430ex flash - faster shutter than 1/250?

Totality · 28 Nov 2007 at 12:38

Am I being stupid or does the shutter on a Canon 20D with 430ex not go faster than 1/250 when the flash is turned on?

I was taking some action shots so didnt want blur to happen in that certain set but whenever I wanted to add some flash to the photo the shutter would go down to 1/250sec from say 1/500 causing blur.

Could someone advise on if I'm being silly or is this just how the flash works? ie when using the flash you cant have a faster shutter than 1/250

MichaelHo · 28 Nov 2007 at 13:32

It's call the X-sync, watch this and all will be explained.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnn5nzPvoIM

ChroniC · 28 Nov 2007 at 20:06

If you cant be bother to watch that whole episode, basically put it is because the shutter at anything above 1/250 of a second will be half closed before the flash has gone off.

SDK^ · 28 Nov 2007 at 20:11

Enable High Speed sync on your flash unit and you can use whatever shutter speed you like.

wo0kie · 28 Nov 2007 at 20:18

what you really want to be thinking about is the duration and power of the flash if you want to freeze the action. you want to aim to get the duration of the flash burst to <1/1000s which usually means stopping down the power of the flashgun.

Helium_Junkie · 28 Nov 2007 at 21:39

That high speed sync thing, is that specific to the 430?

divine` · 28 Nov 2007 at 21:42

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/syncspeed.htm

SDK^ · 28 Nov 2007 at 22:00

Helium_Junkie said:
That high speed sync thing, is that specific to the 430?

Yes - It's page 16 from the 430EX manual

aztechnology · 28 Nov 2007 at 22:27

SDK^ said:
Yes - It's page 16 from the 430EX manual

High Speed Sync mode on the flash should work on any EX series flash, It doesn't work the same as a "normal" flash pulse though.

Read all about it here

Totality · 29 Nov 2007 at 16:56

Cheers for the help guys. All makes sense now. That video link was good and its part of a series so may watch the others too!