DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Canon 580Ex vs. Sigma EF 500 DG Super
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 16 of 16, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 01/24/2007 07:46:11 PM · #1
I lost one of my 580Ex flashes, and I need to replace it.

The 580Ex works great and it̢۪s all that I need, but the Sigma EF 500 DG Super is much more inexpensive and I can save some $$$ for a softbox.

Is there any big difference between the two?

I̢۪ll appreciate any comments.
Thanks.
01/24/2007 07:58:15 PM · #2
the radio signals won't work properly.
 01/24/2007 08:21:45 PM · #3
Originally posted by kyebosh:
the radio signals won't work properly.


????
 01/24/2007 08:23:03 PM · #4
I love my Sigma, and in everything I've read, it is very comparable to the 580's.
 01/24/2007 08:34:32 PM · #5
unsure of how the sigma's work with the canon together, but the flash itself is very similar to the 580ex, and in terms of features its almost the same. I'm considering getting one of the two, but the biggest difference with them is the build. I thought this wouldn't matter, but after holding both on camera, the canon feels very stable, whereas your worried the sigma might fall off if you twist to portrait too fast :P ... otherwise an excellent flash.. I'm still deciding whether the extra $$ is worth the stability
 01/24/2007 08:52:23 PM · #6
I have used both I initially bought a Sigma DG super, and used it alot, I had a few problems with it sent it to Sigma and had it fixed and sold it. Replaced it with a 580EX and wish I had bought it first. Besides the build, the exposure is so much more accurate then on the Sigma. If I were you and your already using a 580EX I think you will be disappointed with the Sigma. I know if I had to go back to one I would be. But if you need to save money you can just remember you have been warned.

This is my opinion yours may be different and I respect that, please respect mine.

MattO
 01/24/2007 08:58:50 PM · #7
Kyebosh, you state that the radio signals are not compatible. I have raised this question in the forums three times in other threads and have not yet received an answer from anyone who has actually tried it. I have an offer from a camera shop in town to try my camera with their flashes, but sadly, I've forgotten where the durned place is.

Have you actually tried the flashes and confirmed that the radio signals are not compatible?

Just as a means of clarification, Canon's wireless system is not radio, it's an IR system. Nikon uses radio.

Message edited by author 2007-01-25 11:15:31.
 01/24/2007 09:44:54 PM · #8
Originally posted by eschelar:
Kyebosh, you state that the radio signals are not compatible. I have raised this question in the forums three times in other threads and have not yet received an answer from anyone who has actually tried it. I have an offer from a camera shop in town to try my camera with their flashes, but sadly, I've forgotten where the durned place is.

Have you actually tried the flashes and confirmed that the radio signals are not compatible?


The sigma will only fire optically, it will not fire as a radio slave with the Canon system. I have had them both at the same time and have used it as an optical slave. Here is a PDF link for the manual for canon camera.

PDF manual Warning this is a almost 4mb download. Not dial up friendly.

MattO

Message edited by author 2007-01-24 21:46:38.
 01/25/2007 01:19:46 AM · #9
According to marksimms from this thread, you can use a Sigma to trigger a 580EX. You might want to PM him about it for more info.

Originally posted by marksimms:
Yes, the sigma can be used as master for the canon flashes (that support wireless E-TTL). I have had the sigma mounted on my 5D running a slave 580.


And I don't really think it's as bad as what people make it out to be. It's a darned good flash that does an excellent job and has a ton of features for the price. Sure the build quality is lacking compared to a 580EX, but the build quality of a 50mm f/1.8 sucks compared to the f/1.4, yet people recommend the 1.8 more often than the 1.4. Unless you're going to heavily beat on it, it'll do the job just fine. So if it comes down to the best bang for the buck, just like the two Canon 50mm lenses, you can't beat the Sigma.

Edit to add: I love mine...

Message edited by author 2007-01-25 01:25:01.
 01/25/2007 01:49:12 AM · #10
Originally posted by SamDoe1:

And I don't really think it's as bad as what people make it out to be. It's a darned good flash that does an excellent job and has a ton of features for the price. Sure the build quality is lacking compared to a 580EX, but the build quality of a 50mm f/1.8 sucks compared to the f/1.4, yet people recommend the 1.8 more often than the 1.4. Unless you're going to heavily beat on it, it'll do the job just fine. So if it comes down to the best bang for the buck, just like the two Canon 50mm lenses, you can't beat the Sigma.

Edit to add: I love mine...


Yep I agree. Build smild. Just cause it don't way a ton doesn't make it cheap. Where do you people come up with this logic? I beat the piss out of my Sigma just for the simple fact that it was cheaper and it still works fine. Hell I dropped it on the concrete from about 3-1/2 foot tryin to put new batteries in it at a bull riding event a couple of weeks ago and it didn't even phase it.
 01/25/2007 01:01:46 PM · #11
Originally posted by eschelar:
Kyebosh, you state that the radio signals are not compatible. I have raised this question in the forums three times in other threads and have not yet received an answer from anyone who has actually tried it. I have an offer from a camera shop in town to try my camera with their flashes, but sadly, I've forgotten where the durned place is.

