AlienBee and 580EX II speedlight

I'm just getting into lighting...
Can I use the AlienBee Radio Flash Trigger to fire my 580EX II speedlight? Do I just get a mini-plug to PC adapter to use on the receiver?

Thanks in advance,
Dan

Dan,

The newest version of the Alien Bee Radio Flash Trigger Receiver is AC powered.

That would not be very convenient to a battery powered flash. But it would work.

An inexpensive radio slave that is battery powered would be far more appropriate.

I think the Alien Bee unit has a 1/4" phone plug and is shipped with an adapter to take it to a miniphone plug (so the same unit can be used on both AB and White Lighting flash units).

So, to avoid using two adapters, it is likely one adapter with a 1/4" phone jack (female) on one end and a male PC (or Screwlock PC) on the other would be the best approach.

The 580-EX II will accept a Screwlock PC connector that is more reliable than a standard PC connector.

Enjoy! Lon

The 580EX II will work with an optical slave connected to its PC socket (not with a hotshoe adapter). Indoors, this option will be much less expensive than a radio set of any kind.

Any Optical slave with a PC socket and a short cord with a PC male connector on each end will do the trick.