Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hello everybody.
I'm planning to order my first lighting system. In order to buy the correct equipment i have few questions regarding triggering the einstein flash.

I currently have a Nikon D90 so no PC cord connection. I have found some info about the hot shoe adapter, and i think that i will need one but i don't know which one ("Hot Shoe Adaptor" or the "Speed Light Foot Adapter") from this page http://www.alienbees.com/parts.html
can you please tell me what is the difference? I also have nikon sb-900 but i don't think that i will use it at the same time with the einstein, but who knows maybe i will use it some day on the top of my camera together with the einstein system. What is the appropriate hot shoe for my needs?

My second question is concerning the "Cyber Commander". Will it be able to trigger my einstein flashes if it is mounted on the nikon d90+hot shoe adapter? Or it is used only as a remote to control the settings of the flash units + meter reading. Will i need to buy any other transmitter to trigger my flash or flashes? Or can i simply attach the Cyber Commander to my camera hot shoe and start firing my einsteins with CSXCV on them.

I think that's all.
Thank you in advance.

So, either the CST or the Cybercommander will work as a trigger from your D90 hotshoe, and trigger the Einsteins with the CSXCVs installed. I have a D90, Einsteins, a CST, a CC, and the CSXCVs

The CyberCommander (CC) will work in the hotshoe, but many of us find that it is harder to operate it when there. Being redundancy minded, I have a CST which I use on the D90 to trigger the lights, and I rigged a lanyard on the CC to use it as a handheld controller for the Einsteins. It also has a light meter (which I use as a back up to my Sekonic).

This has the advantage of the small CST mounted on the D90, the CC in my hand where it is easier to operate, and the CC can act as a backup trigger on the D90 should the CST fail during a shoot (battery dies, etc).

I don't think you should need a hotshoe adapter at all. If you decide sometime that you want to add your SB900 to your radio-triggered setup, you can buy one of the CSRB units to act as a receiver for your SB900, and it will have the PC connector. The CSRB ships with cords--a bit of velcro, a bungee, or some gaffer tape, the CSRB mounts to the SB900, connect the cord, set the channel to match your CST, and voila!

If you had an SB600, which does NOT have the PC connector, then you would need to buy the appropriate hotshoe adapter to attach to your SB600, so you could connect a CSRB to it. (I have SB600s, and an SB800). Only the SB600 needs the hotshoe adapter. I am pretty sure that your SB900 has a PC connection.

Thank you for your great advice. Really had a pleasure reading your reply.
So at the moment i will order 1xVML, 2x or 1x Einsteins, 1x cyber commander, 2x or 1xCSXCVs plus bags and light modifiers. The CST will wait for the moment because of the tight budget.

I'm living in Moldova a small country in eastern Europe, and i have asked a friend who lives in U.S.A. to order my equipment for me and bring it next time when he will be on holidays or ask someone to deliver them to me. Maybe he will charge some extra $$$ for delivery, that's why i'm note sure about ordering one or two flashes with triggers at the moment.
Anyway i know that i will also need a 220v to 110v since we have 220v in Moldova.

Hmm while writing that, one more question was born.
I'm planning to use my einsteins most of the time outdoors. Even if i will use them indoors i think that i will power them with the VLM.
So i would like to know if the VLM charger accepts 110-220 as my iPhone 2g charger did back in 2007 or i will need a converter? Because iphone wall charger accepted both 110v and 200v so all i was need to buy was a 1$ adapter as this one

The Einstein can run from 120V or 240V mains (with the correct cord, available at most computer stores). VML (120 or 230V version) can charge from either power source as well, ony an adapter as you show or a full cord is necessary.

Wow! :shock: That's great. 8-)
Really happy with that news. Hope i will get my flashes as soon as possible.