SIGMA 530 DG SUPER users?? Need help with wireless stuff please!!!

IsaacEastgate · 01-24-2009, 07:05 AM

Hi everyone!
I got a sigma 530 DG super delivered the other day and its working really well, especially for head on flash in P-TTL.
First of all, what settings do you use this flash in? I have my camera on manual mode at around f/4-8 and the flash set either P-TTL or manual mode on 1/8th.
So far it is working fine with the odd underexposure when bouncing the flash, i guess practice will sort that out.

The main points below are that i need help configuring my flash for wireless, and i need help creating a strobist setup, all answers are appreciated especially from those who have an insight on the flash and camera i am using

Wireless flash troubles w/k20d pop-up flash
The trouble starts in wireless mode, the exposures are usually fine if i put the settings manually but the system is ridiculously unreliable. Yesterday night i did my first outdoor shoot with the flash being triggered as backlighting by the popup flash. most of the time the flash did something very odd, it either triggered prematurely or emitted a very low flash (i cant work out which?). If i keep trying occasionally it gives me the perfect flash but its sheer chance.
My thought is it cant be bad wireless signal because the flash IS firing, just prematurely or on a lower setting. What is wrong with it? Is P-TTL messing up or is it switching over to normal slave instead of p-ttl infrared slave?
I am thinking of starting strobist work but is the wireless system just too unpredictable?
Settings:
flash on TTL slave mode (LCD indicates SL), flash on power between 1/32 and 1/4, flash in field of view but sight line is occasionally blocked when using backlighting or whatever.
The flash can take blank shots under many conditions so i think it is a settings or hardware problem

What are my options?
For strobist work, the wireless system does not seem to suit me because i can only use P-TTL and so far it is quite unreliable
If i buy a second SIGMA 530 can one on-board trigger one wireless in more functions and modes? Is there advantages to using wireless flashes in groups?
Can poverty wizards (cactus or ebay triggers?) be used succesfully with my current system?
Can i use a normal slave mode (triggered by light from flash) instead of wireless mode with any success (so far the pop-ups pre flash renders this useless, how to fix?)

Thanks for reading! i know its a bit of a long post...

mattdm · 01-24-2009, 01:24 PM

When I had the Sigma EF-530 DG Super, I had a problem with the K10D's autofocus strobe triggering the wireless flash prematurely, which I found very frustrating. I haven't had that problem at all with my Metz 48 AF-1 or seen it with the Pentax AF360FGZ. I didn't really encounter other reliability with the Sigma wireless, but because of that I'm willing to believe that their implementation of the wireless protocol isn't quite up the level of the competition.

IsaacEastgate · 01-25-2009, 07:34 AM

This is what i thought, usually it doesnt get fired by pre flashes unless its gone onto the wrong slave mode. Shouldnt the flash be triggered by infrared rather than the flash, or is the infrared just for communication and the flash still works as the trigger? That could explain some of my problems.
I had fun using it last night with my friend's compact but less luck with my pentax MX. Occasionally the MXs 2 contact system DID fire the 530, but never twice in a row and sometimes not atall. How can i make this work?

Thankyou for your continued help on the subject!!!!!

solaris · 01-25-2009, 06:40 PM

My flash set up is a pair of sigma 530's and a hot shoe mounted flash gun.

I think you are right, because from my experience, the wireless flash on the sigma is not actually wireless but optical. I seem to remember sigma saying that the flash was actually wireless, but I could be wrong. When its in the wireless mode, the red light flashing in the front of the lens is actually the guide light for the optical sensor. When it detects a flash it fires the flash.

I don't ever use p-ttl flash (just hate it), but I just ran a test, and yes, the p-ttl from the on board camera will fire the sigma early. I assume the same will be true of all other p-ttl flashes. I use an old vivtar ttl flash as my slave, and everything works fine. I can't meter, but for the most part, its unnecessary once you get the hang of it.

p.s. be careful with the sigma, it's really powerful. I've blinded and burned people with it in the past.

mattdm · 01-26-2009, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by solaris

I think you are right, because from my experience, the wireless flash on the sigma is not actually wireless but optical.

It is both wireless and optical — the P-TTL wireless protocol uses quick pulses of visible light to communicate exposure data.

IsaacEastgate · 01-26-2009, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by solaris

My flash set up is a pair of sigma 530's and a hot shoe mounted flash gun.

Thankyou for your help! it sounds like the wireless set up will work but there is just some trouble using the popup flash. I did some studio stuff today and everything was absolutely fine.

Originally Posted by solaris

p.s. be careful with the sigma, it's really powerful. I've blinded and burned people with it in the past.

Hahaha! I noticed the potential to temporarily blind people early on but yesterday i was sitting with it on my lap and melted a patch into my best trousers. One of my friends put it IN his mouth the other day too. He learnt a lesson.

Also, today i got on of those flash brackets that attaches to the tripod hole and raises the flash to above and the left. I will be using it with a PC sync chord i think for club photography.

Thankyou both for the information, anyone else can help that would be much appreciated too?

solaris · 01-26-2009, 09:43 PM

You are probably going to want to get some kind of diffuser or umbrella, especially if you are shooting indoors. If you set them to wide angle by lowering the built in plastic hood thingy you will have less blown highlights and a greater coverage (its meant to cover a FOV of 16mm), but even so, expect lots of flash.

If you care about the recycle time for the flash, you will get the best results with MiMH (nickel metal hydroxide) batteries as opposed to LIon (lithium ions) or standard batteries.

IsaacEastgate · 01-27-2009, 03:33 PM

Thankyou solaris. Im looking at cheap umbrella/tripod mounts on ebay and they are real bargains.

If anyone is still reading and can give more help, today my 530 went through a phase of misfiring. The flash was making the click noise and discharging but making no light... I thought it was completely ****ed going 5 times in a row with no light but now its pretty stable again.
This flash is seeming very unreliable...

solaris · 01-28-2009, 08:49 AM

It could've been an improper electrical contact with the batteries. If the flash automatically triggered without any input on your end, that's probably what it was.

The sigma can be a little...difficult at times, but you'll get used to it

jv.pentax · 02-02-2009, 11:09 AM

Hi,
Unfortnately my K100D Super can't operate wireless so I
touhgt of buying some wireless trigger.

Has anyone tested the 530 Super with Blazzeo or Cactus triggers?

I have read that Sigmas are incompatible with some version of Cactus.

Thanks.

jboyde · 04-22-2009, 02:30 PM

The 530 Super works fine with the V2s triggers. Make sure though that you get the ones with the small "s" on them and not the regular V2. There was a misfire problem with those.

Also, the new gadgetinfinity.com site has a list of flashes that have been tested to work with their triggers. It'll be helpful.