Fill in Flash using Sigma 500ST with EOS 300

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I love my EOS 300. Being unable to afford an expensive Canon Speedlite I have settled for an Sigma 500ST. How can I use this flash to fill in shadow areas. I am aware that the Sync. speed is 90th second or slower. Can I use the manual Mh & Ml for partial flash to fill in.The documentation supplied by Sigma is very unclear. I would love to have the 500 Super but cost has beat me. What would be the best mode to use for occasions when I want to use fill in flash. I love the night mode where the flash takes the subject and uses available light to take the background. Does the Sigma 500ST use TTL or A-TTL (I expect it is too cheap to have E-TTL)

Warren

-- Warren Short (wahshort@tpgi.com.au), April 07, 2002

Answers

It is TTL only. E-TTL would be better since it comes with high speed sync for easier fill flash and Flash Exposure Lock for more control. But you can only afford so much & have to settle for what you have money for. I can't buy the toys I want either.

I have no idea what Mh & Ml are.

For fill flash in sunlight, I would use Tv mode with the shutter set to 1/90. But P, M & Av mode will do it too.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), April 08, 2002.


Warren responded to me in a personal email. I'll post it here.

> Hi thanks for response > > The Mh and Ml are the high and low settings for manual flash. > > Could I use these settings for fill in flash on TTL flash. > I wondered whether the low setting might just add a bit of flash > to deal with shadows etc.

Then Mh would be a full power flash and Ml would probably be a 1/16th power flash. There would be no TTL metering with either setting, so unless you just happened to have the GN right for the film speed, aperture and distance, you would not know what you would get.

Manual mode can certainly be used, but you would need to Guide Number calculations for each shot. One you figure out the aperture and distance calculations for each film speed you use, it's not too difficult. It's just hard to remember all that stuff.

Unless you're a math wiz or figure out your tables before hand & write them down, I think you're better off sticking to TTL most of the time.

I was under the assumpton that the 500 ST had full manual power control like the 500 Super. Too bad. Another reason not to get one, I guess. I do like the 500 Super though.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), April 08, 2002.


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