EF-530 flash on D100

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Thomas Womack - 30 Dec 2007 02:01 GMT

My local camera shop has sold me a Sigma EF-530 flash for use with my
Nikon D100.

It works when the switch on the back of the flash is set to 'MH' or
'ML', though obviously the exposure is not very good - I have to use
the ISO rating to set the exposure, which is just daft.

When I set the switch to 'TTL', I get a red flashing lightning-bolt
symbol at the bottom of the viewfinder, and neither the flash nor the
shutter fires when I press the shutter-release button.

Also, the focal-length LEDs on the back of the flash are stuck at '24'
when I zoom the lens, whilst I was told that the flash is supposed to
adjust itself so the cone of light is narrower when I zoom in further.

I presume I'm missing some non-obvious setting (I've tried both
settings in CSM option 23, but I think those refer only to the
internal flash); could anyone advise me?

Thanks in advance,

Tom

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nospam - 30 Dec 2007 02:42 GMT

> My local camera shop has sold me a Sigma EF-530 flash for use with my
> Nikon D100.

i'm sorry to hear that.

> It works when the switch on the back of the flash is set to 'MH' or
> 'ML', though obviously the exposure is not very good - I have to use
> the ISO rating to set the exposure, which is just daft.

is that a manual setting of some sort?

> When I set the switch to 'TTL', I get a red flashing lightning-bolt
> symbol at the bottom of the viewfinder, and neither the flash nor the
> shutter fires when I press the shutter-release button.

that's because you need d-ttl for the d100, and your sigma flash
probably does not support d-ttl. manual flash modes will work,
however.

> Also, the focal-length LEDs on the back of the flash are stuck at '24'
> when I zoom the lens, whilst I was told that the flash is supposed to
> adjust itself so the cone of light is narrower when I zoom in further.

that's further evidence that it's not fully compatible with the d100.

> I presume I'm missing some non-obvious setting (I've tried both
> settings in CSM option 23, but I think those refer only to the
> internal flash); could anyone advise me?

get a nikon flash that supports d-ttl. any of the current sb-400, 600
and 800 will work, and those also have i-ttl which is what the current
nikon dslrs use (d-ttl is no longer supported).

although sigma and sunpak both make d-ttl and i-ttl compatible flashes,
they aren't 100% compatible, and it really is worth it to get a nikon
flash, particularly if you use flash a lot.

another option is get an older generic flash, one which has a single
pin on the hotshoe (not nikon specific). the flash will use its
built-in sensor for exposure and you just need to match the f/stop on
the camera. the camera won't see an incompatible flash, and it won't
refuse to take pictures. it's not as useful as ttl, but it's a lot
less money.

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Thomas Womack - 30 Dec 2007 10:01 GMT

>> It works when the switch on the back of the flash is set to 'MH' or
>> 'ML', though obviously the exposure is not very good - I have to use
>> the ISO rating to set the exposure, which is just daft.
>
>is that a manual setting of some sort?

Yes, those are manual settings (full-intensity and 1/16-intensity);
there doesn't seem to be the possibility of setting an intermediate
intensity manually, the flash is clearly designed to work TTL.

>> When I set the switch to 'TTL', I get a red flashing lightning-bolt
>> symbol at the bottom of the viewfinder, and neither the flash nor the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>probably does not support d-ttl. manual flash modes will work,
>however.

Ah, yes ... it saids 'iTTL' on the box. This makes me a little
annoyed by the camera shop, who spent some time telling me that the
D100 used a different TTL model from the newer cameras, and then
nonetheless sold me a flash incompatible with it ... I'll take it back
and see what sort of a deal I can find on an SB-600.

Many thanks for your advice.

Tom

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nospam - 30 Dec 2007 14:12 GMT

> >> It works when the switch on the back of the flash is set to 'MH' or
> >> 'ML', though obviously the exposure is not very good - I have to use
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> there doesn't seem to be the possibility of setting an intermediate
> intensity manually, the flash is clearly designed to work TTL.

that's odd, usually variable power offers several choices, such as 1/2,
1/4, 1/8, etc. the sb600 even can adjust its power down to 1/64th in
1/3 stops.

> Ah, yes ... it saids 'iTTL' on the box. This makes me a little
> annoyed by the camera shop, who spent some time telling me that the
> D100 used a different TTL model from the newer cameras, and then
> nonetheless sold me a flash incompatible with it ... I'll take it back
> and see what sort of a deal I can find on an SB-600.

if it's i-ttl, i'd think it would also support d-ttl, but knowing
sigma, they don't bother. in any event, the sb600 is a *much* better
flash.

you might also look for nikon sb28dx flash, if they're still available
(perhaps even used, off ebay or something). the only drawback is that
although it will work fine on the d100, it won't work on the newer
nikon dslrs.

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