Slow-Sync, how do I turn it off?

I think I have pretty good understanding of how slow-sync works. The question I have is how do I turn it off? Lets say I really don't care about the far background and I only need to catch the subject with my flash.

Do I just need to switch to M to increase the speed? Or is there a way to do it in Av?

I think it is a custom function or something but without my camera with me I'm not sure...got your manual close by?

Best option (IMO; most flexible) is to switch to M.
Another option is using P or setting the CFn (if your camera has that) to lock the speed in at sync speed with Av.

If your trying to do what I Think...Exposed subject, Dark or black background.

This is my favorite use of High speed synch, Set camera to M, flash to e-ttl hss, AV to taste and crank up shutter speed till I'm pushing the limit's on available flash distance.

I should add...Yes it's a custom function on your camera for AV synch speed.

The xti is I/200 max and 40d is 1/250.

If you shoot Camera in M and flash with HSS off your camera will limit you to 1/200 or 1/250 but with HSS on you can choose any shutter speed

Or set camera to M, flash to M.
See post #3
Tips for Xmas Ball Please

michaelgreen78 wrote in post #5884740
I think it is a custom function or something but without my camera with me I'm not sure...got your manual close by?

I found it as a timing rather than a On/Off. So I guess I just have to go past whatever that is set to.

Yes that is what I am trying for. With High Speed Sync what exactly would we be sync-ing to?

Thank you everyone, I'll try it out tonight.

What's slow speed sync?

If you are trying to capture fast action with flash, HSS is not the answer.

Slow Sync: At night or very-low-light, catching a subject (person) close to the camera with your flash, yet having a slow enough shutter speed to allow the background to be captured.

Slow-sync allows your close subject to have some minor movements and will not show up on the image with the slow shutter.

HIgh-Sync is just catching the local subject and having the background come in as completely black, which is what I was asking about.

aram535 wrote in post #5888258
Slow Sync: At night or very-low-light, catching a subject (person) close to the camera with your flash, yet having a slow enough shutter speed to allow the background to be captured.

Slow-sync allows your close subject to have some minor movements and will not show up on the image with the slow shutter.

HIgh-Sync is just catching the local subject and having the background come in as completely black, which is what I was asking about.

I've never heard that called slow synch, which may be causing some of the confusion. The term I'm more familiar with is 'dragging the shutter' Your camera will automatically 'slow synch' as you put it in Av and Tv mode.

In P mode, it typically won't, at least not with shutter speeds below 1/60th second.

And in M mode the camera does what you tell it to.

I think people saw the 'slow synch' and started to think this was the opposite of 'high speed synch' which is a specific setting on your speedlight that allows you to shoot above the maximum flash synch speed of the camera body (typically 1/200 to 1/250) with reduced range.

I must be crazy, but I'm sure I saw it in the manual. I've also heard it from the photographers that I work with, but it may not be a Canon term.

JeffreyG wrote in post #5888365
I've never heard that called slow synch, which may be causing some of the confusion. The term I'm more familiar with is 'dragging the shutter' Your camera will automatically 'slow synch' as you put it in Av and Tv mode.

In P mode, it typically won't, at least not with shutter speeds below 1/60th second.

And in M mode the camera does what you tell it to.

I think people saw the 'slow synch' and started to think this was the opposite of 'high speed synch' which is a specific setting on your speedlight that allows you to shoot above the maximum flash synch speed of the camera body (typically 1/200 to 1/250) with reduced range.

I agree, the technique is called "dragging the shutter". In Av or Tv the camera tries to expose for ambient conditions while ETTL II does it's thing to get the subject exposure right. Shoot with the camera in M (flash in ETTL II) and you can expose the background however you want.

What camera do you have?

On a 40D C.fn I -7 locks shutter speed to 1/250 in Av mode. Other models have it too but I don't know the C.Fn #.

gooble wrote in post #5894439
What camera do you have?

On a 40D C.fn I -7 locks shutter speed to 1/250 in Av mode. Other models have it too but I don't know the C.Fn #.

40D, but I knew where that was, I was wondering if I just moving out of the 1/250 range would it auto shut off, or if I needed to change the C.Fn. Sounds like doing it via Manual is the easiest way.

Yup, use a tripod and set the camera to Manual with the aperture you want and a slow enough shutterspeed to capture some background illumination. Leave the flash in ETTL II and it will look after the subject exposure.