Comments on: Canon 580Ex Flash Duration http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/canon-580ex-flash-duration/ Wildlife and Nature Photography by Kevin Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:36:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: photosbykev http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/canon-580ex-flash-duration/comment-page-1/#comment-2058 photosbykev Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:42:32 +0000 http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-2058 Hi Mick, using the speedlite at 1/1 power will give a flash duration of around 1/1000 second but using it in HSS mode will pulse the flash for the duration of the 1/800second exposure and given out a lot less than full power. I'm guessing this setup is being used in daylight hence the need for a fast shutter speed. It is possible to use an external shutter mounted on the lens and synced to the flash, this type of shutter is typically 1/400 second and would allow the flash to be used in normal mode. If it is in darkness then shutter speed can be much longer and you could turn off the HSS which would give a more powerful flash. I would be tempted to open the aperture slightly to f16, at f22 the 100-400 lens quality falls off, you would loose some DoF but the quality would improve and you have another stop of light to play with. I haven't played with the 300ez but it maybe possible to make a small circuit to pulse the flash just inside it's timeout period, a simple 555 timer circuit could do this. best regards Kev Hi Mick,
using the speedlite at 1/1 power will give a flash duration of around 1/1000 second but using it in HSS mode will pulse the flash for the duration of the 1/800second exposure and given out a lot less than full power. I’m guessing this setup is being used in daylight hence the need for a fast shutter speed. It is possible to use an external shutter mounted on the lens and synced to the flash, this type of shutter is typically 1/400 second and would allow the flash to be used in normal mode. If it is in darkness then shutter speed can be much longer and you could turn off the HSS which would give a more powerful flash. I would be tempted to open the aperture slightly to f16, at f22 the 100-400 lens quality falls off, you would loose some DoF but the quality would improve and you have another stop of light to play with. I haven’t played with the 300ez but it maybe possible to make a small circuit to pulse the flash just inside it’s timeout period, a simple 555 timer circuit could do this.

best regards
Kev

]]> By: mick http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/canon-580ex-flash-duration/comment-page-1/#comment-2056 mick Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:02:27 +0000 http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-2056 Hi i have 5d body and want to do some high speed shots. Im after nature shots birds, bats, insects in flight etc. Im experimenting with 430 ez and 100-400 is lens , with the canon lc2 remote in infra red beam break mode.This is an old bit of kit but canon have not replaced the beam break mode on any other remotes since. I have worked out how to disable the auto power off on the camera and flash.To connect the lc2 to the 5d via the n3 lead i am using the canon remote switch adapter ran3. So far the beam break is working and flash is firing.I need high speed shots and have the 430 ez in manual mode in high speed flash with the camera in manual using shutter speeds of 800 sec at f22 this is lighting a subject around about 1.8 meters away with a weakish light. The speedlite is set at 1/1 power i also have a canon 300ez on the hama optical slave wich is operating and throwing some light onto the subject. Quite how that is working i dont know i thought the pre flash from the 480 would trip the slave to soon,I dont know if 300ez can be prevented from sleeping its no use at the moment. Any ideas or advice would be very welcome. many thanks Mick Hi i have 5d body and want to do some high speed shots. Im after nature shots birds, bats, insects in flight etc. Im experimenting with 430 ez and 100-400 is lens , with the canon lc2 remote in infra red beam break mode.This is an old bit of kit but canon have not replaced the beam break mode on any other remotes since. I have worked out how to disable the auto power off on the camera and flash.To connect the lc2 to the 5d via the n3 lead i am using the canon remote switch adapter ran3. So far the beam break is working and flash is firing.I need high speed shots and have the 430 ez in manual mode in high speed flash with the camera in manual using shutter speeds of 800 sec at f22 this is lighting a subject around about 1.8 meters away with a weakish light. The speedlite is set at 1/1 power i also have a canon 300ez on the hama optical slave wich is operating and throwing some light onto the subject. Quite how that is working i dont know i thought the pre flash from the 480 would trip the slave to soon,I dont know if 300ez can be prevented from sleeping its no use at the moment. Any ideas or advice would be very welcome.
many thanks Mick

