E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I dug up the one for the White Lightning series. If anythg is plugged into the sync jack- like a dummy plug or a receiver, it shuts off the photocell. If anything inserted there- pull it out and the cell will work.

This is from the page:

Slave Tripper (SLAVE cell)
The unit contains a sensitive built-in slaver tripper, which
fires the unit whenever it “sees” the light from another flash
unit or from an infrared signal. The slave tripper can be disengaged by plugging a sync cord or a blank “dummy” jack
into the sync jack/

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

This is the instruction for the Einstein units. You have to access the unit's menu to turn the cell on:

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

Thank you for this. I have an Einstein and an Alien Bee 800. I don’t think it is a problem with the lights, although attaching a sync code to one light SHOULD have triggered BOTH lights, but didn’t. I tried the sync cord to each light with the same results. The one connected fired and the other didn’t. The camera was very close to the lights, closer than it would’ve been in an actual setup.

Alternatively, I can put the small Buff transmitter on the hot shoe of the a7iii and everything works perfectly. I’ve compared the settings of the two cameras and can’t find a discrepancy. The Sony rep I called wasn’t helpful. That’s why I think this newer camera isn’t compatible so I was looking for a workaround. I guess I can never sell the older camera!!!!

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I wonder if the contact configuration on the hot shoe on the new camera is different form the contacts on the old camera and is, therefore, not triggering the Buff command unit. I also don't know why the photocells on the other lights don't respond. If the system works perfectly on the old camera there must be some incompatibility in the new one. In other words, the camera is not "talking" to the Cyber Sych. If the Cyber synch triggers all the lights when you press the open-flash button, there is no wrong with it.

Let me know!

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...The Sony rep I called wasn’t helpful. That’s why I think this newer camera isn’t compatible so I was looking for a workaround." While I don't shoot Sony I do use Paul Buff Alien Bees with a CybeSync trigger and they work flawlessly (provided the are set on the appropriate channels...) My Alien Bees have been amazing for over 12 years now.

"... I guess I can never sell the older camera!!!!" There may be hope... I've heard (heaysay not corroborated) that Sony is constantly updating it's firmware on it's newer cameras. Unlike other major camera vendors Sony appears to use it's early adapters are Beta Testers...

I appreciate you sharing your frustration with Sony kit here on UHH.
Helps me to assure I will unlikely purchase a Sony camera moving forward...
Many stories of very poor Sony Product Service and numerous incompatibles have tarnished Sony in my minds eye.

Again wishing you all the best with your kit Christina!

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I think we should wait till the OP gets back to us with the final outcome of her situation and the repair status of her trigger unit.

The fault may is not anythg camera related. It would be nice if the Sony folks know how all equipment, made by other manufacturers, interphases with their cameras but it should not necessarily be expected of them.

Some of this can be "pilot error", the photographer overlooks some setting or control function- oftentimes the manuals are not the best source of troubleshooting, especially when the system component is not of the same manufacturer. Operator error is nothing to be ashamed of. I have been involved in electronics, electronic flash specifically, for many decades. I have been an electronic flash user since 1957. I had a side-business of flash modification and custom builds for years and have been a professional photographer all of my adult life and I still make mistakes and sometimes overlook an obvious problem or error.

Trigger devices used to be simple- hard-wire, photoelectric cell, IR, or radio. Most of the triggering gear was high-end and domestically manufactured. Nowadays, the triggering devices are far more sophisticated in function but of cheaper mass-production builds. Folks are more dependent on command features and automatic TTL exposure control which adds more of Murphy's law of trigger devices and increases the occurrence of failure. Photograhers are busy trying to get all the newfangled features to work, so much so, that any troubleshooting is a major project. Without a hands-on situation, it can be impossible to provide accurate advice.

In my own case, I have OLD Pocket-Wizards radios. I have a few of the first ones that were produced and they all still work. I use them on difficult industrial sites, lots of concrete and metal walls to cause interference and they NEVER fail to synch. I have triggered lights several city blocks away. All I need are fresh batteries and the unts kept in clean working order. I set my exposures manually as per meter reading and guide numbers and never have an issue.

I have nothing against flash and trigger units imported from China. Their industrial designs are nice and you get good value for the money. If problems occur, however, I prefer domestically manufactured flash and triggering gear. I have had yeoman service from Speedotron, Pocket-Wizard, Photogenic, Quantum, and Paul C. Buff. Cameras? Up here in Canada, I have no issues reporting from Nikon and Canon.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

I will have to investigate that to see if the slave tripper is turned off via menu.

In the meantime, PCBuff contacted me that the Cyber Commander did indeed have some problems that are almost fixed. When I get it back, I will run some tests and report my findings. Fingers crossed!

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

It’s your choice to purchase whatever you want. I believe that the Sony person I dealt with on the chat was not very knowledgeable. My Sony a7iii works flawlessly with the Buff Lights which is why I think there is a setting that I have wrong in the newer camera. It has the latest firmware installed. When the defective PaulCBuff Cyber Commander is repaired and returned, I will test it with both cameras. If there is still a problem with the newer camera, I will call Sony directly which will either deny or confirm your allegation that their service department sucks.

As for me, I love my Sony cameras and lenses and would never go back to Nikon. I have no experience with Canon.

Thanks for your input.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

The Cyber Commander was returned and I have the same problem. I will be contacting Paul C Buff for better instructions. I must be doing something wrong. Thank you for all your help!

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I wish I could be of better assistance. Besides my commercial photography business, I used to be involved in a company that serviced and manufactured flash gear and have been serving and modifying all my strobes for many years.

Aside from the commander, there is no reason, unless the is a defect or malfunction in some of the unts, that the build-in photoelectric cells do no fire the off-camera strobes. Also, make sure that there is nothing plugged into the synch sockets in the off-camer strobes because according to the manuals, that would shut off the photoelectric cells.

I understand that the customer service at Buff is excellent and perhaps a telephone call with the technicians there would solve the issues.

Meanwhile- Just to help with the troubleshooting, do a few quick tests. First fire each unit with the open flash button just to make sure it is workdg at all power settings. Make sure the photo-electric cell is in direct line of sight with the wired-in light and see if each unit, separately, will fire via the cell. Make sure that all the control on the commander unt is set correctly, and those settings are on the receivers.

If you do all of this and still do not get reliable synchronization, at least you will be better able to answer all the questions when you contact Buff.

Please let me know what happens. Ed

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

OK. I will do all of that. You sound as frustrated as I am to find a solution. I will let you know.