Review on 📸 Sigma EF-530 DG ST Electronic Flash: Premium Lighting Solution for Pentax and Samsung DSLRs by Gary Stringfield

I bought this flash to serve as a basic PTTL flash (before getting interested in studio work). So far I've used the Pentax AF280T in auto mode and decided to upgrade to a more powerful flash, zoom head and AF-assist illuminator. Including Sigma 530 DG ST. First impression: very well made, seems stable enough, looks better than some Yongnuos I've seen. The AF280T feels great, but the Sigma is just as well built, just as light, albeit larger. The Vivitar 285HV is bigger and heavier and appears to be cheaper. The battery door looks as thin as any flash battery door I've ever seen. The keys are solid and the overall feel is premium. I'm not a fan of buttons that have to be pressed to unlock head pan/tilt, if Pentax could do without a lock 15 years ago, why can't Sigma now? The flash body tilts forward and takes some time to get used to when positioning your head. The vertical is NOT aligned with the flash body. I'm used to having the AF280T at 45°, instead the Sigma locks in at 60°, I find that better, but it will take some time to get used to because in combination with the zoom head it means that the light will not always arrive where do you expect it. The head tilts 7° "for close-ups", I'm not sure how much of a difference that would make. The AF280T can be tilted up to 15°, and even then it doesn't work wonders with a true macro lens. The zoom head is great, no surprises, works as expected. The AF assist light is a godsend, love it! Reload time with fully charged Eneloops: Fantastic. Nothing to fault. Auto mode AF280T vs. P-TTL. I've only recently played with the Sigma, but so far I can say I've found two downsides: highly reflective surfaces and an upright head position. Obviously Auto worked better with them. But then again, I was in a room with high ceilings and large windows during the day. And it was my first time with Flash. I'm not even sure I have my head aligned correctly. Tilting it forward a little made it better. In theory, "Auto" mode should be more reliable when no filters are used, as this is not a calculation but an actual measurement. The errors were made by me, not by the flash. As with any tool, they must learn how to use them. If there's already a lot of light, aiming the flash directly at the ceiling won't work, but tilting your head so that the light falls on the subject (even if it's reflected) works better. This is even more true with a zoom head. In short, any flash system, be it Auto or P-TTL, takes some time to get used to. But considering that after just a few days with this flash I learned how to use it, it tells me that this flash and P-TTL in general can be a very effective tool.