Custom Variables
The Custom Variables menu provides access to advanced configuration options that allow the behaviour of the sensor to be fine-tuned. These variables modify timing parameters that affect how the camera is triggered, how long signals are held, and other aspects of sequence timing. For the majority of users, customising these settings is generally unnecessary.
In some cases, enabling or adjusting a Custom Variable may override standard Still or Video Mode settings, resulting in slightly different sequence timing than expected. These options are intended for advanced users who require precise control over the triggering sequence.
Accessing Custom Variables
- From the Home Screen, press and hold the Left and Right Arrow simultaneously for more than 1 second until the Custom Variables (C VAR) screen appears.
- Use the Left and Right buttons to select the desired variable number.
- Use the Up and Down buttons to select the desired variable value.
- Press Set to save the new value.
Available Custom Variables
| C Var | Description | Default Value | Adjustable Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half-Press Length (Before Full Press) – Determines how long the half-press (wake) signal is held before the full-press trigger in both still and video modes. | 0.1 s | 0.1–5.0 s (in 0.1 s steps) |
| 2 | Half-Press Length (After Full Press) – Determines how long the half-press signal is held after the full-press trigger in both still and video modes. | 0.1 s | 0.1–5.0 s (in 0.1 s steps) |
| 3 | Full-Press Duration (Still Mode) – If enabled, this overrides the full-press timing determined by the FPS setting. | — | 0.1–2.9 s (in 0.1 s steps) |
| 4 | Gap Between Full-Press Signals (Still Mode) – When Number (NUM) > 1, this defines the interval between shots. If enabled, it overrides the FPS-determined interval. | — | 0.1–15.0 s (in 0.1 s steps) |
| 5 | Full-Press Duration (Video Mode) – Defines how long the full-press signal is held when starting or maintaining a video recording. | 1.0 s | 0.1–2.9 s (in 0.1 s steps) |
| 6 | Maximum Video Length Limit – Sets an absolute maximum video recording length in minutes. This limits the total recording duration when Extend Time is enabled. | — | 1–60 min |
|
7 |
Flash Wake / Flash Fire Signals – Controls whether flash trigger signals are sent during still sequences: |
0 |
0–2 |
|
8 |
Flash Signal Channel – Sets the wireless channel (1–15) used for the Flash Wake and Flash Fire signals defined by C Var 7. This can be the same as the main trigger channel or a separate dedicated flash channel. |
— |
1–15 |
[check c var 9 removed]
Notes
- Adjusting Custom Variables can affect the timing of the camera’s wake, trigger, and release signals.
- To restore factory defaults, see the Reset to Defaults section.
Using Flash Wake and Flash Fire (C Var 7)
C Var 7 and 8 provide advanced control for managing external flashes, particularly in situations where the camera cannot wake or trigger flashes automatically. This feature is especially useful with Sony cameras, which do not send a wake signal to flashes before triggering them.
While flashes such as the Camtraptions F1 and Z2 do not require a wake signal, the Camtraptions Z Pro achieves much longer standby times by entering a low-power sleep mode. As a result, it must be woken before it can be triggered.
In such cases, the sensor can take over flash control independently:
- C Var 7 = 1: The sensor sends a 0.2 s Flash Wake signal immediately before the first camera trigger signal in any stills sequence. This wakes compatible flashes (such as the Z Pro) so that they are ready when the camera sends its normal shoot signal.
- C Var 7 = 2: The sensor sends both a Flash Wake signal before the first camera trigger signal and a Flash Fire signal after every camera trigger signal. In this configuration, the camera does not need to send any flash trigger signal—the sensor handles all flash timing directly.
The flash channel used for these signals is defined by C Var 8, which can be set between 1 and 15. This may be the same channel as the main trigger system or a separate dedicated flash channel.
The C Var 7 = 2 configuration is particularly effective for night-time photography, where long shutter speeds allow the flash to fire during the exposure window.
As long as the shutter speed is longer than the Full-Press duration, the flash will fire within the open exposure, even when the camera itself is not controlling the flash. The Full-press duration can be customised using C Var 3 so that the flash fires as quickly as possible after the camera shutter opens.
This setup provides a reliable and flexible method to trigger flashes entirely via the sensor, simplifying configurations where cameras have limited flash-control capabilities or when using off-camera flash systems in low-light environments.