Understanding Flash Sync Speeds & Global Shutters
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
- Understanding Flash Sync Speeds & Global Shutters (2024) Flash synchronisation, often referred to as flash sync, is a crucial aspect of photography that ensures a burst of flash coincides perfectly with the camera’s shutter. Over the years, digital cameras have had limitations on the maximum shutter speed at which flash can synchronise. However, with advancements in technology such as electronic leaf shutters and global shutters, photographers can now achieve much higher flash sync speeds.
To understand the concept of flash synchronisation, it’s essential to grasp how conventional shutters operate. Think of them as elevated doors opening and closing to capture light, not people. When light, in the form of photons, enters the camera, it hits the digital sensor, generating electrical signals that are then transformed into an image. The duration for which the shutter remains open impacts the resulting image - longer exposure times lead to blur, while quick shutter speeds freeze action.
When it comes to using flash, timing is crucial. The challenge lies in coordinating the opening of the shutter doors with the burst of flash. Most cameras have a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000th of a second, fast enough to capture fast-moving subjects sharply. However, traditional shutters cannot synchronize with the flash beyond certain speeds, typically 1/250th of a second.
Leaf shutters, found in more expensive medium format lenses, operate differently and can sync with flash at high speeds up to 1/4000th of a second. On the other hand, manufacturers of 35mm cameras have introduced high-speed sync technology to address this limitation. By extending the duration of the flash burst to match the slit scanning across the sensor, high-speed sync allows for flash synchronization at faster shutter speeds. However, this technique comes with a trade-off of reduced flash power and compromised image quality in certain scenarios.
The introduction of Global Shutters by Sony marks a significant advancement in flash synchronisation technology. By eliminating the need for mechanical shutters and adopting electronic shutters that can turn the entire sensor on and off, Sony cameras can achieve flash sync speeds up to an impressive 1/80,000th of a second. This innovation ensures that the entire sensor is exposed uniformly, eliminating issues like wobbly lines and banding.
With technologies like global shutters revolutionising the way we synchronise flash, photographers now have more flexibility and control over their images. Stay tuned for the exciting developments in flash synchronisation in the year 2024 and beyond.
Understanding Flash Sync Speeds with Karl Taylor (2014):
• Understanding Flash Sy...
Hi Guys, we're glad you're enjoying this educational and entertaining format on these occasional special videos (see also our funny one on 'Diffraction')- If you enjoyed the video then it really helps us if you can share this video with your fellow photographers, thank you!
Karl, I decided to watch this video even though I already know the material. I'm glad I did. What a marvelous piece of video you and your team created in a fun, witty, deadpan manner, with such creativity and marvelous shot-making! It's also nice to see video makers focusing on eyes instead of the freaking ears, and it was nice to see you having fun with it!
Just absolutely loved it. Humor can make the learning process so much easier and enjoyable. And...a BIG! shout-out to your lovely model whose antics brought your points to life! Kudos to you all!
Glad you enjoyed it!
This was hysterical. I have tears from laughing. At first, I wondered how you got the model to comply with your antics, then I figured you gave her the opportunity for revenge at the end. :-)
🙂
The production value of this is amazing! Way to VE crew! I giggled plenty
Always the best explanations, thanks Karl
I'm glad you addressed the shutter speed versus flash duration point in this video. Many people celebrating the advent of global shutter completely ignore this and claim flash sync up to the very highest shutter speed. Another high-quality video.
I'm also happy the model got her revenge. She was a good sport about the whole thing.
Historically - I always thought that he was Masterfully brilliant in his knowledge, and was a bit overly arrogant. But, I would always love his technical input. However, I never ever thought that I would enjoy these learning tutorials the way that I am. He has even gone as far as letting a model push his face into jello. I think you are on to something excellent, and I hope you continue on with these fantastic videos. You have taken what could be tedious and mundane technical topics and made them into a very entertaining way of learning.
Cheers, and Well Done, Sir
He's actually a very nice person. His teaching style came off as arrogant in early videos, but I think that just has to do with how he talks, not so much as intentionally being mean.
