Got a New Compact or Hybrid-Size Camera? Check That Sync Speed.
Adolfo tweeted to me that he found that his Panasonic LX3 syncs at up to 1/2000th of a second, and it reminded me to remind you that you should always check for this sort of thing. Frequently, the capability is undocumented.This is a similar deal to the way high sync works on the Canon compact cameras, and the same rules apply for sync speed vs. actual flash pulse duration.
I got to play around with this camera's newer big brother, a 4/3 Lumix GF1, in Dubai, and was very impressed with both the handling and the image quality.
If you have found that your new compact (or micro 4/3, etc.) camera can sync up high with external flashes, please hit us in the comments. Always good to know which models do that kind of thing.
UPDATE: Edit fixes incorrect label of LX3 as a micro 4/3. Thanks!
UPDATE2: So far, nothing but bad news in the comments on the 4/3 bodies...
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Posted at 10:21 AM.
33 Comments:
ooh, interesting! Would that be syncing via a cable? I have a GF1, will give it a try out.
The LX3 is no micro FT cam.
Well, THAT error did not last long. Thanks to Christopher (and several others, but Christopher was first) for the fix!
-D
WOW. What a coincidence! I was playing with this yesterday! I'm not sure if anyone is intrested but the LX3 does sync at 1/2000th but not at a full pop. I can manage to get around at a full pop at around 1/500th though on RadioPoppers and 1/1000th using a regular sync cable. Dialing it down to 1/4th power, I can hit the 1/2000th shutter speed.
Nope, none of the current m4/3's cameras (as well as the Samsung NX) can do high speed flash sync due to the fact that they all have mechanical shutters. However, there are plenty of reports that they are working on implementing global shutters. That should take care of the issue in future models. It should also make them much longer lasting since they won't have mechanical shutters to wear out.
My Sigma DP2 syncs all the way up to 1/2000th (I love this little camera!)
Example of a shot using a Canon G11 at 1250th/sec to bring in the sky of a back lit portrait.
http://tinyurl.com/cribben
Hello David,
Just wondering if you had a special place in your heart for Platypus?
I'm trying to figure out if you are trying to send subliminal messages or just being...quaky.
According to the website, the GH1 only syncs at 1/160th.
http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/support/Cameras-Camcorders/Digital-Cameras/Lumix-Digital-Cameras/Technical-Specification/model.DMC-GH1K.T#ts
I was confused by the platypus comment until I clicked on the camera image at the top of this post.
My money is on a school project for his son or daughter that remained in his clipboard.
I was actually just thinking about this the other day when I read your post about the G9 on assignment. Have been considering the G11 and it's definitely makes it more worth it.
In FP mode I can get up to 1/8000th sync between my Olympus E-3 and my Olympus FL-50R and FL-36R flashes even triggered remotely via the RC mode of the camera and flashes...
I'm currently reviewing the Olympus E-PL1, which like the E-P2 features a hotshoe. Sadly, the E-PL1 syncs at a max of 1/160s, while the E-P2 does slightly better at 1/180s.
Like you said, they have mechanical shutters limiting this speed.
I just tried this out on my GF1 and it doesn't work. As soon as anything is mounted on the hotshoe it limits to 1/160. Got my hopes up there as well!
Well to my knowledge the canon G11 is able to sync a non TTL flash or a dumb-synced (or at least my SB-600) flash up to 1/4000. Of course you will lose about 3 f stops of the flash light but the image is evenly lit.
I have been able to sync at over 1/1000 sec with my Canon S5. I use a Nikon AS-15 adapter (to which I have added a 1/8" mono plug) and a home-made sync cord to my Sunpak 383. I also added a 1/8" plug to the Sunpak. Works great. Also added a home-made safe-sync to the Sunpak to keep the trigger voltage down below the Canon-published 6V flash sync voltage limit.
I have been able to sync at over 1/1000 sec with my Canon S5 and Sunpak 383. I modified a Nikon AS-15 adapter and the Sunpak to accept 1/8" plugs, so I can use cheap sync cords (two 1/8" jacks and some twisted pair wire is only a few dollars). Also added a DIY safe-sync (optocoupler) to keep that trigger voltage way below the 6V limit. Works great.
All Olympus FourThirds and Micro FourThirds cameras support Super FP mode which allows them to sync to their max shutter speed when used with compatible flashes such as the Olympus FL-50R or FL-36R and Metz 58 or 48 AF-1.
You do however need to either have the flash connected to the camera's hotshoe (mounted or via cable) or have a camera with the Wireless RC feature in order to use Super FP mode.
I concur on the 1/160s limit on the GF1 (with off brand flashes), but at least can report that all my Canon flashes (430Ex and 580EX) and the STE2 wireless trigger work from the shoe of the GF1 - in manual flash mode.
If set to ETTL they seem to blast at full power - which is a handy way to quickly switch between a manual setting and full power on the 430EX.
Yup was a pleasantly surprised for the LX3. Immediately tested mine when it first came out with some PWs and 540s and worked like a charm at 1/2000th. Not bad at all for a "P/S" :) Shared the findings on my blog in 2008 but it seemed only a handful were interested at that time. D'oh.
My E-P2 can synch at 1/320th through a wireless Paul C Buff trigger to a variety of strobes. 1/500th causes a dark stripe at the bottom.
my G11 will hit 1/2000th but gets the whole flash at about 1/800th. I've been able to cheat the sync on my 50D to 1/320th and 1/400th if a frame it properly and my 5D Mk ii to 1/250th with good framing.
My Nikon D40 is not new, compact or hybrid-sized, nor does it have FP sync, but it syncs up to 1/4000s just fine. :-)
I was not only able to sync with my LX3 at up to 1/2000, but also found out in the process that the my eBay trigger (PT-04 CNIII) will work perfectly at those speeds, even if the specs mention a much lower limit.
The sad side of having a camera like the LX3 syncing at such speeds is that even if you get f/2... the DOF is still quite large because of the small sensor. You only get a shallower DOF with tight, close-up portraits.
Got a Fuji S200exr which syncs at 1/4000th mounted on hotshoe or with PC cord, only up to 1/1200th using ebay PT-04 remote triggers depending on flash and power.
The D40 synced @ 1/500th...too bad they didn't include that with the D60, D3000 and up...
Have you all seen this High Speed sync Hack?
http://prophotocoalition.com/index.php/tdonaldsonppc/story/shutter_sync_speed_hack/
With my Canon G9 and G11, I can sync up to 1/500 with PocketWizards. I get all the way up to 1/2000 with a sync cord and even more amazingly, I can get to 1/1250 with RadioPopper JrX units. Nice to have wireless triggers that will sync at that speed!
-Ron
Had a chance to test sync speed with Olympus E-P1 this weekend. Unfortunately sync with PC cord (using sb-800) was ok at 1/320 sec, 1/400 sec resulted very thin band (useable for sure) and 1/500 sec got clearly noticeable band.
JFYI guys, Point&Shot Canon S90 also syncs at its maximum shutter speed - 1/1600th.
@Steve: Add the plain FL-36 to the list. The FP feature seems to work fine with my Olympus EP1. Of course the lack of an R on the model name means I'm constrained to a hot shoe or cable.
olympus e-p1 with cactus triggers seems to max out @ 1/320th. for some strange reason it has a mechanical shutter..
Mesays,
How do you overcome the 1/500 limitation on the S90? I read on DPreview that the S90 is limited to 1/500? How are you triggering the remote flash? SU4 mode?
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