580ex II and Sigma Super EF500 = What can I do at weddings?!

[xmacvicar]

Hey everyone,

I just picked up my 580ex II yesterday! It is amazing, very powerful, sleek, and the hotshoe connection is incredible! Very solid and tight...

My question relates to the use of this flash with a Sigma Super EF 500. What possible things can I pull off at a wedding reception with the 2 of these flashes? I know I can set the Sigma into an optical slave mode, but what are some techniques or things photog's do with 2 flashes at receptions? Would you set one up on a stand and trigger it optically with the main 580ex II?

Any comments or suggestions would be awesome, thanks everyone :)

[Curtis N]

Anecdotes I have read seem to indicate that the wireless E-TTL features of Canon and Sigma are somewhat compatible, but the Sigma will work better as a slave than as a master. Do some experimenting with this.

From memory, you set the Sigma in optical slave mode by pressing the mode button until the display reads "CO SL". This is very reliable indoors, but requires manual power adjustment of both master and slave. Alternatively it might work if you use the 580EX II in traditional auto mode (I think the manual refers to it as external flash metering). Either way, it sounds like too much trial and error for a wedding reception. You might be able to put the Sigma on a stand and aim it at the ceiling to help with background illumination. Keep in mind that every guest with a flash is going to trigger it.