D50, Sigma Flash and dying clock battery

[Jpotter]

Just got an EF- 500 DG ST flash and have been practicing, fiddling with my D50. After 6-10 shots the flash stops working, the camera "CLOCK" icon is blinking (indicating that it needs to be reset). Resetting it will let me take more pictures but obviously that isn't a great solution. Any ideas? Thanks.

[tomme35]

I too have experienced the same problem. My flash unit is the Sigma EF-500 DG Super for Nikon. I have not got the flash to work with my D50 camera yet (set the Mode on the flash to TTL BL according to a note that included with it). When the flash attached on the cameara's flash shoe, as soon as I try to take a picture, the camera flash indicator brinks and not allow the shutter button to trigger. Then the clock indicator starts blinking.
Please help!!! Thanks.

[K1W1]

Have either of you tried getting in touch with Sigma? It sounds like an issue that they should be addressing.

[George Riehm]

I guess I don't understand why you would buy the Sigma 550 DG ST ($150) for a Nikon camera when there is only a $20 savings compared to the Nikon SB600 ($170).

Who knows a Nikon camera better than Nikon?

I know this doesn't address your current problem, unless you can trade the Sigma in for the Nikon (plus $20).;)

[Jpotter]

Twice now, after logging in and spending a lot of time on a reply I hit submit and have been told I need to sign in first. Here we go again:
I returned the ef 500. Sigma told me it wasn't a new enough version for the D50. I did find out that I could use it in manual (no TTL) w/o interfering with the clock battery if I used a set of lithium batteries.
I bought a DG SUPER which is only 3 months old (used) I assumed that would work fine but you have me worried. I guess I may have to use the lithiums with that as well. Are rechargeables now as strong as Lithium? I bought a set 8 years ago for my first Kodak digital but they didn't seem to have a lot of punch , even when they were new.
And George if there was only a $20 dollar difference I would most definitely have sprung for it but it was a $110 dollar difference. And now with the SUPER which is closer to the SB800 it is over a $200 difference.(yes this one is used 3 months but not a bad tradeoff, as long as it works as supposed to.)
Sure hope this workswhen I hit submit.

[mkgago]

Twice now, after logging in and spending a lot of time on a reply I hit submit and have been told I need to sign in first.

That has happened to me, as well -- and at times when the system indicated I was already logged in. Now I try to remember to copy the text I've written before I hit "submit," but it's easy to forget. Perhaps you can submit this to the DCRP Site Feedback forum (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2). I'd mention in your post what browser you were using when it happened and what the security settings (cookies, etc.) were on it. (I'm using an old version of Firefox - 1.0.7 - with cookies allowed for the originating site only)

Still, I think that these forums are well worth the price of admission, so I try to take the few technical glitches in stride.

[George Riehm]

Twice now, after logging in and spending a lot of time on a reply I hit submit and have been told I need to sign in first. Here we go again:
I returned the ef 500. Sigma told me it wasn't a new enough version for the D50. I did find out that I could use it in manual (no TTL) w/o interfering with the clock battery if I used a set of lithium batteries.
I bought a DG SUPER which is only 3 months old (used) I assumed that would work fine but you have me worried. I guess I may have to use the lithiums with that as well. Are rechargeables now as strong as Lithium? I bought a set 8 years ago for my first Kodak digital but they didn't seem to have a lot of punch , even when they were new.
And George if there was only a $20 dollar difference I would most definitely have sprung for it but it was a $110 dollar difference. And now with the SUPER which is closer to the SB800 it is over a $200 difference.(yes this one is used 3 months but not a bad tradeoff, as long as it works as supposed to.)
Sure hope this workswhen I hit submit.

I'm just going by the prices listed at B&H. If you got a great deal on the Sigma then... well... great.

So the DG Super cost $59.95 ($169 for SB600-$110)? That is a great price. Also I didn't know that the EF 500 DG Super had the SB800 speedlight Commander controller.

I think I'm confused... Anyway good shooting with the Sigma, whichever one it is.;)

[K1W1]

George you are assumimg that the OP is in the USA. That may not be correct.

[George Riehm]

George you are assumimg that the OP is in the USA. That may not be correct.

Actually, I wasn't (assuming a US source), but just quoting the source of my info (B&H). Since Jpotter quoted the difference in $ I figured I would follow suit.;)