Comments on: Tutorial: Using an eBay Wireless Trigger on a Sigma 500DG Super Flash

By: Photonomikon

Photonomikon — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 02:54:06 +0000

@Jeff oh it’s working all right. I’ve been using it for ages with 3 flashes: the Sigma 500, and 2x Vivitar 283.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:59:17 +0000

Are you sure the wireless remote setup is actually working for you? I thought this type of flash communicated between each other using pre flashes. Perhaps they are doing that, making your investment in wireless stuff a bit moot. Hopefully I am wrong.

By: Madhav

Madhav — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:57:49 +0000

Thanks Photonomikon, it was a good and educative read.

Keep up the good work.

thanks again,

By: Photonomikon

Photonomikon — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:34:12 +0000

Yeah I realized that almost immediately. There was a problem with the way the flash was set up, that’s why it seemed it wouldn’t work without the cable.

By: natedog

natedog — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:08:44 +0000

I noticed you connected the wire to the transmitter. this transmitter works with the hotshoe and you dont need it. FYI

By: Photonomikon

Photonomikon — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:36:30 +0000

If you are referring to the transmitter, no, on my 30D I don’t need the cable. I would assume it’s the same with the 400D since Canons typically function similarly. Just make sure the transmitter really makes contact with the firing pin on the hotshoe.

By: cillo

cillo — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:13:35 +0000

are you sure that i don’t need the pc-sync cable?
i’m on a Canon 400D, no pc- port

By: Jomi

Jomi — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:27:21 +0000

Do you know how I can work it with an Olympus FL-36R?
Does anyone?

I just bought it from a local retailer, and I knew there were gonna be problems figuring out how to work it, as I’ve read your review along with some others, but now it’s just impossible! I thought I could make a shout out to any Olympus user to help me with this one.

Pressing the shutter release button on my Olympus e-510 results in both the transmitter and receiver flashing the LED, but the flash doesn’t trigger! that would mean that it’s not the fault of the transmission process, right?

Thus, it should have something to do with the modes on the flash and as such, I’m highly confident that I’ve not gotten the hang of the slave mode settings. Can anyone help me with this?

Thanks

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:14:13 +0000

Actually, you *were* right about the “ON” label for the dip switch – on usually signifies that the contact is closed.

By: Photonomikon » Sigma 500DG Super Wireless Slave Mode Revisited

Photonomikon » Sigma 500DG Super Wireless Slave Mode Revisited — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:49:20 +0000

[...] couple of readers pointed out some time ago as a reference to my Using an eBay wireless trigger with a Sigma 500DG Super flash article, that using the C0 SL setting for firing the flash is ok, AS LONG AS no one else is firing [...]

By: Photonomikon » Vivitar VP-1 Varipower Adapter Review

Photonomikon » Vivitar VP-1 Varipower Adapter Review — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:29:07 +0000

[...] VP-1 Varipower Adapter indeed works as intended. Next are the tests, shot with my Canon 30D and the cheapo eBay Cactus remotes. All shots are taken at 1/250, f/5.6 and ISO 100 with my Canon 24-70 L f/2.8 [...]

By: Jollino

Jollino — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:09:30 +0000

Thank you for this post, I got my transmitter and receivers today and I was worried they didn’t work, because I hadn’t thought of setting the flash to Slave Channel 0. I had only used that mode to fire the flash using the built-in flash as a trigger and thought it was reserved for optical triggering.

By: Photonomikon

Photonomikon — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:52:54 +0000

Yes, the receiver has a PC socket so you can connect it to the flash via a cord, provided you have a corresponding socket on the flash. My Sigma 500DG Super for example doesn’t have such a socket.

By: Darrell

Darrell — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:50:54 +0000

On the receiver, is the hot shoe the only way to connect with the flash? I’m asking because I’m wondering if this will work with a Metz 60CT.

By: Photonomikon

Photonomikon — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 23:54:03 +0000

No, I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. I used this setup up to 1/250 (including 1/200 and slower) and everything was ok. You need to bear in mind that these remotes aren’t exactly cutting edge so I’m sure there are differences between them.

By: Quoc-Huy

Quoc-Huy — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 21:54:13 +0000

Hi there, did you get a difference of synch speed when the flash is directly plugged to the hot shoe and with the PT04 ?
Directly I get 1/200 and with the PT04 it is 1/160.
At 1/200 + PT04 part of my pics are black…

By: Photonomikon

Photonomikon — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 22:37:48 +0000

Hi Kim and thanks for reading my article.
Now I can’t say I have any experience with Nikon cameras but the principle should be the same with any brand.

In order to test if the receiver is getting the signal from the transmitter (without even installing them on the camera/flash) make sure to set the correct channel first. The toggle switches on both receiver and transmitter should be in the same position. Make sure you double check this. To reach the switches for the receiver, you first need to open it up and look inside the battery compartment.

After you’ve set both devices to the same channel and replaced the battery on the receiver, turn the receiver on (there’s a little switch in front) and press the TEST button on the transmitter. An LED should light up on both devices. If you’ve done all the above and either one or both LEDs don’t light up, then there might be something wrong with these devices.

As a last measure, try replacing the batteries on them, though they should be brand new.

I have 1 transmitter and 3 receivers and haven’t had any problems with them.

As for the sync cable, forget it. You don’t need it. Initially I was under the false impression that they wouldn’t work without the cable but it turns out they do.

Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment different settings, on the flash especially. On the Sigma 500DG Super, if you use my settings, you should be fine. Let me know if you managed to get them working and if my suggestions helped.

By: Kim

Kim — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 21:21:55 +0000

Hi:
I loved your article so much that I ordered and just recieved this remote. I cannot get it to work with my Nikon d80 and Sigma flash. I have gone thru all of the steps above and think that perhaps it just will not work with my camera. the connecting cord will not fit my camera, wither. Any ideas?
Thansk!

By: Photonomikon

Photonomikon — Fri, 11 May 2007 21:33:34 +0000

BTW Teemu, you have some awesome photos on your Myspace page. Good work!

By: Photonomikon

Photonomikon — Fri, 11 May 2007 21:31:53 +0000

Well I haven’t thought of that to be honest and I’m not sure it would work. There is a possibility that it might overload the circuit so I’m not about to try it
My question is this: why would you want to do that? You’d have 2 flashes sitting next to each other and I don’t see the practical purpose in that.
Best thing to do is get 2-3 of these receivers since they’re so cheap anyway.

By: Teemu

Teemu — Fri, 11 May 2007 20:32:06 +0000

Thanks for cool review, I think i am gonna order those little friends too. Btw, can you attach 2 flashes in one remote, one from hotshoe and another with pc-cord?

By: Photonomikon

Photonomikon — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:18:40 +0000

Unfortunately the Sigma 500DG Super doesn’t have a PC sync terminal. That might have been a problem had I not discovered these remotes. Luckily they work just fine with the Sigma.

By: Jesus Ali

Jesus Ali — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 09:01:47 +0000

Is there any PC style connector on the SIGMA flash to more easily use it with the 16-channel ebay remotes which don't feature the hotshoe mount? This link launches iTunes and loads a Trigger Mod enhanced Podcast with photos and links, which I made that gives some background on the triggers - which you've all ready done here - and talks you through splicing a better PC cord into a 16-channel receiver.