canon 430ex or sigma 500 super

Many seem to look primarily at power/$$$. While this is a valid consideration I would suggest you consider compatibility as well. I know I'm opening myself to replys by Sigma flash owners/users, but, nothing syncs to a Canon camera as reliability as a Canon flash. If you check around on this and other forums you will find a number of users that experience sync problems with the Sigma. I'm not sure of the pricing or availability but I suggest you consider getting the 550EX Canon flash.

No my flash is the one that sells for $239.00 at B&H. The EF-500 DG Super E-TTL II. But it has the same 165/50m at 105mm GN. If you are not interested in doing any multiflash wireless arrangements, or having a lot of manual control, the cheaper ST flash would do just fine. It only has full power and 1/16 power for manual control. The super will do full to 1/128. As far as the recycle time specs they quote, they must be using worst case because with freshly charged NiMH rechargables in my 500 Super it recycles in less than 2 seconds at full power.


jjonsalt... I can't help but feel like you are referring to me about the power/$$$ comment. That is simply not the case. If it were, I would have got the EF-500 DG ST. I also wanted the features of the Super. So I guess it's more like more BANG for the $$$$. Now, I love my Canon products. I love all of them without exception and they've always performed as they should without fail. Even my old snappy PnS camera. But I have to say that the Sigma flash I have hasn't shown any signs of being unable to sync properly to my 20D I used it all day long one day and took almost 400 photos all with flash and the only shots that didn't come out were the ones where the flash didn't have time to recycle and that was my fault because the batteries needed replacing and I was too lazy to walk over to the camera bag to get some out. The morning shoot was a "Breakfast with Santa" deal where I took pictures of Santa with the kids. That was about 150 pictures and I was printing them out on site with my flash card and Canon IP6600 and not one picture had any problem. Then I went to help shoot a wedding. I took about 230 pictures there, and the pictures I didn't get due to flash issues were during the march in and march out trying to get the bridesmaids and groomsman but they were going much too fast. I've never seen anything like it. It was almost like power walking. I missed a couple shots there since my flash didn't have time to recycle, but other than that... my Sigma flash performed as reliably as it should have. I kinda feel like sometimes things are overpriced. Take the batteries for example. Canon get's $49.99 for their battery packs. I bought two from an aftermarket vendor (Sterlingtek) for less than the price of one Canon unit. And so far these batteries hold a charge and last as long if not longer on a single charge. Also, the Canon remote shutter release. Again, $49.99 and a third party unit can be had for ¼ of the cost. When it all comes down to it that is just a piece of 3 conductor wire with a special jack and a button on the end of it. Nothing special. Why does the Canon unit cost so much?

Tim... The Sigma doesn't have the high voltage port and that may be the one feature I would like to have had at that wedding.

Curtis N wrote:
You're right, it does seem like a long time, but I'm sure you're smart enough not to use alkaline batteries.

Only in a pinch would I use alkalines.

I kinda figured the 6 sec. must of been high heck my ol' Sony S85 was under 4 seconds worst case.

Thanks,
Larry M.

Forkball,
That did seem like a loooong time(6seconds), and the only thing I had to compare it to was my ol' Sony S85, nothing in dSLR gear so I wasn't sure if it was normal or not. Thanks for your input as your experience with your 500 Super, that sounds more in line with the norm.
A friend and I are headed out to a camera store in the Seattle area Friday to look at some gear and I will check out the 500 Super.
Thanks Again,
Larry M.