Will Canon 580EX work with Sigma EF 500 DG Super

[nitehawk68]

Dear All,
I have a Canon Speedlite 580EX and planning to buy a second flash. Canon Speedlite 580EX or 430EX are just too costly. I saw in Sigma's website that the EF 500 DG Super supports wireless flash and E-TTL II. I wonder will it work with 580EX on master-slave combination where 580EX be the master and EF500 DG super be the slave.

Any Sigma owners would like to commend?

Thank you.

[XC Pictorial]

nope..

If u need a remote flash, get a 430 or 420EX then..

[Russ]

Haiyah you asked the right question.

I used to use a 500DG Super as my main (sometimes Metz 32 Z-1 as the main with the 500 DG Super as my optical slave on manual mode)

until I recently bought a 580 EX II and now I use the 500 DG Super as a E-TTL slave. Works FINE, except I can't get the exposure flash ratios to work as you can set the Sigma to Slave Channel 1 2 or 3 but you cannot set it to Groups A B or C. If you want to use flash ratios, you have to either set the Sigma to manual and do trial and error or you can get 2 Sigmas because the Sigmas use the Channels to work exposure ratios but Canon uses Groups (A B or C) to do it.

So if you do not want to use flash ratios, go for it. IT WILL WORK with E-TTL but not full functionality - I use it very often and have done numerous tests.

[Russ]

Oh another thing - If the 550 or 580 EX had an OPTICAL SLAVE function, I would have sold the Sigma and bought a 550 or 580 EX. But, if I did that, I would end up with Flash Ratios but no Optical Slave. But if I bought another 550 or 580 and kept the Sigma, then I would have 4 flash units - a bit over the top. Mebbe I should sell the Metz... and get a used 550 ......

[MLSK]

Originally Posted by Russ Haiyah you asked the right question. I used to use a 500DG Super as my main (sometimes Metz 32 Z-1 as the main with the 500 DG Super as my optical slave on manual mode) until I recently bought a 580 EX II and now I use the 500 DG Super as a E-TTL slave. Works FINE, except I can't get the exposure flash ratios to work as you can set the Sigma to Slave Channel 1 2 or 3 but you cannot set it to Groups A B or C. If you want to use flash ratios, you have to either set the Sigma to manual and do trial and error or you can get 2 Sigmas because the Sigmas use the Channels to work exposure ratios but Canon uses Groups (A B or C) to do it. So if you do not want to use flash ratios, go for it. IT WILL WORK with E-TTL but not full functionality - I use it very often and have done numerous tests.

Yup, got my 580mkII as Master, 500DG Super as ETTL Slave. I set both to Channel 1 & it works! But no matter how I fiddle - just cant figure how to get the flash ratios thingy to work.......

[Russ]

Originally Posted by MLSK Yup, got my 580mkII as Master, 500DG Super as ETTL Slave. I set both to Channel 1 & it works! But no matter how I fiddle - just cant figure how to get the flash ratios thingy to work.......

I have done a lot of fiddling too and my conclusion is that it does not work, unless perhaps we use the 500DG as Master and 580 EX II as Slave on Channel 2 ???

You tried that? If not I might give it a shot - seems strange to use the Sigma as master though....

[MLSK]

Originally Posted by Russ I have done a lot of fiddling too and my conclusion is that it does not work, unless perhaps we use the 500DG as Master and 580 EX II as Slave on Channel 2 ??? You tried that? If not I might give it a shot - seems strange to use the Sigma as master though....

okie, will try it tml.
btw, what do you shoot with this master & slave setup? How do you position them & with diffusers? As you can see, I am very new with this .....

[Russ]

I normally use the master to bounce off my white ceiling and the slave to bounce of an umbrella - the slave is to the side and slightly in front of me. If I get another 550/580 then I can have 2 slaves - hmmm.