Question: Syncing an XTi with a ABR800

[Vitruvius]

Right now I'm heavily considering getting the ABR800 to go with my set of flashes.

My question though is how I can sync this up with my current set up without running the bill up much higher.

I have a set of 3 PW pII's, 2 Sunpak 383s and other various stands and light modifiers to accompany them.

What I don't want to do it have to buy another PW to trigger the flash.

Unfortunately the XTi does not have a pc port so I only have the hotshoe to work with. Is it possible to connect the ABR800 to a pc port modifier on the hotshoe and use the hotshoe for the PW?

Something like this? http://flashzebra.com/hotshoes-shoes/0064.shtml

Or if not what are other ways I could do this?

[Curtis N]

One of those adapters will work to connect a PC cord to your camera. And you could mount the PW transmitter on it while firing another unit via the PC cord.

If you're using one or both Sunpaks, the ABR800 will fire with its built-in optical slave so no sync connection will be required.

You may need another PW if you want to use all three units outdoors, where optical slaves don't work well.

[Vitruvius]

Yeah I was figuring worse comes to worse there is the optical slave, but to connect all 3 to fire without the optical slave,

would it work to have PWs on both sunpaks and connect the ringflash to the hotshoe using the adapter with the PW transmitter on top of the adpater to fire the sunpaks?

It seems like it could be used for the hotshoe and pc sync at the same time but I could be wrong.

[Curtis N]

would it work to have PWs on both sunpaks and connect the ringflash to the hotshoe using the adapter with the PW transmitter on top of the adpater to fire the sunpaks?Sure. If you insist on doing it the hard way.

You refer to the optical slave as if it is somehow an inferior option. Indoors, it's extremely reliable and pretty much idiot-proof. Don't make things more difficult than they need to be. Monolights are made with optical slaves so you only need one sync cord or receiver.

[kuanyu]

The flash adaptor will work with the XTi and PWs

[Vitruvius]

Yeah I wasn't really thinking of the optical flash as a primary mode of syncing before although, inside, your right it should be more than fine. More likely than not I will be using the optical slave. But for 15 bucks if I can guarantee it will go off if I do end up outside I would like to have the option.

[Curtis N]

It's always good to have options.