Sigma Flash Overexposing

BeemerPhotography · May 31, 2009

Any ideas?

I've tried and tried to use this flash on eTTL and it will consistently overexpose (though how much overexposed varies). I cut two index cards and taped them over to act as a diffuser, helped, but still overexposed (and for some reason bouncing this flash makes it overexpose worse). I then bought an Omni Bounce Diffuser hoping that it would solve my problem...WRONG. It actually overexposes even more now (again, especially when bounced). I've even tried using their built-in diffuser, but that just makes it worse, because when you flip the diffuser down, it brings the light closer to the diffuser, so it overexposes worse than without anything over it.

I feel like I was ripped off as I paid ~$150 for a flash that overexposes.

Any ideas? Do you think it's a defective unit? I just don't know what to do with this thing. I'm considering selling it and getting a Canon 430EX flash.

Montana · May 31, 2009

Can you post a photo and some EXIF info? Are you shooting the camera in manual. Settings? Do you have any flash exposure compensation dialed in by accident? Not being rude, just asking some basic questions.

Derrick

KmH · May 31, 2009

One of the many possible pitfalls from using 3rd party gear that is essentially reverse engineered equipment.

BeemerPhotography · May 31, 2009

Montana said:
Can you post a photo and some EXIF info? Are you shooting the camera in manual. Settings? Do you have any flash exposure compensation dialed in by accident? Not being rude, just asking some basic questions.

Derrick

Sigma with Omni Bounce Diffuser & Built-in Diffuser

Camera: Canon EOS 50D Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60) Aperture: f/2.8 Focal Length: 85 mm ISO Speed: 400 Exposure Bias: 0 EV Flash: On, Fired
File Size: 103 kB File Type: JPEG MIME Type: image/jpeg Image Width: 2352 Image Height: 1568 Encoding Process: Baseline DCT, Huffman coding Bits Per Sample: 8 Color Components: 3 Orientation: Horizontal (normal) X-Resolution: 72 dpi Y-Resolution: 72 dpi Date and Time (Modified): 2009:05:29 18:08:05 YCbCr Positioning: Co-sited Exposure Program: Program AE Date and Time (Original): 2009:05:29 18:08:05 Date and Time (Digitized): 2009:05:29 18:08:05 Metering Mode: Multi-segment Sub Sec Time: 85 Sub Sec Time Original: 85 Sub Sec Time Digitized: 85 Color Space: sRGB Focal Plane X-Resolution: 2630.872483 dpi Focal Plane Y-Resolution: 2626.465662 dpi Custom Rendered: Normal Exposure Mode: Auto White Balance: Auto Scene Capture Type: Standard Macro Mode: Normal Self Timer: Off Quality: Fine Canon Flash Mode: Red-eye reduction Continuous Drive: Continuous, High Focus Mode: One-shot AF Record Mode: CR2+JPEG Canon Image Size: Small Easy Mode: Manual Digital Zoom: None Contrast: Normal Saturation: Normal Camera ISO: Auto Metering Mode: Evaluative Focus Range: Not Known Canon Exposure Mode: Program AE Lens Type: Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Long