Canon XTi flash question

[n20capri]

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]

You're in Av mode I assume. Switch to Manual and you've got the whole gamut of the XTi's shutter speed available.

[BBPhoto]

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]

nqjudo is correct.

[coldrain]

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.

[JTL]

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.

[Rooz]

high speed is a form pulse flash though i imagine, not full flash activation.

[coldrain]

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]

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.

[Rooz]

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.