My Sigma 530 flash gun has failed.

glsammy · #1 (**permalink**) 21-02-2011, 10:58 PM

Time to buy a new flash gun. I recently got out my Sigma EF530 DG flash gun and was surprised by how many times it failed to fire. Further tests on two bodies have proven to me that the gun is faulty.
Normally I'd be critical of a gun that failed after a few years work but to be honest it's nothing short of miraculous the gun has kept working for so long. I've lost count the number of times I've dropped it, or had it fall over when resting on something not substantial enough.
I'm getting a Canon 580 EX II this time. Mainly for the high speed option in AV mode which the Sigma doesn't support. Plus I can make adjustments through the camera which will be more convenient.
I'm also upgrading my flash set up on my MP-e65 with an MT-24.
I've always used a home made double flash system but last year due to my health problems I rarely used it and the MT-24 is considerably lighter and more manageable, meaning I may even use the lens.

Here's hoping for a half decent spring/summer!

RobSutton · #2 (**permalink**) 22-02-2011, 05:58 AM

Good luck with the Canon 580 EXII - they seem to be pretty bombproof and the weather sealing is useful. I often end up with mine lying on the floor in wet moss or wet grass connected by an extension cord or used wirelessly as a slave with the on-camera flash used to fire it - so far it's survived everything. I also use an MT-24 with an MP-e65 and found that I needed to experiment quite a lot with flash settings at full extension. I often have to set the flash to +2-3 stops to light very small things satisfactorily at high magnification. It's not a problem with static things like very small fungi where you can adjust the +- levels as you shoot but for things like insects it's worth doing lots of trials first to make sure the exposure is OK.

glsammy · #3 (**permalink**) 22-02-2011, 12:59 PM

Thanks Rob.
I've been reading up on the MT-24.
I've now got it and it's much better weight wise than my old set up which was the main reason I've gone for it. It's so much better I can even imagine using it outside my own garden!

The main problem with it seems to be the double reflection with a pretty harsh flash, even with the possible power variations. I've already got some diffusers on order and I'll be building my own version to get around that. I'll be aiming to get it so that you can't tell flash has been used. Sounds like fun anyway!

glsammy · #4 (**permalink**) 23-02-2011, 01:13 PM

I've also now got the 580 EX II. Found out that the Lambency diffuser for my Sigma didn't fit. A few quick cuts with a sharp knife, problem solved!

glsammy · #5 (**permalink**) 24-02-2011, 09:40 AM

I was having a problem setting High Sync Flash with the 580 in AV mode. No matter what I did the camera refused to alter the shutter speed from 1/250sec. No problem in Manual or TV, but not AV.
I decided to ask Canon for help as obviously I was doing something very stupid. I made it clear it was using High Speed Sync in AV mode that was the problem, the camera wouldn't select a shutter speed higher than 1/250sec no matter what the light or other settings were.
After a bit of lunch it suddenly dawned on me what I'd done wrong. I'd simply set a custom flash function to only use 1/250sec.

I thought that only applied to the built in flash, especially as it is ignored in TV or manual mode.
Changed that setting to auto and now High Speed Sync works perfectly in all modes.

I sent another reply to Canon telling them I'd got it sorted, but they still responded to my first request.

Here's their reply:
Date:
24/02/2011

Ticket number:
01600875
Dear Mr. Gamble,

Thank you for your e-mail and for contacting Canon Consumer Support.
We are sorry to learn that you have experienced a problem with your Canon product.

In response to your query about your speedlite 580EX II and EOS 7D, be advised that in AV mode the shutterspeed is controlled by the camera, you can not alter it yourself in that case. I suggest to use TV mode, then the camera controls the aperature however the shutterspeed can be controlled by the user in that case.

Should you have any further queries with regards to this matter or wish to reply to this e-mail within the next 5 days, please click on this link.

Yours sincerely,

Canon Consumer Support

What utter rot!
Of course your not DIRECTLY altering your shutter speed in AV mode, but that's the whole point of using AV, set the aperture to what you want to get the shutter speed you need. To say you can't alter the shutter speed in AV is simply daft, Also where's the details about High Speed Sync??

Nice to know Canon don't understand their own equipment!

squishy · #6 (**permalink**) 26-02-2011, 04:08 PM

Customer services are so often useless.

Did you try turning it off and on again?

I try to talk to people on the phone rather than by email. It can take several emails and several days before they actually understand what I'm asking usually

glsammy · #7 (**permalink**) 26-02-2011, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squishy

Customer services are so often useless.

Did you try turning it off and on again?

I try to talk to people on the phone rather than by email. It can take several emails and several days before they actually understand what I'm asking usually

I got another reply. That one was just as daft!
The important bit is that the 580 is working perfectly.

glsammy · #8 (**permalink**) 26-02-2011, 04:35 PM

I've got my MT-24 diffuser built and the initial results look very promising.

Here's a shot taken today. I chose a difficult object, a pair of my scissors on a glass table top.

With my home made diffusers:

Without:

Camera and flash settings identical. Using ETTL flash. I remember I wasn't impressed with ETTL when used on my 40D. I generally use manual, but it did that one nicely.

Ollie · #9 (**permalink**) 26-02-2011, 09:53 PM

The 580 EX 11 is a great flash gun Graham. Never had any problems with mine on either the 40 or 7D apart from the odd mucky contact which is soon corrected with a good wipe with a clean cloth.

It's handy being able to alter the flash settings via the camera menu as well.

What a load of cobblers Canon sent you about controlling it in AV mode !!!.

glsammy · #10 (**permalink**) 26-02-2011, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ollie

The 580 EX 11 is a great flash gun Graham. Never had any problems with mine on either the 40 or 7D apart from the odd mucky contact which is soon corrected with a good wipe with a clean cloth.

It's handy being able to alter the flash settings via the camera menu as well.

What a load of cobblers Canon sent you about controlling it in AV mode !!!.

I asked them if they had any jobs going in customer support as I obviously knew more about their camera's and flash guns than that idiot did.

I do think there's a bug in their firmware though. You can set the camera to always use 1/250sec for flash. When you set up the flash functions for the external flash gun, you can select High speed sync. Now for manual mode and TV mode, the camera follows what you've set and ignores the 1/250sec setting, but in AV mode it doesn't. Not very logical.
No problem anyway, it's working very well. I've been doing more water droplet shots and I'm impressed with the flash performance. Very quick refreshing and easy to adjust.