Xti w/Sunpak Digiflash 2800

[Zipline]

I was redirected to this forum to seek help on a problem that I'm having. I'm currently using an Xti with a Sunpak Digiflash 2800 to try to photograph Hummingbirds. The flash works great for brightening up the shot, but I can't seem to get good shots that aren't blurred due to the speed of the bird / wings. Is it possible to use this set up to get a good enough shutter speed for Hummingbirds?

So far I've tried to set the Flash Sync. Speed in A/V to Auto, but it doesn't seem to be working. I'm not sure if it's my error in trying to set it up or if it's because these two pieces of equipment can't work together. Any ideas?

You can see the full story and some example shots in the original thread...
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=501517

[midnight_rider]

That looks a lot like camera shake. Can you post the exif data please.
Do you know what the max speed of that flash is?

[Zipline]

Duh! :oops: You know, it never dawned on me that it may be camera shake! These were all handheld. Guess I'll have to give a tripod a go to see if that helps. :)

Here's the Exif...
Exposure Time : 1/200sec
F Stop : 7.1
ISO : 400
Aperature Value : 5.7

Is this enough info?

I don't know what the flash speed is as I can't find the packet that came with it. :oops:

[Curtis N]

The flash doesn't have a max. sync speed, but your camera does. It's 1/200 with flash, unless you use a flash unit with high speed sync capability (and I don't think your Sunpak has that).

Now I'm not a hummingbird expert, but I'm guessing that 1/200 is not fast enough to freeze his little wings. You'll need to get the shutter speed up considerably if ambient light is contributing to the exposure (that will help the camera shake issue also).

If you want to flash those little hummers in daylight, you'll need a Canon EX Speedlite or other flash unit with HSS capability.

[midnight_rider]

Duh! :oops: You know, it never dawned on me that it may be camera shake! These were all handheld. Guess I'll have to give a tripod a go to see if that helps. :)

Here's the Exif...
Exposure Time : 1/200sec
F Stop : 7.1
ISO : 400
Aperature Value : 5.7

Is this enough info?

I don't know what the flash speed is as I can't find the packet that came with it. :oops:

If this was shot at 300mm then your min ss is 1/500. Remember that you have to multiply your focal length by 1.6 then flip it.
Nice picts though and good luck

[Curtis N]

If this was shot at 300mm then your min ss is 1/500. Remember that you have to multiply your focal length by 1.6 then flip it.
While I agree with the concept as far as using focal length and crop factor to determine acceptable shutter speed, I would never put it in those terms. You'll notice that one of his three shots is free of camera shake.

There are so many other things that affect camera movement besides focal length that the calculations are never that simple. Using good technique can get you a stop or more. And of course, image stabilized lenses change the equation dramatically.

In any event, these factors never guarantee a sharp shot or a blurry one. They simply change the probabilities and keeper ratios.