Sigma EF-530 DG ST User Manual

ENGLISH

Thank you very much for purchasing the Sigma EF-530 DG SUPER NA-iTTL Electronic Flash. This product is specifically developed for the Nikon SLR series cameras. Depending on the camera model, functions and operation may vary. Please read this instruction booklet carefully. To add to your enjoyment of photography, this flash has a variety of features. To make the most of all these features and to get the maximum performance and enjoyment from your flash, please read this instruction booklet together with your camera’s instruction manual, before using the flash and also keep it handy for your future reference.

PRECAUTIONS

In order to avoid causing any damage or injury, please read this instruction manual very carefully, paying attention to the cautionary signs below, before using the flash.

Please take special note of the two cautionary signs below.

Warning !!

Caution!!

Using the product disregarding this warning sign might cause serious injury or other dangerous results.

Using the product disregarding this caution sign might cause injury or damage.

Symbol denotes the important points, where warning and caution are required. Symbol contains information regarding the actions that must be avoided.

Warning !!

This flash contains high voltage circuits. To avoid electric shock or burns, do not attempt to disassemble the flash. If the outside shell of the unit is broken or cracked, do not touch the mechanism inside.

Do not fire the flash close to eyes. Otherwise the bright light could damage the eyes. Keep at least 1m/3feet distance between face and the flash unit when taking a picture with flash.

Do not touch the synchro terminal of your camera when the flash is attached to a hot shoe. High voltage circuitry could cause an electric shock.

Never use your camera in an environment where flammable, burnable, gas, liquids or chemicals, etc, exist. Otherwise it might cause fire or explosion.

Caution !!

Do not use this flash unit on any camera other than the Nikon NA series cameras, otherwise the flash may damage the circuitry of these cameras.

This flash unit is not waterproof. When using the flash and camera in the rain or snow or near water, keep it from getting wet. It is often impractical to repair internal electrical components damaged by water.

Never subject the flash and camera to shock, dust, high temperature or humidity. These factors might cause fire or malfunctioning of your equipment.

When the flash is subjected to sudden temperature change, as when the flash unit is brought from a cold exterior to warm interior, condensation might form inside. In such a case, place your equipment in a sealed plastic bag before such a change, and do not use the flash unit until it reaches room temperature.

Do not store your flash in a drawer or cupboard etc. containing naphthalene, camphor or other insecticides. These chemicals will have a negative effects on the flash unit.

Do not use a thinner, Benzene or other cleaning agents to remove dirt or finger prints from the component. Clean with a soft, moistened cloth.

For extended storage, choose a cool dry place, preferably with good ventilation. It is recommended that the flash be charged and fired several times a month to maintain proper capacitor functioning.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTS

EXTERNAL PARTS

1.Flash Head

2.Built-in Wide Panel

3.AF Auxiliary Light

4.Bounce Angle; Up and Down

5.Bounce Angle; Right and Left

6.Bounce Lock and Release Button; Up and Down

7.Swivel Lock and Release Button; Right and Left

8.LCD Panel

9.Battery Cover 10.Shoe Ring

11.Shoe

CONTROLS

12.MODE Button

13.<SEL> SELECT Button

14.< + > Increment Button

15.< - > Decrement Button

16.ZOOM Button

17.TEST Button

18.LIGHT Button

19.Ready Light

20.Power Switch

CAMERA MODELS AND FUNCTIONS

This flash can be used with cameras, which are given below.

D2 Series,

D200, D80,

D70s,

D70,

D50,

D40X, D40,

D1 Series, D100,

F6,

F5, F4 Series,

F3 Series(*),

F100,

F90X/N90S Series, F90/N90 Series, F80 Series,

F75/N75,

F70D/N70,

U/F65/N65,

F60D/N60,

F55/N55,

F50D/N50,

F-801S/N8008S,

F-801/N8008,

F601M,

F-601/N6006,

F501/N2020,

F401X, F401S/N4004S,

F-401/N4004,

F-301,

N2000, FA, FE10, FE-2,

FG,

FM10,

New FM2, FM3,

Nikonos V(*),

Pronea 600i

(*) It is necessary to use adapter for connection.

