AlienBees receiver with 580EX?

redhawk

I recently purchased some AlienBees strobes as well as their least-expensive radio transmitter and receivers (RFT1RX). The receiver's strobe connection is an audio-style 1/4" or miniplug. I'm curious as to whether there is some sort of hot shoe adapter available that will allow me to use such a receiver with my 580EX Speedlite.

As a side note, after limited use I'm very pleased with the strobes and radio system thus far.

redhawk

Frightening option
I realize I could do this, but I'm looking for something less scary.

Nimai

I was planning on doing that scary thing, actually! And/or pick up a 580EX II when they're available. I know I've seen several hot shoe adapters discussed on the Strobist site, but not owning any myself, I can't remember their names.

cmason

You can always go with a shoe adaptor/PC port like this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=245292&is=REG&addedTroughType=search


no experience with it myself, but this application is what this product was created for...

redhawk

Adapters
Looking around B&H, I think I can connect the 1/4" plug from the receiver to the Wein Miniphone Plug to PC Male Sync Cord via a coupler, then attach the PC end of the cord to a Wein HSH Hot Shoe to Household Adapter.

Any thoughts on that setup?

Good luck with your flash surgery, Nimai.

LuckyBob

redhawk wrote:

Looking around B&H, I think I can connect the 1/4" plug from the receiver to the Wein Miniphone Plug to PC Male Sync Cord via a coupler, then attach the PC end of the cord to a Wein HSH Hot Shoe to Household Adapter.

Any thoughts on that setup?

Good luck with your flash surgery, Nimai.

Sounds good, but I think there's one minor flaw. The cable you specified above has a PC connection, not a household style connection - you'd need something like the adapter cmason posted, although you wouldn't need the safe sync voltage version (much cheaper).

The other route you could take (since PC connections are unreliable) would be to use the hotshoe to household adapter you mentioned in the quoted post, head over to Radio Shack and pick up a 1/4" female jack and a two-prong AC extension cord (or use one you've got lying around). You could basically make the adapter cable listed above to fit between the hotshoe adapter and the wireless reciever above, using the household plugs for a secure connection.

Art Scott

Redhawk.....Paul Buff is a very nice man......I have called and talked to his people many times when I first bought my white lightening set up and have talked them several more times over the last 15 - 20 yrs.....either email or call him and ask what he recommends....what you may need to do is to build a cable adapter....You said the connection was a 1/4" or a mini...that is 2 different size connetors....did you mean it comes with both a 1/4 inch and also an adapter to down size to a mini.......

here is a suggestion....go to electonics store (RS will work...I am just not a fan of them ) you will need a 1/4 inch female plug......go to a camera store that has some used flash cables and purchase a short one with the male pc connector on one end....cut off the end that would plug into the flash....now solder this to the 1/4" female and shrink tube the wire and connector...make sure you have the polarity correct and your ready to go......
You should be able to do this for less than 10.00 the hot shoe adapter may cost you upto $10....

Now the reason I said to call or email Paul Buff is he may have one to sell you or may have a better way for you to build it.......

I always call them when I have any ?'s about hteir products and have always gotten fast friendly replies............

Good luck

Blurmore

None of the listed solutions will maintain TTL operation for the 580ex. I would also highly contend the stated "unreliability" of PC connections. I use PC to connect my 30D to a Quantum radioslave and never miss a flash (due to the PC). Paramount cords http://www.paramountcords.com/ttl.asp will modify your off shoe cord 2 and include a PC or hotshoe connection to attach a radio slave. The AB slaves look curiously like those available on Ebay for about the same price point. That is not to say that they won't/don't work, but I wouldn't expect the range or reliability (especially in a RF heavy environment) of a pocket wizard or quantum slave system.

redhawk

Listed wrong adapter
Thanks to LuckyBob, Art, and Blurmore; I appreciate your feedback.

Random responses:

As you noticed, I listed the wrong type of adapter in my hypothetical setup. I should have listed (for instance) the Hama Hot Shoe Adapter, which includes a PC connection ($15).

The receiver has a 1/4" plug, but it also came with an adapter (which likely won't figure into the equation).

I know the set is similar to those found on eBay, but I paid 80% less per item and so far I've had a 1:1 trigger-to-flash ratio.

I agree with Art about Paul Buff's business. The products I bought have been solid (so far), and any contact I've had with his folks has been positive. Giving AlienBees a call is probably the best option at this point.

Thanks again.

redhawk

Frustration
I wound up with the Wein HSH Hot Shoe To Household Adapter. I purchased a household plug from Home Depot and some various female 1/4" connections from Radio Shack. I wired together the female audio plug to the household plug, but could never get it to fire consistently.

When I made the contacts between the tip and shaft of the 1/4" plug coming off of the receiver and the wires leading into the household plug, everything worked. But when I actually plugged the 1/4" units together, the Speedlite would start randomly firing. Things just didn't line up inside the "audio" (1/4") connection. I tried four different 1/4" connections and even some miniplug connectors with the same result.

So my Wein adapter purchase wouldn't be a total bust, I ordered a Paramount 3' Coiled Sync Cord, Household (AC) to Hotshoe. At least that will enable me to get my 580 off the camera.

As for my studio setup, I think I'll just get an additional AlienBees unit. It's easier to set the power on a strobe, and they make a variety of modifiers I'm interested in.

Thanks again for your feedback.

Blurmore

redhawk wrote:

I

So my Wein adapter purchase wouldn't be a total bust, I ordered a Paramount 3' Coiled Sync Cord, Household (AC) to Hotshoe. At least that will enable me to get my 580 off the camera.


Thanks again for your feedback.

You might as well use a 50 dollar Vivitar 283 off camera with this setup, as it is more powerful than a 580ex and you've lost TTL control anyway. No sense in using a 400 dollar flash to do the work of a 50 dollar flash.