Is high speed sync on a flash for birds neccessary?

[k4show]

I am looking to buy a flash, and I am debating whether I need high speed sync, or if the 1/250 on my 30d is going to be fast enough. Ill be using my 55-250mm. Thanks

[canonloader]

HSS is for when you use fill flash in the day time. Many times, your daytime ambient light is going to cause the shutter to be faster than 1/250s. That's when HSS comes in to play. Without the capability, you can't really shoot fill flash.

[Methodical]

I'd get the high speed sync. Better to have and not need than to need and not have. You will need it when shutter speeds are higher than 1/250th especially in daylight. Plus in certain circumstances the 1/250 may not render the proper exposure, such as when the light is low - i.e. too dark. Plus when birding you want to use fill light to expose any shadows and the high speed sync allows you to use the flash as fill light when the shutter speeds are over 1/250. I use the 580 ex ii and the better beamer with my 300mm and 400mm lens as fill light but you have to turn the flash down to 50mm zoom and I even turn it down to 24mm zoom at times. Using fill light with birds you will see the difference - to me it's amazing.

Here's some reading from the Flash forum: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=138907

Also here's a thread where the person did an experiment with high speed sync; it shows the difference between 1/200 and 1/4000 second using high speed sync flash - simple yet informative: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=311946
Just One Man's Opinion

[scot079]

I agree w/ Mitch and Methodical, get HSS because you will use it most of the time

[k4show]

So it would be worth the extra $125 over $75 to get a 430ex rather than a 430EZ(I know it doesn't support E-TTL, but I am going to be using it for manual only)

[canonloader]

Now that I think about it, I have never used my 550ex for anything but fill flash, so not being able to shoot HSS is a total waste of money IMO.

[k4show]

So the verdict is that it is absolutely essential?

[canonloader]

To me it is. Your pretty limited without it.

[scot079]

For birds/wildlife yes

[k4show]

But why can I not just stop down to f11 or f8, where my lens is sharper anyways. My camera via using a guide from the strobist can actually go up to 1/400 sync speed. I usually do not shoot birds in flight, and I have an amazing deal right now for a non HSS flash. Maybe I will start out with that 430EZ and then upgrade it later. I have other priorities for my money like a camera bag lol.

[scot079]

sounds like you answered your own question then.

There's nothing wrong with stopping down your aperture, but I'd rather open up and have a higher shutter speed, that's just me.

[canonloader]

I never shoot birds at higher than f/8, because I don't want the bird in focus and every weed, stick and branch in the background down to Illinois in focus. Bokeh is king for my bird photography and you can't get decent bokeh with pinpoint apertures. ;)

It will also mean the flash has to be brighter or you have to shoot closer, and then the flash effect will show in the images, never looking nice.

[BradM]

It sounds like you have decided to go with a flash without HSS and if you can live with its limitations and the images that result from the same it is your choice.

However it will limit the shots you take or the look that you can get from the shots, HSS is the way to fill when shooting live subjects with long glass albeit 250mm isn't that long.

Bottomline, 9 out 10 wildlife photographers recommend chewing Trident while shooting HSS for fill, the 10th is so busy trying to find an aperture he can use at his 1/250th of a max sync speed without blowing the subject out that he swallowed his gum.

A link for those not so up on the technique:

http://www.rpphoto.com/howto/view.asp?articleID=1026

[Methodical]

...Bottomline, 9 out 10 wildlife photographers recommend chewing Trident while shooting HSS for fill, the 10th is so busy trying to find an aperture he can use at his 1/250th of a max sync speed without blowing the subject out that he swallowed his gum.

A link for those not so up on the technique:

http://www.rpphoto.com/howto/view.asp?articleID=1026

Brad good analogy. K4 you should get the flash that offer HSS.

Just an FYI. On the 50d there's a custom setting for AV/TV that allows auto exposure shift. Basically it will automatically change your aperture or shutter speed, even though you've set it, to whatever aperture or shutter speed necessary to get the correct exposure; it becomes like the auto mode of the camera except it doesn't affect the ISO setting. This was bogging my mind but then I realized I did not have the HSS set on the flash - now all is ok.

Btw that article is some good reading for you K4. Again go for the flash with HSS. I guarantee you will kick yourself later down the road. Believe me you will like the HSS for birding.

Just One Man's Opinion

[k4show]

I actually changed my mind and am going to get a 430EX, finding one for sale is one daunting task though.

[scot079]

Just saw this one

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=664728

[Methodical]

Better move fast on this