This instruction book is used for the following lens types. (Please check your lens.)

With Built-in CPU Nikon Lenses	D Type Lenses, G Type Lenses, IX Nikor Lenses, Except D type AF
	lens (does not include F3AF), Ai-P type lens
Without Built-in CPU Nikon Lenses	Ai-S, Ai, Series E lens

ABOUT THE BATTERY

This flash unit uses four “AA” type Alkaline dry cell batteries or Ni-Cad, Ni-MH rechargeable batteries. Manganese batteries can also be used but as they have a shorter life than Alkaline batteries, we do not recommend using them. Please replace batteries if it takes more than 30seconds to light the Ready Lamp.

To assure proper electrical contact, clean the battery terminals before installing the batteries.

NiCad batteries do not have standardized contacts. If you use NiCad batteries, please confirm that the battery contacts touch the battery compartment properly.

To prevent battery explosion, leakage or overheating, use four new AA batteries of the same type and brand. Do not mix the type or new and used batteries.

Do not disassemble or short-circuit the batteries, or expose them fire or water; they may explode. Do not recharge the batteries other than Ni-Cd or Ni-MH rechargeable batteries.

When the flash will not be used for an extended period of time, remove the batteries from the flash to avoid the possibility of damage from leakage.

Battery performance decreases at low temperatures. Keep batteries insulated when using the flash in cold weather.

As with any flash, it is recommended you carry spare batteries when on a long trip or when photographing outdoors in cold weather.

BATTERY LOADING

1.Be sure to set the Power Switch to the off position then slide the battery cover in the direction of the arrow to open.

2.Insert four AA size batteries into the battery chamber. Be sure the + and – ends of the batteries are aligned according to the diagram in the chamber.

3.Close the cover.

4.Slide the Power Switch to the ON position. After few seconds the Ready Lamp will light, indicating that the flash unit can be fired.

5.Please press the “Test Button” to be sure that the flash is working properly.

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AUTO POWER OFF

To conserve battery power, the flash unit automatically turns itself off when the flash is not used within approximately 80 seconds. To turn the flash on again, depress the TEST button or the camera shutter button halfway. Please note that the “Auto Power Off” mechanism does not work with wireless TTL flash mode, normal slave flash, and designated slave flash modes.

Please Note; However, “Auto Power Off” mechanism does not work with slave flash mode.

ERROR INDICATION

If the battery power is not sufficient, or if there is an electric information error between the camera and flash unit, the “Er” icon will blink on the LCD panel. When this occurs, turn the power switch off and on. If it still blinks, after this procedure, check the battery power.

ADJUSTING THE FLASH HEAD

Depress the Bounce “Up and Down” Lock and Release Button and adjust the flash head to the desired position.

If appears on the LCD panel when you turn on the flash, and if this mark blinks, then the flash head is adjusted to an incorrect position.

ATTACHING AND REMOVING THE FLASH TO AND FROM THE CAMERA

Be sure to turn off the Power Switch, then insert the Shoe Base into the hot shoe on the camera and turn the Shoe Locking Ring until it is tight.

When you attach or remove the flash, grasp the bottom of the flash to prevent damage to the shoe foot and the camera’s hot shoe.

If the camera’s built-in flash is set in up position, please close it before you attach the flash unit.

To remove the flash, rotate the shoe-locking ring in the opposite direction of ◄LOCK mark, until it stops.

SETTING OF FLASH COVERAGE ANGLE

When you press the ZOOM button, the symbol appears. Each time you press the ZOOM button, the LCD panel display will change and indicate the zoom position in sequence as follows.

