Flash to keep pace with the cameras.

[cyrn]

Where's the flash development to be able to keep pace with DSLR's frame rate and buffer depth? :rolleyes:

Or is it already in the market?

[nation]

I can only imagine that's because the intended purpose of FPS is for sport or wildlife shooters (even though there they may be other users/uses of high FPS) shooting at a distance where the range would be too great for a flash. Accordingly there probably hasn't been the need to spend the money on the R&D. Remember that the technology to let existing light in is significantly rudimentary compared to the technology involved in creating a momentary and controlable light source. Disco strobes are option though if you don't mind the harshness.

[coreypolis]

there isn't really anything, at least not portable or that will cost less than a new car. when you see movies where its just snap snap snap snap, that didn't really happen like that.

you can buy High high end strobes that can do it, but they are $$$

portable flashes just can't do it. the best thing to do is get a battery pack like a quantum turbo for them, as the battery is often the biggest bottleneck in portable units

[Spiral Photo]

Depending on what the frame rate on the camera you have is (since it's not listed, I can only speculate), you can either go with the quantum setup as coreypolis mentioned, or if your frame rate is like the Digital Rebel (like mine), then you can purchase a set of rechargeable AA's. They recycle about 4 or 5 times faster, and last that much longer also. So far they've done well by me.

[chtgrubbs]

If you switch to manual flash and cut power output down to 1/8 or 1/16 power you should be able to get fast enough recycling to keep up.

[Double Negative]

A 580EX and CP-E3 battery pack does a pretty good job, depending on the settings.

[cyrn]

Thanks for the advices.

I'm currently using 10D with 550ex+sto-ofen ommi bounce+CP-E2 to cover events and weddings, so portability is essential.

There are times where I shoot in burst of 3 to 5 frames for important moments but the flash is unable to keep pace.

Is there anyway to use 2 flashes and fire them alternatingly. Cuz I'm thinking of upgrading to 30D so it'll be ideal if the flash can keep pace with the 5FPS.

The problem with external battery packs is that they might overheat and burn out the flash.

[StealthLude]

A 580EX and CP-E3 battery pack does a pretty good job, depending on the settings.

Ya, ive been able to shoot rapid fire with my 20D and the 580ex. It does have limmitations, but doing things like using a higher iso will help.

[SkipD]

My suggestion is to get better at your shooting skills and forget the machine-gun mode. There's no portable flash that I have heard of that will reliably keep up with that rate - not even studio flash units will do it.

[Double Negative]

Another thing to think about is burning out the flash...

[Wilt]

Letsee, consider this...DLSR can fire off 2-5 frames each second. The fastest flash recycle (assuming full power shot had been taken moments before) is about 1 second, so there is no way with full power shots. And if the thyristor circuitry recycled the less-than-full-power shot back into the capacitors, you might have a chance at 2 shots per second, but if you shoot your flash rapidly only maybe about 6 shots in a row you need to let it cool a bit or risk burning it out! (There are explicit guidelines from manufacturers about rapid fire prolonged sequences burning out flashes.)

[cyrn]

My suggestion is to get better at your shooting skills and forget the machine-gun mode. There's no portable flash that I have heard of that will reliably keep up with that rate - not even studio flash units will do it.

I love to do that, but the pre-flash of E-TTL makes some people blink. I've encountered some people that blinks very often.

Further more, I don't really pose my subjects as they tends to be more natural that way, so there are no re-takes. :(

[cyrn]

Ya, ive been able to shoot rapid fire with my 20D and the 580ex. It does have limmitations, but doing things like using a higher iso will help.

The max ISO I can reasonably use is 800. I'm using 17-40L currently. I'm considering getting a faster lens.

[cyrn]

Letsee, consider this...DLSR can fire off 2-5 frames each second. The fastest flash recycle (assuming full power shot had been taken moments before) is about 1 second, so there is no way with full power shots. And if the thyristor circuitry recycled the less-than-full-power shot back into the capacitors, you might have a chance at 2 shots per second, but if you shoot your flash rapidly only maybe about 6 shots in a row you need to let it cool a bit or risk burning it out! (There are explicit guidelines from manufacturers about rapid fire prolonged sequences burning out flashes.)

Yup... I'm wondering why cant the manufacturers put some sort of heatsink for more efficient dissapation of heat.

[coreypolis]

Yup... I'm wondering why cant the manufacturers put some sort of heatsink for more efficient dissapation of heat.


where are you going to put it???

theres only so much room in there and flashes have an immense capacitor in them

[coreypolis]

Thanks for the advices.

I'm currently using 10D with 550ex+sto-ofen ommi bounce+CP-E2 to cover events and weddings, so portability is essential.

There are times where I shoot in burst of 3 to 5 frames for important moments but the flash is unable to keep pace.

Is there anyway to use 2 flashes and fire them alternatingly. Cuz I'm thinking of upgrading to 30D so it'll be ideal if the flash can keep pace with the 5FPS.

The problem with external battery packs is that they might overheat and burn out the flash.

why would you upgrade from the 20d to 30d??? theres only a handful of differences and none will solve the issues you have stated.

you can set the flash to fire multiple times, though they will be less powerful

to get full power, a battery pack is the only way you can do it

[jj1987]

guys your over thinking the problem.

Get a slower camera.

[SkipD]

I love to do that, but the pre-flash of E-TTL makes some people blink. I've encountered some people that blinks very often.

Further more, I don't really pose my subjects as they tends to be more natural that way, so there are no re-takes. :(If the pre-flash is really a problem, try taking your flash out of ETTL mode - use manual mode for the flash and for the camera just like us old farts had to do not too many years ago for every flash shot. Then you only get one burst of light - no pre-flash.

I really doubt, though, that pre-flash has much to do with your subjects blinking. It's probably just that they needed to blink. The timing between the pre-flash and the main flash is extremely short.

[cyrn]

where are you going to put it???

theres only so much room in there and flashes have an immense capacitor in them

Plastics are lousy heat conductors... thus the heat builds up in the flash.

they can try to use metal on some of the surfaces.

[cyrn]

why would you upgrade from the 20d to 30d??? theres only a handful of differences and none will solve the issues you have stated.

you can set the flash to fire multiple times, though they will be less powerful

to get full power, a battery pack is the only way you can do it

It's 10D to 30D. Basically to give my old workhorse a break and slow down and become a backup cam.

not sure about setting flash for multiple firing. :confused: