Help with using flash

vn_aviator · 27th of June 2009 (Sat)

Please explain with I am doing wrong.
I have a 580 EXII mounted on my Canon 50D.
I set everything on manual. Speed at 1000.
When the flash is on, it only takes photos at 250 max. I tried the internal flash and it does the same thing. No matter what the speed is, if I set it over 250, it will give me at 250 max. Appreciate any help. Thanks!

MoRtYMer · 27th of June 2009 (Sat)

I think you have to set the flash for high speed sync.

mrgooch · 27th of June 2009 (Sat)

That is your cameras fastest sync speed.What is it that you want to shoot?

obnoxiousmom · 27th of June 2009 (Sat)

Thats as fast as it will go with a flash on. You arent doing anything wrong

Gibbo · 27th of June 2009 (Sat)

Yeah that's the fastest a flash will shoot, although i think there is an option for high speed syncing in where you can increase the speed of the flash fire.

Curtis N · 27th of June 2009 (Sat)

Here's a thread to explain flash sync (X-sync) speed, and high speed sync.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=208520

MT Stringer · 27th of June 2009 (Sat)

You didn't say what camera body you are using but I gather 1/250 sec is your cameras' sync speed. Your camera manual should cover using external flash units.
Mike

vn_aviator · 27th of June 2009 (Sat)

Hi and thanks for all your reply.
I am trying to shoot hummingbird in the shade and I read somewhere in here that if you turn on flash, you will get a freeze wing shot. I know if I have higher speed it should freeze the wings, but in shade, you don't get a nice color of the hummer so I thought I would turn on the flash to get a nicer shot. But when I do that, it goes down to 1/250 and I got a blurry picture. So, let me know if you know how to shooot humming birds in the shade. Thanks all!!!

Curtis N · 27th of June 2009 (Sat)

If you intend to expose your subject predominantly with flash, then use 1/250 shutter speed. Underexpose the ambient light at least 2 stops with a low ISO and a small aperture (higher f/ number). In this scenario, the duration of your flash becomes your "effective" shutter speed. With a 580EX II this will be approximately 1/1000 or faster, depending on the amount of flash power used.

If you want to incorporate a significant amount of ambient light, then use a fast shutter speed to freeze the action and switch your flash to high speed sync (FP Flash) mode. Hish speed sync flash has no motion-stopping ability and is essentially a continuous light source that lasts through the duration of the ambient exposure.

Keep in mind that high speed sync is a less efficient way to use the flash. It needs more power, has less range and will give you longer recycle times. Keep an eye on the distance scale on the back of the flash unit to make sure you have the range to make it work.

Titus213 · 27th of June 2009 (Sat)

And also keep in mind that because of the hummer's wing speed you will in all probability need high speed sync to stop it. That will, as Curtis N said, reduce your range considerably.

http://www.jedlovec.com/Hummingbird-Flight.php

drh681 · 28th of June 2009 (Sun)

The flash has to be in E-ttl mode for high shutter speed synchronization to work.
and...
be sure you have not set the custom function in the camera to lock in 1/250 as the synch speed.

Gatorboy · 28th of June 2009 (Sun)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus213

And also keep in mind that because of the hummer's wing speed you will in all probability need high speed sync to stop it.

If you are trying to freeze action, high-speed sync is not the solution.

Curtis N · 28th of June 2009 (Sun)

Quote:

Originally Posted by drh681

The flash has to be in E-ttl mode for high shutter speed synchronization to work.

Not so.
HSS works in manual flash mode, too, as long as it's on the hotshoe of a dedicated camera.

apersson850 · 28th of June 2009 (Sun)

Well, if it does allow a very short exposure time, it will, but then you have to be really close.

Titus213 · 28th of June 2009 (Sun)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gatorboy

If you are trying to freeze action, high-speed sync is not the solution.

Yes, that's correct. You can reduce the flash power to minimum to speed up the flash. Or you can use ETTL and HSS to run the shutter speed up to max. Either option will reduce the flash range. I don't know what the flash duration is on the 580EX II but I think the max shutter on the camera should be about 1/8000. In either case there is a good chance it won't be enough to freeze the wings on a hummer.

27th of June 2009 (Sat)	#1
vn_aviator Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 45 IMAGE EDITING OK	Help with using flash Please explain with I am doing wrong. I have a 580 EXII mounted on my Canon 50D. I set everything on manual. Speed at 1000. When the flash is on, it only takes photos at 250 max. I tried the internal flash and it does the same thing. No matter what the speed is, if I set it over 250, it will give me at 250 max. Appreciate any help. Thanks!

