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campy · Joined: 23 Sep 2002 Posts: 51 Location: mass.

I just got my sync. cable from paramount to go with my vivitar 285.
What do I set my shutter speed at?
The camera is a crown graphic with a 135mm lens with a black M a red M a red F and a black X.
I assume the black X for electronic flash.
With my other cameras I set it for 1/60th.
Do I set it for 1/50 or 1/100? Do I have to compensate for anything?
I hope these are not too stupid of a question.

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2144 Location: New Jersey

campy · Joined: 23 Sep 2002 Posts: 51 Location: mass.

Thanks for your response. I only tried a couple of speeds and it shows thru. But what is confusing me is if it is set for 1/200 wouldn't that let in twice as much light as say 1/400? I just seem to have a mental block on leaf shutters and electronic flash.

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2144 Location: New Jersey

alecj · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 853 Location: Alabama

>Always use the highest shutter speed available with electronic flash to minimize the risk of ghosting from ambient light.

Dan is right [of course!]. No matter what the shutter speed setting, on X sync ALL the light from the flash will be utilized. The only variant is how much of the existing, background light you want. And, if outdoors, do you want the background to be dark, normal, or something else. Using electronic flash outdoors, as fill in flash only, takes some practice to get all the variables to work if you want it to appear natural.

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

"Use thie highest speed possilble" I agree to a point. Certainly anything below 1/250 will be fine with any flash that you an carry , but I noticed a 1.5 stop loss on my Hassy with a Metz ct-1 when using at 1/500.

My Hassy excluded, electronic flash takes about 1/400-1/500th of a second to fire. So, a 1/400 shutter or a 1/60th shutter won't have an effect on the amount of light FROM THE FLASH. But, like everyone else has said, the shutter speed does effect the room or ambient light.

Let say you are shooting the President of a fortune 250 company in his office with a nice view of the Empire State Building and Central Park. I't's a bright sunny day outside.

If you shoot say f11 at 1/400 with tmax 400. The flourescent lights won't be bright enough to register, nor will his $5,000 desklight. But your flash will illuminate everything inside (you've carefully positioned yourself to minimize flash reflections in the glass) The scene outside will be wonderfully exposed. Your editor rejects your chromes because the president is poorly lit--harsh front flash-- and your eye is drawn outside the window.

Now drop the shutter speed down to 1/15 or a 1/30, use a tripod, and all the fancy interior lights will "come on" in the photo, the flash will fill in the shadows nicely, but the exterior scene will be hopelessly overexposed. The assistant editor (editor went to lunch) rejects your chromes because while the subject is now beautifully light, he hates the overexposed windows and he can't see what's out there. You try to reschedule at just before dusk, but the prez went to Bora Bora for a couple of days.

campy · Joined: 23 Sep 2002 Posts: 51 Location: mass.

Thanks everyone, I think I understand it now.