Do I need a hot shoe adapter?

[staceyatkin]

I'm planning on buying an AlienBee 1600 and am wondering if I need to

purchase the hot shoe adapter so I can plug the sync cord into my

Digital Rebel 300D?

[tobiasfeltus]

yup, a Wein SafeSync is what you need.

 

t+

[drew carson]

yes or a pocket wizard

[mikeseb]

You don't need the Wein SafeSync, although it will work fine, for $50. A Nikon AS-15

hotshoe-to-PC converter will work just as well, for $19 (B&H prices). There are other

brands, all of which work with any camera/PC cord; I just happen to own the Nikon device.

 

AlienBees lights have a sync voltage of less than 6 volts which is the threshold above

which digital cameras can get fried by sync voltage.

 

The alienbees website verifies this, at

 

http://alienbees.com/b1600.html

 

Under the table of specs about mid-way down there's a link to Full Specs; there you'll find

the sync voltage listed at < 6 volts.

[skipd]

All you need is an ordinary hotshoe-to-PC adapter. You should be able to find one at a local camera store for about $10 US. You definitely do NOT need a Wein SafeSync for the 300D/AB combination.

[gluteal cleft]

To add to what others have said about not needing a safe-sync, AB sells a hotshoe adapter for $15. It's a Hama, and $15 is probably as cheap as you're going to find it anywhere, so you may as well order it from them with the light, and save yourself shipping or time driving around.