terry_o_connor Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Heres the scenario. I want to shot a portrait shot outdoors during the day with a wide aperture (1.8 or so) and also a bit of fill flash. Im limited by my 500/sec flash sync speed if i try to do this which forces me to use a smaller aperture.Is there a way around this ? Ive heard that by covering 2 of the contact points on the flash I can get higher sync rates but is this safe ? I have a D70 with the small sb400 flash unit. Many thanks - Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Rance Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Terry, You could try a ND filter over the lens, and up the power of the flash to compensate. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry_o_connor Posted June 12, 2008 Author Share Posted June 12, 2008 Thanks Ian, Great idea. I have a 2d filter which screws on and if thats not enough i've a 4d "plate" which I could handhold in front of the lens. I'll give both a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_bradtke Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I thought the D70 would sync at higher speeds then any of the other Nikon digitals. Have you tried it at higher speeds then 1/500? If not then a ND filter is the way to go. The only drawback to them is they make the VF darker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry_o_connor Posted June 12, 2008 Author Share Posted June 12, 2008 'Fraid not Michael. It limits the shutter at 1/500 soon as you have the flash on . Thats a higher speed than the likes of the D2H or D100...not sure about the later models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_bradtke Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 My D300 only goes to 1/250th Go with the ND filters its what I use Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samoksner Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 It maxes out at 1/500th and i don't believe is has high speed sync like some of the newer models... Go with the ND filters and experiment, obviously, you'll want to lock the ISO as low as possible. This is where the ISO 50 of the pro canon cameras come in handy, why can't nikon give us ISO 50 (even a fake one would be nice)... Have fun shooting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_piontek Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 If you tape the ttl contacts so they don't work, your D70 will sync at unlimited speed as long as the flash duration is short enough. I didn't have any problems. You can also use a non-ttl sync cable. But, then you have to be able to manually set the power on the flash, and I'm guessing you might not be able to do that with the sb-400 (perhaps in a menu on the camera? I know you can manually set the power of the built in flash). This also works on the D40 & D50. On my D50 I can sync at 1/4000 with my SB-24 at 1/16 power. It's a very cool feature of these cameras. Also, you can sync faster than 1/500 with radio triggers, but there is a delay that they introduce that limits you to something like 1/1000. Depends again on the flash duration. You can still sync at faster speeds, but you start to lose light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ_konrad Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 <b>"...My D300 only goes to 1/250th..."</b> <p> The D200, D300, and D3 all have the auto FP flash feature (with an external flash - SB800, SB600, and SBR200 controller) that allows the flash sync speed to go all the way up to 1/8000 of a second although with a lower output. <p> The onboard flash can be used up to 1/320 of a second in this mode. <p> See page 288 and 289 of your owner's manual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank_skomial Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Like Rob says, tape/isolate all pins in camera hot shoe, except the central sync pin, and you can sync flash at any speed you want, e.g. 1/2000 sec, etc. Nikon brand flash, when recognized by D70, reduced camera shutter to 1/500 sec and slower. Alternatively, use a much older flash, that is not a Nikon latest brand, and no need to tape any contacts. Metz 60 or 45 models, Sunpak 555, 522, Vivitar 283, 285, monolights, etc, all work with D70 at any shutter speed. If shutter is faster than the flash discharge time at the power ratio used, obviously you will record less light, but entire sensor frame will be exposed evenly with a single shot of flash, (no FP gimmick needed). Practical max speed sync limit on radio triggers is 1/250 sec. on focal plane shutters cameras, or even on central iris leaf in-lens shutters, contrary to published data delays that would make you believe you could sync faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank_skomial Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Terry has D70 camera that does not support FP mode. .. and his tiny flash SB400 perhaps does not support FP either? Read also here: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00JnXC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ_konrad Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I was responding to Michael's comment about his D300. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_bradtke Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Thanks Russ. I knew about the FP mode. It really does not help when I need fill flash. So I use ND on the lens and my SB800 at close to full power. It takes a lot to balance out mid day sun in Florida. A lot of the time I am also trying to get light in under a hat while the subject is sitting on a horse. And the little flash built into the camera is good for giving my subjects red eye and thats about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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