24mm → 28mm → 35mm → 50mm → 70mm → 85mm → 105mm → (Auto)

Please confirm the distance from <<CHART A>> page 17. If the setting is possible with 1 then depending on the focal length of the lens, the flash coverage angle will be set automatically, when TTL mode is chosen.

When you turn on the main switch, the flash will memorize and set the zoom head position to the last setting used.

If you use a lens wider than the flash head setting, there may be under exposed areas around the edges of the picture.

Depending on the flash head setting, the flash’s Guide Number will change.

WIDE PANEL

This flash is equipped with a built in type wide panel, which can provide ultra wide 17mm angle of coverage. Slide out the wide panel and flip it down to cover flash’s head. Then the coverage angle setting of the flash will be set to 17mm automatically.

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If the built-in wide panel comes off accidentally, the ZOOM button will not function. In this case please contact the store where the flash was purchased, or an authorized .Sigma service station.

LCD PANEL ILLUMINATION

When you press the LIGHT button, the LCD panel will illuminate for about 8 seconds. The illumination stays on longer than 8 seconds if you press the LIGHT button once again.

SETTING THE ISO FILM SPEED

The ISO film speed is automatically set for the combination of EF-530 DG SUPER NA-iTTL with Digital SLR Cameras, or the F-5, F-4 series, F100, F90X/F90/F80 (N90S/N90/N80) series, F75D/N75, F65/N65, F70/N70, F810S/N8008S, F801/N8008 and Pronea600i. To confirm ISO film speed, press the MODE button. If your camera is not one of the models listed above, please follow the procedure below.

1.Press the MODE button until ISO is selected.

2.Press the SEL button. The ISO value will blink.

3.Press	+	or	–		to set ISO film speed.
4.Press	the	SEL		button and make the indicator stop blinking.

TTL Mode

TTL mode can provide the correct exposure for the subject and will control the amount of flash.

Please refer to <<CHART A>> which shows the combinations of camera and lens types, exposure mode, and flash modes.

TTL function does not work when using the following cameras: F3 series, FM10, New FM2, FE10, Nikonos V.

1.Set the desired exposure mode on your camera. Please refer to Camera’s Instruction manual.

2.Slide the Flash’s power switch to the ON position.

3.Select TTL/BL or TTL by pressing the MODE button.

When using Digital SLR Cameras, please select TTL/BL. Depending on the camera model, i-TTL or D-TTL system will be used. The ”d” mark will be displayed on the LCD panel for both systems.

For the following cameras; F-5, F-4 series, F100, F90X/F90/F80 (N90S/N90/N80) series, F70D/N70, F810S/N8008S, F801/ N8008S and Pronea 600i, TTL/BL or TTL can be selected. However, cameras other

than those listed above, only TTL can be selected.

4.Focus on the subject.

5.Confirm that the subject is located within the effective distance range, indicated on the LCD panel.

Depending on the combination of the camera, lens and selected exposure mode, the method for shooting the subject with flash may be

different. Please see chart “A” and set the “F”-number by referring to the manual for your camera. 6.Confirm the Ready Light is on and press the shutter release button.

When the camera does not receive the appropriate exposure for the subject, the TTL/BL or TTL mark on the LCD panel will appear for 5 seconds after shooting, which shows that the flash power is not sufficient for this situation. Please re-take at a closer distance or use a wider aperture. In the case of F5, F100, F90X/F90/F80 (N90S/N90/N80) series and F70D/N70 cameras, the underexposure indicator appears for 5 seconds. If you want to see the display for underexposure again, please depress the LIGHT button.

When the flash is fully charged, the ready light in the camera’s viewfinder will appear. If it does not appear, the shutter of the camera may operate at a slow shutter speed without triggering the flash.

If you use the AF camera with an AF lens, the AF Auxiliary Light will turn on automatically as you focus on a subject in a dark area. However the AF Auxiliary Light will not light up if central focus area is not selected.

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