Connecting the flash unit to your camera: Each AlienBees™ flash unit arrives with the
ABSC standard 15-foot sync cord for hardwired connection to your camera. The cord connects to the flash unit on the unit’s back control panel (1/8-inch sync plug), then connects to your camera’s PC-sync outlet. This outlet may be labeled “PC sync,” “PC terminal,” “X-sync socket,” “external flash connector,” or “flash sync terminal” – the label varies by camera manufacturer. If your specific camera does not have a PC outlet, we offer a
hot shoe adapter that fits in the standard ISO hot shoe of most cameras to enable PC-connection.
For additional flash/camera synchronization options, see the information below about remote controls.
Light Stands: Each AlienBees flash unit must be securely mounted to a light stand for use. The stand mount is compatible with all Paul C. Buff light stands as well as most standard light stands having top couplers up to 5/8-inch.
Portable Power: For portable, battery power we recommend the use of our
Vagabond Portable Power Systems.
Remote Controls: The AlienBees units may be used with our
CyberSync system (compatible with both the CST transmitter and the Cyber Commander). As the AlienBees are generation one Paul C. Buff lights, they may be used with either the
CSR,
CSRB,
CSR+ and/or
CSRB+ receivers, but not the CSXCV transceiver. The units may additionally be used with the
LG4X wired remote control as well as older Paul C. Buff remotes incorporating the telephone cord connection (such as the retired RR1 RadioRemote One). The units are compatible with most other third party triggering receivers (such as the PocketWizard®). A 1/8-inch to 1/8-inch non-attenuated mini male mono cord such as our
CSSC is required to connect the receiver to the AlienBees unit.
PLM™ and
Umbrellas: Each AlienBees unit has an umbrella shaft that runs along the top length of the unit housing, fitting standard umbrella poles up to 3/8-inch in diameter. It may be used with the PLM system (both the current model and previous models) as well as retired Paul C. Buff umbrellas. The PLM™ system's on-axis speedring mount may be used as well.
Softboxes and
Octaboxes: The faceplate on each AlienBees unit has four holding fingers that expand and contract to hold speedrings for softbox and octabox attachment. The unit may be used with any of our foldable softboxes, octaboxes or stripbox as well as retired models of Paul C. Buff softboxes and octaboxes. When using softboxes by other manufacturers, you will need to get a Paul C. Buff compatible speedring.
Reflectors: The four holding fingers on the faceplate also expand and contract to hold various reflectors. Each AlienBees unit arrives with our
7AB/R 7-inch silver reflector for general use and is additionally compatible with our
8.5HOR 8.5-inch high-output silver reflector, the
11LTR 11-inch long-throw reflector, the
22HOBD and
22HOBD-W beauty dishes, the
UBR background reflector and the
7UR reflector. The
UMF LiteMod Unit Mainframe (and its associated accessories) may also be used. If you wish to use honeycomb grids, the
7-inch grids (HG10, HG20, HG30, HG40 and the HG4X set) are compatible with the supplied 7-inch reflector.
Gels and Filters: Our standard gels and filters (
CF6,
CF20,
WF6,
UV6,
DF6 and
ND6) may all be used with AlienBees units, used with the
LiteMod system or with the
7-inch reflector using small nylon clips.
Travel Gear: One AlienBees unit can be carried in our
PCBBAG Paul C. Buff carrying bag (with the shipping cover, reflector, cords and room for other small accessories). For consideration of travel cases from other manufacturers, the AlienBees dimensions are 8.5" length (including the shipping cover) x 7.875" height (from the top of the umbrella screw to the bottom of the light stand top coupler, folded back underneath the unit) x 5.75" width.
Replacing AlienBees Components: For future replacement needs, the flashtube used in each AlienBees unit is the
AWFT14MMUV flashtube. This is a user-replaceable tube arriving with instructions for replacement. The modeling lamp used in the unit is the
150W modeling lamp, also user-replaceable. While other flashtubes may not be substituted, other wattage modeling lamps may be used with the AlienBees if a lower wattage bulb is desired. The bulb must have a standard, medium Edison-type base and may not exceed 150 watts.