Flash Shutter Sync - Water Droplet

Flash Mechanics: Shutter Sync

[I]f you’re getting interested in flash photography, a lot of unfamiliar terms may pop up: sync-speed, high-speed sync, rear-curtain sync, to name a few. It’s a lot easier to get a grasp on the terms if you have a better understanding of how flashes work with your camera’s shutter, and ultimately, how your camera’s shutter works. To help explain things, I’ve made this quick video.

This video is intended to be more of an introduction to the concepts involved, rather than instruction on specific techniques.

For what it’s worth, “Sync-Speed” is also frequently called “X-sync” speed, though X-sync usually refers specifically to first-curtain sync.

As usual, if you have any questions or comments (I’m always curious to hear whether anyone has actually watched these things), please let me know in the comments section below.

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Lou Rourke

Good day Matthew,
I’m a bit of a novice and just discovered your video lessons.
I’m a fan of ‘folks who help folks’, and try to do that. I want to thank you for your lessons.
I’ll certainly be visiting your site again.
Big smile here !
Take care and thanks
Lou

Kenneth Chan

That was easily the best animated demonstration of the 1st and 2nd curtain mechanism that I have seen so far. My only wish is that you could break down the high-speed sync part even more to demonstrate why the top and bottom of the frame get the same amount of light as the middle of the frame. Thanks!

Simon Ng

As usual, excellent video!!

labradorguy

As always, great job on the video. The stick figures rock! :)