Canon 50D, Sigma 500DG Super and TwinLink Transmitter combo

[sands_healy]

Hi
I wonder if anyone can help me.
I just purchased the TwinLink T2D Wireless Flash Trigger. I connected the receiver to my Sigma DG500 Super External Flash, and cannot seem to get the transmitter to trigger the flash. I've tried putting the Sigma on a normal TTL setting and a Slave setting, but still cannot get it to fire.

Is there anyone with any suggestions?

[zona5101]

You can fire the flash manually via the test button?
The flash will fire when directly mounted on the camera?
You have checked that the reciever and transmitter have fresh batteries?
You have confirmed the transsmitter and reciever are on the same frequency/ channel?

[sands_healy]

Originally Posted by zona5101

You can fire the flash manually via the test button?
The flash will fire when directly mounted on the camera?
You have checked that the reciever and transmitter have fresh batteries?
You have confirmed the transsmitter and reciever are on the same frequency/ channel?

Yes the flash does fire using the test button and it does fire when attached to my camera. The receiver and the transmitter are communicating as I can see the infrared flash when I press the test on the transmitter, but the flash just doesn 't fire.

I'm obviously doing something wrong and I just don't know what

Thanks so much for your help.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by sands_healy

Yes the flash does fire using the test button and it does fire when attached to my camera. The receiver and the transmitter are communicating as I can see the infrared flash when I press the test on the transmitter, but the flash just doesn't fire.

I'm obviously doing something wrong and I just don't know what

Thanks so much for your help.

Review the transmitter & reciever set up again carefully. With everything else you checked, that is the only place I can see where you would have a problem. Sorry I don't know more about those radio triggers. If after rechecking the set up, maybe a call to the manuf?

[inkista]

Originally Posted by sands_healy

I've tried putting the Sigma on a normal TTL setting and a Slave setting, but still cannot get it to fire.

Forget both of those settings--they won't work with the TwinLink. The Slave mode on the sigma is similar to Canon's slave mode, and will only work with another Canon/Sigma master unit. This is not what the TwinLinks are doing. Similarly, the TwinLink, from the pictures I've seen only has the center firing pin, which means that it can only transmit the "fire" signal. There's no eTTL capability of any kind (apologies if you meant you used C.Fn 3 to disable eTTL).

Put the Sigma into Manual mode, not-Slave. Pretend you're putting it on the hotshoe in Manual mode. See if that works.

[sands_healy]

Thank you so much for your input.

One last question. If I want to use the 50D with the Sigma Flash as a slave, which trigger system would you recommend?

TIA

[inkista]

What you have is just fine. Yongnuo RF-602s (also 2.4GHz) would've been cheaper and given you remote shutter capability, too, but I doubt they're better at triggering. It's just inherent in the nature of most radio triggers that all they can do is the "fire" signal and you have to use the flash in Manual mode. This is true even with PocketWizard units. (Ok, not the FlexTT5 and MiniTT1, but...)

Otherwise, the 3rd party manufacturer has to do a bunch of reverse engineering (which is why the Sigma can do the Canon wireless stuff), and the flashes become hot-shoe/brand specific, or they have to be very very clever (RadioPopper PXs) and then they get more expensive. To get wireless triggers that do the eTTL thing, you're paying at least $400 for a transmitter/receiver set.

The Canon wireless stuff lets you do eTTL, high-speed sync, and remote commanding, but it costs a bundle because you have to get an extra master unit, and it's still infrared based. Which means that, like your TV remote, you have to have line-of-sight, and outside, particularly in bright sunlight that can overwhelm the infrared, your range and reliability are drastically reduced. Which is why radio triggers are typically preferred: they have much better reliability and range.

On the hotshoe, your Sigma can still do eTTL and high-speed sync, so it's not a bad buy. And you have a built-in optical slave, so you can use it off-camera with a P&S. Or possibly with your pop-up flash (not sure).

If you're still having problems getting your setup to work, I'd recommend asking on the Strobist group discussions on Flickr.

[sands_healy]

Thanks so much for all your help!

I couldn't get the Sigma flash to fire with the wireless trigger, even in Manual mode. But the wireless trigger worked perfectly on my Multiblitz strobes which what I purchased it for in the first place. It would have been nice if it fired the Sigma too, but not imperative.

I'll try that link of yours!