No more x-sync limitation using studio flash , exit ND filters with outside high light ...

FrenchRiviera

Profoto made it on new B1 .

PocketWizard tried to made it but , according to my expermiment on Elinchrom Ranger RX , poor performance , loss of power and high vignetting .

With Profoto , no inconvenience

http://www.lightingrumours.com/profoto-hss-b1-6584#.VJv4s8oAIA

studio460

Someone on another forum alerted me to the Profoto HSS FAQ, where I posted this reply:

[Apparently,] there's a full-stop loss every time you double your shutter speed when employing HSS mode on the Profoto B1. If my math is correct, that's a total 5-stop loss from shooting at x-sync at 1/250th (1/1-power), to 1/8,000th (1/32nd-power).

Here's the complete entry from the Profoto HSS FAQ:

"What power outputs are available in HSS Mode?

To ensure a perfect exposure and a stable flash pulse, the B1 uses only the upper part of its power range when in HSS Mode. That is 7.0-10.0 for Canon and 8.0-10.0 for Nikon.

Know that one f-stop of flash light is lost for every doubling of the shutter speed. In other words, when shooting with the extremely short flash durations that Profoto HSS offers, the B1 will in most cases be used at its max or near max power."

[Link to Profoto HSS FAQ: http://www.profoto.com/blog/off-camera-flash/profoto-hss-faq/]

If I'm interpreting Profoto's FAQ correctly, the B1's 500 Watt-seconds, less 5-stops, is only 15.6Ws when using a shutter speed of 1/8,000th at full-power. I suppose that's the reason for their statement, " . . . the B1 will in most cases be used at its max or near max power [when employing HSS]."

FrenchRiviera

If it´s confirmed , that´s bad news :-/

Anyhow , 500J is not enough if you want to use your flash as keylight on a bright day , 1200J is better

studio460

Hey, FrenchRiviera--your work is very nice!

studio460

. . . PocketWizard tried to made it but , according to my experiment on Elinchrom Ranger RX , poor performance , loss of power and high vignetting . . .

I imagine that the flash duration on your Ranger is too short (do you have the 'A' or the 'S' head?). Long-tail strobes (i.e., strobes with long t.05 values) will fare much better with sync-optimized (e.g., "HyperSync") applications.

Here's a list of long-duration strobes which would should be more suitable for HyperSync applications (scroll down a bit):

http://lightbasics.com/pocketwizard-hypersync-long-duration-flash-tests/

Here's some tests I did using a 150Ws Quantum Qflash (t.05 - 1/300th @ maximum power):

http://lightbasics.com/hypersync-test-series-1-nikon-d800e-quantum-qflash/

Here's another test series using a 1,000Ws Speedotron Force 10 monolight (t.05 = 1/850th, constant at all power levels):

http://lightbasics.com/hypersync-test-series-2-nikon-d800e-speedotron-force-10/

Using the first firmware settings shown in the tests, you don't get any shutter-curtain shadow, all the way up to 1/8,000th. You do get a bit of uneven recorded flash exposure, but it typically goes unnoticed in most real-world applications.

FrenchRiviera

I had 2 A heads , I bought a S one especially for PocketWizard remote control .

Still some light but visible vignetting :-/

And on other side , I really need 1000J to use flash as key light to get this look

http://christophe-nober.photodeck.com/-/galleries/portraits/-/medias/71c22cac-62fe-4e18-9367-eccd56e6067c-marinne-plage-de-st-aygulf


Thank you for your help , your site is a great , very instructive

FrenchRiviera

Maybe best solution for that would be à full electronic shutter ?

studio460

That's why I loved my Nikon D70 until it had the CF card memory-interface problem (BLOD), and eventually bricked (which Nikon acknowledged and fixed, even if out of warranty, but I was too lazy to take it to Nikon at the time). I'd still kind of like to pick up a D70s or D40 someday for some casual high-speed sync shooting.

I really think the discontinued Speedotron Force 10s are great HyperSync-friendly strobes. Excellent output at 1,000Ws. I still see them on eBay fairly often. I think I paid about $600-$700 each for two open-box units. I've seen them selling used for even less.

Thanks for the kind words about the site! I still have a lot of work to do on it!

sevencrossing

why should a flash with a focal plane shutter cause vignetting

FrenchRiviera

Side vignetting , not peripheral

As you can see on studio460 tests
http://lightbasics.com/pocketwizard-hypersync-long-duration-flash-tests/

Top of the image is much darker then bottom

sevencrossing

@FrenchRiviera thanks

FrenchRiviera

That's why I loved my Nikon D70 ...

as we can read on this interview ( http://www.43rumors.com/panasonic-interview-at-dc-watch-says-8k-is-coming-and-megapixel-race-continuing/ ) , full electronic shutter seems to be on the way .

That would be far more simple : no more X-sync speed

Tendency may be more electronic , less mechanics parts in cameras like mirrorless , lower prices , longer life

FlowtographyBerlin

I really need 1000J to use flash as key light to get this look

http://christophe-nober.photodeck.com/-/galleries/portraits/-/medias/71c22cac-62fe-4e18-9367-eccd56e6067c-marinne-plage-de-st-aygulf

For this kind of stuff, the simpler solution is sometimes the better: If the sun is already that strong, just use a reflector. Done. A lot lighter and no power required. ;-)

FrenchRiviera

People easily wince with continious high light of reflectors , flash help to get rid of that and , alongside , you may chose exactly what kint of light you want with your lightbox .

FlowtographyBerlin

@FrenchRiviera: True for the squinting, very true in fact. As for the light modification, you can achieve many different characteristics with reflectors as well by choosing different surfaces, sizes and shapes. There's not much (most of the time: no) difference to classical light formers that you use on studio flashes.

FrenchRiviera

@FrenchRiviera: True for the squinting, very true in fact.
...

For me : biggest point for portrait without glasses , should it be so handy to manage only with reflectors

FlowtographyBerlin

I don't quite understand...

FrenchRiviera

I don't quite understand...

Sorry ,

I mean :

1/ it would be so easy for me if I could do the job with reflectors

2/ of course models Could wear sunglasses to avoid to make a face but that´s not compatible with portraits I like

FlowtographyBerlin

Ah, ok :-) Thanks.