Sigma EF 500 Super DG
 

Hi, can anyone offer advice / experience of this item?
I'm considering buying this piece of kit to use with my Nikon D50. Looking at the spec it seems to have most of the benefits of the Nikon SB800 but at about £100 cheaper.
It states it is fully compatible with the Nikon D70, would I be right in assuming the same goes for my D50?
Any advice would be most appreciated.
Al.

Apart from the compatibility issue I would be concerned about the build quaility if you intend to make heavy use of it.
I bought a cheap Jessops own brand and it fell apart after a week needless to say it was returned. I then bought a Canon own and difference was like chalk to cheese.

Al,

This is the compatability chart http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/flas...-compat.htm#03

I have found a review against Canons top unit so worth a lookhttp://photonotes.org/reviews/sigma-ef-500-super/

I need to see if I can find a downloadable manual as from other comments I have read.

1) Poor manual with some of the English sections written in French. Manual does not properly explain the functions.
2) After a 8 flash firing the unit has to be turned off for 10 mins to cool down.

I will get back later.

Don

From a manuals point of view we have to hope someone uses this gun as I am unable to find a downloadable manual to check out the comments about poor explanations and sections in French.

So ................................. ANY USERS ??

Don

Al,

I use the (even cheaper) "Standard" version of this unit, not the "Super", I've found the unit to be very usable indeed. I had to have it re-chipped to work with my Pentax K10D when I swapped cameras, this was done by Sigma for only the cost of return postage (£7.99 IIRC), turnaround for doing this was about 5 days from me putting it in the post to me getting it back on the doormat. So, I'd have no worries about compatibility.

Build quality isn't 'pro-spec', but it's perfectly good enough for the light amateur usage I give it. I use it mainly for still-life subjects, and have not explored the multiple flash firings issue that Don has found. I dare say that if you are going to be using the flash for bursts of >8 in a row, you should be looking at something a bit more expensive.

I haven't had any problems with my manual, though the standard unit is a lot simpler and I tend to only use full program or full power manual modes anyway.

The flash itself has LOTS of power, you won't be wishing it had more ooomph. This is good because there's plenty of light even if you have to bounce it off distant walls and ceilings.

At the time I bought it, the standard unit was £100 and the Super was £200, I couldn't justify the extra at the time as I wasn't really into flash stuff then. Thanks to WPF, I do more flash photography than I ever used to and now wish that I'd bought the Super model, especially as the price difference is now so small. Bristol Cameras have the Super for £135 plus £10 P&P.

If you aren't going to hammer it like a pro, get the Sigma, if you are going to work as a hack for the local rag, get the Nikon.

Hope this helps.

Duncan

I have not read it yet but here is a link to the Instruction Manual.

PDF file at 108 pages ( only 10 pages in English ) so it takes a moment to download. http://www.sigmaphoto.com/flashes/manuals/F14N05094.pdf

Don

Al,

I have now had a read and saved a copy in my info library.:)

I have to agree with Duncan in that it does depend on how much use the unit will get, and how fancy the lighting setups could be if you want i-TTL. If you used manual on complex lighting set ups then any flash units with manual setting will handle that. For on camera use with i-TTL or manual then its a good value flash with a lot of power. No real worries on the limits of continuous shooting from the specs.

My attention was drawn to the slave ability as on price you could get two of these units for the price of a SB-800. Note though, that for i-TTL this only functions at a sync speed of 1/30 sec or lower - SERIOUSLY RESTRICTIVE. If this was the longer term route then I would only consider the SB-800 as i-TTL with Nikons own units is very fancy ( at a price ) but near enough foolproof.

Link to the SB-800 manual so you can compare
http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin...i=&p_topview=1

Don

As always; many thanks for the responses. I'll consider the pro's & cons over the next week or so.
One thing I have noticed is the variation in pricing, be that either for the Sigma or the Nikon. I even saw the Nikon for sale on ebay for about £220.00. (New)! Sold from some place in Scotland; slightly cheaper than Jessops; £299 & even Warehouse Express; £269; both plus P&P.
Thanks again,
Al.

If your are talking about Kerso in Scotland a lot of folk have used him on Birdforum - well recommended.

Of Course his goods are grey market - If you email him you may get it even cheaper if you by pass ebay.

He is a Birdforum member.