Focal: 85 mm Short Focal: 85 mm Focal Units: 1 Max Aperture: 1.8 Min Aperture: 23 Flash Activity: 0 Flash Bits: Manual, External Zoom Source Width: 0 Zoom Target Width: 0 Manual Flash Output: n/a Color Tone: Normal SRAWQuality: n/a Auto ISO: 100 Base ISO: 400 Measured EV: -3.50 Target Aperture: 2.8 Target Exposure Time: 1/64 White Balance: Auto Slow Shutter: None Sequence Number: 0 Optical Zoom Code: n/a Flash Exposure Comp: 0 Auto Exposure Bracketing: Off AEBBracket Value: 0 Control Mode: Camera Local Control Bulb Duration: 0 Camera Type: EOS High-end NDFilter: Unknown (-1) Flash Output: 0 Canon Firmware Version: Firmware Version 1.0.3 Serial Number: 0520300939 Highlight Tone Priority: Off Camera Temperature: 24 C Camera Orientation: Horizontal (normal) Focus Distance Upper: 1.49 Focus Distance Lower: 1.04 Color Temperature: 5200 Picture Style: Standard High ISONoise Reduction: Standard Auto Lighting Optimizer: Standard Firmware Version: 1.0.3 File Index: 6787 Directory Index: 100 Canon Model ID: EOS 50D AFMode: Single-point AF Num AFPoints: 9 Valid AFPoints: 9 AFArea Widths: 99 80 80 80 118 80 80 80 99 AFArea Heights: 79 98 98 98 120 98 98 98 79 AFPoints Selected: 4 Original Decision Data Offset: 0 Bracket Mode: Off Bracket Value: 0 Bracket Shot Number: 0 Raw Jpg Size: Large WBBracket Mode: Off WBBracket Value AB: 0 WBBracket Value GM: 0 Live View Shooting: Off Flash Exposure Lock: Off Lens Model: EF85mm f/1.8 USM Internal Serial Number: P0263885 Dust Removal Data: (Binary data 1024 bytes, use -b option to extract) Tone Curve: Standard Sharpness: 5 Sharpness Frequency: n/a Sensor Red Level: 0 Sensor Blue Level: 0 White Balance Red: 0 White Balance Blue: 0 Digital Gain: 0 WBShift AB: -3 WBShift GM: 0 Color Space: sRGB VRDOffset: 0 Sensor Width: 4832 (72-4823 used) Sensor Height: 3228 (56-3223 used) Black Mask Left Border: 0 Black Mask Top Border: 0 Black Mask Right Border: 0 Black Mask Bottom Border: 0 White Balance RGGB Levels: 2194 1024 1024 1376 Color Temperature: 5671 WB_ RGGBLevels Measured: 2277 1024 1023 1308 Color Temp Measured: 6211 AFMicro Adj Active: Unknown (2) AFMicro Adj Value: 5 Exposure Level Increments: 1/3 Stop ISOSpeed Increments: 1/3 Stop ISOExpansion: On AEBAuto Cancel: On AEBSequence: -,0,+ Safety Shift: Disable Flash Sync Speed Av: Auto Long Exposure Noise Reduction: Off High ISONoise Reduction: Standard Highlight Tone Priority: Disable Auto Lighting Optimizer: Standard Lens Drive No AF: Focus search on Lens AFStop Button: AF stop AFPoint Selection Method: Normal Superimposed Display: On AFAssist Beam: Emits Mirror Lockup: Disable AFMicroadjustment: Adjust by lens; 2; 5; 2; 0 Shutter Button AFOn Button: Metering + AF start AFOn AELock Button Switch: Enable Set Button When Shooting: Quick control screen Dial Direction Tv Av: Normal Focusing Screen: Ef-A Add Original Decision Data: Off Assign Func Button: LCD brightness GPSVersion ID: 2.2.0.0 Compression: JPEG (old-style)