Great refresher! I had to rewind several times as I missed what you were saying once I experienced the satisfying "splat" of the model land on the floor! Great model BTW.
I am glad the internet has new and refresher courses on fashion and other photography if looking for work or as a hobby in retirement. This may lead to jobs if needed.
Great video karl. Love the in depth explination with a comedic flare. Well done sir!
Thank you kindly
First comment I've ever left on CZcams, but I had to do it after this video.
Great to see you taking a lighter approach on this one, Karl. Incredibly humorous yet highly useful information.
Though, I wanted to leave the post mostly to say that it was the model stole the show! What a sport.
Bang up job, gang.
Much appreciated!
You did a great video and funny. I am retired, but like keep up with changes and tips just in case. Great work!! 5 stars
Excellent Video Thanks A lot
Another masterpiece! Some people learn to teach, some are natural but then there is another group that that are not just natural at teaching but are additionally passionate both in gathering knowledge not just by being taught too but also via experimentation and years of honing that skill, that’s where Karl Taylor belongs, almost in a class by yourself. I salute the master for teaching and educating us and making sense of our hobby, passion and for some a life long vocation. Weldone sir.
Wow, thank you!
Thank you for that great information and for the great time, I really enjoy this one, and thanks to your beautiful model too.
Our pleasure!
😂😂😂😂 absolutely fantastic. Funny video. And I know your model enjoyed slamming your face into that plate of jelly at the end hahaha. 😂😂
Very well done and very well put together 👏🏻 👏🏻
😁
Perfection!
Thank you!
KT, you have really leveled up on this one. This is the best explanation of flash sync speed available anywhere. Thanks for all the great content.
Thanks!
Brillant 😂. Well done Karl and team, explaining and showing a very important topic that is probably rather boring for most people (not me since I’m genuinely interested in technology) in such a great way, that is both easy to understand and very funny 👏👍
Thank you Ralf.
Super super high quality. This is the fisrt time in my life as a beginner photography to really understand what is flash sync speed. Thanks.🙏
Glad it was helpful!
❤ Very informative video, thank you Karl.
Our pleasure!
Jolly good, mate.
Cheers.
Top notch production and scripting. Reminds me of the UK produced tech/science shows. Entertaining and effective. You're on a great path with this format. Cheers
Thank you Nick.
Love to see and have a good laugh 😅
Cheers.
Wonderful as usual Karl. Thank you so much!
Karl, the young lady, looks very much like you. Is she your daughter?😊
Ha ha no, my own daughter is a little younger :)
She's a tropper LoL , very informative thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
Awesome!! Good refresher course.
Thank you!
I am loving this entertaining way of educating! Wonderful work!
Glad you enjoy it!
Great explanation and a lot of fun!🤣🤪
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for all the fabulous educational videos over so many years!!! If I may make a minor comment. The very last point of your video indicating that only 1/20 of the light from the flash burst would be captured is somewhat incorrect. The issue gets complicated very fast but …. flash burst from strobes are not like constant light. It’s not a continuous output of light at a constant intensity for a fixed duration of time. It’s an asymmetrical burst of light with a fall off - it’s not even an even distribution curve. And there lies the problem with global shutter and current strobes. At very high global shutter speeds it becomes difficult to adjust exposure of the subject in a *predictable* way by varying the flash power setting - in the way we can do with standard shutters… I know that you know this - but just a clarification for viewers thinking that all is perfect with these new cameras using current strobes….
This is a one of the best presentation video 🙏
Glad you liked it thanks
Excellent production and explanation of this topic.
Much appreciated
I love this new style of the contnet More interesting and really have fun while watching. And the editing is also cool
Nicely done!
Thank you! Cheers!
Very nice demonstration 👏👏👏
Thank you.
Loved it.
Thank you.
Nicely presented! Acting! Acting! ))
Yes we all had to dig deep on our school drama classes.
