Strobes - Is this all I will need?

I'm finally ready to order a set of strobes. I've done a lot of research thanks to this site and think I know exactly what I need to order. Sometimes thinking gets me in trouble. I'm using this stuff with a Rebel XT and plan to use it to learn and experiment for now. Maybe portraits for friends and family once I learn a lot more about lighting.

Here is what I plan on ordering. It's the alienbees 2x AB400 "kit" with some additional items. I realize this setup is probably a bit much but I'd rather order everything at once than order one light now and a second light later.

-Alien Bees digibee kit (2 AB400 lights, 2 10' stands, shoot through umbrella, reflective umbrella)
-Large softbox
-13' "heavy duty" light stand (they say it's required to support the light w/ the softbox)
-Hot shoe adapter (no PC plug in the XT )
-mounting bracket for reflector kit (might as well use the 3rd stand for something, I have reflectors and it's only $25 extra)

Is there anything else that I need to make the setup work? Background(s) will come from another place.

Sounds like you got it pretty much covered.

I would get the radio flash trigger transmitter... is that what you mean by the hot-shoe adapter?

I would also consider getting the 800's if your budget allows... the extra power will be nice to have down the road. You can always turn them down, but you can't turn them up...

Sounds like your on the right track, I just got my AB in today and I think it's great. If I was you and can afford the extra $55 I would upgrade one of the 400's to an 800. I can see that having a 400 can be useful. Also if you can afford it down the road you can ship them your 400's and they will upgrade them to the 880's and or 1600 for the price diffrence + $15. Great company

Kristy wrote in post #2904518
I would get the radio flash trigger transmitter... is that what you mean by the hot-shoe adapter?

I was thinking just the adapter that slides in the hot shoe and has a PC port for the wire to the strobe.

I was looking at the wireless setup and considered it but for now I'm going to stick with the plain adapter. My $500 order already creeped up to over $800 with the extra stuff I added. That's how it always works, right?

if you use your EF 500 DG Super in manual mode, you can trigger the optical triggers with it. so thats always nice. but i agree with getting the B800s

darkvibe wrote in post #2904748
I was thinking just the adapter that slides in the hot shoe and has a PC port for the wire to the strobe.

I was looking at the wireless setup and considered it but for now I'm going to stick with the plain adapter. My $500 order already creeped up to over $800 with the extra stuff I added. That's how it always works, right?

Go with a cord first. So buy that hotshoe to PC adapter for your cameras hotshoe. The inexpensive one that Alien Bee sells is fine.

If you are new at this, get a stable setup with a reliable cord going, then if you want add the radio slaves later.

The radio slaves insert a layer of complexity and unreliability that new users just do not need.

Enjoy! Lon

Thank you for the advice. I'm going to go with the overwhelming majority and upgrade both lights to the AB800 model when I order.

thanks again
-Jeff