manual modes for flash

**fredok1** · 05-17-2010, 10:41 AM

Does anyone know if manually reduced flash output settings (e.g., 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, etc.) on an AF-540 FGZ flash should only be used in conjunction with apertures set in the camera's manual mode on K7 and K10 bodies? Also, is it possible to calculate the effective shutter speed created this way? I have heard that it can be as fast as 1/10000 or 1/20000. This would be applied to subjects such as birds and flying insects.

enoeske · 05-17-2010, 11:10 AM

Originally posted by fredok1

Does anyone know if manually reduced flash output settings (e.g., 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, etc.) on an AF-540 FGZ flash should only be used in conjunction with apertures set in the camera's manual mode on K7 and K10 bodies? Also, is it possible to calculate the effective shutter speed created this way? I have heard that it can be as fast as 1/10000 or 1/20000. This would be applied to subjects such as birds and flying insects.

The lower the power, the faster the flash pulse. If you can kill the ambient light with your shutter/aperture combo such that the flash is your only light source, then it can act as if it were a shutter. You don't have to be in M mode on the camera, but its the easiest way to do it. In auto modes, your camera will want to expose the scene for middle gray. But that will be letting in ambient light. You don't want that if you are trying to freeze motion.

05-17-2010, 10:41 AM	#1
fredok1 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 58	manual modes for flash Does anyone know if manually reduced flash output settings (e.g., 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, etc.) on an AF-540 FGZ flash should only be used in conjunction with apertures set in the camera's manual mode on K7 and K10 bodies? Also, is it possible to calculate the effective shutter speed created this way? I have heard that it can be as fast as 1/10000 or 1/20000. This would be applied to subjects such as birds and flying insects.

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05-17-2010, 11:10 AM	#2
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136	Originally posted by fredok1 Does anyone know if manually reduced flash output settings (e.g., 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, etc.) on an AF-540 FGZ flash should only be used in conjunction with apertures set in the camera's manual mode on K7 and K10 bodies? Also, is it possible to calculate the effective shutter speed created this way? I have heard that it can be as fast as 1/10000 or 1/20000. This would be applied to subjects such as birds and flying insects. The lower the power, the faster the flash pulse. If you can kill the ambient light with your shutter/aperture combo such that the flash is your only light source, then it can act as if it were a shutter. You don't have to be in M mode on the camera, but its the easiest way to do it. In auto modes, your camera will want to expose the scene for middle gray. But that will be letting in ambient light. You don't want that if you are trying to freeze motion.