Sigma 530 DG Super flash or Canon 580 EX II???

07/15/2009 09:15:38 PM · #1

I'm finally biting the bullet and buying a flash this weekend. I can't decide which to get. I had decided on the Sigma but only for the price. Is there really a big enough difference between these flashes to make the Canon worth while? Looking on ebay there is about a $150 difference. I can think of plenty to spend the $150 on if I don't need to spend it. So what am I going to be missing out on if I opt for the Sigma? Thanks alot for any help!

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

07/15/2009 09:26:35 PM · #2

Also, how is the first generation 580 EX? Is it worth the savings over the newer 2nd gen?

MattO

Nikon D4

07/15/2009 09:32:50 PM · #3

For my money there is no substitution for the 580EXII, maybe that is why I own three of them. I use them for on camera flash, off camera flash, and just about every situation you can think of. I even sold my AB's and only use them in my "studio". Yeah they are expensive but recycle time, battery usage, and reliability have been great for me.

Matt

LVicari

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/16/2009 02:09:03 AM · #4

Once you get to feel both of them you will see the difference! I had the same dilemma. Then I actually went and talked to a sales person at Henry's and he showed me the difference.
The range on the 580 exII is superior to that of the Sigma. Also whenyou get into multiple light set ups you want the ETTL so the 580 can control all your flashes. Sigma cannot. You will never have to spend more money to upgrade!

I recently bought the 430exII(?) for a slave and it served its purpose. I now wished I had just bought another 580.

Hope this helps. Go into a store and feel them out before you make a decision.

Edit: I cant type

Message edited by author 2009-07-16 02:09:57.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/16/2009 09:50:14 AM · #5

Originally posted by LVicari:

Interesting. I definitely want E-TTL. Didn't know that the Sigma didn't use that.

LVicari

Canon EOS-50D

07/16/2009 10:02:14 AM · #6

Originally posted by A4wheelin:

Originally posted by LVicari:
Once you get to feel both of them you will see the difference! I had the same dilemma. Then I actually went and talked to a sales person at Henry's and he showed me the difference.
The range on the 580 exII is superior to that of the Sigma. Also whenyou get into multiple light set ups you want the ETTL so the 580 can control all your flashes. Sigma cannot. You will never have to spend more money to upgrade!

I recently bought the 430exII(?) for a slave and it served its purpose. I now wished I had just bought another 580.

Hope this helps. Go into a store and feel them out before you make a decision.

Edit: I cant type

Interesting. I definitely want E-TTL. Didn't know that the Sigma didn't use that.

Ooops My Bad! It does use TTL technology. I cant recall exactly what the limitation was on this flash that made me go to the 580. I just know it was substantial enough for me to go with the 580. Sorry for that.

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

07/16/2009 09:19:34 PM · #7

Originally posted by LVicari:

Originally posted by A4wheelin:

Originally posted by LVicari:
Once you get to feel both of them you will see the difference! I had the same dilemma. Then I actually went and talked to a sales person at Henry's and he showed me the difference.
The range on the 580 exII is superior to that of the Sigma. Also whenyou get into multiple light set ups you want the ETTL so the 580 can control all your flashes. Sigma cannot. You will never have to spend more money to upgrade!

I recently bought the 430exII(?) for a slave and it served its purpose. I now wished I had just bought another 580.

Hope this helps. Go into a store and feel them out before you make a decision.

Edit: I cant type

Interesting. I definitely want E-TTL. Didn't know that the Sigma didn't use that.

Ooops My Bad! It does use TTL technology. I cant recall exactly what the limitation was on this flash that made me go to the 580. I just know it was substantial enough for me to go with the 580. Sorry for that.

That's cool, no biggie. I've been reading up on the difference between E-TTL and TTL and it seems like E-TTL is the way to go.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/16/2009 09:55:21 PM · #8

Since I shoot in manual mode all the time using off camera flash I opted to go third party flashes. One of them is the sigma 500 and it works flawlessly in the 2 years I've been using it. However if u like using it on camera, third party flashes don't always work when you upgrade cameras. For instance the sigma 500 use to work on camera with my 20d but it doesn't on my 5dmk2, which is fine by me since it's always used off camera.

Message edited by author 2009-07-16 21:57:10.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/22/2009 12:07:28 AM · #9

Still trying to decide. I'm leaning heavily towards the Sigma Super simply because of the price. I feel at the least it will work for me in the mean time and I can learn alot. Then eventually if I want I can get a Speedlight 580 and use the Sigma as a slave unit. What say ye?

LVicari

Canon EOS-50D

07/22/2009 07:00:30 AM · #10

Originally posted by A4wheelin:

AHA! Thats what it was! Now I know what it was that made me decide on the canon speedlites over the Sigma. The store sales people and I set up a test. We set up a 580 and a Sigma as a slave and when we fired the 580 there was a considerable delay in the Sigma. That was enough for me not to go with it.

Just FYI