Sigma Flash with 2 Notecard Diffusers & Built-In Diffuser

Camera: Canon EOS 50D Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60) Aperture: f/1.8 Focal Length: 85 mm ISO Speed: 400 Exposure Bias: 0 EV Flash: On
File Size: 3.6 MB File Type: JPEG MIME Type: image/jpeg Image Width: 4752 Image Height: 3168 Encoding Process: Baseline DCT, Huffman coding Bits Per Sample: 8 Color Components: 3 Orientation: Horizontal (normal) X-Resolution: 72 dpi Y-Resolution: 72 dpi Date and Time (Modified): 2009:05:21 17:31:42 YCbCr Positioning: Co-sited Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE Date and Time (Original): 2009:05:21 17:31:42 Date and Time (Digitized): 2009:05:21 17:31:42 Metering Mode: Multi-segment Sub Sec Time: 73 Sub Sec Time Original: 73 Sub Sec Time Digitized: 73 Color Space: sRGB Focal Plane X-Resolution: 5315.436242 dpi Focal Plane Y-Resolution: 5306.532663 dpi Custom Rendered: Normal Exposure Mode: Auto White Balance: Auto Scene Capture Type: Standard Macro Mode: Normal Self Timer: Off Quality: Fine Canon Flash Mode: Red-eye reduction Continuous Drive: Continuous, High Focus Mode: One-shot AF Record Mode: JPEG Canon Image Size: Large Easy Mode: Manual Digital Zoom: None Contrast: Normal Saturation: Normal Camera ISO: Auto Metering Mode: Evaluative Focus Range: Not Known Canon Exposure Mode: Aperture-priority AE Lens Type: Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Long Focal: 85 mm Short Focal: 85 mm Focal Units: 1 Max Aperture: 1.8 Min Aperture: 23 Flash Activity: 0 Flash Bits: TTL, External Zoom Source Width: 0 Zoom Target Width: 0 Manual Flash Output: n/a Color Tone: Normal Auto ISO: 100 Base ISO: 400 Measured EV: 0.62 Target Aperture: 1.8 Target Exposure Time: 1/64 White Balance: Auto Slow Shutter: None Sequence Number: 0 Optical Zoom Code: n/a Flash Exposure Comp: 0 Auto Exposure Bracketing: Off AEBBracket Value: 0 Control Mode: Camera Local Control Bulb Duration: 0 Camera Type: EOS High-end NDFilter: Unknown (-1) Flash Output: 0 Canon Firmware Version: Firmware Version 1.0.3 Serial Number: 0520300939 Camera Orientation: Horizontal (normal) Focus Distance Upper: 0.9 Focus Distance Lower: 0.85 Color Temperature: 5200 Firmware Version: 1.0.3 Canon Model ID: EOS 50D AFMode: Multi-point AF Num AFPoints: 9 Valid AFPoints: 9 AFArea Widths: 99 80 80 80 118 80 80 80 99 AFArea Heights: 79 98 98 98 120 98 98 98 79 AFPoints Selected: 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Original Decision Data Offset: 0 Bracket Mode: Off Bracket Value: 0 Bracket Shot Number: 0 Raw Jpg Size: Large Noise Reduction: Off WBBracket Mode: Off WBBracket Value AB: 0 WBBracket Value GM: 0 Lens Model: EF85mm f/1.8 USM Internal Serial Number: P0263885 Dust Removal Data: (Binary data 1024 bytes) Tone Curve: Standard Sharpness: 5 Sharpness Frequency: n/a Sensor Red Level: 0 Sensor Blue Level: 0 White Balance Red: 0 White Balance Blue: 0 Picture Style: Standard Digital Gain: 0 WBShift AB: -2 WBShift GM: 0 Color Space: sRGB VRDOffset: 0 Sensor Width: 4832 (72-4823 used) Sensor Height: 3228 (56-3223 used) Black Mask Left Border: 0 Black Mask Top Border: 0 Black Mask Right Border: 0 Black Mask Bottom Border: 0 White Balance RGGB Levels: 1719 1024 1024 1722 Color Temperature: 3854 WB_ RGGBLevels Measured: 1710 1024 1022 1718 Color Temp Measured: 3839 Exposure Level Increments: 1/3 Stop ISOSpeed Increments: 1/3-stop ISOExpansion: On AEBAuto Cancel: On AEBSequence: -,0,+ Safety Shift: Disable Flash Sync Speed Av: Auto Long Exposure Noise Reduction: Off High ISONoise Reduction: Standard Highlight Tone Priority: Disable Auto Lighting Optimizer: Standard Lens Drive No AF: Focus search on Lens AFStop Button: AF stop AFPoint Selection Method: Multi-controller direct Superimposed Display: On AFAssist Beam: Emits Mirror Lockup: Disable AFMicroadjustment: Adjust by lens; 2; 5; 2; 0 Shutter Button AFOn Button: Metering + AF start AFOn AELock Button Switch: Disable Set Button When Shooting: Normal (disabled) Dial Direction Tv Av: Normal Focusing Screen: Ef-A Add Original Decision Data: Off Assign Func Button: LCD brightness GPSVersion ID: 2.2.0.0 Compression: JPEG (old-style)

