Flash Duration and Camera Sync Speed

[tyeikyl]

Speedlights and studio flashes with packs have short durations at lower power settings. The Flash Centre guy is right. Allthough some monolights are different, it is only a few and it will be stated in their specs

[1gmarquez]

man I still don't get it

[barakdee]

Dear Mr Burfoot you've got your facts wrong. You say "if you turn the flash power down on a studio flash head the flash duration lengthens." It does not, it shortens (it gets faster). On my Broncolor Grafit pack the shortest, fastest, flash duration is at power setting 4.3 which is the lowest power setting, as I turn the power number up the flash duration gets longer, or slower, depending on how you think of it.

[surferboy36O]

I admire your technical and I would say physical understanding of how photography equipment works. No "professional" photographer I know around here knows squat.

[timetotravel]

dang dude... well done. I'll be passing your links to fellow photographers

[zygotepeyote]

Thanks for the clarification. I enjoy the videos.

[zygotepeyote]

Aren't you backwards on flash power and duration. If I turn down my flash or strobe the flash duration decreases. This is why when I shoot hummingbirds for example I must turn the power down as low as it will go to stop the wings in flight. I also know on my profoto head my flash duration is 560th of a second at full power and 3200th of a second at low power.

[TheFlashCentre]

@zygotepeyote Standard studio flash has it's shortest flash duration at full power. It works differently to electronic flash, which cuts off the flash when the required output has been given. Profoto uses a combination approach which gives some of the advantages of both systems but at a much higher price.

[Henry77x]

Yes, need to know what is the best duration for the money.

[bazoo132]

Hi Chris, Good explanation. What Flash duration should you be looking for on a Flash head unit then?

[roomak1999]

@bazoo132 I'm joining to this question. More knowledge makes me more confused ;)