wireless trigger you cactus v5 flash triggers because it has a built in v5 transmitter in the sensor. When I first got the triggers I did not realize this and was attaching one of my v5 transceivers to the 3.5mm port. Then I realized it had it built in, I was very pleasantly surprised with that bonus.
High Speed Photography Testing:
Because it is winter time I was unable to test the wild life photography examples. However I was able to test what I really want the trigger for and that is high speed photography.
When it comes to high speed photography you really need to be dealing with the flash duration normally and not having the laser trigger actually trigger the camera. The way I set it up is that you have the Cactus LV5 transmitting the signal to an Cactus L5 transceiver connected to the flashes. You can also have the flash directly connected, or have a third party wireless trigger attached to the Cactus LV5 to trigger the flashes. At this point you put the camera in bulb mode or setting you shutter to stay open for 1-3 seconds. You trigger the event by something passing through the laser beam and the flash will freeze the subject.
Cactus from working with testers added features that improved the creative capabilities of the laser triggers. Theses features were the delay adjustment and the freeze time. The reasons for this was so that we could set up the laser above or in front of where we want the picture to be taken. This way we are able to time things like splashes and to prevent the laser from being seen in the picture. The freeze time is so the flash would not trigger again right after the initial trigger. That way it would not trigger multiple times for a single exposure.
To set the freeze or delay there is a switch on the sensor. You can set it to delay or freeze then you use the adjustment dial to change the time. They include a nice time table for adjustment.
Testing delay:
This is the picture showing what happens with no delay set.
This is an example of a 30 millisecond delay. You can tweak this so you can get your object in the right place.
Conclusions:
The Cactus LV5 is a interesting product. It has opened up opportunities that I never would of been able to do in the past. I have always been very interested in high speed photography and now I am able to dabble in it. In addition to that it opens up an wide variety of photography projects from wild life photography to basically anything. I hope to in the spring to be able to capture things like bees and birds around my yard. Also I want to do things like mid air self portraits. Pricing is not yet announced however they are trying to keep the price point as low as possible.
Pricing and Availability:
UPDATE: The company is now out of business but you still can get at https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1071315-REG/cactus_diclaslv5_lv5_laser_trigger.html
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