Comments on: advantages of a high flash-sync speed

By: Neil vN

Neil vN — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:10:25 +0000

Maurice, you could go to high flash sync speeds with HSS mode / Auto FP mode ... but you do lose 3 or more stops of power from your flash in comparison to staying at or below max sync speed.

As for the relationship between ISO and Aperture ... that explanation is beyond the scope of what I intend for this site ... or have the time for. You are far better off with a solid book that will explain this too you thoroughly and clearly. My suggestion is Bryan Peterson's book - Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera.

Neil vN

By: Stephen

Stephen — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:48:47 +0000

Maurice,
The maximum flash sync speed of the D300 is 1/250, so your camera should be set to 1/250 (Auto FP). This will allow you to go into high speed sync if you need to.

If you go into high speed flash sync, your flash’s output range decreases dramatically.

By: Maurice

Maurice — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:21:21 +0000

Hi Neil, if I want to shoot outdoor and I need higher flash sync, should I set my D300 to AUTO 320 FP instead the default ? And if so, then I should be able to use up to 1/8000 if I need to right. I am not saying that I will use that much of a speed but what I am saying is that technically, I am able to use all the speed that I want right ?

But more important than that is this question Neil : what is the relation between ISO and Aperture ? If you have for example 1/500 of speed and you want to remain shooting at that speed, then you only have Aperture and ISO to balance out. How do you do it ? If you bring the Aperture to f/4, why you should raise the ISO ? My understanding is that ISO is in charge to collect the light to make a picture and the more ISO, the brighter the scene, so if you choose a small aperture like f/4, f/2.8, why you must bump the ISO to 400 or 800 sometimes ? Can you explain the math there please ?

By: Neil

Neil — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:11:41 +0000

Keep it to 1/250th. I’m not sure where you get the 1/500th from?

Neil vN

By: Martian

Martian — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:08:47 +0000

Neil

On a D300, should I change the Max Flash Synch from the default 1/250 to 1/500?

Thanks

Martian

By: Neil

Neil — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:53:53 +0000

John … in the scenario described to illustrate the difference that a higher sync speed will make, we have the distance such that we need f4 for correct flash exposure.

ie, if we shoot at f5.6 (that we need for correct ambient exposure here), we will have flash at 1 stop under ambient exposure when we use f5.6

Neil vN

By: John

John — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:23:06 +0000

“So the photographer with 1/250th flash sync, can get
f5.6 ambient, but only f4 for flash, (100 ISO), or ..
f8 ambient, but only f5.6 for flash, (200 ISO).

It is important to notice here that the photographer with a max flash sync of 1/250th in this example, will always be one stop under for his flash exposure compared to the ambient light”

I don’t get this Neil, f4 is larger than f5.6 not clear why it’s one stop under ?.

John