Alpha 350, HVL-F36AM and PT-04 Triggers just not working!!

C

Clickawaymedia

Suspended / Banned
Messages
242
Edit My Images
Yes
I have an Alpha 350 Camera, a Sony HVL-F36AM Flashgun, and a set of PT-04 Radio triggers, and simply cannot get them to fire.

The setup I have tried is to have a Yongnuo YN-H3 hotshoe adapter on the hotshoe of my A350, with the transmitter of the PT-04 on top. Then, connected to an umbrella adapter, I have the reciever of the PT-04 connected to a clone of the FS-1200 which in turn is connected to the HVL-F36AM.

This didnt work at all, so I plugged in a cable from the hotshoe adapter to the transmitter of the PT-04 and then, the red light on the reciever lit when the flash fired so at least some signal is getting through. However, this only worked with the pop-up flash firing, which is what I was trying to avoid (otherwise I would just use the WL mode on the HVL-F36AM).

I then also tried to use a PC-Sync cable to connect the reciever of the PT-04 to the FS-1200 and still nothing.

So, the 2 problems I am trying to overcome are:

1) I need to stop the pop-up flash firing while using the PT-04's

2) Need to get the reciever to actually fire the HVL-F36AM when it recieves signal (which it does as the red LED illuminates both when pressing "test" and when pop-up flash fires)

Any help or advice appreciated!!
 
mm_photographic said:
This didnt work at all, so I plugged in a cable from the hotshoe adapter to the transmitter of the PT-04 and then, the red light on the reciever lit when the flash fired so at least some signal is getting through. However, this only worked with the pop-up flash firing, which is what I was trying to avoid (otherwise I would just use the WL mode on the HVL-F36AM).
Click to expand...

Are you just trying to stop the pop up flash from coming into the equation ?

I would use wireless and just use something to stop forward light from the pop up. i.e. a bit of cardboard hanging slightly in front or some exposed film negative.
You can test if the WL flash can see the signal from the pop up flash like this.

1/ Set up the camera and WL flash for wireless mode.
2/ Press the AEL button.
3/ The pop up flash will send a test flash and half a second later the WL flash should send a response flash.

The main advantage of using the WL mode is that the camera and flash should meter as if the flash was on the camera. With triggers you can only use manual mode.
 
first things first replace the batteries in your triggers, they're usually half dead when you get them.
 
:agree: the batteries supplied are just "test" ones, but tbh, looking at the list of bits that you're having to cobble together there it could be any of them that are causing the problem :(
 
leaky5 said:
Are you just trying to stop the pop up flash from coming into the equation ?.
Click to expand...

No, I have heard about the film negative being used to block the light from the pop up flash...

I will be using it for many purposes, including using the flash in places where line of sight from pop up flash isnt possible so radio trigger is required.

Kev M said:
first things first replace the batteries in your triggers, they're usually half dead when you get them.
Click to expand...

Will get some new ones next time I'm shopping.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
:agree: the batteries supplied are just "test" ones, but tbh, looking at the list of bits that you're having to cobble together there it could be any of them that are causing the problem :(
Click to expand...

Yeah I agree, thats why I'm asking in the hope that somebody could enlighten me... damn Sony and their awkward hotshoe!! lol
 
First thing to check (after getting batteries) is the YN-H3 as I bought two of the iso-hotshoe version and they were both DOA. Next have a look at the connection between the YN-H3 and the PT-04 transmitter, as the YongNuo hotshoe can be a bit hit-or-miss as far as flashguns sitting properly on it, which can affect their ability to fire...
 
Flash In The Pan said:
First thing to check (after getting batteries) is the YN-H3 as I bought two of the iso-hotshoe version and they were both DOA. Next have a look at the connection between the YN-H3 and the PT-04 transmitter, as the YongNuo hotshoe can be a bit hit-or-miss as far as flashguns sitting properly on it, which can affect their ability to fire...
Click to expand...

Appreciating the advice...however.. regarding the YN-H3... if this was faulty.. surely the led on the reciever wouldnt light up when the pop-up flash fired? However... might have something to do with the pt-04 not firing without the pop-up flash... are there any better alternatives to convert Sony hotshoe to standard hotshoe?
 
I have to say that I have never had an issue with light from the pop up flash affecting images as it should just produce a pre flash to trigger the off camera lights. As for line of sight, I have used to pop up flash to trigger a flashgun that was actually to the opposite side (Camera in portrait orientation) and slightly behind the camera.
 
This should work (although I gave up on the Cactus v2 triggers as they were unreliable). I know a few people who have also had DOA Cactus triggers, luck of the draw.

So first off.... a couple of questions to fault find....

Does the transmitter/reciever pair appear to work? i.e. when you press the test button on the transmitter does the light on the reciever light up?

With the reciever is connected to the camera, when you press the shutter does the reciever light up?

If from what I can work out, when you press the shutter release on the camera you get the red light lighting up on the reciever (as you've suggested) - then it's probably related to either the batteries in the reciever or the reciever is at fault. I don't think there is much to go wrong with the FS-1200 adapters.
 
springtide said:
This should work (although I gave up on the Cactus v2 triggers as they were unreliable). I know a few people who have also had DOA Cactus triggers, luck of the draw.

So first off.... a couple of questions to fault find....

Does the transmitter/reciever pair appear to work? i.e. when you press the test button on the transmitter does the light on the reciever light up?

With the reciever is connected to the camera, when you press the shutter does the reciever light up?

If from what I can work out, when you press the shutter release on the camera you get the red light lighting up on the reciever (as you've suggested) - then it's probably related to either the batteries in the reciever or the reciever is at fault. I don't think there is much to go wrong with the FS-1200 adapters.
Click to expand...

