Help with setting up strobe config

Hi all,

I'm trying to configure a strobing setup and need your assistance. I have a 40D, 580EXII, and a 420EX. I also have the new Alien Bee Battery-Powered Receivers (x2), and one AB transmitter.

- The transmitter will obviously go on the camera
- One receiver on the 580EXII (direct connect to the on board port the 580EXII has).

- Second transceiver will go with the 420EX... Now here is my question: Since the 420EX does not have an on-board port like the 580EXII, I will need some kind of shoe mount. I know that much... But which shoe mount and cord do I need?

B&H has the following two, which it claims neither one is for DSLR...

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …TTL_Hot_Shoe_Ad​apter.html

and

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ra_Shoe_Adapter​_OA_2.html

Can someone please point me to the right shoe adapter (and possibly cord) so I can get the 420EX working?

Thanks in advance.

- Daniel

I would think you would need a simple connector that allows the AB receiver to connect to it. It doesn't have to be a Canon connector (that alone will save you money). Something similar to this - http://www.flashzebra.​com/radiocables/hotsho​e.shtml - which I see is temporarily out of stock.....and assuming it will work with the 420EX, which isn't mentioned.

Do you actually have the AB receivers? Or have you pre-ordered? I am about ready to upgrade my old RFT1s or whatever they were called.

Titus213 wrote in post #5866041
I would think you would need a simple connector that allows the AB receiver to connect to it. It doesn't have to be a Canon connector (that alone will save you money). Something similar to this - http://www.flashzebra.​com/radiocables/hotsho​e.shtml - which I see is temporarily out of stock.....and assuming it will work with the 420EX, which isn't mentioned.

Do you actually have the AB receivers? Or have you pre-ordered? I am about ready to upgrade my old RFT1s or whatever they were called.

Thanks. No I don't have the receivers yet. I pre-ordered them and they should be shipping out sometime this week hopefully (according to AB's website).

So much hassle to get that 420 working. I'm almost tempted to just sell it and get another 580EXII

You shouldn't have much trouble selling it but the 580EX II is a big price jump.

Titus213 wrote in post #5866631
You shouldn't have much trouble selling it but the 580EX II is a big price jump.

True, that's why I'm trying to sort this out, but can't figure out the type of shoe mount I need for the life of me

The 420EX will not be very satisfying with the radio sets. You will be able to use manual mode, and the 420EX will fire in manual mode, but only at full power (no on flash power control).

Enjoy! Lon

How about a 430EX? Not as spendy as the 580EX II and does manual mode.

FlashZebra wrote in post #5866941
The 420EX will not be very satisfying with the radio sets. You will be able to use manual mode, and the 420EX will fire in manual mode, but only at full power (no on flash power control).

Enjoy! Lon

I knew there was something about the 420EX that would cause more trouble...probably why it's not listed on your site, huh?

FlashZebra wrote in post #5866941
The 420EX will not be very satisfying with the radio sets. You will be able to use manual mode, and the 420EX will fire in manual mode, but only at full power (no on flash power control).

Enjoy! Lon

Thanks for the tip. I realized something wasn't going to work as planned. When I took it out of the box I couldn't adjust the power on it. I think I'll put it up for sale and pick up 430 instead.

Thanks for the tip. Although I'm still looking for the right shoe mount.

I can't help with a connection for the 420EX, but with no manual control I don't think you would want to use it anyway. If you are shooting ETTL wusing it as a slave to the 580 or an ST-E2 the 420 will work as a second light. I'd sell it and, forgive me all, buy a Nikon SB800, cheaper than another 580EX II and not much more than a 430, the SB800 is a better strobe besides , it will also slave to any other flash with a build in optical slave. You might even look on ebay a used Nikon SB-26.

Jack

The 420 will fire as a slave and the 580 as the master will trigger it. You can always hardwire your camera to the 580 and fire the 420 that way. All you need is THIS as long as you don't mind being tethered to the 580.
As stated though, it(420) will only fire at 100%. I use a Stofen on my 420 and distancing or bouncing to control the amount of light I get from it.

Thanks guys.

I've just listed the 420 for sale in the classified section. I'm now looking at either the 430, or maybe even the SB-800 as AB8ND suggested.

I'm also entertaining the hardwire hack posted here on the forum to create a built in port like the 580EX II and SB800 have.

Thanks guys

Why hack it and risk damage when you can buy an adapter at a reasonable price?
http://flashzebra.com/​hotshoes-shoes/0065.shtml

Shutterbug Doug wrote in post #5871241
Why hack it and risk damage when you can buy an adapter at a reasonable price?
http://flashzebra.com/​hotshoes-shoes/0065.shtml

THERE YOU GO!

That's what I was looking for!

Thanks!

No problem.
I noticed you have the 40D so to use that you'll probably need this cable. Your 40D is like my 30D and 1DmkII and uses a screwlock pc connector.I looked for a screwlock adapter block but that is the only one they have. I use the screwlock to screwlock cable since my 580EX II has a screwlock port.

Shutterbug Doug wrote in post #5871644
No problem.
I noticed you have the 40D so to use that you'll probably need this cable. Your 40D is like my 30D and 1DmkII and uses a screwlock pc connector.I looked for a screwlock adapter block but that is the only one they have. I use the screwlock to screwlock cable since my 580EX II has a screwlock port.

I'll be using the new Alien Bee radio triggering system which comes with a PC cable, but thanks for the heads up!