Camera shake with long lenses and Flash?

[jsfpa]

I know the flash will freeze action to some degree but when using a 200 mm lens for a close up portrait will it stop camera shake at the default 1/60 shutter speed. Is there any need to shoot at a faster sync speed?

[PhotosGuy]

I know the flash will freeze action to some degree but when using a 200 mm lens for a close up portrait will it stop camera shake at the default 1/60 shutter speed. How shaky are you? Do your own test.
Is there any need to shoot at a faster sync speed? It would cut down on the ambient light, help freeze background motion, & help if your test fails? ;)

[liza]

If I'm shooting this kind of portrait with the 70-200 and the 580EX, I usually set my shutter to 1/200, stop the aperture down a bit, and keep the ISO as low as possible.

[Curtis N]

when using a 200 mm lens for a close up portrait will it stop camera shake at the default 1/60 shutter speed. Is there any need to shoot at a faster sync speed?Changing the shutter speed will change the ambient exposure but not the flash exposure. If you are using flash as the only significant light source, there is no reason not to use 1/250 shutter speed. If you are trying to include ambient light, a slower shutter speed may be advised.

Outdoors, it should be no problem getting suitable apertures for portraits at ISO 100 and 1/250 shutter. Indoors, it will be more of a challenge to include ambient light.

[Tee Why]

I suspect that the flash is being used for fill in and hence shutter speed is influencing the sharpness. I agree, change to manual or set 1/200 sync speed and turn the flash to high sync and then adjust the aperature for exposing the background.