Sigma 530 Super vs. Canon 430EX

[gorby]

So I've recently gotten my first flash- Sunpak 383. Surprisingly, I've been able to learn how to get acceptable results with it fairly quickly, and I've been having a ton of fun with flash photography.


I'm now looking to get a second flash to further expand the possibilities! I've been looking at the Sigma 530 Super and the Canon 430EX, for they are near identical in price and have "ETTL" (which I don't even 100% know how useful it is in application yet)

I know the Sigma has 2 features that appeal to me- optical slave and 'rear curtain sync'. What advantages would you say the 430 has over the Sigma?

Is one more powerful than the other? Does one play nicer with the Sunpak than the other?

[Curtis N]

The optical slave of the Sigma is something I find quite handy in a second unit. The 430EX won't "play nice" with your Sunpak at all.

Rear curtain (second curtain) sync is something you can set on the camera if you can't set it on the flash, so that should be a non-issue.

The Sigma is slightly more powerful, but the 430EX is probably built better and will likely last longer (conjecture on my part).

[gorby]

Thank you Curtis.

You see, I had in mind that one of these 'more sophisticated' (than the 383) flashes would be the one I would use should I need something fast and on-the-go in the future.

Say, photographing an event or something. As I understand it, ETTL would be desireable for that. I might be wrong. Also I would guess that having a focus assist beam is vital?

Otherwise I'd just as soon get another 383 and pocket the difference.

[Curtis N]

You're right, the automation of E-TTL makes it easier to use in many ways and the more sophisticated flash will most likely be the one used most. And the AF assist beam is a godsend in low light.

But the optical slave of the Sigma will be used off-camera, presumably with your Sunpak on the hotshoe. There is no way to use the 430EX and the Sunpak together unless you acquire other accessories, such as an optical slave to attach to the Sunpak (which wouldn't be a bad idea).

[gorby]

I think I'm pretty much set on a 530 super. Cheers!

[ShotByTom]

The Sigma flashes are pretty good, it is very nice having the built in optical slave. Plus, if you ever decide to get another one, they work very well together wirelessly.

[GreenPig]

I had the same question a few weeks ago.
The big question was Fetaures+Price of the Sigma 530 vs BuildQuality+Compatibility of the Canon 430.
I went for the Sigma and have been using it for 3 weeks now - It's brilliant - but I only have the onboard flash to compare it with.

Yes, the build quality is not the best in the world but I cant see how you could break it without being really careless. The battery cover could be the first point to break but only if you're rough with it.
The AF light on the front only illuminates the centre AF spot - I have read many comments that this is a pain but I havent found that so far. Using the Exposure lock, I can expose for my subject (it generates a pre-flash) and then recompose for the shot - ok, it takes another second or so and there is an additional flash but I have not needed it very often.
I initially had concerns about the exposure and apparent lack of preflash, so I spoke to the salesman where I bought it. He confirmed that the pre-flash and real flash are so close together, that you will rarely detect two flashes. He ran through the ETTL operation with me and I'm happy with the operation.

I hassled Canon about lenses reporting distance data. Eventually I got the answer back. I have the 18-55 Kit lens, 50mm f/1.8 MkII and the 28-105 USMII lens. Bot the zooms 'should' report distance data but the 50mm does not. The 350D does not record this data in the EXIF but it does pass it through to the flash for full ETTL-II operation. Canons words "The focus distance is used for exposure calculations and is not considered as reqired for the photographer ans therefore not recorded in the image data".
I have tried flash shots with diffent focal lengths on both my zooms and I cant fault the exposure so I presume the Sigma is getting the data. It is a known fact that Canon have not published the full ETTL protocol and that Sigma have reverse engineered it - hence the lack of support for all AF points.

The Sigma manual is ... not too good. But it's not the worst translated technical manual in the world. I played with all of the features and found it easy to use after a few minutes.

I like the remote operation. The manual explains how to setup the flash on camera and then remove it. This isn't necessary as you can configure the remote operation completely within the flash. I have triggered it from my 350D and A70 & A570 with great results. The only downside with remote flash on each of my cameras is is the need to use the onboard flash as the trigger - which is not always wanted. I have a lumiquest diffuser for the 350D which I have used with the flash exposure turned down 2 stops. This provides a subtle front lighting but happily triggers the 530.

Recharge time on Alkalines is as per the spec - about 6-7 seconds. On NiMh is less than a second - much better than the spec. I used an old set of 1300mAh cells which have been recharged a few times now.

My only concern so far is behaviour with weak batteries. I left the unit turned on over the weekend and I'm not sure if it auto-powered off. I switched it off and on and the menu's worked oddly. When attached to the camera, it "woke up" a bit which suggests it draws a little power from the hot-shoe (not good I think). I later realised the batteries were dead and started over with new ones and it worked ok again.

Sorry for the long post.

[gout_miel]

Do you guys know if a Sigma 530 non-super can be used as a slave (sunpak or whatever) ?

thanks

[MT Stringer]

Victor, I would suggest you look up the technical info on the flash you ask about on the Simga website and see if it offers manual control of the power settings (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, etc.)

If not, you might as well forget about it. It will be difficult to use it off camera if you can't control the power.
Hope this helps.
Mike

[gorby]

that was a good read greenpig, thanks

gout, from what i've read, no

[GreenPig]

Do you guys know if a Sigma 530 non-super can be used as a slave (sunpak or whatever) ?

thanks
The Super has wireless features - the ST does not.

[AginKajun]

Victor, I would suggest you look up the technical info on the flash you ask about on the Simga website and see if it offers manual control of the power settings (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, etc.)

If not, you might as well forget about it. It will be difficult to use it off camera if you can't control the power.
Hope this helps.
Mike

Sigma is good in manual setting from full power down to 1/256 I believe if my memory serves me right.

[Livinthalife]

I got the 500 DG super, and it has been treatin me well. The build could be better, but hey, for the price who can complain? I tend to use the optical slave a lot, it's very convenient without purchasing other wireless products.

[GreenPig]

Sigma is good in manual setting from full power down to 1/256 I believe if my memory serves me right.
530 Super has power levels : full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, 1/128
530 ST only has full and 1/16

Links to 500/530 ST/Super here ... http://www.sigmaphoto.com/flashes/flashes_flashes.asp

[datadump]

i picked up a used 530 super and i must say its a really great unit. i LOVE the optical slave feature. i was surprised how well it even worked with my 580exii in IR slave mode. i always thought canon IR system only worked with canon flashes.

i also agree though that the build quality is not as great as the canon's (both 430ex and 580exII). but that doesnt bother me much since i'm used to using the old sunpak 383s heheh

[ChadAndreo]

bump

[KarlosDaJackal]

I have a 430ex and after reading this will be picking up a 530 Super to use as an optical slave. In fact I might sell the 430EX and get a 2nd 530 Super in the future.

I played around with the Sigmas in the store on Saturday. They are flimsy feeling and ugly, but I think if i dropped one it would stay together. The dual click system to adjust the head was a bit of a pain also, menu is a bit of a pain to understand but easier to adjust than the 430EX (v1) with its deep set buttons.

Don't get me wrong the 430 has been excellent, but it limits you, it won't play nice with anything but a 550/580 apparently it does not even like the cheap wireless triggers.