Sigma EF500DGP Flash VS Pentax AF360FGZ

Which one should I get? One swivels and one doesn't but are there other distinctions to be made?

With all Sigma products, there is always a question mark about whether it will work with the next camera you buy.

G

Is this any more true of Sigma than other makes?

Even Pentax - there are only two flash guns that work properly with the K10D AFAIK, so anyone that bought the K10D and already had a non 360/540 Pentax flashgun is pretty stuffed.

The point is, the Sigma EF 500 DG Super is less than half the price of the Pentax AF540 FGZ.

If it works well with the K10D, the £185 you save (at Bristol cameras, haven't checked any others) with the Sigma is hardly insignificant.

I'm just a simple soul, with little experience. I've bought three SLRs in my life, and none since about 1990 - I'm not likely to get another one anytime soon.

What would the real disadvantages be, buying the Sigma rather than the Pentax. Is the build quality poor? Are there some features missing (I got very bogged down in the spec sheets, so a simple comparison would be greatly appreciated)?

Chris,

There are numerous instances of Sigma equipment failing to perform properly with later generation equipment with which it SHOULD be able to operate.

And no, other manufacturers don't have this problem.

I fully accept that there are factors which favour the the Sigma rather than the Pentax, especially cost, but to make an informed decision one has to weigh everything in the balance.

Just because the Sigma is cheaper doesn't mean that every other aspect can be ignored.

G

Totally accept this.

But can anyone answer this more specifically?

I'm likely to stick with the '10 for quite a long time. The Sigma seems brilliantly specified for the price... whence the huge price differential compared with the 540?

By and large you get what you pay for. Sigma don't pay royalties to get the latest technical info from Pentax (or anyone else) so they "reverse engineer" to make their products work.

When new cameras appear the Sigma products may not work without re-chipping, basically because Sigma are not privy to the full technical details.

In terms of build quality, their products can be very good, but I don't think they are anywhere near as well made as the Pentax ones.

I have this same question but nothing really got answered here... It would be used with K10D and K100Ds only as I doubt I'll be getting anything else for a long time...

I'd also like to know how the wireless function works and where I could get a hotshoe extension for detaching the flash in use...

I've seen plenty of reports of re-chipping being required for Canon versions of Sigma products but I can't recall any cases with Pentax.

I have seen a number of reports on the PDML.

G

How it works, or whether it works? I have the 500 DG Super and I've tested it in wireless mode with the internal camera flash on the GX10 and it worked OK. However, I generally only use it on the hotshoe for macro work.

Haven't had any issues with it except for having to switch it off then on again when it gets upset (happens no more often than the GX10 itself).

I have to wonder, however, why Sigma are now releasing the EF 530 DG SUPER and whether there are any significant differences to the 500

To my knowledge the EF500 is not compatible with the K10D but is with K100. The EF530 is compatible with both.

The EF 500 DG Super certainly is compatible with the K10D/GX10. I've used it for some time, though I also now have the AF360FGZ, which I prefer.

The EF500 DG ST is compatible with the K10D, if it's been re-chipped by Sigma. I had to have mine rechipped when I bought the K10D. The flash had previously worked fine with my DS. Turnaround was extremely quick - 2 days IIRC. Cost was about £10, purely to cover return postage. Examples from batches made since the K10D came out may well be alreadiy compatible.

The ST is the basic model and to be honest, it's a bit too cheap for its own good. Yes, it does everything it's supposed to, but the limitation of only 2 manual power levels (full and 1/16th) were too limiting for me in the long run. Build quality isn't brilliant, but it's adequate. If you're going to buy Sigma, then don't bother with the ST model, it's well worth the extra for the Super.

Duncan

Having had my 360 flash unit casing crack now on my on two major impacts at an event I went into my local store - I tried the Sigma unit on both my DL and K10D and it worked fine on both (I bought the unit). I have updated both to their latest versions of firmware as well before I went into my local store and tested it. I don't know if that would have any impact as well (I doubt it mind without testing further).

i've read some reviews of the Sigma EF-500

and about 40% of them, out of about 30 or so user reviews

they said that the Sigma tsopped working after about a year, it just stopped wkring and wouldn't fire anymore

so be wary