D90 and Sigma Ef-500 DG ST flash

On my Fuji S2 this Sigma Ef-500 DG ST flash works very well doing all the magic things it is supposed to including changing the focus of the flash when you zoom. On my D90 it does much the same except that it will not change focus with the zoom, same lens, different body. The connections on the hot shoe are the same, and I use all Nikon lenses.

Is there anyone who can confirm whether the Nikon flash units on the D90 will change their angle of spread with change offocal length of the lens? Just need to find out whether it is a camera or flash problem.

Nikon Oz know nothing about the Sigma flash units and CR Kennedy the Australin agensts for Sigma said send the flash to us to inspect, which tells me they also no nothing.

Thanks
Nev

nev11esk said:

Is there anyone who can confirm whether the Nikon flash units on the D90 will change their angle of spread with change offocal length of the lens? Just need to find out whether it is a camera or flash problem.

Click to expand...

Yes, the ones that support that function will. My SB-600 does it.
Probably anything above the SB-400 will.

Steve

Steve

Are you saying that your D90 will drive the focus of the flash or do you have a different camera? I want to keep this Sigma flash so it can be used on either camera rather than buying another just to run on the D90.
Thanks
Nev

nev11esk said:

Steve

Are you saying that your D90 will drive the focus of the flash or do you have a different camera? I want to keep this Sigma flash so it can be used on either camera rather than buying another just to run on the D90.
Thanks
Nev

Click to expand...

Nev,

I have a D90.

The SB-600 flash zooms depending on the focal length setting of
the lens. It adjusts to 24, 28, 35, 50, 70 and 85mm. I believe the
SB-900 has an even greater reach. Can't help you with the Sigma,
though. Sorry.

Steve

Hi Steve

That the answer that I was looking for as there is nothing in the d90 manual that indicates the ability to drive the zoom in the flash. The Sigma is fully TTL compatible but on the D90 does not zoom.
Many thanks
Nev

May be able to shed some light (hehe) on this for you Nev.

I think it may depend on the lens. I have a D90 and a 530 DG Sigma flash. I have found that it works well with thkit lens (18-105) but if I put my old 50mm lens on it does not seem to get the exposure right and I have to manually adjust the compensation. Seems to be a communication issue from the lens, maybe the older lenses do not transmit the right info.
Did the same on my D40x too.
--
SteadyEddy

nev11esk said:

Hi Steve

That the answer that I was looking for as there is nothing in the d90 manual that indicates the ability to drive the zoom in the flash. The Sigma is fully TTL compatible but on the D90 does not zoom.
Many thanks
Nev

Click to expand...

It's not the D90 that 'drives' the flash, it's the flash that adjusts itself according to the focal length the lens is set to, the camera only makes this information available for the flash. And it's not a D90 feature, older Nikon digital and even Nikon film cameras relay this information.

--
Pushed the button and the world stood still.

SteadyEddy said:

May be able to shed some light (hehe) on this for you Nev.

I think it may depend on the lens. I have a D90 and a 530 DG Sigma flash. I have found that it works well with thkit lens (18-105) but if I put my old 50mm lens on it does not seem to get the exposure right and I have to manually adjust the compensation. Seems to be a communication issue from the lens, maybe the older lenses do not transmit the right info.
Did the same on my D40x too.
--
SteadyEddy

Click to expand...

50mm Ai-s? If not, it's a flash issue, my SB600 has no problem metering with the 50mm 1.8 AF-D
--
Pushed the button and the world stood still.

Just a quick update after a further bit of testing - D90 meters and focusses fine with 18-105 but with 50 AF (D?) it detects the 50mm length but way over exposes such that I have to dial in -2.0 comp or switch away from i-TTL on the flash
--
SteadyEddy