E-M5 X-sync speeds

[ginsbu]

I'm puzzled by the E-M5's differing X-sync speeds for various flashes and triggering methods. The clip on flash syncs to 1/250th. With a Metz 48 on camera my highest shutter speed is 1/160. My YN-560 II syncs cleanly at 1/250 (the camera doesn't limit shutter speed here). I understand that other units sync at different speeds as well. Strangely, the Metz 48 syncs at 1/250 when triggered optically (by YN-560 II on camera). But then why won't the E-M5 let me choose 1/250 with the Metz on camera? (The E-M5's behavior is the same in TTL and manual flash modes.) I would really like to be able to use the Metz at 1/250 for TTL fill flash.

On a positive note, I was also able to try higher shutter speeds using the YN-560 II and found that 1/320 is almost clean: there's just the slighest black band at the top (!) -- no more than 5% of the frame at most, so only slight cropping is needed to eliminate it. Things are only slightly worse when optically triggering the Metz, due to propogation delay I presume.

 

[Guy Parsons]

I'm puzzled by the E-M5's differing X-sync speeds for various flashes and triggering methods. The clip on flash syncs to 1/250th. With a Metz 48 on camera my highest shutter speed is 1/160. My YN-560 II syncs cleanly at 1/250 (the camera doesn't limit shutter speed here). I understand that other units sync at different speeds as well. Strangely, the Metz 48 syncs at 1/250 when triggered optically (by YN-560 II on camera). But then why won't the E-M5 let me choose 1/250 with the Metz on camera? (The E-M5's behavior is the same in TTL and manual flash modes.) I would really like to be able to use the Metz at 1/250 for TTL fill flash.

Maybe they are safely allowing for some flashes that have a longer flash burst when at full power, or they have tested those other flashes and have found some problems under some conditions and have slowed things down to be safe.

On a positive note, I was also able to try higher shutter speeds using the YN-560 II and found that 1/320 is almost clean: there's just the slighest black band at the top (!) -- no more than 5% of the frame at most, so only slight cropping is needed to eliminate it. Things are only slightly worse when optically triggering the Metz, due to propogation delay I presume.

Now that is interesting. Obviously the E-M5 shutter runs the opposite direction to my E-PL1 as my shutter shadows happen at the bottom of the frame.

A side note is that the E-PL1 is clear of shutter shadow at 1/320 sec and the E-PL2 clear at 1/400. So the faster E-M5 shutter is slower at maximum sync, weird.

Regards......... Guy

 

[rmarko]

I'm guessing that the 1/160 limit is being imposed by the firmware on the Metz. I have a 54 MZ-3 with the Olympus SCA module and it too limits sync to 1/160. Could be that the programming is dictated by the range of cameras that the Metz-Oly firmware supports, which includes the Panasonics.
--
rmarko

 

[ginsbu]

Maybe they are safely allowing for some flashes that have a longer flash burst when at full power, or they have tested those other flashes and have found some problems under some conditions and have slowed things down to be safe.

I hadn't considered that. I tested at 1/4 power. I'll rerun tests at full power to see if it makes a difference (probably not until Sunday though).

On a positive note, I was also able to try higher shutter speeds using the YN-560 II and found that 1/320 is almost clean: there's just the slighest black band at the top (!) -- no more than 5% of the frame at most, so only slight cropping is needed to eliminate it. Things are only slightly worse when optically triggering the Metz, due to propogation delay I presume.

Now that is interesting. Obviously the E-M5 shutter runs the opposite direction to my E-PL1 as my shutter shadows happen at the bottom of the frame.

This seems like a real advantage of the E-M5. Many more of my shots can easily take some cropping off the top than off the bottom. Also, being a 4:3 aspect ratio sensor, cropping in portait orientation is less problematic than for 3:2

A side note is that the E-PL1 is clear of shutter shadow at 1/320 sec and the E-PL2 clear at 1/400. So the faster E-M5 shutter is slower at maximum sync, weird.

I'll have to be less positive then.

 

[ginsbu]

I wonder about that. Don't the E-3 and E-5 have sync speeds higher than 1/160? If the Metz flashes only synced at 1/160 I expect I would have heard complaints, but perhaps I've missed them.

EDIT: In fact, I think my E-620 syncs at 1/180 with my Metz. I'll have to double check.

 

[ginsbu]

I was right on the E-620: sync speed is 1/180 with Metz 48. So the E-M5 is actually a step backward -- albeit slight -- for TTL flash with many flash models.

 

[ginsbu]

Maybe they are safely allowing for some flashes that have a longer flash burst when at full power, or they have tested those other flashes and have found some problems under some conditions and have slowed things down to be safe.

I hadn't considered that. I tested at 1/4 power. I'll rerun tests at full power to see if it makes a difference (probably not until Sunday though).

You were on to something here: at full power both my flashes (Metz 48 & YN-560 II) require 1/200 for truly clean sync. At 1/250 there is slight darkening at the top of the frame but no actual black band -- totally usable with minimal PP correction IMO, but not completely clean. Still I'd rather be limited to 1/200 than 1/160!