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5D2 and sigma ef-500 dg super flash

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Roy Helge Rasmussen

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After using a 10D for 5 years, I finally hit the button (amazon buy now button) and received my new shining 5D2 on friday morning. And what a weekend it has been. This camera (the 5d2) is everything I dreamed of and more.

I didn't realize how intuitively I had been handling the 10D until I started using the 5D. I'll have to retrain myself and unlearn my 10D-understanding of DOF and light metering. Not an unpleasant task, but something that needs doing. Of course - the only way is to use the new body a lot.

Now down to something that I haven't really understood yet. When using my two Sigma EF-500 DG Super flashes with the 5D2 I am getting very inconsistent results. Most of the time I get over-exposed images, even whit flash compensation set to -2, but not always. Sometimes I get a spot on lighting.

But the few shots I have so far tried with my ST-E2 and the two sigmas seem to be all to be correct, even without flash compensation (or at least with flash compensations set to a sensible level)

Any ideas about what I am doing wrong here? Or if there is something with my gear that I should know?
 
Roy Helge Rasmussen said:
After using a 10D for 5 years, I finally hit the button (amazon buy
now button) and received my new shining 5D2 on friday morning. And
what a weekend it has been. This camera (the 5d2) is everything I
dreamed of and more.

I didn't realize how intuitively I had been handling the 10D until I
started using the 5D. I'll have to retrain myself and unlearn my
10D-understanding of DOF and light metering. Not an unpleasant task,
but something that needs doing. Of course - the only way is to use
the new body a lot.

Now down to something that I haven't really understood yet. When
using my two Sigma EF-500 DG Super flashes with the 5D2 I am getting
very inconsistent results. Most of the time I get over-exposed
images, even whit flash compensation set to -2, but not always.
Sometimes I get a spot on lighting.

But the few shots I have so far tried with my ST-E2 and the two
sigmas seem to be all to be correct, even without flash compensation
(or at least with flash compensations set to a sensible level)

Any ideas about what I am doing wrong here? Or if there is something
with my gear that I should know?
Click to expand...
I don;t have the link reference but I have read on these Forums that your Flash model is NOT compatible with the 50D and the 5dII. In fact, I have 2 of the sigma flash units (one for Minolta and one for my Canon 20D) so I will review in detail if Sigma will or can (or will they) modify the flash units to ALSO function properly with the newer model Canon's.

Your description appears (to me) that the flash units TTL is not functioning normally.

--
Vernon...
 
The EF-500 DG Super requires a firmware update to work with the 5D2. I've sent mine in to Sigma, and although one of the earlier versions without firmware update capability, they changed out the internal board to a newer version and then did the firmware upgrade for me. Works fine after the update, wouldn't fire at all prior to the upgrade.

See this FM thread for more details: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/714676/0#6453517
 
mrcandy said:
The EF-500 DG Super requires a firmware update to work with the 5D2.
I've sent mine in to Sigma, and although one of the earlier versions
without firmware update capability, they changed out the internal
board to a newer version and then did the firmware upgrade for me.
Works fine after the update, wouldn't fire at all prior to the
upgrade.

See this FM thread for more details:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/714676/0#6453517
Click to expand...
I viewed the Fred Marianda link but didn't find the method and details for contact with Sigma. Do you possibly have this information you would share.
--
Vernon...
 
Send an email to [email protected] explaining that you have a problem with the flash on a Canon 5D2. Include the exact model number from your flash (silkscreened on top of back LCD screen, there were about 3-4 slight variations) and the serial number. They got back to me within two days letting me know how to return it for the upgrade.

Good luck.
 
So that is it then.

Remains to be seen if there is any way to have this done to my flashes here in norway then - without paying through my nose for it.
 
After the upgrade, does the camera allow you to select 2nd curtain flash sync?
mrcandy said:
The EF-500 DG Super requires a firmware update to work with the 5D2.
I've sent mine in to Sigma, and although one of the earlier versions
without firmware update capability, they changed out the internal
board to a newer version and then did the firmware upgrade for me.
Works fine after the update, wouldn't fire at all prior to the
upgrade.

See this FM thread for more details:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/714676/0#6453517
Click to expand...
 
Roy Helge Rasmussen said:
So that is it then.

Remains to be seen if there is any way to have this done to my
flashes here in norway then - without paying through my nose for it.
Click to expand...
It's not as far as Norway, but I did have to ship mine from Canada. I paid shipping there, and Sigma paid shipping back. Only problem was that they didn't mark the customs paperwork as a 'repair', they simply listed it as a flash and provided full retail price, so I ended up paying tax on the 'import'. If you do send yours in, I'd make sure that you request the return paperwork show that it was a repair only - assuming that in Norway there would be taxes or duties involved and that repairs would be exempt.
 
