max flash sync speed

[WayneF]

This thread was very helpful.

I just ran into the max flash sync speed issue yesterday for the first time with my D5200 and builtin flash. I was taking a graduation photo at a park and had my camera set at 1/1000, ISO 100 and F2.0 for bokeh, I was blurring a nice big jacaranda tree in the background. I was shooting during the day with my subject in shade. I decided to try some photos with fill flash and noticed my shutter speed would drop to 1/200 every time I popped the flash, which completely overexposed my photo. I quickly realized why that was happening from a previous conversation with a photographer. I worked without the flash and took some photos in auto mode where I got some with flash although less bokeh. I wasn't quick enough on my feet to figure out how to completely reset my camera manually to get the same shot at 1/200 by adding my ND filter and adjusting the ISO and aperture so I could use my flash and get the same looking photo as my initial settings.

I have a Mieke MK-910 on order already, so I went to their website to read about the max synch flash, which I hadn't previously thought about, and it sounds like I will be able to get a higher sync rate, which the Mieke website explains is useful for my exact situation yesterday when shooting outdoors with a wide aperture for fill light.

Right, that is the use of Auto FP HSS flash, to use wide aperture in bright daylight. See more about Auto FP at Auto FP and HSS


The camera internal flash cannot do Auto FP HSS flash, which is why the shutter dropped to maximum sync speed.

The internal flash can still be used as commander to trigger remote flashes at high speed with Auto FP, so long as the internal flash contribution is turned off in the commander menu (by setting internal group to Mode ---).

 

[WayneF]

Hi rijman, I'm not sure of the capabilities of aftermarket flashes but according to nikon only the sb800/sb800 models can overcome the max sync flash speed on anything in the d3xxx,d5xxx or d7xxx lines. Just a suggestion, shoot in raw format and post process will usually fix lighting issues very easily

The D3xxx and D5xxx models do not have Auto FP for HSS flash.

Just the models with Commander will have Auto FP.

 

[rijman]

Thanks Patrick, good points. My primary use for the D5200 is video, but I do take photos for my videos and I've shared my videos with family and friends so people are asking me to take photos for them. So I'm kind of becoming the photographer for family and friends and here I am just figuring out how to use a flash.

 

[patrick in memphis]

Understood, the first camera I bought for the wife and I feel I have come quite a long way since then. Now I have two with a bag-o-lenses.I try my hand at everything I can think of including astrophotography. Always honing away at new skills. It's good to push yourself. The folks on here have been a tremendous help as well as youtube. If I can help just give a holler..

 

[aroy]

This thread was very helpful.

I just ran into the max flash sync speed issue yesterday for the first time with my D5200 and builtin flash. I was taking a graduation photo at a park and had my camera set at 1/1000, ISO 100 and F2.0 for bokeh, I was blurring a nice big jacaranda tree in the background. I was shooting during the day with my subject in shade. I decided to try some photos with fill flash and noticed my shutter speed would drop to 1/200 every time I popped the flash, which completely overexposed my photo. I quickly realized why that was happening from a previous conversation with a photographer. I worked without the flash and took some photos in auto mode where I got some with flash although less bokeh. I wasn't quick enough on my feet to figure out how to completely reset my camera manually to get the same shot at 1/200 by adding my ND filter and adjusting the ISO and aperture so I could use my flash and get the same looking photo as my initial settings.

I have a Mieke MK-910 on order already, so I went to their website to read about the max synch flash, which I hadn't previously thought about, and it sounds like I will be able to get a higher sync rate, which the Mieke website explains is useful for my exact situation yesterday when shooting outdoors with a wide aperture for fill light.

There is a work around.
. Set your mode to "S", speed to 200 and ISO to 100. The aperture will now be the only variable.
. Fit and ND filter and set the exposure compensation accordingly. If the ND is 3EV, then set the compensation to +3EV.

If the camera does no TTL, then the Exposure compensation should give you proper exposure. If the TTL works, then you do not need to set the exposure compensation.