Canon DSLRs and flash sync

[jasona1]

Just curious if anyone knows the reason that Canon refuses to add a

higher flash sync speed on their digital bodies? Even Nikons lowest

D50 has 1/500. I was looking at possibly going to the 5D and low and

behold they have lowered it from 1/250(20D) to 1/200.

 

Is this simply so people like myself will have no options other than

purchasing the 1D series?

[awindsor]

Jason,

 

The new Nikon D200 has a flash sync speed of 1/250 the same as the 20D as does the D2X.

 

The D50 uses and electronic pulse of its CCD to achieve the higher flash sync. All the Canon dSLRs use an actual shutter for all speeds. The sync speed of the 20D is higher than the 5D since the shutter of 5D is plysically larger and the curtains must travel further.

[bobatkins]

The only time you really need a fast sync speed is for fill flash oudoors in sunlight. All current Canon speedlites give you high speed sync up to 1/8000s (at reduced flash power) anyway, so I really don't see it as much of an issue.

 

Maybe Nikon needs it because they can't drop the ISO speed below 200. In equal light and using the same aperture when the Nikon is shooting at 1/500s at ISO 200, the Canon can shoot at 1/250s at ISO 100!

 

For any type of studio work, a high sync speed is pretty useless since not only is it not needed, but many studio strobes won't work with sync speeds above 1/125s anyway.

 

Most of the time it's a non-issue and it's just another number for people to worry about and argue over.

[jasona1]

Alistair, thanks for the information. I think I follow you. So for now I am essentially stuck with 200 or 250. One last question. What are the negatives of using the CCD instead of the mechanical shutter for 1/500 sync speed?

[jasona1]

Bob, thanks as well for your post. However this is not some meaningless number to me. I do tons of shooting outdoor. Think mountain bike races where riders are traveling 40+mph downhill with the sun to their back. Unless they are close enough to me high-speed sync is useless to me since its range is dramatically reduced. Shooting at 1/500 with fill flash is a huge plus for me.

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[bobatkins]

You're one of the few people that need higher sync speeds!

 

The Speedlite output does drop in high speed sync mode, but with a 550EX or 580EX you still have a guide number of around 20 (m at ISO 100) or 40 (m at ISO 400).

 

I don't see how Canon are forcing you into the 1D series. They sync at 1/250s. If you need full frame the 5D is only 1/3 stop slower at 1/200 which really isn't a significant difference. The 20D syncs at the same speed as the 1D Mk II N and 1Ds Mk II. Maybe they are forcing you to Nikon, but that's a different issue!

[jasona1]

I guess I was referring to the 1D. I did not realize the new 1D and 1Ds were 1/250. Oh well one can dream of high sync speeds.

[bobatkins]

As far as I know the 1D was the only digital EOS with 1/500s sync. All previous professional digital bodies and all 1D(s) models after the original 1D had 1/250s sync.

 

I don't know how they got away with 1/500s on the 1D. It must have been a special shutter since it also had a top speed of 1/16000s. I think all other EOS bodies top out at 1/8000s

[gluteal cleft]

The simple idea of a shutter is that the first curtain opens, then the second curtain closes. That's true for slow shutter speeds, but at higher speeds, the second has started to close *before* the first has fully opened, in essence, a travelling slit. That's all fine and dandy for normal exposures.

 

However, with a flash, the first curtain has to be completely open, then the flash has to fire, then the second has to close. Designing a shutter that can accelerate the curtains that quickly yet survive for any reasonable number of cycles gets expensive.

 

Because 1/200th is fast enough for most situations, the majority of users would rather have an extra $50 in camera cost go to other features - so if you really need faster than 1/200th, then you're going to have to pony up for a more expensive camera.

 

steve

[steve_dunn2]

<cite>I don't know how they got away with 1/500s on the 1D</cite>

 

<p>This is purely a guess, but might Canon have used a combination physical/electronic shutter on this body, as Nikon does on some of theirs? I've read that this is not possible on CMOS sensors but is possible on CCD sensors, and the original 1D uses a CCD ...</p>

[John Crowe]

Yes, this is one area that I would like to see the technology get better. In the good ol' days most cameras had a 1/60 sync. I did have 1/250 back then but could never use it with the flash in auto so I was stuck with 1/90, unless I had all day for the flash to recharge. For the past couple of years I have had 1/125 and now with the 10D I have 1/200 which is quite good but I too would love to see 1/500 or even 1/1000. Of course I had 1/500 in my 6x6, but that was not exactly set up for sports so I could never use it! At a time when manufacturers are offering every gizmo that they can, this one would make sense.