Are there any Flexadapter users out there? I'm using mine with strobes in the studio on my Sinar and P25+. I just got the Flexadapter a couple of weeks ago. I have used it on several tryouts and one job now. The issue I'm having is I am firing my strobes twice. Once when I hit the wake-up cable and then another time when I actually take the picture. I have the wake-up cable and the strobes connected to the lens via this multi-sync adapter that turns the single sync port on the lens to 3 ports. Anyway, I mentioned all of this to Phase One and they say it's a grounding problem. What I finally realized is that they meant the building grounding. I know that's not the problem because they asked me to shoot to a card only, which means no physical connection to the computer or to the wall. I got the same result. Oh by the way, it's not the building. The building's pretty new.
I don't think that Phase One is far off though when they say "grounding" is the problem. It might be a grounding issue when it comes to the set-up I have to get this to work. Here's what I have researched so far.
The wake-up cable woks even when it's just simply attached to my P25+ back, all by itself. So that means there is power feeding into the wake-up cable from the Digital back. Sure enough, I measured the power at the end of the wake-up cable and there is 4.5 volts. When I hit the wake-up button the voltage drops dramatically so that button causes a short telling the back to wake-up. Makes sense. Now this 4.5 volts is traveling all over the system when it's all connected to this multi-sync port adapter which is connected to the lens.
Now, the power pack sends 5 volts back through the sync cable which is also attached to the multi-sync thingy attached to the lens just like the wake-up cable is attached. This explains why when I hit the wake-up button the strobes fire because I'm causing that same kind of intentional short that makes strobes fire.
I have tried Pocketwizards but it is the same result. Well I had to wonder why. Well, that's because (after measuring with my volt meter) the Pocketwizard sends 3.2 volts (duh, 2 AA batteries) back through the lens sync.
The Flexadapter has no electronics. It's basically 2 metal plates. I have to take my hat off to Phase One. The Flexadapter is made well.
Well after all of this, not-very-good-explanation, my question is this. Has anyone expereinced this same thing and resolved it? Or is this something I will have to live with?
All of your help is much appreciated. Thanks.
- Rudy / El Paso, TX
P.S. It's gonna be one of my "DUH" moments after you guys explain what I'm doing wrong.