HSS with OCF

So I recently picked up a flash zebra shoe mount so that I can shoot OCF with my 430EX using a Cybersync. So I go to test it out last night for the first time and realize that with my 5D2 I could only push it to 1/200 sec before I noticed that I can't take advantage of HSS with OCF.

This is something I clearly did not account for. I was hoping of taking some shots of my son in his first communion suit at a local park this weekend with someone holding the flash on my monopod. The plan was to shoot wide open using HSS.

Is there any trick to get around this?

eTTL capable triggers or cord.

Yep, ETTL capable triggers, a long ETTL cord (cheapest option), an ST-E2 will also work. One option you might consider is to use an ND filter so you can shoot with a longer shutter speed. This option has the added benefit that you dont lose so much power by kicking your flash into HSS mode.

ISO 50 on your 5DII means F8 at 1/200 That's a reasonable aperture.

And don't forget, if you turn the camera upside down the shutter shadow will be in the sky or dark foliage and less noticeable. Should give you another stop.

coeng wrote in post #14287799
I was hoping of taking some shots of my son in his first communion suit at a local park this weekend with someone holding the flash on my monopod. The plan was to shoot wide open using HSS.

Is there any trick to get around this?

How about just decreasing the flash power until you can shoot wide open? Start at the lowest power on manual and if it needs to be lower put some white paper over the flash-head.

jackerin wrote in post #14297665
How about just decreasing the flash power until you can shoot wide open? Start at the lowest power on manual and if it needs to be lower put some white paper over the flash-head.

Using flash outside usually means that the ambient light is so bright that the exposure required for a good ambient exposure requires a shutter speed greater than the camera's sync speed.

Camera manufacturer's get around this problem with a feature called (Canon) High Speed Sync. This means the flash "strobes" to deliver continuous light while the shutter slit travels across the sensor.

Bottom line; the exposure challenge isn't too much flash, its a challenge of too much ambient light.

You should be able to do this with the cybersync's if you shoot close to sunset or right after sunrise when the ambient light is not as bright. If you can't time the shoot like this, you will need an ettl trigger, cord or use a ND filter.

edited to say, you won't need HSS if you shoot when the ambient light is lower

Good question OP and I don't want to hijack the thread, but does HSS only work in ETTL or they have no ties with one another? I have the Yongnuo RF-603 triggers and can only use them with my 430EXII in manual mode, but it raises a good question...would HSS work?

chugger93 wrote in post #14297757
Good question OP and I don't want to hijack the thread, but does HSS only work in ETTL or they have no ties with one another? I have the Yongnuo RF-603 triggers and can only use them with my 430EXII in manual mode, but it raises a good question...would HSS work?

No, HSS is a function of the ETTL system. You have to have a capable ETTL system. Not all ETTL wireless devices support HSS in fact. The wireless controllers built into the popup flash on the 7D, and 60D do not support HSS even though they do support ETTL auto exposure.

Also remember that when going into HSS with the speedlite about 2 to 2 1/2 stops of power is lost so that the speedlite can rapidly "strobe" to deliver the continuous light required for the length of time required for the shutter slit to cross the frame.