Issue with a used Lencarta Atom 180

Bobsyeruncle

Bobsyeruncle

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Bought a few weeks ago off a fellow member. I tested it at the time off camera, and it was then put away as it was a Christmas present.
It works great if I'm hand holding it, but when on my camera hotshoe, the flash unit turns off if I tilt the camera forward. The battery pack is still on.
I removed it from the camera, checked all the cable connections, examined the cable etc and it all looks fine. I couldn't replicate the issue with the atom hand held off the camera.
I tried it on a flash stand and depending on how I move it, it does the same. It must have something to do with the connector on the bottom of the flash. Not sure how though, as the flash stand is plastic and there's no electrical connection, unlike when it's on the camera hotshoe.

Anyone else experienced this? Or any ideas/suggestions?
 
mike weeks said:
It should have come with 2 feet, one has a centre pin connection and the other none. Could be some issue with the wiring on the centre pin connection.

Mike
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It didn't come with any feet. I'm using the one from my Nissin flash. Maybe it is a loose connection inside, which I would have possibly expected to affect the firing of the unit, but not sure why it should go off and on etc.
Hopefully Garry from Lencarta might have an idea.
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
It didn't come with any feet. I'm using the one from my Nissin flash. Maybe it is a loose connection inside, which I would have possibly expected to affect the firing of the unit, but not sure why it should go off and on etc.
Hopefully Garry from Lencarta might have an idea.
Click to expand...

The shoe fitting at the base can be changed on the 360 to just a screw thread or with a flash connection, would imagine the same is possible with the 180

Mike
 
mike weeks said:
The shoe fitting at the base can be changed on the 360 to just a screw thread or with a flash connection, would imagine the same is possible with the 180

Mike
Click to expand...
Not sure, it doesn't mention it in the instructions. I take it you don't mean some kind of adaptor?
I had another play, and it is intermittent, sometimes not doing it at all.
It has now done it off camera/off stand so it may be the plug on the end of the cable, or the connection on the unit itself.
May try and see if I can get hold of another cable to try that first.
Thanks for your help so far Mike.
 
@mike weeks is correct. Only the Atom 360 has interchangeable feet, whereas the Atom 180 has a hotshoe foot only.

I've experienced the same shut-down symptoms on various occasions, and each time it's been down to faulty/poor/broken wiring within the power cord. Most times, the fault resides at the head connector, as opposed to the battery end. From observation, this connector tends to be flexed more frequently, especially when connecting and disconnecting the cable from the unit.
The battery connector is a straight fit, so tends to suffer less from "heavy handed" use. Oddly enough, whilst this connector suffers less torque and stress, it actually has a much stronger moulding.

My advice would be to purchase a replacement, which isn't expensive, but make sure you order the correct one, as the head connector was modified twelve months after the initial release.
If your head connector has a split, separating the connector into 2+1 pins, then it's the revised version. If it's a single block for the three pins, it's the original cable, and you may have more of an issue trying to locate one.
If you can't find a replacement cable, the "extension" cables in the original version are still in abundance, and I believe Garry still has some in stock.
 
Michael Sewell said:
By the way, my experience with this problem has tended to be with the original type connector, and I have yet to experience the same problem with the revised version
Click to expand...
Thanks for that. I've had a look, but it's difficult finding an original mk1 cable that's not an extension.
 
It's a bit unwieldy. I've put the Mark 2 ad360 on camera to play with ttl and other than the fun factor, I can't see me using it in the real world. Why not buy a Gary fong dome diffuser. Should do same thing for your speedlight
 
gadgeteer said:
It's a bit unwieldy. I've put the Mark 2 ad360 on camera to play with ttl and other than the fun factor, I can't see me using it in the real world. Why not buy a Gary fong dome diffuser. Should do same thing for your speedlight
Click to expand...
I bought the 180 for off camera use anyway. I don't use on camera flash much at all.
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Thanks for that. I've had a look, but it's difficult finding an original mk1 cable that's not an extension.
Click to expand...

Check with @Garry Edwards as Lencarta were ordering a batch of MKI cables some time ago.
If you can't get a hold of one, you may well have to settle for the longer cable
 
Michael Sewell said:
Check with @Garry Edwards as Lencarta were ordering a batch of MKI cables some time ago.
If you can't get a hold of one, you may well have to settle for the longer cable
Click to expand...
We do in fact have the Mk 1 cables in stock, they are 5m long but are coiled and actual cables, not extensions. The original-length cables are no longer available from the factory, but I suppose it's possible that someone may have them - unlikely though as most sellers didn't seem to stock much in the way of accessories.
 
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Garry Edwards said:
That's the one but I think we should have some coiled ones too, can't check that until I'm back at work. Right now I'm at the farm, and have lost internet due to flooding.
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Ok thanks. A coiled one would be my preference if possible, but there's no rush.
Hope the flooding isnt too bad
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Ok thanks. A coiled one would be my preference if possible, but there's no rush.
Hope the flooding isnt too bad
Click to expand...
It isn't us that's flooded - we have a hill farm! The flooding is at York, where BT chose to site their equipment.
 
mike weeks said:
No, because you cant put the pack 5m away, realistically 1.5 to 2 metres max

Mike
Click to expand...

And you could always coil up a straight one if needed with a bongo type tie or the likes .
 
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