D90 build in flash slow syn

[vnwt88]

hi,

i am new to dslr;

cant seems to get a steady shot with the build in flash slow syn function?

most of the shutter speed is abt 1/3 sec to more than 1 sec when i shoot in P mode, iso 200with auto iso adjustment on, resulting in all blur shots?


what did i set wrongly?


thanks in advance for all advice.


victor

[alex1990]

under menu, you can tweak your flash settings.

[vnwt88]

i have set the slowest shutter speed for 1/60 sec but when i shoot on program auto, it seems to override it and i got shutter speed of about 1/3 to over 1 sec


can anyone guide me ?


thanks in advance

[Cursor]

I think when your flash mode is in slow sync mode, the min shutter speed will not be taken into consideration.
To have clear and sharp photos in slow sync, you need to have some camera support like tripod.
Else choose a higher ISO or smaller f-number till you get a faster shutter speed.

[MashiMaro]

Originally Posted by vnwt88 hi, i am new to dslr;...what did i set wrongly?..

you got all wrong. you didn't mention what metering you were on and what's the scene n what do you want to achieve with the flash.
onboard flash may not be powerful to properly illuminate your subject at the distance, ISO, slow lens and f/stop combination selected by the P mode using slow sync.
with all that, the correct exposure could have been obtained but might require a tripod.

long story short.
get out of P mode and start learning photog using A, S then M. leave the P mode for your gf, neighbor, friends and uncles.
on A mode, set your flash to slow sync, use spot metering, lock exposure (using AE-L/AF-L button) to whatever to be exposed better, watch the shutter speed, lock focus, recompose, take the shot.

*
i assume you are using D90 - create a Custom Pict Control and set sharpening & saturation more. set c1 OFF and f4 AE
*

[zac08]

Please read the manual under Flash sync modes.

The slow sync speed is meant for you to get a balanced BG and with a flash fired to illuminate your subject sufficiently. The speed can go as slow as 30s depending on your camera settings and also the amount of light available in the scene.

If you want a more balanced BG with subject shot, consider using iTTL BL mode. Also you'd need to increase the ISO and open up the aperture sufficiently.

[vnwt88]

Originally Posted by MashiMaro you got all wrong. you didn't mention what metering you were on and what's the scene n what do you want to achieve with the flash. onboard flash may not be powerful to properly illuminate your subject at the distance, ISO, slow lens and f/stop combination selected by the P mode using slow sync. with all that, the correct exposure could have been obtained but might require a tripod. long story short. get out of P mode and start learning photog using A, S then M. leave the P mode for your gf, neighbor, friends and uncles. on A mode, set your flash to slow sync, use spot metering, lock exposure (using AE-L/AF-L button) to whatever to be exposed better, watch the shutter speed, lock focus, recompose, take the shot. * i assume you are using D90 - create a Custom Pict Control and set sharpening & saturation more. set c1 OFF and f4 AE *

thanks for your advice; will try it out.

was trying to photograph my kids at the airport; with forced/ auto flash, background is dark;

with slow syn, picture is blur...

normally, with a point and shoot cam, slow syn will work just fine; still trying to learn ...


will report back soon....

[vnwt88]

Originally Posted by zac08 Please read the manual under Flash sync modes. The slow sync speed is meant for you to get a balanced BG and with a flash fired to illuminate your subject sufficiently. The speed can go as slow as 30s depending on your camera settings and also the amount of light available in the scene. If you want a more balanced BG with subject shot, consider using iTTL BL mode. Also you'd need to increase the ISO and open up the aperture sufficiently.

thanks for your reply too;

read the manual n thought if i set the minimun shutter speed at 1/60, shutter will not open longer than that but it doesnt seems to be that case; will check again;



will google iTTL BL whatever that is.... thanks

[vnwt88]

also thanks to all who has given advice,

will try again n update....


still learning my first dslr d90.....

[viix]

Instead of tinkering with the flash, just pump up the ISO, at ISO800 (even 1600), it's sufficient to have hand holdable shutter speed and the picture will still look great with sufficient light.. It's the D90 so don't worry about shooting at higher ISOs but don't go over 1600 with poor lighting.

