 Aneta Notestine |
2nd curtain flash sync I have a Canon Rebel T2 and a Quantaray PZ-1 DSZ and I was trying out the 2nd curtain flash sync. Well, I was hoping to get a blur behind my husband, but all I got was him pregnant with a lamp :D The exposure was 1 second long. Now, both my camera and the flash can be switched to 2nd curtain sync. Do I set both of them, or does the camera setting only work with the built-in flash? I need some "enlightning" solutions. Thanks,
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Aneta Notestine |
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Andy |
That looks like double exposure or your husband moved in (or out) of the frame after the first flash is fired. By the way, if I am not mistaken, the Canon EOS system on 2nd curtain sync will be turned on if either the flash or the camera is set to on. Hope this helps.
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Aneta Notestine |
Thanks Andy. I'm glad you mentioned "first flash" because in the meantime I noticed that when I use 2nd curtain sync with the built-in flash, it fires two times. Is this normal? I've tried all the possible combinations (both speedlight and camera, flash only, camera only)and every time it fired only once, with the 1st curtain. I'm using standard AA batteries - is this the reason why? Do I need some more power for the flash to recycle faster and fire twice? However, I don't understand why it fires twice.
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Jon Close |
Re - two flashes I suspect the PZ-1 DSZ is not fully compatible with the Rebel T2. The PZ-1 is designed for traditional TTL control - a single flash when the shutter is open, controlled by a meter reading the light off the film. In normal flash modes (ie. 1st curtain sync) the T2 will work in traditional TTL mode with the PZ-1 DSZ. But I suspect the Rebel T2's custom function for 2nd curtain sync is restricted to Canon EX speedlights, or others that emulate E-TTL control. With E-TTL, there is a low-powered pre-flash just before the shuter opens that is measured by the evaluative meter to determine the flash power setting for the main flash after the shutter opens. I suspect that when you set the custom function for 2nd curtain flash the PZ-1 fires full power when the camera signals for the E-TTL preflash, then fires again at a lower power (since it hasn't had time to cycle) when it gets the 2nd curtain sync signal.
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Aneta Notestine |
You're right, Jon. I also have my old Rebel 2000 and the difference is that T2 is compatibile with E-TTL II flashes, while 2000 - with E-TTL flashes. I'm going to do some research and find out the difference between these two systems. I just tried PZ-1 on Rebel 2000, and it works, just like I hoped it would: only one flash, with the 2nd curtain. As for the built-in flash, I can see that the first flash is low-powered, like you said. It sounds like it fires at the same time the shutter opens, but I guess it's before - it just happens too fast. You have helped me a lot, Jon. Thank you so much. Aneta
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Michael H. Cothran |
I believe 2nd curtain flash firing is really only useful (and detectable) if the subject is "moving" during the exposure. This way the ghost trail will be behind the moving subject, making it appear to be moving forward. With 1st curtain flash firing, the ghost trail would be in front of the subject, making it look like it was going backwards. One can either pan the camera during the exposure, or have the subject move. However, if nothing is moving during the actual exposure, it would not make any difference to the eye as to whether the flash fired at the beginning or the end of the shutter drag.
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Aneta Notestine |
Good point, Michael. I should have mentioned in my question that my husband was actually walking during the exposure. I took it for granted that he had to be moving and that's why I didn't mention it. I also took this picture horizontally to make room for the blur. Here I cropped it, because there's no blur to show ; ) Anyway Andy, Jon and Michael, your suggestions have helped me figure many things out, especially to see that this picture didn't come out the way it should because my PZ-1 flash didn't synchronize with the 2nd curtain at all. Not on the T2 camera. You've helped me a lot. Thanks!! Aneta
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