As stated above... the reciever LED does flash when the pop-up flash on the camera fires, but isnt it supposed to be able to trigger remotely without the need for the pop-up flash?

Will replace batteries and update again tomorrow hopefully.

All advice appreciated!!
 
mm_photographic said:
As stated above... the reciever LED does flash when the pop-up flash on the camera fires, but isnt it supposed to be able to trigger remotely without the need for the pop-up flash?

Will replace batteries and update again tomorrow hopefully.

All advice appreciated!!
Click to expand...

Thats right, you don't need the the popup flash to fire the flash. You've hopefully proved this by seeing the red light on top of the transmitter when you press the shutter.

If you use the 'test' button on the transmitter (even disconnected from the camera), you then can rule out the camera from the equation.

I have seen with poor batteries the reciever 'seeing the transmitter (as it lights up the red led), but the flash not firing - which was fixed with batteries.

I did read a while back people complaining about the 42's not working well with the Ebay FS-1200 - I think this might have been on Dyxum - might be worth a search if fresh batteries don't fix the issue.

Anyway, good luck... BTW, do any of your friends who live local have similar triggers you could test your flash and the FS-1200 with?
 
Update... I now have brand new batteries in the transmitter AND receiver, and this has made no difference whatsoever!

Thats right, you don't need the the popup flash to fire the flash. You've hopefully proved this by seeing the red light on top of the transmitter when you press the shutter.
Click to expand...

As stated before... if the pop-up flash isnt up, then the transmitter doesnt activate. It only works with the pop-up flash up which is annoying me.

BTW, do any of your friends who live local have similar triggers you could test your flash and the FS-1200 with?
Click to expand...

Have no photography friends yet... not been into it that long so not dont any networking except on forums, and none of my current friends interested in photography.

I did read a while back people complaining about the 42's not working well with the Ebay FS-1200 - I think this might have been on Dyxum - might be worth a search if fresh batteries don't fix the issue.
Click to expand...

Had a look but couldnt find any information... anyone able to provide a link?

Signal is getting through from transmitter to reciever, so this makes me thinks it is the hotshoe adapters which are the problem. I am reluctant to pay for the official Sony one as the price is just ridiculous. Apart from the yongnuo ones.. are there any 3rd party ones that might work?
 
See if the flash rocks back and forward on the hotshoe of the receiver and if it does place a couple of strips of card or paper underneath the flash (making sure not to cover the centre pin) to hold it firmer.

If that doesn't make a difference then try taking the battery cover off the receiver and see if the flash fires then.
 
I dont know the sony kit or exactly how the hotshoe differs, but it seems to me that you;'ve verified that the wireless bit works - ie receiver lights up when you press the test button. You could properly verify that by putting a standard flash on the receiver - ruling out the adapter on the flash.

My thoughts would be to see what happens if you take the wireless out of the equation?
ie stack the fs-1200/yn-h3/flash all on the camera? That should just set the two adapters to cancel out and give you a working (but basic - not ttl etc) on camera flash.

Where are you? There is bound to be someone near you with a standard flash that would let you properly check the wireless side of things.

Is the sony flash in manual mode?

The sony flash is dedicated for the sony cameras isnt it ? ie no worries about voltages?
 
Lets rule out the camera and one of the hotshoe adapters...

With the flast connected to the reciever..... (without the transmitter being conected to the camera) .... can you trigger the flash with the test button?
 
My thoughts would be to see what happens if you take the wireless out of the equation?
ie stack the fs-1200/yn-h3/flash all on the camera? That should just set the two adapters to cancel out and give you a working (but basic - not ttl etc) on camera flash.
Click to expand...

Tried this and the HVL-F36AM fires... but again, only with the pop up flash also firing... shouldnt the camera use the hotshoe INSTEAD of the pop-up flash, rather than only working when both flashes fire? Does this mean the camera isnt fully recognising the YN-H3?

Where are you? There is bound to be someone near you with a standard flash that would let you properly check the wireless side of things.
Click to expand...

Birmingham (Great Barr to be exact)

Lets rule out the camera and one of the hotshoe adapters...

With the flast connected to the reciever..... (without the transmitter being conected to the camera) .... can you trigger the flash with the test button?
Click to expand...

No.. test button triggers the red LED on the receiver, but no flash fire!

Appreciate all the help guys, but this is really starting to bug me now!!
 
If the test button doesn't fire the flash, you've ruled out the camera and one of the adapters.

Sounds like a DOA reciever if I'm honest, but would be useful to attach another (standard hotshoe) to the reciever to rule out the FS-1200 adapter.
 
I couldn't get my old Oly flash to fire on these style triggers. So I bought an old Vivitar 285 with a standard, non dedicated hotshoe. It cost me £12 from a second hand shop, although I'm watching one on ebay that's at £32 with a day left :eek: looks like I bagged aa bargain!
 
Ahoy!

Can anyone advise if the PT-04 TM 4 wireless trigger (evilBay item: 150359366105) will work with the Sony HVL-F42 flashgun? Also, can anyone confirm that the pop-up flash does not need to fire with the transmitter fitted (assuming it works with the F42)?
 
not sure if it helps, but i had the a300 and F42 and on wireless mode only way to trigger it is if top flash pops up
 
Pirate! said:
Ahoy!

Can anyone advise if the PT-04 TM 4 wireless trigger (evilBay item: 150359366105) will work with the Sony HVL-F42 flashgun? Also, can anyone confirm that the pop-up flash does not need to fire with the transmitter fitted (assuming it works with the F42)?
Click to expand...

Personally I'd avoid using a Sony flashgun with the PT-04 or RF-602 triggers unless you have a proper Sony adapter, the Seagull brand ones dont strike me as being the best quality.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top