[RBellavance]

Hi,

a little over a month ago, I sent my Sigma EF-500 DG SUPER flash to Gentec International (a.k.a. Sigma Canada) to have it upgraded to the latest firmware because it was not working in wireless mode with my K10D's pop-up flash.

Apparently, they were not able to upgrade it because of a problem with the circuit board, and they sent me a replacement unit.

Unfortunately, wireless mode does not seem to work with this new unit either. Their technician tells me the flash should be at the latest revision, like all of their current inventory. He will look at the Sigma service bulletins to see which revision enables wireless mode.

However, I would like to confirm my testing procedure with those of you who have that flash and a K10D upgraded to firmware 1.30. Here's what I do:
1. turn camera and EF-500 off
2. mount EF-500 on camera
3. turn EF-500 on and set TTL/P/C1/SL wireless mode (front red light blinks)
4. turn camera on
5. half-press shutter (to transfer channel information from EF-500 to camera)
6. unmount EF-500 form camera
7. pop-up the pop-up :-)
8. set pop-up flash mode to wireless (Ch 1) briefly displayed on top LCD
9. set "Flash in wireless mode" to "2. Off" (i.e. pop-up is controller only)
10. take a picture

In my case, the picture comes out severely underexposed even though I see the EF-500 go off. In fact, I get exactly the same result if I turn the EF-500 off with the same settings. I've tried all 4 channels, and small variations of the above (i.e. setting pop-up to wireless mode before half-pressing, turning camera & EF-500 off or not when mounting/unmounting, etc).
Note that the EF-500 works properly when mount on the camera.

Can anyone tell if I'm doing something wrong, and at least confirm that they have an EF-500 DG SUPER working wirelessly with a K10D firmware v1.30 ?

[RBellavance]

Not a single reply after 24 hours... :-/

Has no one got a Sigma EF-500 working wirelessly with a K10D updated to firmware 1.30 ?

Can someone at least confirm that I'm configuring things correctly ?

[blwnhr]

In my case, the picture comes out severely underexposed even though I see the EF-500 go off. In fact, I get exactly the same result if I turn the EF-500 off with the same settings. I've tried all 4 channels, and small variations of the above (i.e. setting pop-up to wireless mode before half-pressing, turning camera & EF-500 off or not when mounting/unmounting, etc).
Note that the EF-500 works properly when mount on the camera.

I did a few test fires last week when I realised I could use the EF-500 for wireless. I also am running firmware 1.30 and my results are IDENTICAL.

I thought it was just because I was rushing and hadn't set something up properly. Seems it is actually a problem.

FWIW The manual I have says to set the flash to slave mode, then, with the flash turned on install it on the turned off camera, then turn the camera on and half press the shutter button.

[RBellavance]

I had time today to downgrade my K10D to firmware 1.20 (I put the 1.30 header on the 1.20 firmware and the K10D happily installed it).

Wireless triggering of the EF500 does not work any better with 1.20 than it did with 1.30. That strongly suggests to me that my flash is not at the latest revision of the Sigma firmware. Looks like I'll have to send it back for service, but I'll make sure they have the very latest firmware on hand before I do so.

[blwnhr]

Thankyou very much for the update. Have you seen this thread? https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-camera-accessories/13204-k10d-sigm...r-worries.html

[pentkon52]

FWIW, i had the same flash for about 16 months. Exposures were all over the place. It did work semi ok in woreless with the istD.

I sent it to the same place for upgrading to the K10D and it was hit an miss for wireless. I could see the flash firing, but severly underexposed, then a good one..

I sold it and bought a used 360 from a wedding photog friend of mine.

Could not be happier. More reasons not to buy Sigma anymore.

Dave