Need educated Information on Flash Units

Art Scott

As soon as some of my Konica Minolta equipemt starts to sell off I need to purchase new flash units for my D300's.

I am looking heavily at the Sigma DG530 Super's opposed to the much more expensive Nikon SB900.

I would like to have your knowledge so that i can make an educated purchase on this subject.

THANX IN ADVANCE!!!

ziggy53

I am the Sigma EF 500 DG Super "fanboy" and, while I own 2 of the Canon E-TTL II version, I read that the Nikon i-TTL version is authentic and faithful to the Nikon i-TTL functions. User reviews are also predominantly positive.

I will probably upgrade to the 530 version when I need to but, for now, the 500 series is serving me well.

Art Scott

You da man ziggy......

ziggy53 wrote:

I am the Sigma EF 500 DG Super "fanboy"
YOU DA MAN ZIGGYbowbow


and, while I own 2 of the Canon E-TTL II version, I read that the Nikon i-TTL version is authentic and faithful to the Nikon i-TTL functions. User reviews are also predominantly positive.

This was what I was finding....my only nit for Sigma is that they do not seem to have their manuals on pdf for download and I would really like to have been able to read the manual before purchasing.


I will probably upgrade to the 530 version when I need to but, for now, the 500 series is serving me well.
I almost went with the 500's when they 1st came out and I needed a flsh to go with the KM equipment....but I have never owned a cam mfg'er strobe before and the KM flash was a little more powerful and i thougt it would be a little more impressive to beshooting with all the same brand .....more pro looking......I am not at all dis-satisfied with the 5600HS D....except for the cost and when sony took over the price for their name to be on it took it out da roof.....:D

Thanks ZIGGY I appreciate your solidifying what I had read on line.......now ....to get my KM equipment sold so I can buy a min of 2 if not 4 or more......then maybe the Sunpaks will go also.............

ziggy53

Is this what you are looking for? (Sigma EF-530 DG Super for Nikon user manual):

http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/pdfs/EF-530_ST_Manual_NIK.pdf

Art Scott

ziggy53 wrote:

Is this what you are looking for? (Sigma EF-530 DG Super for Nikon user manual):

http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/pdfs/EF-530_ST_Manual_NIK.pdf

WHERE THE heck did you find that.....I looked all over the US website and even sent an email and was told told no downloadable PDF flash manualsscratch......so this is on the Sigma UK site....never occured to me to go to a different county site and look around..............

THANKS ZIGGY as i said before ....
YOU DA MAN!!bow

Tim Kamppinen

I don't know anything about the sigma flashes, but I do have an SB900 that I really love. It's definitely expensive but some of the things that make it worth it for me are the 200mm zoom, the 360 degree swivel (this is huge for bounce flash in portrait orientation without a bracket), the ease of use via the quick and simple controls, ability to use it as a commander or remote via CLS/AWL, increased power over my SB600, faster recycle time, SU-4 mode, pc port, ability to adjust flash output or EV from camera, great build quality, etc. Not sure how many of these also apply to the Sigma flash, since I literally know nothing about it. The 900 also comes with a few standard gels (plus green, CTO, and I think CTB) with a holder and also a dome diffuser.

However, I will say this: if you're a manual flash kinda guy, I would forget anything new and expensive and pick up some used SB-28's. I have two of these and for manual off camera flash they're hard to beat. Great build quality and power (at least as high output as the 900) and they go for about $100 used.

Tim Kamppinen

I just looked up the 530 on amazon and one of the reviews had this paragraph:

To setup as a wireless slave, you must first attach the flash to camera, make your settings, then remove it from the camera. Then if you turn off the flash or accidentally press the "mode" button, you have to re-attach it to the camera and make all you settings all over again. Such a hassle. In comparison, the Nikon SB-800 or SB-600 can be setup as a wireless slave without having to attach the flash to the camera, and when you turn the Nikon flashes off and back on again, all the settings are the same a you left them, so they're always ready to go straight out of the bag.

Another reviewer confirmed this... to me it would be a deal breaker as I do a lot of off camera stuff and I don't want to have to be juggling flashes on and off the camera to get them set up or change settings. Not sure if that means that you can't control them from the camera menus though once you get it set up in remote mode...

Art Scott

Thnx TIM!

Manfr3d

ziggy53 wrote:

I am the Sigma EF 500 DG Super "fanboy" and, while I own 2 of the Canon E-TTL II version.

Ziggy, as a long time owner would you recommend the sigma flash
as a secondary or slave flash in a wireless canon ettl setup? The
Sigma is about the price of a 430EX II but has more juice and functions,
its very tempting.

ziggy53

Manfr3d wrote:

Ziggy, as a long time owner would you recommend the sigma flash
as a secondary or slave flash in a wireless canon ettl setup? The
Sigma is about the price of a 430EX II but has more juice and functions,
its very tempting.

In "my" typical setup I use 2 Sigma flashes but if I were to get a Canon flash it would be the original 580EX. My reason to have a 580? Better menu/user-interface for one and available external battery options as well.

In a scenario where I had both the 580EX and a compatible Sigma flash I would use the 580 on the camera and the Sigma would be a wireless slave to the 580. It would actually be nice to use both Sigma flashes in different combinations as slaves under the control of a master flash.

More than likely I will just get another Sigma flash (or 2), probably the EF 530 DG Super. The menu system is really not that bad and I have had really good luck using these 2 model 500 Sigma flashes.

I am still looking for a way to use external batteries however. My application is faster recycling at higher pop, not necessarily full pop as that is really hard on the flash units themselves.