Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I seem to be having this problem fairly often now. When first starting to shoot after the Einstein and Cyber Commander have been powered on, I select the channel of the Einstein unit and then hit the test button on the Cyber Commander (which fires the Einstein just fine). I can also meter from the CC and it fires the Einstein. However, when I try firing off a frame from the camera I get nothing from the Einstein. It usually takes several more test pops from the Cyber Commander before it starts to fire with the camera. I haven't been able to come up with any consistent scenario but has been a little frustrating. I had read that maybe it's the angle of the Cyber Commander and putting enough pressure on the hot shoe to "connect" but in all the test pops, etc. I'm not changing anything about the way the CC is putting pressure on the hotshoe so that doesn't seem like a likely culprit. Once it starts firing from the camera then it has worked 100% but trying to get it started has become frustrating. Sometimes I power everything on and it works right out of the gate but more often it doesn't. Am I doing something wrong?

David

Can you adjust the output of Einstein from the Cyber Commander during the time that it is not firing?

You might try cleaning the hotshoe contacts. If test and meter buttons work but camera activation is hot and miss, this indicates a poor contact from CC to camera.

Yes, I actually have full control over the Einstein from the CC at all times (whether it's firing from the camera or not). I'll try cleaning the hotshoe. I don't have a problem with any of my speedlights but it's worth a try.

David

The hotshoe did not appear to be the issue. I did clean it and after turning everything on I was able to fire the Einstein immediately. However, I powered everything off then back on and at that point the CC will not fire the Einstein via the camera. I was able to reproduce this scenario consistently. I even fired some test pops from the CC and that still did not cause it to start firing from the camera. What I did discover is that if I simply execute the "refresh" (right joystick up) command on the CC then everything works immediately. This is probably mentioned in the manual but I don't remember it being explicitly called out. Regardless, if this solves the problem then I'm ok with that. Just wondering if this is expected behavior?

Thanks,
David

When you power off, are you doing so via the Cyber Commander or via the light itself? The signal given for a single light (via a joystick) are slightly different than the fire signal for all channels (via the hotshoe). With the CC being in charge and the lights are doing something else, there may be some initial confusion. Once the refresh command is given, then everyone is on the same page.

I was powering on/off on the Einstein unit itself. Regardless, as long as "refresh" gets everybody in sync I am no longer frustrated by this. Thanks!

David

if you are shutting off at the lights, you can hit refresh on the CC, and all lights will wake up simultaneously, and refreshed without going to each light.

However, keep in mind that the CC is in control at all times when all components are set up, even if the lights are off (they are actually in standby, like your TV, not completely off). If you shut the lights off at the heads themselves, the CC can still send a refresh signal which can turn them back on.

If you do it your way, you may consider a power strip with a switch. Otherwise, you can have a stored set up that has all lights set to STANDBY. When you are done for the day, open that set up, and the lights will go off. When you come back, open the desired set up, and the lights will come on.

The above applies to Einstein. WL,AB, and Zeus have actual power switches that must be turned onn/off.