Same shot, no flash, just for comparison

Sigma Flash with 2 Notecards Diffusers & Built-In Diffuser

Camera: Canon EOS 50D Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80) Aperture: f/1.8 Focal Length: 50 mm ISO Speed: 400 Exposure Bias: 0 EV Flash: On, Fired
File Size: 4.3 MB File Type: JPEG MIME Type: image/jpeg Image Width: 3168 Image Height: 4752 Encoding Process: Baseline DCT, Huffman coding Bits Per Sample: 8 Color Components: 3 X-Resolution: 72 dpi Y-Resolution: 72 dpi Orientation: Horizontal (normal) Software: Microsoft Windows Photo Gallery 6.0.6001.18000 Date and Time (Modified): 2009:05:23 22:13:46 YCbCr Positioning: Co-sited Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE Date and Time (Original): 2009:05:22 21:23:34 Date and Time (Digitized): 2009:05:22 21:23:34 Metering Mode: Multi-segment Sub Sec Time: 80 Sub Sec Time Original: 80 Sub Sec Time Digitized: 80 Color Space: sRGB Focal Plane X-Resolution: 5315.436242 dpi Focal Plane Y-Resolution: 5306.532663 dpi Custom Rendered: Normal Exposure Mode: Auto White Balance: Auto Scene Capture Type: Standard Offset Schema: -74 Macro Mode: Normal Self Timer: Off Quality: Fine Canon Flash Mode: Red-eye reduction Continuous Drive: Continuous, High Focus Mode: One-shot AF Record Mode: JPEG Canon Image Size: Large Easy Mode: Manual Digital Zoom: None Contrast: Normal Saturation: Normal Camera ISO: Auto Metering Mode: Evaluative Focus Range: Not Known Canon Exposure Mode: Aperture-priority AE Lens Type: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 MkII Long Focal: 50 mm Short Focal: 50 mm Focal Units: 1 Max Aperture: 1.8 Min Aperture: 23 Flash Activity: 0 Flash Bits: TTL, External Zoom Source Width: 0 Zoom Target Width: 0 Manual Flash Output: n/a Color Tone: Normal Auto ISO: 100 Base ISO: 400 Measured EV: 1.00 Target Aperture: 1.8 Target Exposure Time: 1/81 White Balance: Auto Slow Shutter: None Sequence Number: 0 Optical Zoom Code: n/a Flash Exposure Comp: 0 Auto Exposure Bracketing: Off AEBBracket Value: 0 Control Mode: Camera Local Control Bulb Duration: 0 Camera Type: EOS High-end NDFilter: Unknown (-1) Flash Output: 0 Canon Firmware Version: Firmware Version 1.0.3 Serial Number: 0520300939 Highlight Tone Priority: Off Camera Temperature: 21 C Camera Orientation: Rotate 90 CW Focus Distance Upper: 0 Focus Distance Lower: 0 Color Temperature: 5200 Picture Style: Standard High ISONoise Reduction: Standard Auto Lighting Optimizer: Standard Firmware Version: 1.0.3 File Index: 6069 Directory Index: 100 Canon Model ID: EOS 50D AFMode: Multi-point AF Num AFPoints: 9 Valid AFPoints: 9 AFArea Widths: 99 80 80 80 118 80 80 80 99 AFArea Heights: 79 98 98 98 120 98 98 98 79 AFPoints Selected: 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Original Decision Data Offset: 0 Bracket Mode: Off Bracket Value: 0 Bracket Shot Number: 0 Raw Jpg Size: Large WBBracket Mode: Off WBBracket Value AB: 0 WBBracket Value GM: 0 Live View Shooting: Off Flash Exposure Lock: Off Lens Model: EF50mm f/1.8 II Internal Serial Number: P0263885 Dust Removal Data: (Binary data 1024 bytes, use -b option to extract) Tone Curve: Standard Sharpness: 5 Sharpness Frequency: n/a Sensor Red Level: 0 Sensor Blue Level: 0 White Balance Red: 0 White Balance Blue: 0 Digital Gain: 0 WBShift AB: -2 WBShift GM: 0 Color Space: sRGB VRDOffset: 0 Sensor Width: 4832 (72-4823 used) Sensor Height: 3228 (56-3223 used) Black Mask Left Border: 0 Black Mask Top Border: 0 Black Mask Right Border: 0 Black Mask Bottom Border: 0 White Balance RGGB Levels: 1883 1024 1024 1560 Color Temperature: 4464 WB_ RGGBLevels Measured: 1926 1023 1024 1514 Color Temp Measured: 4652 AFMicro Adj Active: Unknown (2) AFMicro Adj Value: -11 Exposure Level Increments: 1/3 Stop ISOSpeed Increments: 1/3 Stop ISOExpansion: On AEBAuto Cancel: On AEBSequence: -,0,+ Safety Shift: Disable Flash Sync Speed Av: Auto Long Exposure Noise Reduction: Off High ISONoise Reduction: Standard Highlight Tone Priority: Disable Auto Lighting Optimizer: Standard Lens Drive No AF: Focus search on Lens AFStop Button: AF stop AFPoint Selection Method: Multi-controller direct Superimposed Display: On AFAssist Beam: Emits Mirror Lockup: Disable AFMicroadjustment: Adjust by lens; 0; -11; 2; 0 Shutter Button AFOn Button: Metering + AF start AFOn AELock Button Switch: Disable Set Button When Shooting: Normal (disabled) Dial Direction Tv Av: Normal Focusing Screen: Ef-A Add Original Decision Data: Off Assign Func Button: LCD brightness GPSVersion ID: 2.2.0.0 Compression: JPEG (old-style) About: uuid:faf5bdd5-ba3d-11da-ad31-d33d75182f1b Creator Tool: Microsoft Windows Photo Gallery 6.0.6001.18000 Creatortool: Microsoft Windows Photo Gallery 6.0.6001.18000 Software: Microsoft Windows Photo Gallery 6.0.6001.18000 Orientation: Horizontal (normal)

