AC9 AlienBees Adapter
| Next recommended reading: MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 |
Contents
Adapter for Paul C. Buff lighting systems.
The AC9 AlienBees Adapter paired with a FlexTT5™ Transceiver enables remote power control of AlienBees or White Lightning flash. With a MiniTT1™ Transmitter or FlexTT5™ Transceiver on your camera, you can now adjust the power settings on your AlienBees or White Lightning flashes from the camera’s position. Add the AC3 ZoneController and you can control three different groups of lights in 1/3-stop increments with a six-stop range. Utilize PocketWizard’s unique features such as HyperSync™ and Optimized Rear Curtain Sync for maximum control of your lighting.
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Using your AC9
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Make sure all your radios are set to the same PocketWizard ControlTL channel. For more information on Channels, see our Channels wiki page.
1. Slide the AC9 onto your remote FlexTT5 and connect the REMOTE cable from the AC9 to the flash.
2. Turn on the flash first, then the remote FlexTT5 radio. If this order is reversed, the flash may not trigger properly. The AC9’s Status LED blinks green occasionally to indicate normal operation.
3. Turn on the modeling light and set it to Cycle or Ready mode as desired, and disable the optical slave by inserting a plug or adapter into the sync port. Power level will be set by the AC9.
4. Set up your camera and PocketWizard ControlTL transmitter.
5. Take pictures.
6. Adjust the Camera’s Flash Exposure Compensation (FEC) to adjust the output power of your remote flash. See the Camera FEC Range and Basic Power Control sections for more information on FEC.
Note: The AC9 overrides flash power output settings you make directly on your flash. If you wish to control the flash from its control panel, then you need to disconnect the REMOTE cord and connect a regular sync cord from the P2 port on your FlexTT5 to your flash.
Important: The AC9 will only work with a transmitting ControlTL radio in the hot shoe of a compatible camera. The AC9 will NOT work in Basic Trigger Mode. If you wish to use your receiving FlexTT5 in Basic Trigger Mode, please use a cable.
ControlTL
PocketWizard’s newest firmware platform taps into the camera’s digital communications to enable an entirely new level of remote flash capability through our proven radio system. ControlTL allows for remote Manual Power Control of your AlienBees or White Lightning flashes. ControlTL firmware is configurable and upgradeable for “future-proof” continuous improvement.
Manual Power Control
Adjust the manual power settings of your remote AlienBees flash directly from a AC3 ZoneController, or master flash mounted on your on-camera MiniTT1 or FlexTT5. You can independently control the power output of up to three remote groups of lights (you can have as many lights in each group as you want) from full power down to the lowest setting through the user interface on the back of the master flash or with the dials of the AC3 ZoneController. Now you can work with total control with your remote lights, without leaving your shooting position.
HyperSync
Our patent pending HyperSync® technology allows photographers to achieve faster X-sync speeds with full power flash. That extra speed can be used to freeze action or cut ambient light - both of which can produce results never possible before. HyperSync works automatically with the AC9 and FlexTT5 in conjunction with your AlienBees or White Lightning flash. All you need is a MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 on camera to gain the benefits of HyperSync. While performance varies by the camera and flash equipment being used, HyperSync will get the maximum possible out of any configuration.
PowerTracking
When engaged, any changes to aperture and ISO on your camera are automatically tracked by your remote flash output power to maintain the current exposure level. For example, if you open the aperture on your camera by one stop, then the power output level on your remote flash will decrease by one stop.
