When you're using a trigger. IE Cybersync/Pocket Wizard, to trigger a strobe, or a flash (not ETTL, but just manual flash), and you've got the camera set to "2nd curtain sync", are those devices fired, in the 2nd curtain, or are they just fired during the exposure? Is 2nd curtain sync, only on propreitary equipment, in ETTL?
Faster flash speeds and 2nd curtain are two different beasts. It doesn't really matter how fast the flash is when using 2nd curtain sync because you will typically be using longer shutter speeds and ambient when you are capturing motion trails in the shot.
It requires timing the flash pulse to the second curtain, though that shouldn't be any more complicated than front curtain sync. It's an up-sell feature.
It appears that the signal to tell the flash to HSS or second curtain sync comes through the TTL signal. It's too bad really, as some of those functions would be very useful in manual mode.
With a bit of coordination 2nd curtain can be done manually with studio lights or manual flash. Use the bulb shutter setting. Press and hold shutter, fire flashes manually with PW test button or PW transmitter equipped meter, then release shutter.
FYI - The "bulb"shutter speed designation comes from when view camera shutters were held opened and closed by hand with a rubber pneumatic bulb like a turkey baster. I actually used one those back the good old days.
What the what. Second curtain sync has nothing to do with ETTL.
You can use second curtain sync in either Manual or ETTL modes.
Instead of the flash firing in the early part of the exposure, the flash fires in the latter part of the exposure or when the second curtain starts to move.
The mode is used mainly for long exposures where you want any movement to follow the action for a natural look, say where a car is travelling at night and you want to pan and see the light trails following the vehicle instead of the car chasing the light trail.
ETTL or Manual and second curtain and long exposure will give you natural light trails/movement. Try it!
Dragging the shutter in normal flash sync with any movement will give you light trails in front of subject as the subject will already have been illuminated by the flash in the car scenario and the light trail will "scribe" over the already brighter image instead of following. Panning the opposite direction will help correct. Try it! ETTL or Manual.
If anything, ETTL will lessen the effect of second curtain as the flash/camera combo will be trying to light the entire scene ... Of course, depending on subject, distance, lighting conditions and towels used!!!
As to when the manual triggers fire your flash Robert in second curtain, guess what? They will fire later so you'll more than likely getting banding at your usual x sync unless you have set longer exposures as per my car scenario.
I understand that second curtain sync and TTL are completely unrelated processes. My question is how a manual trigger functions. My understanding (please clarify if incorrect) is that a manual trigger just sends a "fire NOW!" signal to the flash, and it responds with power level (i.e. 1/16 power). In order to use some of the other functions of a Canon speedlight, the flash must be capable of receiving a TTL signal. So if the flash is on camera or on a TTL cord, then second curtain sync is available with a flash on manual setting. However, if you are using a radio trigger system that doesn't carry TTL signal, then these options are not available. If anyone has direct experience using high speed sync or second curtain sync with a manual radio trigger, I would be happy to know if I am missing something.
Garry Burton wrote:
What the what. Second curtain sync has nothing to do with ETTL.
You can use second curtain sync in either Manual or ETTL modes.
Instead of the flash firing in the early part of the exposure, the flash fires in the latter part of the exposure or when the second curtain starts to move.
The mode is used mainly for long exposures where you want any movement to follow the action for a natural look, say where a car is travelling at night and you want to pan and see the light trails following the vehicle instead of the car chasing the light trail.
ETTL or Manual and second curtain and long exposure will give you natural light trails/movement. Try it!
Dragging the shutter in normal flash sync with any movement will give you light trails in front of subject as the subject will already have been illuminated by the flash in the car scenario and the light trail will "scribe" over the already brighter image instead of following. Panning the opposite direction will help correct. Try it! ETTL or Manual.
If anything, ETTL will lessen the effect of second curtain as the flash/camera combo will be trying to light the entire scene ... Of course, depending on subject, distance, lighting conditions and towels used!!!
As to when the manual triggers fire your flash Robert in second curtain, guess what? They will fire later so you'll more than likely getting banding at your usual x sync unless you have set longer exposures as per my car scenario.
I know what 2nd curtain sync is used for. I was just curious if the signal was sent to only proprietary equipment, or if the signal was also sent to pcoket wizards/cybersyncs, and the like.
Thank you for the explanation, I appreciate it.
Yes, manual/dumb/non Canon (in this case) transmitter simply tells the flash to fire.
The body controls second curtain (not all bodies have the second curtain function).
So irrespective of using a Canon system or not, it's when the body tells the flash to fire be it first or second curtain it will fire.
Yes, you need the Canon system (in this case) to use the Canon functions, except you can use the PW Flex/Radio Poppers in addition to the Canon system to extended it's usability.
As far as HSS with a manual transmitter, you will need a PW flex/mini or radio popper to give you HSS.
MultiMAX has programable delay, and you can manually tune that delay to coincide with your closing shutter. The procedure is explained in great detail (manual downloadable). In a nutshell, camera fires, MultiMAX (PC or hot shoe) starts the millisecond-precision timer, exposure nears completion, MultiMAX fires PW remote, shutter closes. I would fear tuning this on film, but it's no biggie for digital.