Sigma Flash with 2 Notecard Diffusers & Built-In Diffuser (one of the very FEW that actually did ok)

Camera: Canon EOS 50D Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60) Aperture: f/4.0 Focal Length: 50 mm ISO Speed: 400 Exposure Bias: 0 EV Flash: On
File Size: 1625 kB File Type: JPEG MIME Type: image/jpeg Image Width: 3168 Image Height: 4752 Encoding Process: Baseline DCT, Huffman coding Bits Per Sample: 8 Color Components: 3 X-Resolution: 72 dpi Y-Resolution: 72 dpi Software: picnik.com Date and Time (Modified): 2009:05:28 17:04:46 YCbCr Positioning: Centered Exposure Program: Program AE Date and Time (Original): 2009:05:22 21:24:54-04:00 Date and Time (Digitized): 2009:05:22 21:24:54 Metering Mode: Multi-segment Sub Sec Time: 95 Sub Sec Time Original: 95 Sub Sec Time Digitized: 95 Color Space: sRGB Focal Plane X-Resolution: 5315.43624161074 Focal Plane Y-Resolution: 5306.53271028037 Custom Rendered: Normal Exposure Mode: Auto White Balance: Auto Scene Capture Type: Standard GPSVersion ID: 2.2.0.0 Compression: JPEG (old-style) Global Angle: 30 Global Altitude: 30 XMPToolkit: Image::ExifTool 6.54 Format: image/jpeg Software: picnik.com Creator Tool: picnik.com Metadata Date: 2009:05:28 17:04:46-04:00 History Action: saved History Instance ID: xmp.iid:B1B19D2CCB4BDE119BFACDD04A929C85 History Software Agent: Adobe Photoshop CS4 Windows History When: 2009:05:28 17:04:46-04:00 Flash Function: False Flash Mode: On Flash Red Eye Mode: False Flash Return: No return detection GPSVersion ID: 2.2.0.0

BeemerPhotography · May 31, 2009

I included all of the EXIF data as I wasn't sure what all you wanted to look at.

I'm shooting in P mode while the external flash is on.

I'll check the flash exposure compensation, though I think it's set to 0. Maybe I should try -1 and see if that might help with the overexposure?

Montana · Jun 1, 2009

The exif shows shooting in aperture priority, auto ISO.

Just set the camera in manual once. ISO 100, aperture around f/8, shutter speed 1/200, make sure flash is in eTTL and try it once. See what happens.

The blown shot of the little girl was shot ISO 400, ap 1.8, 1/60 shutter. That would overexpose in my opinion.

Dwig · Jun 1, 2009

BeemerPhotography said:
...Do you think it's a defective unit? ...

Possibly. BTW, are you sure you have a "EF-530 DG ST EO-ETTL II" and not one of the other versions of the Ef-530 DG ST?

BeemerPhotography · Nov 19, 2009

I emailed Sigma regarding this and found out that there is a firmware update that was done on the newer serial models. The older models will not work properly on the Canon EOS 50D without the firmware update.