I'm "wireless stupid"... help me use my 430EX as a hairlight, please.

[Kim22]

I have Alien Bees that I use in my studio, but sometimes with little munchkins it would be more handy to be able to use my 430EX as a hairlight instead of one of my strobes (too hard to hide sometimes).

What are my options for making this work? I know the ST-E2 is an option, but I'd love something cheaper. I also read on here somewhere that using a Vivitar 283 or 285 or Sunpak 383 could work as hairlights, too, but I'd still need something to help them "see" the light from my strobe, right? (In which case I wouldn't buy one because I've already got my 430.)

Please help me. I'm so confused. :confused:

ETA: Links and spam greatly appreciated! LOL!

[jcolman]

A simple photo light trigger would work just fine. I have one that I bought over 20 years ago and it still works.

[Kim22]

A simple photo light trigger would work just fine. I have one that I bought over 20 years ago and it still works.

Can you give a link to where I could find something specific that would work for me? Pretty please? :D (I'm sure if I searched for "photo light trigger" I'd get a million hits and not know which one would work for this. KWIM?)

[TheHoff]

Here ya go

http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Flash/Lighting&cat2=Slaves&cat3=Flash%20Activated%20Slaves&feature2=Hotshoe&sf=Price

[Curtis N]

A simple photo light trigger would work just fine. I have one that I bought over 20 years ago and it still works.Not on the 430EX.

Optical slaves, which work fine for most hotshoe flash units, do not work properly on EX series Speedlites (except the PC socket of the 580EX II).

The easiest way to incorporate the 430EX into a studio setup would be to get a hotshoe adapter for it and fire it using the same cord or radio system you're using to fire the AlienBees. The Bees will fire with their built-in slaves.

[Kim22]

The easiest way to incorporate the 430EX into a studio setup would be to get a hotshoe adapter for it and fire it using the same cord or radio system you're using to fire the AlienBees. The Bees will fire with their built-in slaves.

Something like this (http://cgi.ebay.com/PC-Sync-Hot-Shoe-Adapter-for-Canon-580EX-550EX-430EX_W0QQitemZ140236639853QQihZ004QQcategoryZ3008 4QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)?

[Curtis N]

Something like this (http://cgi.ebay.com/PC-Sync-Hot-Shoe-Adapter-for-Canon-580EX-550EX-430EX_W0QQitemZ140236639853QQihZ004QQcategoryZ3008 4QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)?That will work if you have a PC cord with a male PC connector on both ends. Try http://flashzebra.com for those accessories.

[Kim22]

That will work if you have a PC cord with a male PC connector on both ends. Try http://flashzebra.com for those accessories.

Like this (http://flashzebra.com/fivemetersync/alienbee.shtml)? (I have 3-4 of those.)

[Curtis N]

Like this (http://flashzebra.com/fivemetersync/alienbee.shtml)? (I have 3-4 of those.)That's the sync cord that comes with the Alienbees. It has a male PC connector on one end and a male 1/8" miniplug on the other.

If you connect two of them together with one of these (http://www.flashzebra.com/opticalslaves/0076.shtml), you could use them to connect the camera to the hotshoe adapter you mentioned earlier.

But I think a better solution would be a hotshoe adapter like this (http://www.flashzebra.com/hotshoes-shoes/0067.shtml) that will connect to that cord.

[jcolman]

Not on the 430EX.

Optical slaves, which work fine for most hotshoe flash units, do not work properly on EX series Speedlites (except the PC socket of the 580EX II).

The easiest way to incorporate the 430EX into a studio setup would be to get a hotshoe adapter for it and fire it using the same cord or radio system you're using to fire the AlienBees. The Bees will fire with their built-in slaves. Really? I figured that any hot shoe flash would work with an optical slave. Thanks for setting me straight.

[Kim22]

I really appreciate the help with this! Thanks so much!

I trigger my ABs with a cheapo $20ish Ebay wireless thing. It's connected to my main light. Could I connect that to my 430EX with any of the gizmos you linked to above? (Sorry for all the dumb questions. And, I'm really sorry if you've already answered this for someone before... I promise I searched and couldn't find what I needed.)

Curtis- I'm not too far from you. I'm at the WI/IL border in southeastern WI. :D

[Curtis N]

I trigger my ABs with a cheapo $20ish Ebay wireless thing. It's connected to my main light. Could I connect that to my 430EX with any of the gizmos you linked to above?Probably. There have been some issues with the cheap radio triggers and EX Speedlites, but it's worth a try.

This hotshoe adapter has the same connector that the Alienbees have.
http://www.flashzebra.com/hotshoes-shoes/0067.shtml