Al,

Something to consider if you go down this route is that Sigma will only re-chip free of charge on officially imported goods. To get my re-chip done free, I had to send my copy of the till receipt showing that it had been bought from an official UK dealer. Sigma will re-chip grey imports, but they charge for it, about £60 I think they quoted if I couldn't show it was UK stock.

Duncan

Well I have the super and the standard, often using the standard attached to the camera with the super as slave. Both guns get a lot of use especially in my "studio".

These guns have prooved very reliable over the time that I've had them, must be over 3 years.

I do admit to taking the easy way out, and using them mostly in manual.

I also have the manual somewhere, but it's for the Canon version.

Sorry to be a pain but hopefully this thread may assist others with similar dilema but I've now noticed a few other "possible's"..the Sunpak PZ40X & the Metz 54AF1.."more confusion"!!!..The Sunpak's less than a £100!
Al.

Al,

I will have a check.

Both of these are manufacturers of flashguns. Sunpak traditionally in a similar market slot to Sigma. Metz aiming closer to the top end. So as far as Metz goes I have no problem recommending the brand to anyone from personal experience with 45CL range. Cost will be higher as these are made in Germany.

Don

A link to the Metz instruction manuals. Be aware that these units are dedicated to a particular camera system. Canon, Minolta, Nikon etc. So in your case Al, you need to make sure you are looking at 54 AF1 - N

I have downloaded the manual but not properly read it yet.

Link http://www.metz.de/en/photo_electron...nuals.164.html

Don

A link to Sunpak instruction manuals http://www.sunpak.jp/english/support...oad/index.html

Don

Thanks Don..
Al.

If it was my choice between the two it would be the Metz - more power than the Sunpack. The Sigma also has more power. But then I have just checked out Warehouse Express prices and the Metz and Nikon SB-800 are the same price, so given that it would be the SB-800.

The SB-800 still has two advantages over either of these units.
1) It comes with a Stofen type diffuser and these can also be bought as an accessory, but I have not found them for the Metz or Sunpack units. As I mentioned earlier I regard this as a must have accessory.
2) The option of at a later date aquiring an SB-800 or 600 and using wireless commander mode in i-TTL or manual.

Don

Well guys, Rob, Don, Duncan & Wolfie, thanks for all the advice & input into this thread.
It turned out to be a bit of a “minefield” in the end; trying to compare one manufacturer against the other, then comparing models from each of the manufacturers themselves! I suppose the only easy eliminations I had to make was the ones that were over my budget.
The concern I had with the Sigma’s & the Sunpak were regards the information read whereby it advised that after maybe an 8 shot burst you have to let the unit cool down for 10 minutes. Would this have been a hindrance to me, probably not now but maybe in the future, who knows? This wasn’t noted as an issue with any Nikon or Metz units.
Quality was also an issue that I pondered but not apparently so with either Nikon or Metz units.
I suppose what swung my decision in the end was this info: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb600.htm
Yes, I know it wasn’t in the original line up but after reading this report on the SB600 it seemed the safest bet to me.
What also played a big influence was the price I could get it for from a highly recommended source of BF & WPF members; Kerso:
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/FLASH-CAMERA
The £199.00 general UK price was right at the top end of my budget but when I saw it on his on-line shop for £139.00; I thought “it has to be”!
Well I’ve just paid the man, (Ian, nice guy, responds quickly to emails, seems very good to deal with), & he’s posting tomorrow so I should have it maybe Saturday or Monday.
Lots of Canon gear on there as well as Nikon, might be worth you Canon users checking out his prices?
Well once again guys, thanks for all your assistance.
Regards,
Al.

PS: Right choice or wrong choice?

You will be the best judge of that, only time will tell.

One thing I will say is that I wouldn't let the opinion of Ken Rockwell influence you unduly. The internet is a great place for people to become self-appointed experts.

Just to add a quick note about "Kerso"..delivery was rapid..
Al.

I believe you have made a good choice. The Sigma is tempting with its high power to cost ratio but I have seen these in action and recycling times are quite slow, probably due to its high output requiring more charge. No problem for still life stuff but can be frustrating with portraits. SB-800 is not as powerful but recycles quickly and can be even faster with the included fifth battery holder. SB600 is a totally different flash altogether even though its in the same series as SB-800. Power difference between SB600 and SB800 is unnoticeable in real life situations.

Now you have a SB600 an SB800 should follow when budget allows which would give control over two flashes from one system using wireless IR control.