Those well produced videos are free now ? :p
I refer to ISO just as Karl does.. “eye-ess-oh”.. and usually don’t care about proper pronunciation, but lately I’ve been seeing nonsense posts going off on people… suggesting “E-zoh” or “I-zoh”. I find the differences are rather amusing.
great high quality tutorial -though I am full of cold in blooming July and have spinal pain so not thinking clearly - I can't get my head round the last bit - if the flash lasts for 1/1000th second and the shutter is only open for 1/20000th second isn't that 20 x longer duration of the flash to the shutter aperture - not that it matters as I don't have that type of camera lol.
Our example showed that 1/20000th shutter speed would only capture one twentieth of an average speed flash burst of 1/1000th of a second, so a lot of the flash power would be lost at such high shutter speeds.
Very Funny!!!
Thank you :)
Oh Karl. Love ya man, and I can appreciate the silliness, but you are so good without it - that in my opinion, it is like comedy from Sam Donaldson or Ted Koppel (More green jello anyone?). Kidding aside, one real question here for you. My understanding was that increasing ISO in nearly all cases, just amplified the S/N after exposure had taken place with photons coming through the aperture and while the sensor is turned on (i.e. shutter speed in cameras with shutters). Are you really saying that increasing ISO makes the sensor more sensitive to light/photons - and there for part of exposure - which you said was a seesaw in your aperture video - or just that it amplifies what the sensor captured as exposure making it appear as if the sensor was more sensitive to light? THanks again.
Hi no it just amplifies the signal as I thought our diagram demonstrated?
@@VisualEducationStudio Thanks for the clarification - but I thought you said "making the sensor more sensitive to light" and I was surprised to hear you say that. I might have to check that out again.
So Alexei Sayle is now your compare lol
Hello John, got a new motor. Love Alexei Sayle.
I like your video, explaining flash synch and global shutter. I love the end of the video. Unfortunately, your explanation at the end of the video is not correct. I have shot more than 1000 pictures with the A9III and Sony HVL-F60RM2 @ 1/256 power, ISO 250, F/1.8 and 1/80000 and more than 30Pict/s.
Thank you but you have to consider the physics. What is the flash duration of your flash burst to reach maximum power and hold that power, flashes have a timing reference called t0.1 or t0.5 which are measurments of the main proportion of the flash rather than the tail of 'weaker' period of the flash. Anyway that being said, my example gave an example of a flash burst that lasted 1/1000th of a second which is common on a high power studio flash, speedlites can often reach 1/20,000th of a second burst when on low power. Either way though if the shutter speed is faster than the flash burst then the simple physics of that dictates that some of the flash burst won't be recorded.
@@VisualEducationStudio With a GS, it doesn't matter, if only a slice of the total flash burst is recorded with a shutter speed that is faster than the t0.1. About a month ago, I did some experiments, using 2x Sony HVL-F60RM2 on the low end of available power and 2 heads on a Broncolor Satos 3200 at the high end. The goal was to photograph some gymnasts with a very high frame rates and very high shutter speed using the A9III. The HVL-F60RM2 was triggered via wireless and the Broncolor via cable, as their wireless trigger didn't work. I could get perfect exposure with the HVL-F60RM2 all the way down to 1/256 at ISO 250 and F/1.8 with shutter speeds up to 1/80000. The HVL-F60RM2 is a 60 Joule flash . At 1/256 it puts out approx. 0.23 J which was sufficient to expose the gymnast at 3m flash distance with a frame rate of 30 Pic/s. Using higher levels of flash power does reduce the frame rate of course, but it is still around 15 frames/s. Of course, with the Broncolor, I had no problems to shoot more than 60 frames/s. Now what does that tell you. It is now possible to shoot at very high frame rates and shutter speeds at fraction of the cost using cameras with GS than without GS. The same is also true, if you try to overpower the sun in many outdoor shootings.
Well it doesn't matter that it will sync of course but the video explains that you will be losing some of the flash duration due to an excessive shutter speed but if you have enough flash power to cope with that then no problem.
I hope you paid the model really well
Yes we always pay our models well and Caterina and the rest of the team had a lot of fun on this one.