[catchlights]

you want to use slow sync or don't want to use slow sync in the first place?

if you are using the slow sync, is either you have camera movement or subject movement.

yes, flash able to freeze movement, but is the ambient light causing all the ghosting image, using a slow sync will allow camera let in more ambient light, simple as that.

you can use higher ISO, bigger aperture, so you can have slightly high shutter speed to stop movement.

[krion]

What is iTTL-BL?

[zac08]

Originally Posted by krion What is iTTL-BL?

Forgot to mention tat this is only avail in the external flashes.

iTTL BL - Balanced Fill Flash (Based on the exposure control information, the flash output level is automatically controlled for a well-balanced exposure of the main subject and background.)

[vnwt88]

Originally Posted by catchlights you want to use slow sync or don't want to use slow sync in the first place? if you are using the slow sync, is either you have camera movement or subject movement. yes, flash able to freeze movement, but is the ambient light causing all the ghosting image, using a slow sync will allow camera let in more ambient light, simple as that. you can use higher ISO, bigger aperture, so you can have slightly high shutter speed to stop movement.

yes, i want to slow sync to capture the background ambient light;


but when i slow syn, the shutter speed is always too slow n results in blur picture;

in fact, i get better picture with out flash when the iso auto increase to 1600 but i am trying to figure out how to use slow syn flash.

will appreciate if someone can try taking a picture with slow syn at iso 200, say in a shopping mall and see what the shuttle speed is?


thanks in advance.

[zac08]

Originally Posted by vnwt88 yes, i want to slow sync to capture the background ambient light; but when i slow syn, the shutter speed is always too slow n results in blur picture; in fact, i get better picture with out flash when the iso auto increase to 1600 but i am trying to figure out how to use slow syn flash. will appreciate if someone can try taking a picture with slow syn at iso 200, say in a shopping mall and see what the shuttle speed is? thanks in advance.

As mentioned, it all depends on the lighting scene.

If it's metered at 1/15, f2.8 ISO 200, then you'll be shooting at that speed. Or if the light is excellent and you get 1/60 f2.8 ISO 200, then your slow sync speed will be at 1/60.

There is no definite.

If you want to try to push up the BG at night, try shooting at slow shutter speeds in say M mode, 1/15, f2.8 ISO 800 (with flash set at about -1.0 to -2.0 ev) and see if you have the BG metered around 1 stop under or so.. this will give you a good balance of BG and subject.

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by vnwt88 yes, i want to slow sync to capture the background ambient light; but when i slow syn, the shutter speed is always too slow n results in blur picture; in fact, i get better picture with out flash when the iso auto increase to 1600 but i am trying to figure out how to use slow syn flash. will appreciate if someone can try taking a picture with slow syn at iso 200, say in a shopping mall and see what the shuttle speed is? thanks in advance.

to get decent exposure of the background in a shopping mall, ISO 200 is not enough. using slow sync, is too slow for handheld or stop movement.

if you subject is still and your hands are very steady, 1/15s is fine.

[gymak90]

Slow sync flash is meant to capture ambient light. It helps to freeze motion only at the moment when the flash is fired.
Because of this, your shutter speed will have to be slow. And this can result in ghosting if your subject moves/your hands shook.
If you don't believe, turn off flash, and your shutter speed might have been 4s.
If you want full freeze of motion, don't use slow sync, and you'll see the default 1/60s shutter speed.

[vnwt88]

thanks for all your advice;


tried and tested again;


i set my iso at 200 with the auto iso control ON and set to a max of 800.

i usually shoot in P mode so if i forget to on the flash, the iso will automatically increase to a max of 800 in low light condition resulting in a ok picture but not the very sharp kind;

if i open/ on the pop up flash, the iso is fixed at 200 and auto iso will not function. so subject is usually bright but background is dark;

if i now set the flash to slow syn in order to brighten the back ground, the shutter is too slow for handheld cos iso is now still fix at 200;

for in order to get bright subject n background, i need to reset the iso to 800 or 1600, then set the flash to slow syn;

a simpler/ faster way is to use the night portrait scene mode; this will auto set the iso and the shutter speed;

again thanks for all your advice and happy shooting....


have a good weekend ahead