Sigma 530 vs Pentz 540

Deiberson · 03-01-2011, 11:38 AM

Looking for a flash to use on camera that rotates in both directions and that supports pttl. The occasional off camera situation using cactus remotes will also be in the equation but primarily for onbaord use to bounce high right or left. My AF 360 doesn't swivel and I don't want to coin up for the AF540. How does this flash compare output wise and performance wise? I'd rather not spend the extra coin if I don't need to. FWIW I had the 540 and regret selling it.

Last edited by Deiberson; 03-01-2011 at 11:47 AM.

elho_cid · 03-01-2011, 12:17 PM

I don't recommend the DG ST version. It only has 2 levels of manual output power and thus it is not suitable for cactused usage.
I cannot comment on the DG Super version as I haven't used it.

tele_pathic · 03-02-2011, 02:22 PM

I can't compare the Sigma 530 DG Super to the Pentax, but I do have the Sigma, the Super, and it's freakin' fantastic, especially for the price. I'm assuming you could use cactus triggers easily. I've used the on-camera flash to trigger the Sigma off camera.

bdery · 03-03-2011, 06:00 AM

Originally posted by elho_cid

I don't recommend the DG ST version. It only has 2 levels of manual output power and thus it is not suitable for cactused usage.

Which rules out probably about 5% of flash users... for the rest the ST will be amply sufficient. I have never used anything other than auto with my AF280T, which seems to get much praise despite the fact that it's underspecified compared to the 530 ST.

elho_cid · 03-03-2011, 06:17 AM

Originally posted by bdery

Which rules out probably about 5% of flash users... for the rest the ST will be amply sufficient. I have never used anything other than auto with my AF280T, which seems to get much praise despite the fact that it's underspecified compared to the 530 ST.

Yes 5%, but it was intended purpose of the OP. And Auto is not available on the ST as well... If I could get the AF280 as cheap as I got the Sigma, I'd honestly prefer it.

Deiberson · 03-03-2011, 06:29 AM

Its the 530 Super. I bought it from the market

Will the pttl work when fired with the cactus? No big deal if it doesn't, I'm buying it for an onboard swivel flash that supports pttl. The reveiws on this are pretty solid....and for 120 bucks, I can't beat it.

bdery · 03-03-2011, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by elho_cid

Yes 5%, but it was intended purpose of the OP. And Auto is not available on the ST as well... If I could get the AF280 as cheap as I got the Sigma, I'd honestly prefer it.

I had missed his comment about the Cactus, of which I know nothing. Auto should be easily replaced by PTTL.

I currently own the AF280T, but have the 530 ST on order. I fully expect to have my AF280T for sale shortly after...

**7samurai** · 03-06-2011, 11:54 AM

Own one and absolutely can recommend it. It's alittle to powerful sometimes. Especially when you're close to the subject. The power is definitely a blessing when trying to light up a big area.

I've used it as a off-camera flash, triggering with the on-camera flash. This combination works far better than I expected. Used this to shoot a night event where I needed more light so the combination between the build-in and Sigma was just right.

I manual is not very easy to understand. It's the only manual I carry in my camera bag because of all the buttons. The way I expect it to work is not the way it does.

**7samurai** · 03-06-2011, 12:08 PM

The Pttl does not work with the Castus per the manufacturers' notes:

**Notes on compatibility:

Cactus V5 does not work with V4, V2s or V2;
Cactus V5 does not transmit TTL information;
Some dedicated flashes (e.g. Nissin Di-622 and Di-466, Sunpak PZ42x and PZ30, Sigma EF-530/500 DG ST for Canon, etc.) are triggered via system-specific pins instead of the central contact of the hot shoe. Cactus V5 does not work with these flash models. To check whether your dedicated flash units are compatible with Cactus V5, try attaching them to a camera of other brand (e.g. attaching a Nikon TTL flash to a Canon DSLR camera). If the flash can be triggered, it will work with Cactus V5.
Tested with the following flash models:
- Cactus AF45, KF36;
- Canon SpeedLite 580EX II, 580EX, 550EX, 540EZ, 520EZ, 430EX II, 430EX, 430EZ, 420EX, 420EZ, 380EX, 200E;
- Metz 58AF, 48AF;
- Nikon SpeedLite SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-28, SB-27, SB-26, SB-25, SB-24;
- Olympus FL-50R, FL-50, FL-36R, FL-36;
- Pentax AF-540 FGZ, AF-360 FGZ, AF-400 FT, AF-240 FT;
- Sigma EF-530 DG Super, EF-530 DG ST (for Nikon only), EF-500 DG Super, EF-500 DG ST (for Nikon only), EF-430;
- Sunpak Auto 2000DZ, 622 Pro, 433AF, 433D, 383, 355AF, 344D, 333D;
- Vivitar 285HV, 285, 283, DF-400MZ, DF-340MZ;

yongkun · 03-06-2011, 02:32 PM

Anyone know where can i get omni bounce for thhis 530 model?

mattdm · 03-07-2011, 09:50 AM

Originally posted by Deiberson

Looking for a flash to use on camera that rotates in both directions and that supports pttl. The occasional off camera situation using cactus remotes will also be in the equation but primarily for onbaord use to bounce high right or left. My AF 360 doesn't swivel and I don't want to coin up for the AF540. How does this flash compare output wise and performance wise? I'd rather not spend the extra coin if I don't need to. FWIW I had the 540 and regret selling it.

Output-wise it compares quite well, especially at more-narrow focal lengths. It's oddly a bit underpowered at normal focal lengths on a crop-factor dSLR.

And the new Sigma EF610DG models are even more powerful, making the normal-focal-length power question moot.

