Pesky second curtain

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Archive 2009 · Pesky second curtain

Mark Booth
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p.1 #1 · Pesky second curtain

Please forgive this noobish question!

Gear: Canon 5D Mark II, Elinchrom D-Lite 4s, Elinchrom Skyport wireless triggers

My 5DMkII flash sync speed is 1/200. My Elinchrom D-Lite 4's flash duration is 1/800. Yet, at 1/200 I end up seeing a tad bit of that second curtain in the shot. Dropping to 1/160 eliminates it completely. So, what is causing this? Is there a delay introduced by the Skyport system?

If it is the Skyport system, would PocketWizards or Radio Poppers or any other radio triggers improve upon the delay (eliminate any trace of second curtain at 1/200)?

Thanks!

Mark

Nov 17, 2009 at 04:34 PM

Carmen Miranda
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p.1 #2 · Pesky second curtain

Mark,

Max flash sync of 1/200 is rated with direct connection, eg hot shoe or PC cable. Wireless systems inherently exhibit some latent delay. I typically get 1/160th with PWII and 1/125th with Skyport on my 5D's. This may vary to some degree.

Good luck

Nov 17, 2009 at 05:07 PM

jeremy_clay
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p.1 #3 · Pesky second curtain

..also, oddly, some find using a different wireless trigger allows them to sync higher (re: 1/250) then reported max sync. I'm sure the gurus here could explain why, though.

Nov 17, 2009 at 05:13 PM

Carmen Miranda
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p.1 #4 · Pesky second curtain

jeremy_clay wrote:
..also, oddly, some find using a different wireless trigger allows them to sync higher (re: 1/250) then reported max sync. I'm sure the gurus here could explain why, though.

Either because they are using HSS in TTL (which D-Lites, PWII and Skyports don't support) or they not utilizing entire real estate for flash exposure. Otherwise doubtful.

Nov 17, 2009 at 05:18 PM

Mark Booth
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p.1 #5 · Pesky second curtain

Thanks Carmen!

Wow... interesting that you only get 1/125 with Skyports on your 5D. I have absolutely zero evidence of the second curtain at 1/160 on my 5D Mark II using the Skyports. Even at 1/200, the second curtain is just barely in the frame. I could compose to the other side and crop and it would be fine.

Since I posted the question, I Googled the issue and found a fairly long Flickr/Strobist discussion thread from about 2 years ago (shortly after the Skyports were introduced). Numerous people were reporting success at maximum X-sync with the Skyports. And the folks with electronic shutters are getting 1/800 sync reliably and 1/1000 (the max rating of the Skyports) much of the time too (but not as reliable as 1/800). Of course, those folks are using camera speedlights, not monolights so I guess that might make a bit of difference too.

Anyway, thanks for answering my question. I was reasonably certain it was the wireless delay. Kind of relieved to know that the PW triggers introduce some delay too!

Oh... BTW... in that Flickr/Strobist thread they discussed having better success hitting max X-sync when the Skyport receiver batteries were fully charged. Once they started running down, they didn't have as much reliability with max X-sync. So, you might want to fully charge your Skyports and try again with the 5D to see if you can at least hit 1/160.

Mark

Nov 17, 2009 at 05:32 PM

Mark Booth
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p.1 #6 · Pesky second curtain

Carmen Miranda wrote:
Either because they are using HSS in TTL (which D-Lites, PWII and Skyports don't support) or they not utilizing entire real estate for flash exposure. Otherwise doubtful.

Agreed! I can achieve 1/250 with my 5DMkII and D-Lites/Skyports if I compose for the far side of the frame and crop the heck out of the shot!

At 1/250 the 2nd curtain fills about half the frame.

Mark

Nov 17, 2009 at 05:37 PM


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