Using the Sigma EF-DG Super Flash In Manual Mode Off-Camera

The Sigma EF-DG Super Flash is a powerful hotshoe-based flash unit with a lot of nice features.  It even includes a somewhat unusual feature for a hotshoe-based flash, a built in optical slave.

But, the user interface is a bit hard to use, the user manual is obtuse, and accessing important use modes are often not intuitive, even for gearheads.

Many want to use this flash off-camera in manual mode.  They might want to trigger the Sigma Super with a cord, with a radio slave, or even with an external optical slave (note the word external here).  But, it is not obvious how to do this.  The copy below will show you how to set the Super Sigma for off-camera manual use.

Please note that this short offering only deals with how to properly set the user mode for manual off-camera flash for the Super Sigma.  It does not deal with how to mount the flash off-camera, or connect a sync device such as a cord, a radio slave, or external optical slave.  Those issues are covered in other subject offerings.

Step one - Getting the Sigma Super to the proper mode:
(These instructions are for the Canon version of the Sigma Super, but I suspect the other versions are similar and this may serve as a useful guide)

• The proper mode to use the Super Sigma for off-camera manual mode is “Slave Flash” per the Super Sigma users manual.  This seems odd, but that is the way it is.  To access this mode turn the flash on.  Then press the MODE button until you access the “Slave Flash” mode.
• The MODE button will cycle through :

ETTL

M  (Many would think this “manual” mode is the correct one, but it is not.)

MULTI

ETTL  - wireless flash master

ETTL - wireless flash slave

- Slave Flash mode (This is the mode you want; note that "ETTL" is not shown anywhere on the display.)

ISO - for setting the ISO

• Cycle through these modes until you come to the “Slave Flash” mode.  When you are in the “Slave Flash” mode, the words ETTL or MULTI will not appear anywhere on the LCD panel.

Step two - Turning the internal optical slave off and setting the power level:

If you are going to activate your off-camera Super Sigma with a sync cord or a radio slave, you will want to turn the Super Sigma’s internal optical slave off.

• Set the correct mode (step one above) and then hit the SEL button (the select button).
• The C0, C1, or C2 channel designation will flash.  For a sync cord or radio slave hit the + or – buttons until you have either C1 or C2 displayed (either one is fine).  Then hit the SEL button to make that selection.
• The power level will then flash, hit the + or – key to make your power level selection.  Just let the selected power level flash so the power level will be ready to accept a change to another level as needed by hitting the + and – buttons.  The Super Sigma is now set correctly and you can stop here.
• If you hit the SEL button again an F/# will display, you are in off-camera manual mode, so anything you set is fine.
• If you hit the SEL button again things will stop flashing and you will see the proper C1 or C2 setting again.
• Hitting the SEL button again cycles through the channel selection, power level, and F# settings.

Step three – Turning the internal optical slave on and setting the power level:

• To turn on the internal optical slave just follow all the instructions in Step 2 above, but be sure the channel designation is C0 (not C1 or C2).

Here is a link to a PDF for instructions for all of the various versions of the Sigma Super: http://www.sigmaphoto.com/flashes/flashes_flashes_details.asp?id=3257