Sigma EF-530 DG Super Electronic Flash for Canon DSLR

by Sigma

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.6 x 3 x 5.5 inches ; 11.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000UHIMG2
• Item model number: B000UHIMG2
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

When there's insufficient or unsuitable light available to take a picture, it's of paramount importance to have a ready source of supplementary light to fulfill the need. That's where Sigma's EF-530 DG super-electronic flash comes into play. Designed exclusively for Canon digital SLR cameras, the flash offers a powerful guide number of 174 feet/53 meters and boasts the latest TTL automatic flash exposure control for easy operation. More significantly, the EF-530 is outfitted with a host of advanced features, including a modeling flash function, a multi-pulse flash, a TTL wireless flash, an FP (high-speed) flash, a rear-curtain synchro flash, and a manual flash mode that allows the photographer to set the flash power level by up to eight stops. The auto power-off function, meanwhile, automatically shuts off the display to save battery power. And when the flashgun is fully charged, the flash emits a confirmation-ready light, letting you check the flash exposure level through the camera's viewfinder.

Like Sigma's lenses, the EF-530 flash incorporates the latest features and technological advances, most of which aren't found on any other flash units save those made by the major camera makers themselves. They are the most powerful and completely dedicated flash units available for 35mm SLR and digital cameras.

Features:

• Autozoom function that automatically sets the optimum illumination angle
• Covers a focal length from 24mm to 105mm
• A built-in wide panel that covers the 17mm angle
• A tilting flashgun head for bounce flash (up by 90 degrees, to the left by 180 degrees, and to the right by 90 degrees)
• A down tilt angle of 7 degrees for close-up photography
• Sophisticated multifunction flash that can control advanced lighting techniques
• Wireless slave-flash functions
• Measures 3 by 5.5 by 4.6 inches (W x H x D)
• Weighs 10.8 ounces
• 1-year warranty

What's in the Box
EF-530 DG super flash for Canon cameras, soft case, hot shoe table stand, user's manual.

Product Description

The EF-530 DG SUPER is designed to work with both AF 35mm SLR and digital Nikon cameras. The EF-530 DG SUPER is a multifunctional shoe mount type flash that provides a large amount of light, featuring a guide number of 53/m (174/ft) w/ISO 100. Among the diverse features of this flash, are the Autozoom function, which automatically sets the illumination angle in accordance with the focal length of the lens iTTL exposure control, which automatically regulates the amount of light bounce and swivel head functions, which comes in very handy for bounce photography FP flash, which is capable of synchronizing the flash illumination with high shutter speeds and the rear curtain synchro flash mechanism, which makes delayed synchro photography possible.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great flash with a huge bang for the buck, August 27, 2009

By 

M. Heltsley (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sigma EF-530 DG Super Electronic Flash for Canon DSLR (Electronics)

Though the menu interface is not as nice as others, and the buttons look like they were taken from an 80's era toy, and the fact that the plastic feels cheaper than other brands this flash can hold its own against the best Canon can through at it. I had a 580ex I and while it was nice it weighed about twice as much as this 530 and did not put out a noticeable amount of power beyond this. I tested the flash on both at various f stops and power levels using full manual shutter/fstop/iso and flash power levels and found that for each fstop/power level combo I used for the 580 that the 530 provided just as much light output and my pictures were just as bright, with a slight difference at full power with f18 or higher where the 580 did push a tiny bit more light into my shots, but it is not enough matter in ANY of the other shots.

The recycle time is great on all but the 1/1 full power manual mode, where it is still better than a 580 or my 430 and heads and shoulders above a 550. It keeps up with me as well as the 580 does a stop down. It also outlasts a 580, which I always felt eats batteries more than uses them. The EF-530 seems to last about the same as a 430 somehow even though it puts out light like a 580. I am no electrical engineer but I am not sure how this is possible, but in my experience that is how it is.

It costs less than a 430, half of what a 580 runs you and does more than either one.

It does FP i.e. High Speed Sync with great results. It does second (rear) curtain sync, it can strobe based on a custom frequency you set up, so it can for instance pulse out a flash every second for 4 seconds or 5 per second for 1 second. This is cool for getting water drops, or bouncing balls, or any other moving object exposed multiple times in a single frame.

