Nikon Flash Question.

HotGates

Senior Member
Hi I switched over from Canon to Nikon and now have the D800E and D610 which are terrific, I also have the SB-910 and SB-800 and can't figure out this, on my Canon when I was in AV mode and set the sync speed to 1/200th sec my shutter speed was always at 1/200th sec, but on Nikon when I set 1/250th sec the shutter speed does not stay there. Not that I use flash that way because I don't but just wanted to know if Nikon has it that way also? thanks;)
 

DraganDL

Senior Member
It's all in the settings (within the menu) - in some modes, camera will alter the values of the shutter speed and that of aperture in order to properly expose (fill-flash?)... What Canon calls "AV mode" (aperture value priority), in Nikon's terminology is "A mode"... Have you tried to use the flash(es) with a camera set to "S" or "M" modes?
 
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WayneF

Senior Member
In Nikon A mode (aperture preferred), you set the aperture, and the shutter speed reflects whatever the ambient meters.
In bright sun with flash, it will be limited to maximum shutter sync speed (1/200 or 1/250 second).
With flash indoors (dimmer light), typically A mode shutter will always be 1/60 second (some ifs and buts about this, there is a menu).
In brighter ambient, it will go higher as dictated by proper metering of the ambient, but with flash, it will not go over maximum sync speed (another menu).

Menus:

Menu E1 Flash Sync Speed. Normally, we set that to the highest without FP mode (which is 1/200 D600 and 1/250 D800). You can set this limit lower, but why you would, I have no idea. It would be a way to limit shutter speed with flash in A or P modes.

If you set one of the FP modes there (E1 menu), the shutter speed will go higher with flash, to any fast value. However, when the actual shutter speed is actually faster than maximum sync speed (in this FP menu), then the flash drastically switches modes, to FP mode, which is drastically different than speedlight mode, and is reduced to about 20% power. Canon calls this HSS flash mode. But then flash will work at any fast shutter speed, and FP mode could allow fill flash at 1/6400 second f/2.8 for example, at reduced range. Here is a description of FP mode: Four Flash Photography Basics we must know - Auto FP and HSS (it is very different than regular speedlight flash).

Menu E2 - Flash shutter speed - this is a MINIMUM shutter speed with flash, applicable to camera modes A or P (where shutter speed normally varies). If you are using flash, you don't need it to be any slower. Indoors, dim ambient normally otherwise meters slow. The default Minimum is 1/60 second (menu). So indoors at night, maybe the exposure indicates say 1/4 second at f/5.6. Reach up and turn on the flash, and shutter speed will jump to 1/60 second (the Minimum in this E2 menu).

Exceptions to menu E2: E2 does NOT apply to camera S or M mode, shutter speed will be as you set it. Also, if you set Slow Sync, it will ignore this Minimum menu in modes A and P, and will use whatever slow shutter the ambient meters. Also (unlike Canon), Rear Curtain sync automatically selects Slow Sync mode, so it is the same as Slow sync (to allow the slow shutter speed rear curtain blur trail wants).

Otherwise, in medium light (brighter than dim indoors, weaker than bright sun) - maybe like in partial shade - shutter speed in camera A mode will be whatever intermediate value that the ambient light meters.

The camera sets up exposure settings for the ambient level, and then TTL flash sets its power level accordingly.

Another difference from Canon. Exposure Compensation affects both ambient and flash. Flash Compensation affects only flash.
However, the D600 also has menu E4, which can make Exposure Compensation apply only to ambient.
Most models do not have E4. D800 does not have it, but I don't know about the D800E.
 
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