Inconsistent Sigma 530 w/ Skyports

I just can't figure this one out but my Skyports trigger my Viv 285 HV every time I fire them but when I hook up the Sigma 530, it's hit or miss (too often miss). Anyone (Lon?) have any thoughts on this? I got a new cord from Lon a ways back in an attempt to correct this but it's stiull happening. On camera the Sigma works fine so I really think it's something to do with the connection between the flash and the receiver (even tried different receivers to no real avail).

Are you using a hot shoe adapter with the Sigma? If so, have you tried firing the Vivitar using the same hot shoe adapter? If the Vivitar fires without a problem, then it might be the Sigma flash itself instead of the connectors or the connections.

PacAce wrote in post #6086543
Are you using a hot shoe adapter with the Sigma? If so, have you tried firing the Vivitar using the same hot shoe adapter? If the Vivitar fires without a problem, then it might be the Sigma flash itself instead of the connectors or the connections.

hey Leo, thanks for the reply. Yeah, I use the hotshoe for the Sigma since it doesn't have a port on camera. The Viv does so I always just cord it directly to the receiver. Are you saying I can fire the Viv with the same hotshoe as the Sigma? If so, I'll try that tonight and see if it consistently fires or not. FWIW, I almost always shoot the Sigma in C0 rather than C1 or C2, not sure if that factors in or not but the results don't seem to be any better regardless.

namasste wrote in post #6086572
hey Leo, thanks for the reply. Yeah, I use the hotshoe for the Sigma since it doesn't have a port on camera. The Viv does so I always just cord it directly to the receiver. Are you saying I can fire the Viv with the same hotshoe as the Sigma? If so, I'll try that tonight and see if it consistently fires or not. FWIW, I almost always shoot the Sigma in C0 rather than C1 or C2, not sure if that factors in or not but the results don't seem to be any better regardless.

Yes, I am. Try the Vivitar with the hot shoe and see how it performs. That'll tell you if it's the Sigma flash that's at fault or not. If the Vivitar fires fine, try the Sigma again just to make sure something didn't somehow get fixed along the way.

PacAce wrote in post #6088164
Yes, I am. Try the Vivitar with the hot shoe and see how it performs. That'll tell you if it's the Sigma flash that's at fault or not. If the Vivitar fires fine, try the Sigma again just to make sure something didn't somehow get fixed along the way.

thanks Leo. Either way, I think I may pick up another Viv for hoops season. Its a workhorse and if it gets busted up in the stands, I'll definitely shed fewer tears. Hmmm, now to just find some cheap quantum's so I can just fire away, huh? I'll post the results of the Sigma test later in case anyone elese is following this. Thanks again.

just thought I'd share what little I found out so far....

I tested the Viv on the hotshoe adapter and it fired flawlessly. Immediately switching flash guns to the Sigma 530 (set IN C0 mode, then in C1 and C2) I got it to only fire every other or every third shot. Clearly the issue is how the Sigma flash responds to the radio in slave mode.

If anyone has a clue what could be causing this, I'm all ears and would greatly appreciate the insight. I can get fairly consistent results shotting the Sigma as an optical slave triggered by the Viv but this doesn't work practically in a HS gym since there are dozens of parents firing P&S cameras with flash that will trigger the Sigma as well. What I need is a relaible way to trigger it off the radio receiver only. Thus far, no help from Sigma, just a head scratch and "well that is odd" kinda response.

I've been having some inconsistent results with my Sigma 530, but just chalked it up to the cheap triggers I was using. How well does it work on the camera's hotshoe?

I have been testing the SkyPorts for some inconsistent firing of a D70s camera using a Pre-Trigger cable, and is how I came upon this thread...

I just tested the SkyPorts in firing a Sigma EF-500 DG Super flash unit, and as long as the Sigma is set into the C0 SL (slave) mode, the Skyports will fire it every time.

For the SkyPorts, I am not sure yet if this makes a difference, but I used the Group 1 setting, and the 3 DIP switches were set to the position opposite the ON label.

I have had troubles firing my Sigma EF-500 DG Super with Skyports. After some testing, I discovered that when the Sigma is the only flash being fired, it works every time. When I tried to fire it along with another flash on another Skyport receiver, it sometimes wouldn't work.

So I tested some more, and on a hunch I tried covering the Sigma slave sensor with gaffer's tape. With the tape covering the red plastic area, it fires every time.

Go figure.

So my wild guess it that the other flash is somehow creating problems when it is seen by the slave sensor on the Sigma. All I know is, with the tape on, it works.

I had similar issues with my Nikon SB 28 I canged the batteries in it and it fired every time.

Curtis N wrote in post #6115409
I have had troubles firing my Sigma EF-500 DG Super with Skyports. After some testing, I discovered that when the Sigma is the only flash being fired, it works every time. When I tried to fire it along with another flash on another Skyport receiver, it sometimes wouldn't work.

So I tested some more, and on a hunch I tried covering the Sigma slave sensor with gaffer's tape. With the tape covering the red plastic area, it fires every time.

Go figure.

So my wild guess it that the other flash is somehow creating problems when it is seen by the slave sensor on the Sigma. All I know is, with the tape on, it works.

interesting Curtis. I did this as well last hoops season when I finally realized that parents and two other photogs were tripping my flash non stop. Covered it with tape and it seemed to eliminate that problem for the moment.

I shot some tonight with the Viv and Sigma simulataneously and as long as I let the Viv trigger the Sigma, it was flawless, it was only when I tried to use the radio alone that it was a problem.