2nd-curtain flash sync doesn't work?

[jpbeale]

It was my understanding that selecting the "2nd curtain sync" in the custom function will trigger the flash just before the shutter closes, which means moving objects will appear to leave a trail behind them (from exposure due to non-flash ambient light), rather than in front of them as with normal 1st curtain shutter. Well, this setting doesn't seem to work using the D30 with internal flash or external. You can see that in both the images below (internal flash), the card chucked into a hand drill looks like it's rotating counter-clockwise, whereas in fact it's rotating clockwise as viewed from the camera both times. Original Small/Lowres images from the D30, so you can verify the custom function settings.

http://www.best.com/~beale/D30/1st-curtain.JPG
http://www.best.com/~beale/D30/2nd-curtain.JPG

Anyone tried 2nd curtain sync on your D30? Does it work?

Even more strange, at very long exposures, 1 second and more, the 2nd curtain sync does seem to work as expected, but not at normal shutter eg. 1/60.

[jpbeale]

Found the problem. For both internal and external flash, the 2nd-shutter flash sync mode does not function in "P" exposure mode, only in Tv, Av and M modes. I had been using P mode. This is apparently true for other EOS system bodies as well. I have no idea why they did that, and it is not documented in the manual. The only reason I know it is that it was mentioned in the manual for my 380EX flash (a discontinued flash unit, which nevertheless works fine with the D30).

The Canon service rep wasn't aware of this either- he suggested I ship my camera to the east coast for inspection!

[wcgryphon]

the 2nd-shutter flash sync mode does not function in "P" exposure mode, only in Tv, Av and M modes. I had been using P mode. This is apparently true for other EOS system bodies as well. I have no idea why they did that

It seems logical to me that anyone wanting to experiment or uses something semi-advanced like 2nd curtain flash that they would know enough about photography to get off P mode.

[svarley]

Well, that came across as pretty condescending. :rolleyes:

Kudos to the OP for figuring it out on his own too. :)

[gonzogolf]

Found the problem. For both internal and external flash, the 2nd-shutter flash sync mode does not function in "P" exposure mode, only in Tv, Av and M modes. I had been using P mode. This is apparently true for other EOS system bodies as well. I have no idea why they did that, and it is not documented in the manual. The only reason I know it is that it was mentioned in the manual for my 380EX flash (a discontinued flash unit, which nevertheless works fine with the D30).

The Canon service rep wasn't aware of this either- he suggested I ship my camera to the east coast for inspection!
They set P mode up to be semi-idiot proof. The assumption is that if you are using features as advanced as second curtain sync you should be well past P mode.

[Sam_M]

I was just wondering if anyone bothered to look at the date the thread was created lol. I don't think so from the looks of it. I think this wins (for me at least) as the oldest thread I have ever seen necro'd on any forum I've been on.

[gonzogolf]

I was just wondering if anyone bothered to look at the date the thread was created lol. I don't think so from the looks of it. I think this wins (for me at least) as the oldest thread I have ever seen necro'd on any forum I've been on.
Wow, that one got past me. I thought the reference to the D30 meant the 30D as thats a common mistake, but I think he really meant D30.

[Bill Boehme]

It seems logical to me that anyone wanting to experiment or uses something semi-advanced like 2nd curtain flash that they would know enough about photography to get off P mode.

Well, that came across as pretty condescending. :rolleyes:

Kudos to the OP for figuring it out on his own too. :)

Yep, methinks wcgryphon needs to reread the rules. :(

I was just wondering if anyone bothered to look at the date the thread was created lol. I don't think so from the looks of it. I think this wins (for me at least) as the oldest thread I have ever seen necro'd on any forum I've been on.

And, besides that, it is especially bad to criticize the dead. ;) That may possibly have been the very first post on POTN.

EDIT: I just did some searching and found that POTN went "Live" to the public on April Fool's Day 2001 and it was originally "Studio on the net". There were a few preliminary posts from "invited" photographers before it went live. The scope of POTN has grown considerably from what was originally envisioned as a small gathering place for serious photographers although I think that the term serious still applies to most participants. Based on what my research has exhumed, I would say that this thread indeed wins the all time necro award.

[apersson850]

Found the problem. For both internal and external flash, the 2nd-shutter flash sync mode does not function in "P" exposure mode, only in Tv, Av and M modes. I had been using P mode. This is apparently true for other EOS system bodies as well. I have no idea why they did that, and it is not documented in the manual.It is indeed mentioned in the manual for some cameras, like my 7D, but I think they added it to the manuals for the later models of cameras.

It really has nothing to do with which mode you are in, but which shutter speed you use. The shutter speed must be at least 1/30s or longer, or 2nd curtain sync will revert to first curtain. The thing is of course that with P mode and flash, the shutter speed will never be longer than 1/60s, so there 2nd curtain will never take effect. But set it to 1/60s in Tv or M mode, and you don't get it there either.

Apart from that, I found it a bit ironic that as soon as someone asks a question which has been asked before, he's battered for not searching previous threads first, and when someone actually does find something previously posted, probably by searching for something, then he gets battered for that.
Sooo, do we like those who search, those who don't, or do we just like to complain, no matter what the reason is?

[themadman]

2001 guys... really?