How To Partially Take Apart A Sigma EF-530 Flash -- Flash and Studio Lighting in photography-on-the.net forums

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Apr 01, 2013 00:36 | #1

While using my Sigma EF-530 DG Super today, I noticed that the zoom was stuck at 17mm. Odd since I never use the wide angle diffuser card, so I don't know how or why it would activate the 17mm zoom. So, losing my zoom function (yes, I tried manual mode, pulling the card in and out, fresh batteries, etc), I decided to open my flash to see if there was anything that I could do (ended up that I could not do anything). I figured might as well make a DIY guide on how to partially take apart a Sigma EF-530.

*Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any injuries to you or others, or damage to your speedlight and/or properties. You assume all responsibilities for following this DIY guide.

1. First thing's first, I suggest wearing safety goggles.

2. Power off your speedlight.

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3. Open the battery door and remove the batteries.

4. To be on the safe side, after removing the batteries, I tried to turn on the speedlight (red LED briefly lit, then turned off). I then tried pressing the "light" and "test" buttons, then moved the switch back to the off position.

5. Turn the flash onto its side, and use a small, thin flat head screw driver to pry the padding on the head. Be careful to not rip the padding or scratch/dent the plastic. Place the padding sticky side up on a clean surface.

6. Remove these four small Phillips screws carefully. Place the screws somewhere where they won't disappear. I also grouped the four.

7. Now flip the flash to the other side and carefully pry off the other padding on the head, like in step 5. Place the padding sticky side up on a clean surface.

8. Remove the four Phillips screws like you did in step 6. They're the same screws, but I still like to group these four separately.

9. Flip the flash "belly" side up, and carefully remove these two small Phillips screws. They're the same screws as used in the sides, but I still grouped these two separately. Good time to check that you have 10 screws total now.

Continue in post #2

Canon T2i / 18-55mm kit lens / Sigma 30mm f1.4 / Canon 85mm f1.8 / Canon 100mm f2.8

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Kaotic Lazagna
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Apr 01, 2013 00:36 | #2

Continuing from post #1

10. Carefully pull off the bottom piece of the head. Might be a good idea to do this in a bag as the spring and lock in the next step popped out an hit my cheek. I spent quite some time looking for the spring afterwards.

11. If this has not popped out yet, carefully take out the spring and lock. Mine popped out, so I'm not sure what a good way to do this would be. I suppose using a small, thin needle nose pliers to compress the spring and a small flat head to remove the lock.

12. Set these off to the side. MAKE SURE YOU DON'T LOSE THESE.

13. Press down on the head tilt button, and carefully lift the body of the flash from the top portion of the head. These two will be connected together view the wire harness as you can see in the second pic of this step. Don't let go of the head tilt button quickly as it is spring loaded. It will start popping out, so slowly take it out by pulling it up and towards you.

14. Set these aside.

15. Slide out the panel from the top portion of the head. Note that it is in the gap closest to the bulb unit.

Continue in the next post.

Canon T2i / 18-55mm kit lens / Sigma 30mm f1.4 / Canon 85mm f1.8 / Canon 100mm f2.8

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Kaotic Lazagna
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Apr 01, 2013 00:48 | #3

Continue from post #2

16. Set the panel off to the side.

Showing the bulb unit.

This is the motor that controls the zoom action.

17. To make sure mine was still good, I gently pushed the bulb unit (holding from the very tips of the corners) back in. Then I put the batteries back in and turned it on. The flash defaulted back to the "stuck" 17mm position. So I know the motor is good.

18. Repeat steps #2-4.

Showing what, I'm assuming, signals the flash to go to 17mm when the wide angle diffuser card is pulled out. You can see the leads moving, touching when the card is pulled out, and pushed off each other when the card is retracted.

Just an overhead view of the inside of the head.

You can see more Phillips screws, I didn't have any smaller screwdrivers to remove these, so my progress stopped here. You can try to remove these screws (start with the bulb unit encasing, then the screws holding the top piece of the head in place).

19. Reverse the order to install. The circuit board parallel to the bulb unit slides off a little, so carefully manipulate the wire harness in between the top piece of the head and the circuit board to slide the circuit board back in. You might have to hold it down in place with one hand, and use your other hand to put the bottom piece of the head back on.

Canon T2i / 18-55mm kit lens / Sigma 30mm f1.4 / Canon 85mm f1.8 / Canon 100mm f2.8

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Kaotic Lazagna
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Apr 01, 2013 01:10 | #4

oh, and if anyone know the solution to this "stuck in 17mm zoom" problem my flash is having, please let me know. Thanks.

Canon T2i / 18-55mm kit lens / Sigma 30mm f1.4 / Canon 85mm f1.8 / Canon 100mm f2.8

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JohnyTech

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Joined Dec 2013

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Dec 14, 2013 19:57 as a reply to @ Kaotic Lazagna's post | #5

My comment might be coming a bit late but if your diffuser is stowed and the flash is still stuck at 17mm I guess that means that the switch that detects when the diffuser is stowed doesn't work.

Hope this helps.

Thank you very much for the photos - it was not obvious to me that those are rubber pads and that behind them there might be some screws. My diffuser was stuck in the flash - couldn't get it out and I had to open the upper part completely (6 screws further than you did) to release it.

Now it's all fine.

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