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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Canon 300D & Sigma 500 DG ST. Why won't it flash?
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Showing posts 1 - 11 of 11, (reverse)
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10/13/2005 08:02:15 PM · #1
I just bought a Sigma 500 DG ST flash for my Digital Rebel. The first night I had it, I attached it and took a few flash photos. All seemed well. Tonight I went to use it again and it won't flash. I'm just getting a lot of real slow shutter speed, no flash photos. The flash powers up, it zooms in and out as I zoom the lens. The red light even lights up as I focus. It just never fires. I've tried the camera in both program mode and full automatic. Am I doing something wrong? I've never used an external flash before.
10/13/2005 10:32:52 PM · #2
Might not be made for the Digital Rebel/Rebel xt
They usualy require the 420ex,520ex to communicate correctly

I was looking for a good deal on sigma but i got warned about the problems with the communication between the flash and camera.

I was lucky and found a 420ex for about half price

I feel your pain though....
10/13/2005 10:46:05 PM · #3
According to Sigma site, it is compatible. Plus it worked last week when I first got it.

I have a film Rebel coming that I bought off ebay the other day. Perhaps I'll try it on there to see if it is the camera or the flash. I'm honestly hoping it's the flash. At least it is still in warranty, the camera isn't.
10/13/2005 11:02:51 PM · #4
It's compatible with the rebel (300 at least)I have it and it works fine....batteries run out very fast though! Not sure why it's not working for you though....

10/13/2005 11:04:31 PM · #5
fresh batteries?????? weak ones won't power the flash and camera will compensate for lack of it.

10/13/2005 11:17:04 PM · #6
I don't have my camera available to look at now, but I ran into this problem with my rebel xt. I had to change a setting in the "custom settings" menu that turned on the hot shoe for an externa flash. It may not be in that place, I just remember having to turn on the hot shoe. Have fun researching that ;)

drake
10/14/2005 06:13:08 AM · #7
I'm using NiMH batteries that I charged a while back. I'll recharge them and see what happens. Thanks! I didn't thing of that. I can test flash it, and it does the zoom thing, so I was just assuming the batteries were okay.
10/14/2005 07:40:27 AM · #8
i hate batterys :P
always dies when you dont want it to
10/14/2005 08:14:42 AM · #9
what mode are you using when you shoot? I have an off brand flash and
in order for me to get it to work correctly I have to shoot in shutter
priority mode, no other mode works right.
10/14/2005 10:41:32 AM · #10
I am not familiar with the Sigma flash, but i am familiar with the rebel and a metz and studio flash use.

Check the modes on the flash - TTL or A-TTL will NOT work with the rebel, it must be e-TTL. Auto mode of the flash should work as well as manual mode.

The cmaera in any creative mode (A,T,P,M) will trigger the flash (hotshoe) every time the shutter button is pressed. Keep the shutter speed below 1/200, and 1/125 or slower is safest (to be sure you get what you expect).

If the flash is set to e-ttl, then in P mode the shutter speed will default to 1/60 (and stay there) and the ap will be adjustable. the camera assumes the flash is the main light, so the BG may go dark.

In A and T the camera sets the expsoure for the ambient light, and the flash is used as fill. the T setting may go as slow as 30 seconds so watch it. If the A value flashes in the viewfinder it means the camera will take a pic, but the proper exposure cannot be set (ususallythe ap cannot go wide enough for the ambient light and the pic turns out fine)

M mode works very well. Set the flash on Auto or e-TTL and the camera on M. Set he ap/shutter for the proper exposure and then underexpsoe by 2 stops (increse aperture and watch the meter in the viewfinder). this gives a nicely balanced exposure witout the derr inthe headlights flash look.
10/14/2005 06:33:35 PM · #11
I feel dumb. It was the batteries. When the flash came, I grabbed some rechargable batteries that I knew I hadn't used since I charged them. Now that I think about it, I charged them two months ago, so they probably lost some charge while sitting in my bag. I knew it almost immediately after I charged them again. The flash ready light wasn't coming on last night, but popper right on today. DOH!
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