Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

The E640 and V-Mini are a great combination for outdoor seniors and sports T&I in locations where shade is not available. The Cyber Sync system is extremely reliable outdoors, but the CC is hard to read in direct sun and it does not supply % of flash readings, so I decided to try the PW MC2 and the Sekonic L478DR. I was surprised to find the reliable operating range of this combination to be around ten feet or less when outdoors. I tried three E640s and four MC2s all with the latest firmware all with the same result. When a PW Flex or Mini plus the AC3 is controlling the light, I had a range of over thirty feet. This lead me to call Sekonic, and to their credit, they replaced the L478 without question. The new unit arrived with the exact same result, eight to ten feet at best. The 478 will trigger a Flex and a speed light at a much greater distance, but the E640/MC2 combination is a no go with the L478.

I guess this post is more of a question to others who may be using this combination, are you having a similar issue?

Richard K.

I have toyed with the combo, with very similar results. Perhaps I was in a perfect storm with the 300MHz frequency, but I got about 25' max (line of sight) with the Sekonic, and 200' with Cyber Commander (at which point I ran out of room).

Incidentally, have you tried increasing screen brightness on the CyberCommander?

TS,

Thanks for the reply. I would kill to get twenty five feet from the L478DR. The problem I described is made worse because you can trigger the light at a distance that is greater than you can control it. In other words, you meter with the 478 and get f8. Reduce the power and you still get f8, reduce it further, still f8. Walk over to the light and find it hasn't moved from 640 wS. The reliable operating range is even less with modifiers on the light. It's hard to look cool when you are fighting with gear.

Yes, I tried raising the CC screen brightness, but it is still difficult to see. The solution I am using now is a Sekonic L758DR with the new CTL radio module and a Mini TT plus AC3 to control the E640 / MC2.

I would add that I always use the Buff CC system indoors. I have found it to be 100% reliable and accurate in this service.

Thanks Again,
Richard K.