Sigma EF 500 DG Super Flash for Nikon SLR Cameras

by Sigma

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3 x 5.5 x 4 inches ; 11.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0009JKH7S
• Item model number: F14306
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 26, 2005

Product Description

The Sigma EF-500 DG SUPER is designed to work with autofocus Nikon 35mm SLR and Digital SLR cameras for convenient, creative, and versatile flash photography. It has a powerful maximum guide number of 165 in feet (50 in meters) at 105mm focal length (ISO 100). The flash's angle of illumination is automatically set to match your lens'focal length ranging from 28mm wide-angle to 105mm medium-telephoto. It also covers 17mm ultra-wide angle when used with the built-in diffuser. It enables full automatic flash photography with Nikon Autofocus SLR Cameras with TTL automatic flash exposure control. The Sigma EF-500 DG Super's degree of electronic compatibility includes dedicated i-TTL flash photography with those Nikon cameras that offer this feature. For bounce flash it can be tilted 90-degrees upwards and 7-degrees downward for close-ups. Also it can be swiveled 180-degrees to the left and 90-degrees to the right. This versatility in bounce positioning provides you with a great degree of creativity in your flash photography. It also incorporates a "modeling flash" mode allowing you to preview where the shadows will fall on the subject. The EF-500 DG SUPER incorporates wireless TTL flash photography, slave flash photography, and FP flash photography (synchronized with high shutter speeds). In addition, manual flash also can be set at 8 output power levels. The covering focal length of the flash can be seen on the LCD panel, and a flash ready signal can be seen in the viewfinder. The EF-500 DG SUPER also incorporates an auto power off system. The flash uses readily available 4 x AA Alkaline or NiMH Rechargeable Batteries.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Supurb flash performance, July 9, 2006

By 

SevereWX (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Sigma built a winning hot-shoe mount flash head when they decided to put this one together. The flash has plenty of features for a price well below the Nikon line of flashes. It is offers plenty of power and I've found when mated to my Nikon N80 that it gives me perfect exposures every time. The built in near-infrared focus-assist beam is much better than the white annoyo-light built into consumer camera bodies, which is a real plus when working with live subjects such as grumpy old geezers or fidgety tricycle-motors. This results in more captured smiles and less squints, frowning faces, or spooked pets.

The flash unit can be set for fully automatic 3D TTL readings, or can be used in full manual mode. The stoboscopic multi-flash has an extremely wide adjustment range for strength, flash duration, and number or flashes. This is great when doing long exposures of single nearby subjects in action.

The flash unit is easy to operate and seems to be plenty durable. The instructions are easy to understand and well written. The only thing missing from this unit is a jack for use with external power sources, not a major inconvenience, but you'll want to always carry spare batteries with you.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Junk, October 16, 2008

By 

mmx "mmx" (Portland, OR, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sigma EF 500 DG Super Flash for Nikon SLR Cameras (Electronics)

This is totally cheap!

***THIS IS NOT EQUIVALENT TO A NIKON FLAsh! ***

It does not seem to have real TTL (thru the lens) pickup with the camera (D200) So it works just as a flash with its own sensor. If you want a cheap extra flash for backup, this would be ok. But it does not have the features of the true Nikon flash. It is also cheaply built in comparison, and mine did not even come with instructions! (not from Amazon)

If you want real Nikon flash capability - get the real thing. IMHO.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For Experienced Photographers Only, February 1, 2009

By 

L. Jones "Amazon Shopper" (Oklahoma City, OK United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sigma EF 500 DG Super Flash for Nikon SLR Cameras (Electronics)

This was a gift for my son and he loves it, but be aware that it is pretty high tech and complicated. Great for my son, but it would be to much for me. He said that he would recommend it to experienced or techie type people.