Roland_Lislevane said:
After the upgrade, does the camera allow you to select 2nd curtain
flash sync?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, no.

The first three settings in "Flash Function Settings" are greyed out and not adjustable. Flash mode is E-TTL II, Shutter sync. is 1st curtain, FEB is 0.

Next three are available for adjustment, Flash exp. comp, E-TTL II, and Flash firing.
 
mrcandy said:
Roland_Lislevane said:
After the upgrade, does the camera allow you to select 2nd curtain
flash sync?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, no.

The first three settings in "Flash Function Settings" are greyed out
and not adjustable. Flash mode is E-TTL II, Shutter sync. is 1st
curtain, FEB is 0.

Next three are available for adjustment, Flash exp. comp, E-TTL II,
and Flash firing.
Click to expand...
That would be normal as when new. In other words, the upgrade did not add any functions.
--
Vernon...
 
Vernon D Rainwater said:
mrcandy said:
Roland_Lislevane said:
After the upgrade, does the camera allow you to select 2nd curtain
flash sync?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, no.

The first three settings in "Flash Function Settings" are greyed out
and not adjustable. Flash mode is E-TTL II, Shutter sync. is 1st
curtain, FEB is 0.

Next three are available for adjustment, Flash exp. comp, E-TTL II,
and Flash firing.
Click to expand...
That would be normal as when new. In other words, the upgrade did
not add any functions.
--
Vernon...
Click to expand...
Understand what you're saying, however in my case the flash was totally non-functional on the 5D2 before the upgrade - so in that sense the upgrade did indeed add function :)

BTW - I can set second curtain sync from the LCD of the flash and that registers correctly on the camera LCD and does indeed fire the flash at curtain close.
 
mrcandy said:
Vernon D Rainwater said:
mrcandy said:
Roland_Lislevane said:
After the upgrade, does the camera allow you to select 2nd curtain
flash sync?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, no.

The first three settings in "Flash Function Settings" are greyed out
and not adjustable. Flash mode is E-TTL II, Shutter sync. is 1st
curtain, FEB is 0.

Next three are available for adjustment, Flash exp. comp, E-TTL II,
and Flash firing.
Click to expand...
That would be normal as when new. In other words, the upgrade did
not add any functions.
--
Vernon...
Click to expand...
Understand what you're saying, however in my case the flash was
totally non-functional on the 5D2 before the upgrade - so in that
sense the upgrade did indeed add function :)
Click to expand...
If you consider the flash working is a function, that's certainly ok with me, however; I would NOT consider that as being a function or "special" feature.
mrcandy said:
BTW - I can set second curtain sync from the LCD of the flash and
that registers correctly on the camera LCD and does indeed fire the
flash at curtain close.
Click to expand...
This seems to conflict with your previous post

--
Vernon...
 
I have contacted a couple of repair shops now. Hopefully it'll not be so expensive. International shipping and the risk of having to pay full VAT on the flashes again does not appeal to me. I'll post an upgrade.
 
I tested a bit more with my ST-E2 last night and both sigmas are working like a charm in ETTL mode with the ST-E2 as master. Even if I do not manage to upgrade the flash firmware I can continue using them as wireless flashes by just popping them on the table and put the ST-E2 on the camera.
 
Vernon D Rainwater said:
Vernon D Rainwater said:
BTW - I can set second curtain sync from the LCD of the flash and
that registers correctly on the camera LCD and does indeed fire the
flash at curtain close.
Click to expand...
This seems to conflict with your previous post
Click to expand...
Let me clarify.

In addition to the Sigma, I also have a 420EX. When I mount the 420EX to the camera and go to the flash function settings menu, the second item "Shutter sync." is in white and can be adjusted via camera buttons between 1st curtain and 2nd curtain. There is a third option Hi-speed which is grey and not selectable. If I use the physical switch on the flash to select Hi-speed sync, the second menu item updates to show Hi-speed. There is no switch or other means on the 420EX to select 1st/2nd curtain on the flash itself.

By contrast with the Sigma flash mounted, the Shutter sync menu item is grey and not adjustable from the camera, but does show current status. However, the Sigma flash does provide menus/buttons on the flash to select 1st/2nd curtain and Hi-speed sync. Changing these parameters via the flash is correctly reflected in the status shown on the camera LCD, and also work as expected.

The original question was does the camera allow you to select 2nd curtain, to which the answer is no, but then I clarified that it is selectable from the flash and the status on the camera is shown correctly.
 
Both my flashes are back from service now and they work perfectly with 5D2. All that was needed was a firmware upgrade and although one of the flashes was 5 years old, they still did it for free.

Kudos to Sigma for this one.
 
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