Sigma EF-500 DG Super - DPChallenge Forums

11/11/2006 09:01:03 PM · #1

I just bought one of these and I tried to use it with E-TTL II on my 350D, is it supposed to fire the pre-flash or no? Because mine sure doesn't. It also doesn't show me distance information or anything and the bounce icon is always lit. Is this normal or do I have a bad flash unit? The photos turn out fine as far as I can tell, I haven't really had the chance to really use it, I've just been tinkering around with it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

11/11/2006 09:50:36 PM · #2

Bump...

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

11/11/2006 10:38:56 PM · #3

I have one and my best suggestion is read the manual. It worked fine on my XT.

I don't mean that to sound crappy. I had to read the manual a few times to get the jest of things in it. I still read it when I want to do different things with it.

Message edited by author 2006-11-11 22:41:21.

Prof_Fate

11/11/2006 10:45:08 PM · #4

It can tilt up or DOWN - so make sure it's truly pointed strait ahead.
Preflash...i haven't paid attention, but in M mode on the camera it won't do it. In Av/Tv it might...the built in flash does, but i haven't paid attention and it probably won't if bounce flashed.

It won't show distance if bounce mode is active.

11/12/2006 12:07:33 AM · #5

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

It is pointed straight ahead, I made sure of that. I was trying to use ETTL in P mode (that's what the manual says to do) and it won't preflash with that either. I tried to take out the batteries for a while and then reinstall them to see if maybe it would reset the memory or something, but no luck with that at all.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

11/12/2006 01:40:44 AM · #6

Bump for the night shift.

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

11/12/2006 12:42:05 PM · #7

Why do you need it to or want it to pre flash? I just put it on my 5D and ran it through all the modes. It doesn't pre flash in any of the modes. I also read my manual again and doesn't say anything about a pre flash in any mode.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

11/12/2006 01:59:33 PM · #8

Originally posted by NstiG8tr:

I don't need it to preflash, I was just seeing if that's what the normal operation is or not since many people have talked about the ETTL preflash. Thanks for checking it out for me, any thoughts on the bounce icon? The manual says it should go away when the head is pointed straight, but it doesn't. I've put it in every position that it locks in and still no luck.

Message edited by author 2006-11-12 14:00:29.

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

11/15/2006 03:25:36 AM · #9

E-TTL requires pre-flash. First, the camera fires the pre-flash to EVALUATE the scene, using the light meter Through The Lens. Then it fine-tunes the power of the flash to expose properly.

This type of pre-flash can be very brief though and might be missed if the flash is being used as a fill.

This type of pre-flash is not to be confused with pre-flash for focus assist which is significantly more noticeable.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

11/20/2006 11:49:37 PM · #10

Originally posted by eschelar:

Yeah, I'm pretty sure mine doesn't do that at all. And it's still showing that the head is in bounce mode even though it's pointing straight ahead. All the other features appear to be working properly, just the ETTL preflash and it being stuck in bounce mode. Any other thoughts on how to fix this?

Spork99

OM System OM-1

11/21/2006 03:35:52 AM · #11

Originally posted by SamDoe1:

Originally posted by eschelar:
E-TTL requires pre-flash. First, the camera fires the pre-flash to EVALUATE the scene, using the light meter Through The Lens. Then it fine-tunes the power of the flash to expose properly.

This type of pre-flash can be very brief though and might be missed if the flash is being used as a fill.

This type of pre-flash is not to be confused with pre-flash for focus assist which is significantly more noticeable.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure mine doesn't do that at all. And it's still showing that the head is in bounce mode even though it's pointing straight ahead. All the other features appear to be working properly, just the ETTL preflash and it being stuck in bounce mode. Any other thoughts on how to fix this?

Typically, the pre-flash is so brief and close to the main flash pulse that it's invisible. I'd be surprised if you did see it.

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

11/21/2006 04:47:00 AM · #12

If you press the flash exposure lock button on the camera, you should see the flash emitting its low-power pre-flash. If, when you take a photo with the flash, you see a burst of light through the viewfinder, that is the pre-flash. The main flash is fired when the mirror is up, so it is not seen through the viewfinder.

11/21/2006 07:56:16 PM · #13

Originally posted by AJAger:

Oh! Ok, that makes sense to me. Thanks a lot for the help everyone. Now the only problem remaining is the stupid bounce icon.

Prof_Fate

11/21/2006 09:32:52 PM · #14

Push the button to unlock the tilt, tilt it all the way down. let go the button and tilt it up ever so slightly till it clicks. 1/8" is about all it moves. make sure the rotate is locked straight ahead as well.

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

11/25/2006 04:48:06 PM · #15

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Tried that 5 times, still no luck. It still shows the bounce icon on the bottom left. It's locked straight ahead in the vertical and horizontal directions.

bassoon_boi

Canon EOS-20D

11/27/2006 10:03:22 PM · #16

Hmmm... strange. Return it to your dealer, maybe.

What i'm dying to know is: is the ef500 compatable with canon speedlites like 580ex? for example, i want to use my 580ex as a slave w/ the sigma as a master.

11/28/2006 10:15:23 PM · #17

Originally posted by bassoon_boi:

I don't know if the Sigma can trigger the 580, but I know the 580 can trigger the Sigma for sure. And yeah, I'm going to try and call Sigma and see what they have to say first.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/02/2006 02:15:42 PM · #18

The problem fixed itself when I changed lenses... So all is well now, thanks everyone.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

12/02/2006 02:34:16 PM · #19

i am guessing you had a lens longer than the flash is capable of zooming/firing past. meaning that if your fired off a shot part of the image would be obscured/shadowed by the tip of the lens. i could be wrong though. the flash was telling you to bounce it to avoid the shadowed image result. the lens would block some of the light intended to hit the subject when pointed straight ahead.