Basic Power Control
With only a MiniTT1® or FlexTT5® on your camera, your camera’s FEC (Flash Exposure Compensation) control will adjust your flash power output level for all your AC9-connected flashes as shown in the table below:
| AlienBees, White Lightning, Zeus Power Output Settings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Camera FEC/EC - or - AC3 Power Dial in Manual |
Most Models | White Lightning X800, X1600 & X3200 Only; Low Range Mode |
| +3 | 1/1 | 1/4 |
| +2.7 | 1/2 + 0.7 | 1/8 + 0.7 |
| +2.3 | 1/2 + 0.3 | 1/8 + 0.3 |
| +2 | 1/2 | 1/8 |
| +1.7 | 1/4 + 0.7 | 1/16th + 0.7 |
| +1.3 | 1/4 + 0.3 | 1/16 + 0.3 |
| +1 | 1/4 | 1/16 |
| +0.7 | 1/8 + 0.7 | 1/32 + 0.7 |
| +0.3 | 1/8 +0.3 | 1/32 + 0.3 |
| 0 | 1/8 | 1/32 |
| -0.3 | 1/16 + 0.7 | 1/64 + 0.7 |
| -0.7 | 1/16 + 0.3 | 1/64 + 0.3 |
| -1 | 1/16 | 1/64 |
| -1.3 | 1/32 + 0.7 | 1/128 + 0.7 |
| -1.7 | 1/32 + 0.3 | 1/128 + 0.3 |
| -2 | 1/32 | 1/128 |
| -2.3 | 1/32 | 1/128 |
| -2.7 | 1/32 | 1/128 |
| -3 | 1/32 | 1/128 |
| Nikon Only |
| Canon Only |
FEC. For example, if your first picture was at ISO 200, and you adjusted ISO down to 100, your flash power level would be 1 stop brighter for all FEC settings. This operation assumes PowerTracking is set to Full Manual in the PocketWizard Utility which is the default.You can use any PocketWizard receiving radios together in the same exposure, including other ControlTL radios. Remember that studio and manual flash output will not be calculated as part of an E-TTL / i-TTL exposure.
ControlTL® Center Point
The center point for all ControlTL operations, including Basic Power Control, PowerTracking, or when using an AC3 ZoneController, is 3 stops down from your flash’s maximum. For example, in Basic Power Control, this means 0 on your camera’s FEC equals 1/8 on your flash and FEC +3 equals 1/1 (full power). This setting may be customized using the PocketWizard Utility under the PowerTracking tab to place the center point anywhere within the flash’s 5 stop range.
Camera FEC Range and Basic Power Control
You can change the center point to better match your camera’s FEC range. Adjust the AC9 Flash Exposure Compensation control in the PocketWizard Utility for each FlexTT5 with ACP to better align your camera’s FEC with the flash’s 5 stop range. See the PocketWizard Utility FlexTT5® Receiver settings section for more information.
This setting must be configured on each receiving FlexTT5 radio. Adjusting it on a transmitting FlexTT5 has no effect on your remote flash’s power output level.
| Camera FEC Range | Maximum remote AC9 power level available using default settings | Minimum remote AC9 power level available using default settings | Set each AC9 FEC so camera maximum FEC equals flash maximum output power | Set each AC9 FEC so camera minimum FEC equals flash minimum output power |
| Canon +3/ -3 | 1/1 at FEC +3 | 1/32 at FEC -2 through -3 | 0 | 0 |
| Canon +2/ -2 | 1/2 at FEC +2 | 1/32 at FEC -2 | +1 | 0 |
| Nikon +1/ -3 | 1/4 at FEC +1 | 1/32 at FEC -2 through -3 | +2 | -1 |
Requirements
The FlexTT5 for Canon requires AC9-C / FlexTT5 for Nikon requires AC9-N.
The AC9 AlienBees Adapter requires a receiving FlexTT5, a transmitting PocketWizard ControlTL radio such as a MiniTT1 or FlexTT5, and a compatible Paul C. Buff flash with a REMOTE terminal.
Compatibility
| AC9 AlienBees Adapter Compatiblity | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlienBees | White Lightning | Zeus | UltraZAP | Ultra |
| B400 | X800 | Z1250 | UZ800 | Ultra600 |
| B800 | X1600 | Z2500 | UZ1600 | Ultra1200 |
| B1600 | X2400 | Ultra1800 | ||
| ABR800 | X3200 | |||
Specifications
Temperature
Operating Temperature: Above -15° C (5° F) and below 50° C (120° F)
Storage Temperature: Above -30° C (-22° F) and below 85° C (185° F)
