Why can I not get my Canon 40D faster than 1/250 with the flash

Jakefreese · Mar 28, 2011

This is with the Vivitar 383 flash, I can have it turned up to where I want it but as soon as I focus it drops back to 1/250. Is this all it will do or what can I do to over ride it?

Thanks!

480sparky · Mar 28, 2011

Perhaps 1/250 is the fastest synch speed?

vtf · Mar 28, 2011

Your manual should specify under flash section, usually its 200 or 250.

Derrel · Mar 28, 2011

Welcome to the world of flash synchronization speed limits!!!! Your Vivitar is a low-technology, old-school flash, and so it fires only one, single,discrete burst of flash per exposure, and thus it is unable to allow you to use high speed synchronization. You'll be forced to stay within the camera's X-synch speed limit.

mikehaugen · Mar 28, 2011

In manual it should let you take the picture at a higher ss, but I doubt that is what you want since only part of the photo will be exposed and the rest will be nearly black. To get past this, like Derrel said, you need a newer flash that enable high-speed sync. I would suggest the 430ex or 580ex if you can afford them. I am not positive, but I am pretty sure that all canon ex and even ez series flashes allow this. I could be wrong, hopefully someone will correct me.

mikehaugen · Mar 28, 2011

Keep in mind though, that with high-speed sync you power will go way down and will severely limit the effective flash distance.

Jakefreese · Mar 28, 2011

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: dangit this flash is 1/250 I guess I will have to get a canon speedlight 580 ex2

Stradawhovious · Mar 28, 2011

Jakefreese said:
what can I do to over ride it?

These may or may not help.

Strobist: Great Video on Overclocking Your Sync Speed

Strobist: On Assignment: 50 Years

Flickr: Discussing Hacking the High Speed sync in Strobist.com

Here's another question for you though.... Why do you feel the need to go faster than 1/250th? In many situations you will get the same image with 1/250 and a flash as you will with 1/1000 and a flash.

Not all, but many. The above links will outline a few of these.

Village Idiot · Mar 28, 2011

Jakefreese said:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: dangit this flash is 1/250 I guess I will have to get a canon speedlight 580 ex2

Because you don't know the first things about flash photography...

The 430's 580's and possible 540's should all allow you to use high speed sync. That's not always going to be the answer though. What are you shooting? Most people want to get the flash off camera as well. Do some reading. Strobist: Lighting 101

Regardless, it's good to have a TTL flash.

mikehaugen · Mar 28, 2011

A higher sync speed in a way increases your flash power. A higher shutter speed means a wider aperature- therefore more effect from the flash.

Big Mike · Mar 28, 2011

A higher sync speed in a way increases your flash power. A higher shutter speed means a wider aperature- therefore more effect from the flash.

Ya but....usually when you want to increase the shutter speed while using flash, it's to cut down on the ambient exposure...so you wouldn't be opening the aperture more.

mikehaugen · Mar 28, 2011

I am just saying that it is a way to "fake" more power from your flash in certain situations if you were already at the limits of your flash.

o hey tyler · Mar 28, 2011

mikehaugen said:
I am just saying that it is a way to "fake" more power from your flash in certain situations if you were already at the limits of your flash.

You're not 'faking' power of your flash, because shutter speed doesn't effect flash exposure. Opening up the aperture will just increase your flash and ambient exposure. If you want to get more use out of your flash over a wider distance, turn the ISO just a smidge.

Jakefreese · Mar 28, 2011

Yes as said above I do not know crap about flash photography I do need to read the strobist articles again. I took a few shots this weekend that I thought could have been a bit sharper with faster speed, and I though t the darker background would have been cool. More reading and save up for some speedlites. The only thing is I am hoping canon does something about the pocket wizard issue before I am ready to get them.

Village Idiot · Mar 28, 2011

Jakefreese said:
Yes as said above I do not know crap about flash photography I do need to read the strobist articles again. I took a few shots this weekend that I thought could have been a bit sharper with faster speed, and I though t the darker background would have been cool. More reading and save up for some speedlites. The only thing is I am hoping canon does something about the pocket wizard issue before I am ready to get them.

Use a narrower aperture and crank up the flash power to kill ambient. If you're getting enough exposure from the flash and not the ambient, the flash duration of a speed light is much faster than the sync speed of the camera and will stop motion.

You really need to learn this concept, wrap your head around it, and be able to practice it by heart: Shooting a photograph with flashes is shooting a photograph with two exposures. You get one exposure from your ambient, which with a ND filter, a fast enough shutter speed (up until your limit for the x sync, which will differ depending on flash features, trigger features, and camera features), a small enough aperture, or a low enough ISO. You get a second exposure from your flash, which you can either overpower the ambient with a strong enough flash or augment it and mix ambient and flash together.