Slowest Shutter Speed Using Flash Handheld?

[drPheta]

I'm teaching myself how to familiarize myself with different flash settings and positions, have a 430EX on the way to act as a slave, and I was curious to know what is the slowest shutter speed you guys are using handheld in conjunction with flash?

I find that when I dip below 1/8 I start to see ghosting - all the while, I try to keep my ambient exposure about -1 to -2 stops.

Until this past week, I never knew the possibilities flash offered!

[Curtis N]

The ghosting is caused by ambient light.

As long as ambient light contibutes significantly to total exposure, the guidelines for safe shutter speeds with flash are the same as when you aren't using flash.

[drPheta]

So, do I compose my shot to see where ambient effects my image, a bit past my composed scene for ambient, set my exposure (i.e -1 to -2 stops), recompose, and try my shot?

[Curtis N]

Exposing the ambient in a dark environment always involves compromise. You need to decide what combination of shutter speed, aperture and ISO will be the best compromise with regard to image quality and keeper ratio. There are no easy answers.

If your shutter speed is too slow to prevent ghosting, then you need to open the aperture and/or jack up the ISO setting.