Have you actually tried the flashes and confirmed that the radio signals are not compatible?

Just as a means of clarification, Canon's wireless system is not radio, it's an IR system. Nikon uses radio.

Yeah, I mean the IR system, I've tried it with a Sigma DG 500 which is my friend's and my canon 550ex. They would fire, but the delay was too great to be of any usefulness. We gave up trying to get them to work and bought an optical trigger... which works... half the time.

I can't say for sure about the 580ex, so listen to these other guys :-)

Message edited by author 2007-01-25 13:02:53.
 01/25/2007 01:09:02 PM · #12
So if one say doesnt need the remote fire and is just using a single flash mounted to the camera then the Sigma is a deasent choice?

-dave
 01/25/2007 08:30:43 PM · #13
Originally posted by dknourek:
So if one say doesnt need the remote fire and is just using a single flash mounted to the camera then the Sigma is a deasent choice?

-dave


Yes... I also use my Sigma to fire my strobes and I also slave it with my strobes and it works just fine.
 01/25/2007 10:42:00 PM · #14
Originally posted by kyebosh:
Yeah, I mean the IR system, I've tried it with a Sigma DG 500 which is my friend's and my canon 550ex. They would fire, but the delay was too great to be of any usefulness. We gave up trying to get them to work and bought an optical trigger... which works... half the time.

I can't say for sure about the 580ex, so listen to these other guys :-)


The reason I felt it necessary to point out the difference is that the IR system is 'line of sight' which in essence is more prone to interference than a radio system, but is actually better suited to cross brand compatibility. Using the flash as an optical slave is finnicky because it's then relegated to manual mode (so you had better know your light or have a light meter) and you must use manual mode on your on-camera flash as well (generally speaking...). This could explain why you have success with the Sigma as optical slave with a 550EX 'half of the time'. Comments?

Palmetto. When you say that you use your sigma to fire your strobes, you are referring to using your strobes set up as optical slaves - correct?

And if your strobes are set up as optical slaves, this would also indicate that the Sigma would be set up as an optical slave.

But you stop short of actually giving any info about the IR cross-brand compatibility. Have you tried it?

EDIT: Just checked my email and received the following response from Mark Simms. It seems appropriate, so I will post it here:

Hi Eschelar,
I was using the Sigma as a master and the Canon 580 as slave in true E-TTL
wireless mode. However, when trying to use the canon as the master and the Sigma
as the slave, it (the slave) refused to fire.. weird huh?

This was both tested at home and also in a working environment (wedding).

Hope this helps..

Mark


Thanks mark!!

Message edited by author 2007-01-25 22:51:18.
 01/26/2007 09:29:40 AM · #15
Originally posted by eschelar:
Palmetto. When you say that you use your sigma to fire your strobes, you are referring to using your strobes set up as optical slaves - correct?

And if your strobes are set up as optical slaves, this would also indicate that the Sigma would be set up as an optical slave.

But you stop short of actually giving any info about the IR cross-brand compatibility. Have you tried it?


You are correct. I've used my Sigma on camera to trigger my strobes optically, and I have also used my Sigma off-camera while wired in to my strobes. The strobes trigger the Sigma optically (setting everything manually). Works like a charm for me.

As far as cross-brand compatibility... sorry, I can't help there. I will say though that I plan on getting a second Sigma since I've been so pleased with the one I have.
 01/26/2007 01:22:13 PM · #16
I use three sigmas, they are fantastic flashes and have never given me any problems - the only issue is they are a bit more fragile than the canon ones (smashed a sigma last week), but they're a lot cheaper to replace also. Needless to say the wireless ettl2 works great between them. I've never tried them in conjunction with canon flashes myself, but reading around on the internet suggests they work perfectly fine both as canon slaves and masters, never a bad report.



To clarify some technical issues being thrown around here though:

No radio is involved, in either system. Both systems as far as i know communicate not through pure infrared but through visible light (including an infrared component) - specifically, the main flash itself is modulated during the exposure in such a way that carries information to the slaves. As i understand it, the receivers on the slaves (both canon and sigma) are only infrared sensitive, so it is possible to have infrared-only (non-flashing) command modules such as the canon ST-E2 wireless transmitter. This is confirmed working with sigma slaves (google around for it).

Also the matter of needing line-of-sight - that's generally only true if shooting outdoors with the slaves at a large distance from the master. Then all i have to do is tilt the head of the master towards the slave, and make sure the slave's IR receiver is pointed towards me. Indoors, generally the walls will be reflective enough for the master flash anywhere in the room to trigger the slave, no matter where either is pointed - often works round corners also.

In both of these, the master and slave were pointed away from each other:


And in this outtake, the slave was more than a hundred feet away from the master:

Pages:  
Current Server Time: 01/02/2026 02:06:26 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2026 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 01/02/2026 02:06:26 PM EST.