sync & monolights quickie question

Could someone please confirm something for me? My 300D manual reads X-sync at 1/200 sec. Does this mean that when using monolights I would have a maximum shutter speed of 1/200?

Any input is always greatly appreciated...

Yes, but you do need to also consider the fact that lights might be slow (long duration) or have a rise time (slow to come up to full intensity) and therefore you need to further limit the shutter speed. Or if you use a radio slave, there might be further delays due to lag time for the radio circuitry to be sensed and trigger the slave. So you might actually have to use a limit of 1/125 even though the camera says X synch is 1/200.

I will limit to 1/125th ... thank you for your post

focuspocus wrote in post #2821026
I will limit to 1/125th ... thank you for your post

I'd try it at 1/200 just so that you know one way or the other. My 5D synchs at 1/200 and that works fine when I have my stobes plugged into the camera with synch cords. But when I use a Pocket Wizard radio slave I have to use 1/125 or slower.

Sorry..one more thing. I bought a sekonic light meter and when I meter my lights at 1/60 and 1/125 I get the same F#. Shouldn't the faster shutter make a difference or is my light meter malfunctioning?

focuspocus wrote in post #2824072
Sorry..one more thing. I bought a sekonic light meter and when I meter my lights at 1/60 and 1/125 I get the same F#. Shouldn't the faster shutter make a difference or is my light meter malfunctioning?

The meter "knows" you are measuring an electronic flash source. The duration of an electronic flash source is much faster than even the fastest "max sync" shutter speed. Thus, the shutter speed has absolutely no effect on the exposure based on light from the flash source(s), as long as it is no faster than the "max sync" speed for the camera.

The only thing that might be affected by using shutter speeds significantly slower than the "max sync" shutter speed, with studio flash lighting, is getting some effect from ambient light in your shots.

Oh, I see. Would that explain that at 1/60 I am getting some colour cast on my portraits?

I would asume that at 1/60 you are getting some ambient light in the mix. May throw off the color balance. Shutter speed starts to matter when you pick up ambient light. I would try to make the room completely dark. If its not that, then I don't know.