p.2 #1 · So what is the D800 flash sync speed? - UPDATE: Now tested
mshi wrote:
1/1000 on MF? I remember my Hassy has only 1/500. At any rate, you can use Nikon's CLS to have hyper-sync at 1/8000 with multiple flashes. Have you seen any David Black's work?
I have a Hy6/AFi which uses Rollei lenses. The lenses sync at 1/500 or 1/1000 depending on the model.
The Hasselblad V system synced at 1/500, iirc. The new H system syncs at 1/800.
Hyper-sync doesn't interest me personally at all. You can of course just switch to continuous lighting and then every camera can work at any shutter speed.
p.2 #3 · So what is the D800 flash sync speed? - UPDATE: Now tested
You can often sync with nikon at much higher speeds.
The pc port on the sb-900 flashes fires when the first HSS pulse is emitted. If plug in your trigger to the pc port on the flash, and your flash duration is fairly long, you can often get full frame coverage at 1/4000th.
Unfortunately the einsteins have a much shorter flash duration than the AB series and will only work at full power.
p.2 #4 · So what is the D800 flash sync speed? - UPDATE: Now tested
Graham Mitchell wrote:
The spec on Nikon's website is confusing: "X = 1/250 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/320 s or slower"
As you found out, 1/320s works fine.
This is an option on all of Nikon's better bodies, from the D7000 up. The reason there are two sync speeds is because only the 1/250s sync provides full power from a flash. When you use 1/320s you get reduced power. That's because the length of time that the sensor is fully exposed is less than the duration of a full-power flash. Still, Nikon says that you get more power than using AutoFP at 1/320s.
The flash sync speed is equal to the time required to open the first curtain, plus the flash duration. It works out that the first curtain opens in around 1/400s or so.
An SB900's full-power flash duration is 1/880s. That's the fastest sync speed you could have, if your curtains opened and closed instantaneously. Any faster and you lose power. But until electronic shutters are improved, we can't have curtains opening and closing instantaneously. All that can be done is to increase the speed of the curtain, which makes the shutter assembly, and the camera, more expensive.
p.2 #6 · So what is the D800 flash sync speed? - UPDATE: Now tested
StevenPalowsky wrote:
1/250th is the top sync with studio strobes.
fwiw, i shoot with the D800 and a mixture of PCB Einsteins and WL X3200s with the newer CyberSync/Commander and the other day while i was waiting on a client to show up, i just did a quick run through with the sync speeds.
HIGHLY unscientific, but i like to shoot at 1/160th in my studio bc previously with another trigger i saw edge darkening at higher speeds. i saw that also with my new setup and X3200. there was a little darkening at 1/200th and even more at 1/250th.
if i remember correctly, i saw the black line start to creep in above 1/250th.
again, let me emphasize i was just messing around, killing time, and not running through any variables, like trying this with the newer Einstein units OR syncing to one of them with an actual cord.
im sure there are lots of variables that could go into everything, but thats been my limited experience. hope it helps some ...Show more →
Yeah. I shoot at 1/200 or lower too in studio. Speedlights are a whole different animal. They, for the most part, have a different flash system that studio strobes. It's called IGBT. Check it out. Studio strobes, with the exception of a couple of makes, don't have this technology.
p.2 #8 · So what is the D800 flash sync speed? - UPDATE: Now tested
Graham,
You posted an image at 1/400. I assume the sync was set to 1/250, right? What does 1/400 look like when the sync is set to 1/320? And, does the change in sync from 1/250 to 1/320 effect the exposure?
