View Full Version : Canon XTi flash question
n20capri
11-10-2007, 11:48 AM
How come I can only go as fast as 1/200 sec with the onboard flash? Is there a way to go faster? If I get a Speedlite or other hotshoe flash am I still limited?
Dawoofo
11-10-2007, 12:38 PM
You're in Av mode I assume. Switch to Manual and you've got the whole gamut of the XTi's shutter speed available.
nqjudo
11-10-2007, 12:57 PM
You're in Av mode I assume. Switch to Manual and you've got the whole gamut of the XTi's shutter speed available.
This is incorrect. The on-board flash of the XTI has a maximum sync speed of 1/200 regardless of what mode you are in. If you wish to use a faster shutter speed than this with flash, you will have to obtain a hot shoe unit capable of high speed sync. The Canon 430EX and the Sigma 500 dg Super are very good, reasonable priced units that offer a pretty good set of features for someone doing basic flash photography. I believe (not 100% sure) that both units can sync to the XTIs maximum shutter speed. Good luck.
GaryS
11-10-2007, 01:37 PM
nqjudo is correct.
coldrain
11-10-2007, 01:57 PM
Correct? The maximum X-Sync speed of the XTi is 1/200th sec, from the 40D/5D/1D(s) MK II/III 1/250th sec.
The only DSLR I know that has a faster max. flash sync speed is the Nikon d70(s) (1/500th sec if I am not mistaken).
So getting an external flash will not make the sync speed different. It has to do with how the shutter opens and closes, the max. sync speed.
So getting an external flash will not make the sync speed different. It has to do with how the shutter opens and closes, the max. sync speed.Sorry, but this is incorrect. The 430EX and the 580EX will sync to ANY shutter speed when they are set to "Hgh-Speed" sync mode.
high speed is a form pulse flash though i imagine, not full flash activation.
coldrain
11-10-2007, 02:58 PM
Do not confuse flash sync speed with using flash while exceeding the max. flash sync. speed of your camera in shutter speed.
Of course you can flash while using faster shutter speeds with certain external flash units, but it is not synced anymore, and the flash output (well, not the output but the output received by the exposure) will be lower (because it is beyond the flash sync speed, part of the flash will not reach the sensor because 2nd curtain closes before the 1st curtain has opened totally, already).
So no, I do not think it is incorrect... the max. flash sync speed has to do with the body, not the flash unit used.
coldrain
11-10-2007, 03:05 PM
high speed is a form pulse flash though i imagine, not full flash activation.
The way I understand it is that when you exceed the flash sync speed, you can not sync to the 1st or 2nd curtain anymore because the one curtain closes even before the other curtain fully opens... and you syncing to one would make a part of the exposure be without the flash light itself!
So, you can flash with a faster shutter speed, but you do not sync anymore... you just have bright light during the whole exposure. No syncing anymore.
The way I understand it is that when you exceed the flash sync speed, you can not sync to the 1st or 2nd curtain anymore because the one curtain closes even before the other curtain fully opens... and you syncing to one would make a part of the exposure be without the flash light itself!
So, you can flash with a faster shutter speed, but you do not sync anymore... you just have bright light during the whole exposure. No syncing anymore.
thats the way i understand it aswell. all of my flash experiments pretty much show the same thing. to minimise the effect of that the flash moves to a pulse mode where they fire fast pulses of lower powered light. i'd imagine the canon flashes would do the exact same thing.
nqjudo
11-10-2007, 03:37 PM
To help the OP out, let's not get too bogged down with the technical minutia too much without clearly addressing his concern. As I read it, the post breaks down like this:
Can you set the shutter speed faster than 1/200 and still use the XTI's on-board flash? The answer is no.
Is it possible to do so with an external unit and to what extent? The answer is yes, to the maximum shutter speed of the camera depending on which external unit you use.
