Cheating the sync

[jraggio]

I read an interesting article (http://digitalprotalk.blogspot.com/2008/09/technique-tuesday-my-cheatin-light-or.html) that also included a video by David Ziser where he describes a process of shooting faster than the camera's sync speed and then positioning the dark band caused by the second curtain in such a way that it causes a pleasing effect. It also allows him to get fill flash at faster speeds (granted it doesn't cover the entire image. I found the article to be pretty cool and the video helped as well.

There's a cool flickr post (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7979823@N06/2981092408/in/photostream/) that shows the effect of the shutters as described above.

My question is how can I do this on my Canon XS using only the pop-up flash? I couldn't set a speed higher than 1/200 (the camera's sync speed) on any of the modes including M. I don't own a speedlight or other shoe mounted flash yet.

Thanks,
John

[40Dude6aedyk]

I do this all the time. You mean all those links you gave didn't actually tell you how to do it? :)

I don't think you can do it with the pop-up flash. You need external triggers for the external flash(es).

[Curtis N]

Can't do it with the pop-up.

You need some kind of non-dedicated flash, or a Canon Speedlite triggered in a non-dedicated way (PC cord or radio trigger).

[jraggio]

what do you mean by "dedicated?"

Thanks,
John

[Curtis N]

A dedicated flash is a flash unit designed to work with a specific camera or brand of camera. Canon EX series Speedlites and other "E-TTL compatible" flash units are dedicated flash units for Canon EOS digital cameras.

A non-dedicated flash unit is one not designed for a specific camera or brand. Examples would be the Sunpak 383, Vivitar 285HV, or any studio strobe.

A dedicated flash communicates with the camera such that the camera knows it's there. And your camera won't use a shutter speed faster than X-sync if it knows a flash is being used (high speed sync mode is the exception, but doesn't apply to what you're trying to do).

The EOS Flash Bible (link in my sig) discusses the meaning of dedicated flash.

[mattograph]

A dedicated flash is a flash unit designed to work with a specific camera or brand of camera. Canon EX series Speedlites and other "E-TTL compatible" flash units are dedicated flash units for Canon EOS digital cameras.

A non-dedicated flash unit is one not designed for a specific camera or brand. Examples would be the Sunpak 383, Vivitar 285HV, or any studio strobe.

A dedicated flash communicates with the camera such that the camera knows it's there. And your camera won't use a shutter speed faster than X-sync if it knows a flash is being used (high speed sync mode is the exception, but doesn't apply to what you're trying to do).

The EOS Flash Bible (link in my sig) discusses the meaning of dedicated flash.

Curtis, you probably know this. If I put the camera mounted 580 EXII in manual, can I move my shutter speed past max sync?

[msowsun]

In my experience, the 580EX II, when mounted on the camera, will not allow you to go past 1/250 in any mode unless you have High Speed Sync enabled. With HSS it will allow faster than 1/250 in any mode.

[mattograph]

In my experience, the 580EX II, when mounted on the camera, will not allow you to go past 1/250 in any mode unless you have High Speed Sync enabled. With HSS it will allow faster than 1/250 in any mode.

I suspected as much. The tenor of his comments seemed to reflect that conclusion. Thanks.

[msowsun]

One way to do this with a Canon dedicated flash is to simply tape over the extra contacts leaving just the center contact to fire the flash.

I have never tried it but it should work.

[jraggio]

One way to do this with a Canon dedicated flash is to simply tape over the extra contacts leaving just the center contact to fire the flash.

I have never tried it but it should work.

Thanks Mike. So this means there is definitely no way to do it with the pop-up. This thread aside, I'm rapidly getting to the realization that the pop-up is a waste. Then again $300 for a good flash is almost what I paid for my XS body ;-)

Expensive hobby ...

[Andrushka]

Expensive hobby ...

its just the tip of the iceberg man!!!

[Curtis N]

$300 for a good flash is almost what I paid for my XS body ;-) Expensive hobby ...A good dedicated flash such as a 430EX or better will open up new worlds of photography.

But for what you're trying to do, a $90 Vivitar 285HV will get the job done.

[danir.photography]

Thanks Mike. So this means there is definitely no way to do it with the pop-up. This thread aside, I'm rapidly getting to the realization that the pop-up is a waste. Then again $300 for a good flash is almost what I paid for my XS body ;-)

Expensive hobby ...
On eBay I purchased two lots of misc. camera gear. I purchased them primarily for a Zing camera cover in one and five Canon Connecting Cord 60 in the other, but along with those items I scored a Canon remote... which isn't supposed to fire my Elan 7 but does... :) ...and a couple of Pentax Hot Shoe to PC adapters.

I was pretty sure that those Pentax adapters were going to be fairly useless, until I started reading this thread. And what do you know...

... the Pentax adapters only pickup and pass through two of the five contacts on the hot shoe, essentially 'dumbing down' the A-TTL / E-TTL functionality and allowing me to treat, should I so desire, my intelligent Canon flash as a non-TTL off camera flash.

:D

Should provide some interesting flexibility for experimentation!