It can be a master flash, a slave flash, a non firing master, it has an optical trigger so it can be an optical slave. It works with all manor of remote triggers, albeit not as easily as a Canon does, you have to set the Sigma to the right mode first. It controls multiple slave groups via wireless, it works with ettl for automatic flash exposure, supports EV adjustments.

It does not have a sync port or pc port of any kind, it requires a hot shoe to fire or to be a remote wireless or optical slave. It pans and tilts though with 2 buttons like older flashes, not 1 button like the newer flashes do. That is more annoying than you might think.

The only real downside to this is how cheap it feels compared to the Canons, but with 2 Signas for the price of 1 580 and the fact that I have yet to actually break it in any way no matter how hard I have treated it I can honestly say that while it feels like it is of lesser quality it really isn't. Plus it is lighter than a 580, at least as light as a 430 give or take, so that may affect the feel of quality too.

I can honestly say that I would recommend this to anyone. In fact I do, to everyone who asks, because there is no good reason to pass this up. It does more, costs less, puts out roughly the same power, lasts longer, weighs less, looks good and works great. You won't regret it unless you are Brewster and need to spend your millions wastefully, at which point you would not care about reviews anyhow

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mission Accomplished, March 29, 2009

By 

D. T. Blume (West Hartford, CT United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sigma EF-530 DG Super Electronic Flash for Canon DSLR (Electronics)

I've had this flash for about 45 days, and finally put it through its paces yesterday when I took approximately 600 flash photos at a father/daughter dance. In a little over 90 minutes, the flash happily illuminated some 300 portrait shots using the flash and a MilaGrid BounceGrid II (BG-2) as a diffuser.

My sense is that the flash consistently took less than 2 seconds to recycle during this entire part of the shoot, and was often ready in a second or so (apparently it was not operating at close to its maximum power level). I could not bounce the flash due to the nature of ceiling, but the flash BounceGrid II combination produced very pleasing results.

I changed the four Ni-MH batteries at this point (and the camera battery), though the flash batteries were still going strong, and finished the next two hours of the shoot on the next set. In other words, I took another 300 plus images of activities on the dance floor and elsewhere around the event at distances from 3 to 50 or 60 feet.

I used a Sigma 17 to 70 lens, and frequently zoomed from one end of the range to the other. During these operations, the flash kept up nicely and adjusted its output as needed. The only weak shots were my fault, as I failed to realize on occasion that the camera had picked a different focal point than the one I intended.

The fit and finish of the flash is also excellent, and the BounceGrid Velcro attachment system seems quite adequate to the task, though in four or five years I may need to replace the Velcro!

Overall: highly recommended for those like me who can't afford to spend the extra to pick up one of the pricier Canon options.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars 2nd shutter curtain does not work with Canon, Master/Slave difficulties, October 11, 2009

By 

Roman Albrecht "Roman Albrecht" (Czech/US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sigma EF-530 DG Super Electronic Flash for Canon DSLR (Electronics)

I wanted to save money, so instead of Canon 580 I ordered 2x Sigma. First was not working, so I returned and Amazon flawlessly delivered replacement units. Replacement unit drain batteries when switched off, but again - discovered that after return window.

So ONE OF THREE WORKS and not as expected.Sigma EF-530 DG Super Electronic Flash for Canon DSLR

I did not have occasion to test it properly in time. When I did it now, I am so sorry I didn't do sooner..

1) tilting is locked by 2 buttons, which you are all the time confused which one you have to push to tilt, specially when you want to bounce in vertical position
2) you cannot setup 45 degree angle easily - stops are straight, 60, 75, 90 degrees
3) ETTL Master-Slave does not "copy" settings of the primary unit to slave, so when you zoom on master, slave remains in preset zoom
4) even though I according to manual switched master unit off to use it as controlling unit only, it still flashes

5) MOST IMPORTANT - when you use it with CANON Rebel T1i (500D), flash is not recognized in the camera menu, which means you CANNOT set 2nd curtain - something most of us use in night photography