Would anyone disagree?
coldrain
11-10-2007, 03:47 PM
To help the OP out, let's not get too bogged down with the technical minutia too much without clearly addressing his concern. As I read it, the post breaks down like this:
Can you set the shutter speed faster than 1/200 and still use the XTI's on-board flash? The answer is no.
Is it possible to do so with an external unit and to what extent? The answer is yes, to the maximum shutter speed of the camera depending on which external unit you use.
Would anyone disagree?
I agree to that. I re-read your former post, and even though you talk about flashes with higher sync speed, you did not actually say they could sync the flash to higher shutter speeds... sorry for misreading your former post.
essentially thats right.
but flashes these days are so advanced they are almost set and forget in most circumstances with little need to adjust anything. the OP needs to keep in mind that setting the flash above the max sync speed will require a bit more effort to get exposures right. while that may sound too technical, it can be difficult to get it right cos you have to try getting your flash EV's done manually.
not critical mind you, but important to point out none the less.
How come I can only go as fast as 1/200 sec with the onboard flash? Is there a way to go faster? If I get a Speedlite or other hotshoe flash am I still limited? Here we go again. Read the OP's question above for reference.
The answer is "YES you can go faster...if you use an EX flash unit in high-speed sync mode" for the context in which the question was asked...
The rest of the of the info provided is of course correct...when the EX flash units are in "high-speed sync" mode they operate by pulsing light...and yes the curtains can not exceed their limit. But some of you guys just like to confuse the hell out of people. Only gear-heads and pros care or need to care at that level.
He asked a simple question and gets the encyclopedia for an answer. I know you guys want to provide the most technically correct answer possible...but why can't you just say "Yes...but in case you're interested, here's what's going go inside your camera...". Jeez...what a bunch of unfriendly geeks! :D:p:D
Wait that's not fair...I'm a little geeky too sometimes...and you guys are right to provide the most technically correct answer...but I'd like to see some of you try just once to put yourself in the shoes of the person asking the question...without trying to prove you're the smartest guy on the planet (which, sadly, none of us are).
To help the OP out, let's not get too bogged down with the technical minutia too much without clearly addressing his concern. As I read it, the post breaks down like this:
Can you set the shutter speed faster than 1/200 and still use the XTI's on-board flash? The answer is no.
Is it possible to do so with an external unit and to what extent? The answer is yes, to the maximum shutter speed of the camera depending on which external unit you use.
Would anyone disagree?Kudos to you! This is an OP friendly answer that answers the question specifically WITHIN THE CONTEXT ASKED. Why can't more people here follow your admirable example? Why is common sense such a rare commodity? Why do I ask these dumb rhetorical questions on an Internet forum? ;)
24Peter
11-10-2007, 09:31 PM
He asked a simple question and gets the encyclopedia for an answer. I know you guys want to provide the most technically correct answer possible...but why can't you just say "Yes...but in case you're interested, here's what's going go inside your camera...". Jeez...what a bunch of unfriendly geeks! :D:p:D
Perhaps in this case a picture is worth 1,000 words...
Rebel XT SS 1/640th 430EX Speedlite used for fill flash
http://photos.imageevent.com/24peter/adrienr/large/IMG_5299.JPG
n20capri
11-10-2007, 09:58 PM
To help the OP out, let's not get too bogged down with the technical minutia too much without clearly addressing his concern. As I read it, the post breaks down like this:
Can you set the shutter speed faster than 1/200 and still use the XTI's on-board flash? The answer is no.
Is it possible to do so with an external unit and to what extent? The answer is yes, to the maximum shutter speed of the camera depending on which external unit you use.
Would anyone disagree?
I think that's how I understood it too...Thanks to all!! :)
AdamW
11-11-2007, 08:59 AM
Perhaps in this case a picture is worth 1,000 words...
Rebel XT SS 1/640th 430EX Speedlite used for fill flash
http://photos.imageevent.com/24peter/adrienr/large/IMG_5299.JPG
Umm, what were we talking about? I was thinking about something else....;)
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