27th of June 2009 (Sat)	#2
MoRtYMer Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 7 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Help with using flash I think you have to set the flash for high speed sync. __________________ Canon 400D + Grip \| Canon 10-22 \| Canon 17-55 (kit lens) \| Canon 55-250 IS

27th of June 2009 (Sat)	#3
mrgooch Goldmember Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toms River NJ Posts: 2,375 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Help with using flash That is your cameras fastest sync speed.What is it that you want to shoot? __________________ Canon 7D - 70-200 f4 - Fujifilm X-E1

27th of June 2009 (Sat)	#4
obnoxiousmom "Im completely lost" Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,096 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Help with using flash Thats as fast as it will go with a flash on. You arent doing anything wrong __________________ My Flickr - My Gear - My facebook 40D - 580ex - 28-135mm(3.5) - 17-55mm(2.8 )

27th of June 2009 (Sat)	#5
Gibbo Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Devon, UK Posts: 953	Re: Help with using flash Yeah that's the fastest a flash will shoot, although i think there is an option for high speed syncing in where you can increase the speed of the flash fire. __________________ When you photograph people in colour, you photograph their clothes. When you photograph people in B&W, you photograph their souls.

27th of June 2009 (Sat)	#6
Curtis N Master Flasher Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northern Illinois, US Posts: 18,988	Re: Help with using flash Here's a thread to explain flash sync (X-sync) speed, and high speed sync. http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=208520 __________________ "If you're not having fun, your pictures will reflect that." - Joe McNally Chicago area POTN events Flash Photography 101 \| The EOS Flash Bible \| Techniques for Better On-Camera Flash \| How to Use Flash Outdoors \| Excel-based DOF Calculator

27th of June 2009 (Sat)	#7
MT Stringer Goldmember Join Date: May 2006 Location: Channelview, Tx Posts: 4,598 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Help with using flash You didn't say what camera body you are using but I gather 1/250 sec is your cameras' sync speed. Your camera manual should cover using external flash units. Mike __________________ MaxPreps Profile My Gear List

27th of June 2009 (Sat)	#8
vn_aviator Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 45 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Help with using flash Hi and thanks for all your reply. I am trying to shoot hummingbird in the shade and I read somewhere in here that if you turn on flash, you will get a freeze wing shot. I know if I have higher speed it should freeze the wings, but in shade, you don't get a nice color of the hummer so I thought I would turn on the flash to get a nicer shot. But when I do that, it goes down to 1/250 and I got a blurry picture. So, let me know if you know how to shooot humming birds in the shade. Thanks all!!!

27th of June 2009 (Sat)	#9
Curtis N Master Flasher Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northern Illinois, US Posts: 18,988	Re: Help with using flash If you intend to expose your subject predominantly with flash, then use 1/250 shutter speed. Underexpose the ambient light at least 2 stops with a low ISO and a small aperture (higher f/ number). In this scenario, the duration of your flash becomes your "effective" shutter speed. With a 580EX II this will be approximately 1/1000 or faster, depending on the amount of flash power used. If you want to incorporate a significant amount of ambient light, then use a fast shutter speed to freeze the action and switch your flash to high speed sync (FP Flash) mode. Hish speed sync flash has no motion-stopping ability and is essentially a continuous light source that lasts through the duration of the ambient exposure. Keep in mind that high speed sync is a less efficient way to use the flash. It needs more power, has less range and will give you longer recycle times. Keep an eye on the distance scale on the back of the flash unit to make sure you have the range to make it work. __________________ "If you're not having fun, your pictures will reflect that." - Joe McNally Chicago area POTN events Flash Photography 101 \| The EOS Flash Bible \| Techniques for Better On-Camera Flash \| How to Use Flash Outdoors \| Excel-based DOF Calculator

27th of June 2009 (Sat)	#10
Titus213 Cream of the Crop Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Camas, WA USA Posts: 18,709 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Help with using flash And also keep in mind that because of the hummer's wing speed you will in all probability need high speed sync to stop it. That will, as Curtis N said, reduce your range considerably. http://www.jedlovec.com/Hummingbird-Flight.php __________________ Dave Perspiring photographer. Visit NorwoodPhotos.com Last edited by Titus213 : 27th of June 2009 (Sat) at 23:24.

28th of June 2009 (Sun)	#11
drh681 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Freeway close to all Southern California Posts: 157	Re: Help with using flash The flash has to be in E-ttl mode for high shutter speed synchronization to work. and... be sure you have not set the custom function in the camera to lock in 1/250 as the synch speed.

28th of June 2009 (Sun)	#14
apersson850 Cream of the Crop Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Traryd, Sweden Posts: 8,450	Re: Help with using flash Well, if it does allow a very short exposure time, it will, but then you have to be really close. __________________ Anders

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