More on this at: Flash Burst Profiles - Pentax P-TTL Flash Comparison

03-01-2011, 11:38 AM	#1
Deiberson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 734	Sigma 530 vs Pentz 540 Looking for a flash to use on camera that rotates in both directions and that supports pttl. The occasional off camera situation using cactus remotes will also be in the equation but primarily for onbaord use to bounce high right or left. My AF 360 doesn't swivel and I don't want to coin up for the AF540. How does this flash compare output wise and performance wise? I'd rather not spend the extra coin if I don't need to. FWIW I had the 540 and regret selling it. Last edited by Deiberson; 03-01-2011 at 11:47 AM.

03-06-2011, 12:08 PM	#9
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474	The Pttl does not work with the Castus per the manufacturers' notes: **Notes on compatibility: Cactus V5 does not work with V4, V2s or V2; Cactus V5 does not transmit TTL information; Some dedicated flashes (e.g. Nissin Di-622 and Di-466, Sunpak PZ42x and PZ30, Sigma EF-530/500 DG ST for Canon, etc.) are triggered via system-specific pins instead of the central contact of the hot shoe. Cactus V5 does not work with these flash models. To check whether your dedicated flash units are compatible with Cactus V5, try attaching them to a camera of other brand (e.g. attaching a Nikon TTL flash to a Canon DSLR camera). If the flash can be triggered, it will work with Cactus V5. Tested with the following flash models: Cactus AF45, KF36; Canon SpeedLite 580EX II, 580EX, 550EX, 540EZ, 520EZ, 430EX II, 430EX, 430EZ, 420EX, 420EZ, 380EX, 200E; Metz 58AF, 48AF; Nikon SpeedLite SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-28, SB-27, SB-26, SB-25, SB-24; Olympus FL-50R, FL-50, FL-36R, FL-36; Pentax AF-540 FGZ, AF-360 FGZ, AF-400 FT, AF-240 FT; Sigma EF-530 DG Super, EF-530 DG ST (for Nikon only), EF-500 DG Super, EF-500 DG ST (for Nikon only), EF-430; Sunpak Auto 2000DZ, 622 Pro, 433AF, 433D, 383, 355AF, 344D, 333D; Vivitar 285HV, 285, 283, DF-400MZ, DF-340MZ;

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03-01-2011, 12:17 PM	#2
elho_cid Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,199	I don't recommend the DG ST version. It only has 2 levels of manual output power and thus it is not suitable for cactused usage. I cannot comment on the DG Super version as I haven't used it.

03-02-2011, 02:22 PM	#3
tele_pathic Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 292	I can't compare the Sigma 530 DG Super to the Pentax, but I do have the Sigma, the Super, and it's freakin' fantastic, especially for the price. I'm assuming you could use cactus triggers easily. I've used the on-camera flash to trigger the Sigma off camera.

03-03-2011, 06:00 AM	#4
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by elho_cid I don't recommend the DG ST version. It only has 2 levels of manual output power and thus it is not suitable for cactused usage. Which rules out probably about 5% of flash users... for the rest the ST will be amply sufficient. I have never used anything other than auto with my AF280T, which seems to get much praise despite the fact that it's underspecified compared to the 530 ST.

03-03-2011, 06:17 AM	#5
elho_cid Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,199	Originally posted by bdery Which rules out probably about 5% of flash users... for the rest the ST will be amply sufficient. I have never used anything other than auto with my AF280T, which seems to get much praise despite the fact that it's underspecified compared to the 530 ST. Yes 5%, but it was intended purpose of the OP. And Auto is not available on the ST as well... If I could get the AF280 as cheap as I got the Sigma, I'd honestly prefer it.

03-03-2011, 06:29 AM	#6
Deiberson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 734 Original Poster	Its the 530 Super. I bought it from the market Will the pttl work when fired with the cactus? No big deal if it doesn't, I'm buying it for an onboard swivel flash that supports pttl. The reveiws on this are pretty solid....and for 120 bucks, I can't beat it.

03-03-2011, 01:20 PM	#7
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by elho_cid Yes 5%, but it was intended purpose of the OP. And Auto is not available on the ST as well... If I could get the AF280 as cheap as I got the Sigma, I'd honestly prefer it. I had missed his comment about the Cactus, of which I know nothing. Auto should be easily replaced by PTTL. I currently own the AF280T, but have the 530 ST on order. I fully expect to have my AF280T for sale shortly after...

03-06-2011, 11:54 AM	#8
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474	Own one and absolutely can recommend it. It's alittle to powerful sometimes. Especially when you're close to the subject. The power is definitely a blessing when trying to light up a big area. I've used it as a off-camera flash, triggering with the on-camera flash. This combination works far better than I expected. Used this to shoot a night event where I needed more light so the combination between the build-in and Sigma was just right. I manual is not very easy to understand. It's the only manual I carry in my camera bag because of all the buttons. The way I expect it to work is not the way it does.

03-06-2011, 02:32 PM	#10
yongkun New Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9	Anyone know where can i get omni bounce for thhis 530 model?

03-07-2011, 09:50 AM	#11
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by Deiberson Looking for a flash to use on camera that rotates in both directions and that supports pttl. The occasional off camera situation using cactus remotes will also be in the equation but primarily for onbaord use to bounce high right or left. My AF 360 doesn't swivel and I don't want to coin up for the AF540. How does this flash compare output wise and performance wise? I'd rather not spend the extra coin if I don't need to. FWIW I had the 540 and regret selling it. Output-wise it compares quite well, especially at more-narrow focal lengths. It's oddly a bit underpowered at normal focal lengths on a crop-factor dSLR. And the new Sigma EF610DG models are even more powerful, making the normal-focal-length power question moot. More on this at: Flash Burst Profiles - Pentax P-TTL Flash Comparison