Sigma 500 DG Super -- using multiple units

I have searched this forum without much success in trying to answer this question definitively. (The search function is not that great.)

Right now, I have one Sigma 500 DG Super flash unit. Is it possible to use several of these, triggered optically?

As best I can tell from reading this forum, it might be possible but the pre-flash will trigger them prematurely, but there is a manual work-around?

If I want to go with a Strobist type setup, is it better to just get some cheaper units, like Vivitar?

Thanks.

The Sigma Super has a wireless E-TTL mode. You can setup multiple slaves on multiple channels and set ratios between groups of slaves. I have tried to use this feature with one master and one slave, and found the performance to be unreliable. Either I'm doing something wrong, or the Sigma wireless E-TTL system isn't near as good as Canon's. I always give up in frustration.

However, the built-in optical slave of the Sigma Super works very well. I have often used one unit on the hotshoe in manual mode (no preflash) to trigger another unit in optical slave mode.

If you want to follow the strobist philosophy of multiple manually-adjusted flash units, the Sigma Super will work as well as any other unit, though at a higher cost than a Sunpak 383 or Vivitar 285HV.

I generally carry two flash units in my bag - One Sigma Super, and one Sunpak 383 with a slave attachment. With this combo, I have many options for flash, including E-TTL, traditional automatic, manual, and optical slave. The only combination that won't work would be E-TTL flash on the hotshoe with an optical slave.

rdsmith3 wrote in post #2907995
Right now, I have one Sigma 500 DG Super flash unit. Is it possible to use several of these, triggered optically?

As best I can tell from reading this forum, it might be possible but the pre-flash will trigger them prematurely, but there is a manual work-around?

Yup. But you'll need to do it in full manual mode.

The Super also supports a full ETTL wireless mode when used with other Super 500 flashes (and in theory Canon flashes as well, but results have been mixed according to what I've read).

rdsmith3 wrote in post #2907995
If I want to go with a Strobist type setup, is it better to just get some cheaper units, like Vivitar?

If you don't want/need the wireless ETTL mode then the additional Sigma flashes is probably too much flash. But AFAIK the cheaper "manual" flashes like the Vivitar don't include an optical slave, so you'll need to add that cost into the equation.


EDIT: Arrrrgggghhhh! Do you live here Curtis?

mbellot wrote in post #2908082
Do you live here Curtis?

I'm more like the derelict brother-in-law who's always visiting and never goes home.

Curtis N wrote in post #2908236
I'm more like the derelict brother-in-law who's always visiting and never goes home.

Around here he's not an in-law...

Not highjacking the thread or that but I found today that if I set the sigma on a type of slave mode (not sure what it is) and then stand it away I can set it off with the pop up flash? But it never flashes at the same time its always just after and then theirs only the one flash source in the image (pop up flash). Is their anyway around this or is it just life?

Great thread by the way, something I've always wondered about.

Alistair,

The Sigma, in optical slave mode, is being triggered by the E-TTL preflash of the built-in. It's actually firing early.

The workaround, if you want to call it that, is to use the FEL button (*) to fire the preflash, wait for the slave to recycle, then take the shot.

Curtis N wrote in post #2910270
Alistair,

The Sigma, in optical slave mode, is being triggered by the E-TTL preflash of the built-in. It's actually firing early.

The workaround, if you want to call it that, is to use the FEL button (*) to fire the preflash, wait for the slave to recycle, then take the shot.

Or set the flash at 1/4 or lower power (since you're in manual anyway) to guarantee you'll have enough stored power for the second trigger event.

Curtis N wrote in post #2910270
Alistair,

The Sigma, in optical slave mode, is being triggered by the E-TTL preflash of the built-in. It's actually firing early.

The workaround, if you want to call it that, is to use the FEL button (*) to fire the preflash, wait for the slave to recycle, then take the shot.

I've just tryed it their, it works in Av, Tv and P modes but not in manual. I've been using the * button to focus, does that make a diffrence?

Thanks for all the advice

In Av, Tv and P modes, you're probably getting mostly ambient light.
If you want to trigger an optical slave with the built-in flash, you'll need to switch custom function 4 back to 0 so you can use the * button as FE Lock and fire the pre-flash with it.