1/250 rule with OCF?

Does it still apply if you're doing OCF with triggers? If yes, then how do you, for instance, use a wide aperture for nice bokeh if the ambient light is too bright?

What is the 1/250 rule? Your shutter speed when using flash is limited to your sync-speed, unless using HSS.

HSS is one method people use to obtain shallow DOF / large aperture as it allows for faster than sync-speed shutter speeds, at a pretty severe cost of flash power.

The other often used option for large apertures when using flash is the use of one or more neutral density filters, as they maintain the ambient to flash light ratio, while reducing the total amount of light to your camera.

That's usually the highest it can be. If your ambient is too bright for the aperture you want to use then you would probably have to use an ND filter to knock the light down some.

yep, both posters above are correct.

If you cannot use High Speed Sync and you want to use a wide aperature in bright light you will need to use a ND filter.

I'll have to study up on HSS. ONly have one ND filter that I doubt is strong enough to do much. Thanks!

FYI, you are going to need eTTL compatible triggers and receivers to make HSS work off camera.
Read up on maximum sync speed while you are studying. It is a function of the camera and it's shutter operation and it does not matter where the flash is.

You have everything you need, put one 580 on-board and use the other off-camera, have both set to HSS.

that rule can be broken.....just shoot at a high sync then crop later....

ShotByTom wrote in post #12030760
You have everything you need, put one 580 on-board and use the other off-camera, have both set to HSS.

Thanks, Tom, I;'m trying to find some info (wasting time here at my "other" job) on HSS so I can understand how it works.

Michelle Brooks Photography wrote in post #12031144
Thanks, Tom, I;'m trying to find some info (wasting time here at my "other" job) on HSS so I can understand how it works.

Anything you need to you about canon flash, well, terminology and technology wise.

http://photonotes.org …sh/index.html#d​isableettl

Michelle Brooks Photography wrote in post #12030504
Does it still apply if you're doing OCF with triggers? If yes, then how do you, for instance, use a wide aperture for nice bokeh if the ambient light is too bright?

Do you understand the reason for a "maximum sync speed" when using flash lighting?

Your use of "OCF", meaning "Off Camera Flash" does not tell us what sort of flash equipment you are using. Are you using a Canon Speedlite (or more than one of them) or are you using studio-style flash units (manual control only)?

fredroj wrote in post #12030869
that rule can be broken.....just shoot at a high sync then crop later....

This.

I've been able to squeeze 1/320th but it requires some cropping to remove the shutter curtain area that's blacked out. You just have to allow for it when you compose the shot.

Michelle, Going off of your gear list, Tom is correct if you do not want to spend any money. Using one flash is no different then when you had your ST-E2 though, and has limitations in bright sun light. If you can drop some coin, get some radio poppers or PW Flex's.
Personally, I like the use of ND filters and manual flash, but that is my choice and their are so many debates on here about it. It will come down to what you can work with fastest and most comfortable with in front of a customer.

The only reason people shoot @ 1/250 with flash is because they want to knock out most or all ambient light. If you're shooting outdoors where there's too much ambient light, then it won't matter.

The CHEAPEST option to get some fill light on your subject where ambient light is too strong is to use reflectors. I got a 41" 5 in 1 reflector on amazon for like $15 and it's wonderful!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …s/distinction/5​507955199/

My frequent contribution to the understanding of the X-sync shutter speed limit.

http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Focal-plane_shutter

Understand how your camera's shutter works, understand this issue.

Enjoy! Lon