Sigma EF-530 DG Super Electronic Flash for Sony DSLR
From Sigma Corporation
ELECTRONIC FLASH EF-530 DG SUPER. EF-530 DG SUPER features a powerful Guide Number of 174 ft / 53m and is designed to work with the latest TTL auto exposure systems of all popular manufacturers' digital SLR cameras. Among the advanced features of this flash are modeling flash function, multi pulse flash, TTL wireless flash, FP (high speed) flash, rear-curtain Synchro flash and manual flash mode which allows the photographer to set the flash power level by up to eight stops. The Auto Power-Off function automatically shuts off the LCD panel to help save battery power. When the flashgun is fully charged, a confirmation "ready" light will be emitted. The autozoom function automatically sets the optimum illumination angle in accordance with the lens' focal length in a range from 24mm to 105mm. When the built-in Wide Panel is used, the flash can cover the angle of 17mm. For bounce flash, the flashgun head can be tilted up by 90 degrees, to the left by 180 degrees, or to the right by 90 degrees. It can also be tilted down by 7 degrees allowing ease of use for close-up photography.
- Brand: Sigma
- Model: B000UHC042
- Dimensions: 1.50 pounds
When there's insufficient or unsuitable light available to take a picture, it's of paramount importance to have a ready source of supplementary light to fulfill the need. That's where Sigma's EF-530 DG super-electronic flash comes into play. Designed exclusively for Sony digital SLR cameras, the flash offers a powerful guide number of 174 feet/53 meters and boasts the latest TTL automatic flash exposure control for easy operation. More significantly, the EF-530 is outfitted with a host of advanced features, including a modeling flash function, a multi-pulse flash, a TTL wireless flash, an FP (high-speed) flash, a rear-curtain synchro flash, and a manual flash mode that allows the photographer to set the flash power level by up to eight stops. The auto power-off function, meanwhile, automatically shuts off the display to save battery power. And when the flashgun is fully charged, the flash emits a confirmation-ready light, letting you check the flash exposure level through the camera's viewfinder.
Like Sigma's lenses, the EF-530 flash incorporates the latest features and technological advances, most of which aren't found on any other flash units save those made by the major camera makers themselves. They are the most powerful and completely dedicated flash units available for 35mm SLR and digital cameras.
Features:
- Autozoom function that automatically sets the optimum illumination angle
- Covers a focal length from 24mm to 105mm
- A built-in wide panel that covers the 17mm angle
- A tilting flashgun head for bounce flash (up by 90 degrees, to the left by 180 degrees, and to the right by 90 degrees)
- A down tilt angle of 7 degrees for close-up photography
- Sophisticated multifunction flash that can control advanced lighting techniques
- Wireless slave-flash functions
- Measures 3 by 5.5 by 4.6 inches (W x H x D)
- Weighs 10.8 ounces
- 1-year warranty
What's in the Box
EF-530 DG super flash for Sony cameras, soft case, hot shoe table stand, user's manual.
It's okay, but not, in fact, super.
This flash works on my Pentax K10D, but not without some caveats.
First, the strengths:
+ It's certainly more flash power than you can get for the money from the official Pentax line-up.
+ Tilt and swivel head.
+ It does a good job working with the K10D's TTL system -- exposure seems generally to be correct.
+ Wireless P-TTL slave mode works great.
+ Focus assist lamp is nice.
And then, the negatives:
- This is a huge flash. It's almost bigger than my camera body. The comparable Pentax AF540FGZ is big too, but I'd trade off some flash power for the feature set in a more compact size.
- The tilt head has a click-lock point at straight forward and at something like 70°-up and a few more between that and straight up -- but nothing at 30° or 45°, and I'm a bit worried that over time it'll get loose and not hold its position. (The Pentax flash has these midway click points.)
- It feels plasticky. doesn't look bad, but doesn't feel solid.
- High-speed sync only works if you disable AutoISO. You probably want to control ISO in your flash shots anyway, but Pentax tech support tells me their official flashes don't have this shortcoming. (Sigma tech support, by the way, wasn't able to explain this to me -- I had to figure out why it wasn't working on my own.)
- Mounting onto the hotshoe is a bit fussy; I'm not sure if Pentax's own flash is any better, but I kind of think it must be.
- The user interface panel is a confusing mess of barely-comprehensible icons and acronyms and poorly-labeled buttons.
- The manual is even worse, and not just because it was clearly not written by an English speaker.
So, that's a lot of negatives, but I'm still giving three stars because while the list of positives is shorter, they're all very strong positives. I had some initial buyer's remorse and was considering an exchange for the AF540FGZ, but I think I'll keep it in hopes that Pentax adds a swivel feature to the next version of the AF360FGZ, which then would be my use-most-of-the-time flash while this would be a wireless slave or option for when I need more power.
Not a worthy alternative to the Nikon SB-800
Do yourself a favor...spend the extra $50 and get the Nikon SB-800 instead. I initially bought the Sigma EF-530 DG Super as a lower-cost alternative to the Nikon SB-800, and I regret it. I ended up buying the Nikon SB-800 after all.
Any way I use this flash, either standalone on-camera, wireless master or wireless slave, I have to make manual adjustments to exposure because it always over exposes. In addition, as a wireless master, it often miscommunicates with the slaves, resulting in slaves firing at full power, not only over-exposing the subject, but also wasting battery life.
To setup as a wireless slave, you must first attach the flash to camera, make your settings, then remove it from the camera. Then if you turn off the flash or accidentally press the "mode" button, you have to re-attach it to the camera and make all you settings all over again. Such a hassle. In comparison, the Nikon SB-800 or SB-600 can be setup as a wireless slave without having to attach the flash to the camera, and when you turn the Nikon flashes off and back on again, all the settings are the same a you left them, so they're always ready to go straight out of the bag.
One more thing, the menus on the Sigma are very cumbersome and not very intuitive.
Bottom line, if you're only ever going to use this flash as a standalone, and having to play with exposure settings is worth saving $50 to you, then you might be okay with the Sigma EF-530 DG Super, otherwise go with the Nikon SB-800.
Great flash, not the best option for strobists
I ordered two of these for use in a "strobist" style setup without radio triggers. This was a big mistake because you cannot use the Pentax wireless commander mode with these units in Manual. Only pttl.
The only way to fire them on manual as slaves is with another flash which is contributing to the exposure.
They will work fine on manual with radio triggers such as Pocket Wizards or Skyports but even then they have an 80 second "timeout" where if they are not fired in 80 seconds, they turn off. That can be annoying. There may be a way to get around this though, when I get my radio triggers, if I can figure out a way to get pass that problem I will be sure to update here.
Other than that though they are great! Very powerful with a speedy recycle time (4.5 secs with NiMh batteries), tilt and swivel head, accurate pttl on and off camera.
It doesn't feel too "plasticy" to me but time will only tell how rugged they are.
