I just got mine yesterday, works great (almost-more on that later)
Was wondering what off-camera frame works best for this..the one I have (some generic brand) already sits pretty high...then you add the cactus receiver..then the flash..it can barely hold the weight as its extended so far out (I can see the latch holding it all together starting to break lose or bend)
So something more sturdy not so large?

Also I experienced a weird behavior from the cactus receiver. I attached it to the camera frame as normal with it in side/verticle position, attached the flash as normal and took a picture. The flash fired as normal. Then I rotated the camera 90 counter clockwise and rotated the frame so the flash  is now horizontal above the camera as if Im gonna take a portrait shot. The flash WONT fire! Ok, odd..I took the cactus off the frame but held it in the same position with  my hand and took a picture..the flash fired! I don't get whats going on..it wont fire if its ON the frame..but if I take it off it will. HUH?? weird...it works FINE in every other situation but this..why!?

I have the units and i LOVE them! Of course just as I was warned, as soon as you open and install the battery the door doesn't close as tight as from the factory so rubber bands or tape are your friend. As far as a mount, I'm not really sure what you mean. I know they sit high due to the nature of it being a shoe mount unit but whatever you're mounting under it isn't going to change your over all height. If you're talking about a camera flash bracket, the Cactus is a waste to use, use the cables. The Cactus shines for off camera use as on light stands and super clamps.

As for your second issue... wow I have no idea. camera orientation shouldn't do anything, very strange.

Yea its very weird..the same position hand held but OFF the bracket makes it work and its only in that orientation lol I was planning to use it like a jr strobe until I grow balls to buy a real one heh for the money its a steal.

It does sit high & then when you turn it sideways a lot of weight is riding on the clamp or whatever attaches the receiver to the frame. I was really hoping to use it with the bracket for doing portrait shots but I guess it doesn't matter as it wont work in that orientation anyway:-S

thanks!

Photoepia wrote:
I have the units and i LOVE them! Of course just as I was warned, as soon as you open and install the battery the door doesn't close as tight as from the factory so rubber bands or tape are your friend. As far as a mount, I'm not really sure what you mean. I know they sit high due to the nature of it being a shoe mount unit but whatever you're mounting under it isn't going to change your over all height. If you're talking about a camera flash bracket, the Cactus is a waste to use, use the cables. The Cactus shines for off camera use as on light stands and super clamps.

As for your second issue... wow I have no idea. camera orientation shouldn't do anything, very strange.

i have them and they work fine my own didnt fire because i killed the batteries

=x

wish i got more distance out of them though

I haven't seen how far they would go but I just wanted to trigger it off camera so anything is better for me. The flash fires fine every time except when I put it onto the bracket AND its horizontal..but it will work if I take it off and hold it by hand in the same position which really puzzles/pisses me off..!

JamieCharles wrote:
i have them and they work fine my own didnt fire because i killed the batteries

=x

wish i got more distance out of them though

I recently started using them. Did some modifications though to increase distance and reliability. Adding an antenna will give you reliable transmissions (as reliable as these things go) to about 150ft. Also use new batteries help. Before the mods they didn't always fire and sometimes where the transmitter was located in relation to the receivers played a part. As for mounting them to stands, their housing is pretty fragile so use a pc cable and hook your flashes directly to your umbrella mounts. Check the strobist discussions on flickr. There's a lot of good info on these there.