Sync Speed

The maximum flash sync speed of your particular camera is the one shutter speed that should be permanently fixed in your mind. Different cameras have different maximum sync speeds, and you’ll find yours in the manual.

This speed is the maximum speed you can set while still getting full coverage with your flashgun. If you set a speed higher than this, then the flash will fire while the sensor is partially covered and you’ll get a nasty dark line obscuring part of the image.

To understand why this happens you need to understand how shutters work. Think of the shutter as a pair of curtains. The first opens to let light hit the sensor, then the second curtain closes at the required time to stop the light.

At very slow speeds, the first ...

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