Sigma EF-500DG Super

[cheongkiat]

anyone know whether this flash good? and how much it cost for new one and how much for a used one...where can i buy it...thanks

rgd,
cheongkiat

 

[pai]

ok the good news is, the flash is very powerful, and has lots of functions - basically the third party equivalent of the 5600. tilts, swivels, wireless, etc, and gives accurate exposures. it even has a slave mode, i think 5600 don't have.

bad points... must get newest version, otherwise will have compatibility problems with 5D and 7D. even if get newest version, also no guarantee that it will be compatible with future cameras. another minor nit is that it doesn't have a sync terminal, so to use it with the oc-1100, you also need an os-1100.

price... not sure, but i got mine new from the US at $300+. it costs more locally, and it can be very hard to find in minolta mount. used, i seen selling for around $280.

all-in-all... i think best not to buy it too much trouble and too many risks. just get the 5600.

 

[cheongkiat]

hehe...so i think i better listen to you...i think a second hand 5600 will do right...got lobang anot to buy 5600...bro there is this D and without D 5600 right...any knowledge about it?


rgd,
cheongkiat

 

[pai]

only one 5600 i think.

no lobang. one CSer was selling new ones for $490, super good price. but i sms him right after his last one was reserved

want to get a 5600 too, but prices just too high right now. hope you manage to find a cheap one. good luck.

 

[cheongkiat]

thank bro...hope u find urs too...

 

[tankm]

If you going to buy the SIGMA flash, make sure you can test it out before buying. I went through two of them and none seems to work well with the KM 5D. Even check with SIGMA Singapore and they assured me they will work with the 5D, and they even let me know exactly which model to order. Gave the model to a shop to bring one brand new flash from SIGMA, try it out at the shop no go. Over expose problem. Try all settings I know of in the camera and flash, nothing helps. Including the wireless mode trick.

The shop even call SIGMA at that point and SIGMA still says it's compatible and blame it on the "lemon" flash. Until now, didn't hear anything from them regarding this. Got myself a second hand 5600HS(D), and very happy with it, except cannot work as "WIRELESS CONTROLLER".

The second hand 5600 still cost more than a brand new EF-500DG Super.

 

[hellrock]

hi, what do you mean cannot use as wireless controller? just curious. never tried that function. care to share? thanks

If you going to buy the SIGMA flash, make sure you can test it out before buying. I went through two of them and none seems to work well with the KM 5D. Even check with SIGMA Singapore and they assured me they will work with the 5D, and they even let me know exactly which model to order. Gave the model to a shop to bring one brand new flash from SIGMA, try it out at the shop no go. Over expose problem. Try all settings I know of in the camera and flash, nothing helps. Including the wireless mode trick.

The shop even call SIGMA at that point and SIGMA still says it's compatible and blame it on the "lemon" flash. Until now, didn't hear anything from them regarding this. Got myself a second hand 5600HS(D), and very happy with it, except cannot work as "WIRELESS CONTROLLER".

The second hand 5600 still cost more than a brand new EF-500DG Super.

 

[tankm]

The 5600HS(D) cannot be used to trigger off other Minolta flash in wireless mode. If you want to use two external flash, have to use the in-built camera flash to trigger both of them in wireless mode.

This was discussed in detail in other threads as well. Do a search and you will find out more.

hi, what do you mean cannot use as wireless controller? just curious. never tried that function. care to share? thanks

 

[Timber Wolf]

Hmm. Really? I thought it's possible using Wireless Control mode?
Cos the Wireless setting has "On, Off, Control" modes

QX

 

[codling]

How about using a LSPJii or a stofen to reduce the exposure? or maybe dial down the flash power on the sigma?

 

[pai]

How about using a LSPJii or a stofen to reduce the exposure? or maybe dial down the flash power on the sigma?

sounds like the flash is firing full power all the time. if set the 5D to M mode, might be possible to manually set the flash power on the flash itself. but we pay $300+ is for stuff like ADI, TTL etc rite...

 

[codling]

hmmm...ya hor, no point using stofen, cos the reduced light caused by stofen would just make the flash work harder if using pre TTL. correct me if i m wrong.
alternatively, like wat Pai says, do it manually to dial down flash power.

 

[tankm]

Settings are there but doesn't work on the KM 5D.

Hmm. Really? I thought it's possible using Wireless Control mode?
Cos the Wireless setting has "On, Off, Control" modes

QX

 

[pai]

hmmm...ya hor, no point using stofen, cos the reduced light caused by stofen would just make the flash work harder if using pre TTL.

i don't know if his "overexpose" problem is the same as mine, but my flash overexposes because it always fires at full power. so actually if you use a stofen, it will cut the light. the flash can't work any harder because it is already firing full blast. my point was just that it's not a good solution.

 

[muko]

Settings are there but doesn't work on the KM 5D.

i dont understand...
It should not have diff...

 

[tankm]

Tested it and cannot get it working.......also from other sources. http://www.mhohner.de/minolta/flashcomp_setups.php#wireless .

i dont understand...
It should not have diff...