Sigma EM-140 DG Macro Ring Flash for Canon SLR Cameras

Other products by Sigma

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 5.6 inches ; 15.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00064XR6Y
• Item model number: B00064XR6Y
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 24, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Electronic Flash Macro Ring EM-140 DG is designed to work with both AF 35mm film and digital SLR cameras of all popular manufactures. It is ideal for photographing subjects in fine detail when the shadowless mode is used and is extremely effective for scientific and medical applications. Dual flash tubes can fire simultaneously or separately. Using only one flashtube creates shadow, which can give a three-dimensional feeling to the subject. The flash features a guide number of 14 with ISO 100. The Modeling Flash function makes it possible to check for reflections and shadows before actually taking the flash picture. A wireless flash function is also available when the EM-140 DG is used as master and the EF-500 DG Super as a slave unit for creating fine shadow details. High-speed synchro and exposure compensation functions are also available for advanced flash photography.

• Ideal for close-up photography, especially medical and scientific applications
• Fully dedicated with the latest TTL auto exposure systems
• Flash tubes can be switched on or off for creative flash control
• Wireless flash control
• High-speed synchro flash
• Guide number of 14 (ISO 100)

G/No. 46/ft, 14/m (ISO 100)
Power Level	1/1	1/2	1/4	1/8	1/16	1/32	1/64
2 tubes (ft)	46	33	23	17	12	8	6
2 tubes (m)	14	10	7	5	3.5	2.5	1.8

Compatibility with Canon AF SLR and Digital SLR Cameras
EM140 Ring Flash	Canon EOS
TTL 35 Film SLR	ETTL, ETT-II*1
TTL Digital SLR	ETTL, ETTL-II*1
Distance Priority Manual Flash	-
High Speed SynchroFP	O*2
Multi Flash	O
Exposure Compensation Function	O
Modeling Flash	O
Wireless FlashTTL	O*2*4
"O" Available, "-" Not available *1: Compatible with E-TTL and TTL. Please note A-TTL automatic exposure is not supported. *2: This function is not supported by some camera models. *3: Compatible with 3D-multi BL exposure. *4: Manual exposure is also possible.

Product Description

ELECTRONIC FLASH MACRO EM-140 DG is designed to work with both AF 35mm film and Digital SLR cameras of all the popular manufactures. The EM-140 DG Flash is ideal for photographing subjects in fine detail when the shadowless mode is used and is extremely effective for scientific and medical applications. Dual flash tubes can fire simultaneously or separately. Using only one flashtube creates shadow, which can give a three-dimensional feeling to the subject.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sigma EM 140 DG-worth a try, January 9, 2005

By	Toad S. Hopper (High Springs, FL) - See all my reviews

I have been searching the net for a reveiw of this flash. Since I couldn't find one I just went out and purchased one. Yes this flash works iTTL on a D70. I would have given it 5 stars if it had a more robust hot shoe like the SB 600 or DX 50 both Nikon flashes I own. (I have a Nikon SB 21 and it's hot shoe has worn out being the all plastic as well) . Other than this negative this product seems very well built and sturdy. The flash is permanently attached to the control head unlike the Nikon ring flash which was in 2 parts. This makes stowage a litte difficult in your camera bag however it does come supplied with it's own very nice ballastic nylon bag. Unlike the Nikon the cable is spring coiled and always stays neatly out of the way. It is a good sturdy and well reinforced cable. It's controls are fairly simple to figure out. took some pictures today of orchids and the exposures were (mostly) perfect. I put my camera on the full PHD mode (push here dummy) and the EM 140 DG on iTTL and shot away. Most of the shots were perfectly illuminated. I then switched to A mode that the instruction booklet tells you to use when shooting macro distances. In this mode I was able to set the bracket mode to vary the flash and it worked like a charm . In all cases the middle shot was the best . Battery life was good I took over 70 shots today and the recycle time was still very rapid. I am in no means an expert on either the D70 or photography in general. I also tried the manual mode with both flash and camera and was able to experiment to get stunning results. Sometimes you want the background to be blacked out and you need full manual. You can also vary the output independetly of both sides.In manual its easy to shoot and check results in the display. You have to love digital for this alone. I was using this flash on a 70-180mm Macro Nikon and had to get a 58mm to 62mm step up ring. It worked well and did not impede the field of view at all. Sigma supplies a 55mm and 58mm with the unit. This attachment is very well made and also much nicer than the flimsy one that Nikon supplies. You will have to go to the Sigma website to buy other sizes which I think are 62mm 72mm and 77mm. I'm very happy that I got this flash. However like any camera equipment the best test is to go buy one and try it for yourself. Good shooting.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars EM 140 DG, January 28, 2005

By	Daniel Schwarz "Danis" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Finally a flash Nikon should have produced long ago. I shoot a lot of macro and have used the Nikon SB 29s with my Nikon D100. Unfirtunately that flash forced me to use manual mode as it doesn't know about digital camears. This is fine most of the time, but sometimes you don't have the time to experiment and shoot bracketed series, etc. So I went out and bought this flash.

a) Yes, it definitely works fine with Nikon's older D-TTL system besides the newer i-TTL. The D100 uses D-TTL. The D70 i-TTL.
b) It is a really nice piece of work.

I sold my SB 29s. The LCD panel on the back is not immediately obvious, but once you have flipped through the few pages of the slim handbook (takes about ten minutes). all is clear. The automatic TTL works fine when you're in a rush, like when you are shooting medical operations on the fly or when trying to get that butterfly shot before it flies off. The manual adjustment options are really really worth spending some time with and experimenting with. Like the Nikon SB 29s, this is not actually a ring flash, but consists of a tube on each side of the flash. With this flash, you can control the flash power of each tube separately, from full power, through 1/2, 1/4, 1/32, 1/64 or off. This is really great and a lot of fun, if you have the time to experiment.

All in all, an excellent piece of equipment. No competition currently out there. Yet.

The only reason I didn't give this flash five stars is because it isn't immediately intuitive to set all the cool features ion manual mode. I guess it merits a four and a half rating.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent ring flash for dentistry, November 25, 2007

By	drerwinsu "drerwinsu" (North Canton, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

I have employed my Rebel XT digital SLR into my dental office. I upgraded to the Rebel XTi (10 mpixels) for home. I purchased the Sigma ring flash with a Sigma macro lens for the Canon SLR family. If you look at the Lester Dine website this is basically what they sell for a few hundreds dollars more.

I compared the ring flash and lens with the ones offered by Canon and felt that it was worth saving $300 by purchasing the Sigma combo.

The macro lens/ring flash work well for dental purposes. After a little experimentation I discovered that I get the best images by using the aperature priority setting. All settings are used with ISO 400 speed. I set the aperature at 14-16 for intraoral shots. This gives the best depth of field. I also use the operatory light for intraoral shots. I set the aperature to 6 for full face shots.

I use autofocus but set the ratio to 1:2 to 1:3 for intraoral shots. This keeps the autofocus from "hunting". I frame the shot by moving towards the subject. Once I get close to the image that I like I use the autofocus to get the final focus for the picture.