]]> By: photosbykev http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/canon-580ex-flash-duration/comment-page-1/#comment-652 photosbykev Fri, 01 May 2009 13:59:49 +0000 http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-652 just normal food dye added to the water just normal food dye added to the water

]]> By: Steve http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/canon-580ex-flash-duration/comment-page-1/#comment-650 Steve Fri, 01 May 2009 07:18:56 +0000 http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-650 This is great, will have a go later on. Did you use coloured water? This is great, will have a go later on. Did you use coloured water?

]]> By: Nikki http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/canon-580ex-flash-duration/comment-page-1/#comment-591 Nikki Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:57:06 +0000 http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-591 thanks for the reply! I figured it out while shooting =P http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3640/3432729657_1534fd33b3_b.jpg my image =) thanks for the reply! I figured it out while shooting =P

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3640/3432729657_1534fd33b3_b.jpg

my image =)

]]> By: photosbykev http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/canon-580ex-flash-duration/comment-page-1/#comment-590 photosbykev Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:39:15 +0000 http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-590 The balloon is suspended on a thin elastic band and then to puncture the balloon I held the pin in the palm of my hand The balloon is suspended on a thin elastic band and then to puncture the balloon I held the pin in the palm of my hand

]]> By: Nikki http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/canon-580ex-flash-duration/comment-page-1/#comment-563 Nikki Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:23:24 +0000 http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-563 Your balloon image is beautiful =) I am planning to attempt something like this for a photo class of mine and I am just wondering how you actually broke the balloon. I will be using a microphone-triggered flash system (not as high-tech as yours but it should do the job) I was thinking maybe a pin to the top of the balloon (outside the photo frame?) but was wondering how that would affect the way the balloon breaks... If you still check this please let me know =) Your balloon image is beautiful =) I am planning to attempt something like this for a photo class of mine and I am just wondering how you actually broke the balloon. I will be using a microphone-triggered flash system (not as high-tech as yours but it should do the job) I was thinking maybe a pin to the top of the balloon (outside the photo frame?) but was wondering how that would affect the way the balloon breaks… If you still check this please let me know =)

]]> By: Leeuwtje http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/canon-580ex-flash-duration/comment-page-1/#comment-294 Leeuwtje Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:13:09 +0000 http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-294 Thanks! Just the info I was looking for. I guess above is also the case for studio flashes? Leeuwtje Photosbykev response: Studio flash units typically have much longer flash durations nearer to 1/1000 second Thanks!
Just the info I was looking for. I guess above is also the case for studio flashes?

Leeuwtje

Photosbykev response: Studio flash units typically have much longer flash durations nearer to 1/1000 second

]]> By: photosbykev http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/canon-580ex-flash-duration/comment-page-1/#comment-46 photosbykev Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:46:37 +0000 http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-46 glad to be of help Kym, just shout if I can help you in any way glad to be of help Kym, just shout if I can help you in any way

]]> By: Kimbo http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/canon-580ex-flash-duration/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Kimbo Sun, 03 Aug 2008 07:57:51 +0000 http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/?p=116#comment-44 Morning Kev, I have spent eons trying to produce a single, decent 'high speed' shot. All of which, are c**p. Having just read your ditty above, the penny has finally dropped. Of course, it all makes perfect sense to me now. So, huge thanks. (Pity my 580EX didn't come with a decent instruction manual in the first place and I didn't come upon your website sooner!) Happy snappin' Tutty bye Kym Morning Kev,

I have spent eons trying to produce a single, decent ‘high speed’ shot. All of which, are c**p. Having just read your ditty above, the penny has finally dropped. Of course, it all makes perfect sense to me now. So, huge thanks. (Pity my 580EX didn’t come with a decent instruction manual in the first place and I didn’t come upon your website sooner!)

Happy snappin’

Tutty bye

Kym

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