3 Sigma Super DG flashes

I have two more super DG 500 SIgma flashes coming this way. I have a qusetion about them. I have to set the slaves on manual when using wireless right? My first one didnt have a manual so I am not sure if i have to or not.

Thanks,
Henry

not sure...I use my super DG as the master and a 420 as the slave. I think you'd have to set the super DG to the slave setting though. Keep pressing the mode? button, I think, and you'll eventually come to the slave setting. YOu can also use the Super DG's as optical slaves.

-daniel

I only have one. I think it functions as a slave in E-TTL mode (cycle thru the main choices to find this) and also can function as a slave in manual mode (cycle thru the manual flash choices to find this). They're different. I believe it functions as a fully automatic slave. See pages 24 and 25 of the useless manual.

Not very effective for e-ttl

Sorry, the posts didnt really answer my qusetion. Will I be able to use E-TTL when using in Slave mode for the flashes not attatched to my camera?

Thanks,
Henry

Only the sigma super can be use as wireless ETTL. Set them all to wireless mode and select a channel. The default channel is C1. you'll know you're in ettl wireless mode when you see 3 lightening bolt with two connected together by dashes.

Whats not very effective for ettl? The super DG functions fine with the the 420 as a wireless slave.

-daniel

Could u elaborate?

Thanks.


Thanks for the help guys... So basically, with wireless sigma super dgs on slave mode, they can all use ETTL?

So does the camera send camera information such as the lens zoom length and aperature to the other cameras through IR? Or will it just trigger it? and bascially the slave flashes will adjust its brightness according to what it "sees" it self, or waht the camera sees?

I was always confused by this.

When a flash is in slave mode, it acts like a very dump flash and only does what the master tells it to do. It is the master that works in ETTL mode. The camera actually determines how all the flashes (master and slaves) are going to fire via the master flash and then orders the slaves (via the master again) to fire accordingly.

So im assuming using a light meter to meter all flash exposer from all the cameras wont help too much to get a proper exposer (no blow outs)?

So im assuming using a light meter to meter all flash exposer from all the cameras wont help too much to get a proper exposer (no blow outs)?

That's right. You really have no manual control over the flashes working in ETTL mode other than dialing in + or - flash compensation so using a flash meter really isn't going to help you much.

However, if you set the flashes to manual mode and the camera to manual mode, then you can use a flash meter to determne your aperture/flash output level combinations.

For the price of 3 Sigma 500DG Super flashes, I would rather buy 1 Sigma 500DG Super and 2 Alien Bees 400's with umbrellas. I can then do some studio like lighting and not have to worry about so many unreliable battery powered flashes.

It would be a moot point to use ettl and a flah meter since the whole point of ettl is allow the camera's ttl meter to determine the exposure. The additional flash is basicly used for fill in lighting. With digital you have the same flexibility as having a medium format camera witha polariod back. Take sample picture to determine the the lighting effect and change if necessary to express your intent. I believe the zoom part is inactive in slave mode and they will all preflash for exposure.

The difference in having all three flash unit vs have one and two alienbee would be portability. The slave flash can be set up by placing them on neighboring surface or dedicate photoequipment supports,eg tripods or light stands. The alienbee would require to be setup on stands and probably power source. This is in no way saying that one is better then the other. But you must agree that having ETTL capability make for easier quick setup.

How would you fire the Alien Bees? They don't work optically do they?

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