Sigma EF-530 DG ST compatbility

**nater** · 12-01-2014, 11:47 AM

When I bought my Pentax K200D (which I no longer have) I also purchased a Sigma EF-530 DG ST flash. Worked fine on the K200D. Works fine on my Pentax Q, and on my ZX-L. Does not work on my K-5. Anyone with any similar experiences, and should I assume that this is an inherent incompatibility with this flash model and the K-5, and that I need a new flash?

---------- Post added 12-01-14 at 02:34 PM ----------

I should mention I also checked this "Pentax P-TTL Flash Comparison" site:

The Definitive Guide - Pentax P-TTL Flash Comparison

Under "Sigma Dedicated P-TTL Flashes" it mentions, "It's possible that the current Sigma flashes may need similar updates for future Pentax models, but they operate just fine out-of-the-box with the K-r and K-5." What's not clear to me is whether "current Sigma flashes" refers to the EF-610 series or also includes the EF-530 series (it does explicitly talk about the EF-500 needing a firmware update from Sigma to work properly on bodies from the K-10D and newer).

rawr · 12-01-2014, 01:18 PM

My EF 530 DG ST works fine on my K-x, K-5 and K-3.
Taken hundreds of flash shots with each body, no problem. Never had a flash firmware update.

What are the problems using it on the K-5?

DeadJohn · 12-01-2014, 02:25 PM - **1 Like**

I think that quote about firmware updates applies to the 530 (and 610). Very old 530 flashes had firmware that doesn't work properly with the K-5. Newer 530 flashes shipped with newer K-5 friendly firmware. Sigma can update firmware of old flashes but you have to mail the flash to them. Contact Sigma support.

**nater** · 12-01-2014, 05:02 PM

Originally posted by DeadJohn

I think that quote about firmware updates applies to the 530 (and 610). Very old 530 flashes had firmware that doesn't work properly with the K-5. Newer 530 flashes shipped with newer K-5 friendly firmware. Sigma can update firmware of old flashes but you have to mail the flash to them. Contact Sigma support.

Thanks, I was wondering if that's the case. I'll contact Sigma.

**nater** · 12-30-2014, 12:15 AM

Sigma was very helpful, but long story short, the problem was not the flash, it was bad firmware I had loaded onto the K-5 from a memory card I didn't realize at the time caused random data corruption.

Sigma evaluated the flash, found no problem, shipped it back. I was surprised, wrote back to Sigma, they talked to their Japan engineers, who could not reproduce the problem, and offered to evaluate my camera and flash together if I sent them both. That got me thinking, so I decided to re-evalute the situation and determined that a PNY Elite SD XC 64GB memory card I have is to blame. I took it out of service a number of weeks ago after determining it caused approximately 1 in 200 RAW photos taken on my K-5 to be randomly corrupt. Tests I ran with SanDisk and Samsung memory cards showed no issues in the K-5. However one thing I neglected to account for is that I updated the firmware in my Pentax K-5 to the 1.16 version with the PNY card, and apparently that corrupted the firmware just enough that it only caused a compatibility problem with the Sigma flash. I determined this by using my known good Samsung memory card to re-flash the 1.16 firmware to the K-5 over the weekend. Once I did that, the Sigma flash immediately worked without issue on my K-5.

12-01-2014, 11:47 AM	#1
nater Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New England Photos: Albums Posts: 706	Sigma EF-530 DG ST compatbility When I bought my Pentax K200D (which I no longer have) I also purchased a Sigma EF-530 DG ST flash. Worked fine on the K200D. Works fine on my Pentax Q, and on my ZX-L. Does not work on my K-5. Anyone with any similar experiences, and should I assume that this is an inherent incompatibility with this flash model and the K-5, and that I need a new flash? ---------- Post added 12-01-14 at 02:34 PM ---------- I should mention I also checked this "Pentax P-TTL Flash Comparison" site: The Definitive Guide - Pentax P-TTL Flash Comparison Under "Sigma Dedicated P-TTL Flashes" it mentions, "It's possible that the current Sigma flashes may need similar updates for future Pentax models, but they operate just fine out-of-the-box with the K-r and K-5." What's not clear to me is whether "current Sigma flashes" refers to the EF-610 series or also includes the EF-530 series (it does explicitly talk about the EF-500 needing a firmware update from Sigma to work properly on bodies from the K-10D and newer).

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Sigma EF-530 DG ST flash	john1963	Pentax K-30 & K-50	8	02-24-2014 01:54 PM
Sigma EF-530 DG ST flash	BigMike	Pentax K-01	4	01-10-2013 04:39 PM
Sigma EF-530 DG ST	deltoidjohn	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	19	01-21-2011 08:02 PM
For Sale - Sold: Sigma 530 EF-530 DG ST flash for Pentax (US)	letgo12345	Sold Items	2	03-25-2010 08:43 PM
Sigma EF-530 DG ST	lin	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	11	10-03-2008 10:03 PM

12-01-2014, 01:18 PM	#2
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	My EF 530 DG ST works fine on my K-x, K-5 and K-3. Taken hundreds of flash shots with each body, no problem. Never had a flash firmware update. What are the problems using it on the K-5?

12-01-2014, 02:25 PM - 1 Like	#3
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,834	I think that quote about firmware updates applies to the 530 (and 610). Very old 530 flashes had firmware that doesn't work properly with the K-5. Newer 530 flashes shipped with newer K-5 friendly firmware. Sigma can update firmware of old flashes but you have to mail the flash to them. Contact Sigma support.

12-01-2014, 05:02 PM	#4
nater Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New England Photos: Albums Posts: 706 Original Poster	Originally posted by DeadJohn I think that quote about firmware updates applies to the 530 (and 610). Very old 530 flashes had firmware that doesn't work properly with the K-5. Newer 530 flashes shipped with newer K-5 friendly firmware. Sigma can update firmware of old flashes but you have to mail the flash to them. Contact Sigma support. Thanks, I was wondering if that's the case. I'll contact Sigma.

12-30-2014, 12:15 AM	#5
nater Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New England Photos: Albums Posts: 706 Original Poster	Sigma was very helpful, but long story short, the problem was not the flash, it was bad firmware I had loaded onto the K-5 from a memory card I didn't realize at the time caused random data corruption. Sigma evaluated the flash, found no problem, shipped it back. I was surprised, wrote back to Sigma, they talked to their Japan engineers, who could not reproduce the problem, and offered to evaluate my camera and flash together if I sent them both. That got me thinking, so I decided to re-evalute the situation and determined that a PNY Elite SD XC 64GB memory card I have is to blame. I took it out of service a number of weeks ago after determining it caused approximately 1 in 200 RAW photos taken on my K-5 to be randomly corrupt. Tests I ran with SanDisk and Samsung memory cards showed no issues in the K-5. However one thing I neglected to account for is that I updated the firmware in my Pentax K-5 to the 1.16 version with the PNY card, and apparently that corrupted the firmware just enough that it only caused a compatibility problem with the Sigma flash. I determined this by using my known good Samsung memory card to re-flash the 1.16 firmware to the K-5 over the weekend. Once I did that, the Sigma flash immediately worked without issue on my K-5.