Sigma EF-500 DG Super woes

[MT Stringer]

Well, dang it! I can't get the flash to work when mounted on a hot shoe adaptor and triggered by a Skyport receiver.

The flash works just fine when mounted in the hot shoe on either of my camera bodies (1D and 40D).

I had previously tested my 580EX II with the same setup (hot shoe adaptor and Skyport receiver) and it worked with no problems.

I even switched receivers and test fired the trigger on the camera hot shoe and in hand by pressing the test button. Nothing I have tried will make the flash fire.

I have it on Manual with power set at 1/4. It is not in slave mode or anything other than just manual.

Anybody got any ideas I can try?
Thanks
Mike

[jtmorales]

Did you try to put it in slave mode? When I use my Cactus trigger with my Sigma, I have to put it in manual slave mode for it to fire.

[MT Stringer]

Did you try to put it in slave mode?
No, I didn't try that. But wouldn't someones' P&S flash trigger it (when I'm not ready)?
I'll try it and see.

Thanks
Mike

[dmeiselman]

I have the same problem with mine, it will only trigger from my wireless triggers if it's in wireless slave mode. i just covered the IR sensor plate with gaffer's tape, so now it only triggers when I want it to.

[MT Stringer]

Well, alrighty then. We have a winner. Thank you jtmorales. I couldn't stand it. I had to test the flash one more time.

Turns out that with the flash on manual, and slave mode set to C0, the Skyport will trigger the flash, BUT so will any other flash.

When I set the slave mode to C1, it works perfectly! The Skyport will trigger the flash as it is supposed to, but when I flashed the 580 at it, it didn't trigger the flash!

Now, if only I can remember that next time I set them up.
Thanks for the help fellas.
Mike

[DerekW]

cheat sheet :
http://www.cs.hmc.edu/~geoff/ef500cheatsheet-a4.pdf

[MT Stringer]

Thanks Derek.
I forgot that flashzebra also has the Sigma operating instructions on his website.
Mike

[lazer-jock]

I've been thinking about adding some wireless triggers for outside. Thanks for the tips as well.

[Curtis N]

Detailed instructions:
http://flashzebra.com/tips/supersigmamanualmode/index.shtml

[MT Stringer]

lazer-jock, here is an example from 2008 of the skyports triggering two 540EZ's from the far end of the basketball court. I wanted to make sure everything was working OK, and it was. I'll be using the Sigma as a third flash set up somewhere around mid court.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd265/mt_stringer/Basketball/FlashSetup-650.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd265/mt_stringer/Basketball/DualFlashSetup.jpg

[lazer-jock]

Interesting... Our gym doesn't have the catwalks though, so I would have to ask maintenance to leave a ladder out and look the other way for a while.

[jtmorales]

Isn't that distracting to the players? I like the setup, but seems like it would be a bit of an intrusion on the game.

Glad this all got figured out. I couldn't remember where I learned that as I had the same problems with my Sigma a year ago when I was trying to use it off camera with Cactus triggers.

[MT Stringer]

Isn't that distracting to the players?
Nope. I shot several games there. I also talked to the coaches, refs and a player or two and everyone said the same thing..."What lights?"

They are involved in a game and not looking at or for a flash. Now maybe a point and shoot at floor level aimed directly at a player might cause some grief but I haven't had any problems.

This season, I'll be mounting light stands on one end (away from the traffic). Not all gyms have a balcony to shoot from.
Mike

[dmeiselman]

Detailed instructions:
http://flashzebra.com/tips/supersigmamanualmode/index.shtml

Oh my, look at that! I don't need my gaffer's tape after all. Thanks for the link curtis.