About the camera’s shutter speed and the amount of flash light
About the amount of flash light when using global shutter sync photography
By using the HVL-F60RM2/HVL-F46RM optional Sony flash (system software update required) and a camera with a global shutter type image sensor, flash sync shooting can be performed throughout the range of the shutter speed of the camera. This enables more efficient exposure from the flash-light than conventional high-speed sync (HSS) shooting.
This page explains the amount of flash light and flash timing when using global shutter sync photography.
When the shutter speed is slower than the flash sync speed of 1/500 second, flash firing starts and ends within the shutter-open duration.
- A：Amount of flash light
- B：Time
- C：Shutter speed
- D：Amount of flash light when firing at 1/1
When the shutter speed is faster than the flash sync speed of 1/500 second, flash firing may not start within the shutter-open duration because there is a delay from when the flash receives the firing trigger to when firing occurs.
- A：Amount of flash light
- B：Time
- C：Shutter speed
- D：Amount of flash light when firing at 1/1
- E：Delay
Therefore, the flash moves forward the flash timing so that the amount of flash light of the exposure is appropriate.
- A：Amount of flash light
- B：Time
- C：Shutter speed
- D：Amount of flash light when firing at 1/1
- F：Amount of flash light of exposure
- G：Flash timing
In addition, when a large amount of flash light is required, the timing of the flash firing is moved forward still further.
- A：Amount of flash light
- B：Time
- C：Shutter speed
- D：Amount of flash light when firing at 1/1
- F：Amount of flash light of exposure
- G：Flash timing
When the flash peak occurs within the shutter-open duration, the amount of flash light of the exposure is maximized, and it is not possible to obtain a larger amount of flash light.
Depending on the camera’s shutter speed setting, the amount of flash light of the exposure may be insufficient, and the manual flash light intensity setting may not be reached.
Here we will explain what happens when using a light intensity level setting of 1/8.
Shutter speed of 1/250 second:
This is slower than the flash sync speed of 1/500 second, so the amount of flash light fired and the amount of flash light of the exposure are the same.
- A：Amount of flash light
- B：Time
- C：Shutter speed
- D：Amount of flash light when firing at 1/1
- F：Amount of flash light of exposure (1/8)
- H：Amount of flash light fired (1/8)
Shutter speed of 1/4000 second:
In this case, almost the maximum amount of flash light is required, so the flash timing is adjusted such that the flash peak occurs within the shutter-open duration of 1/4000 second.
The amount of flash light of the exposure is the same as when the 1/8 setting is used.
- A：Amount of flash light
- B：Time
- C：Shutter speed
- D：Amount of flash light when firing at 1/1
- F：Amount of flash light of exposure (1/8)
- H：Amount of flash light fired (more than 1/8)
Shutter speed of 1/8000 second:
Even if the flash timing is adjusted so that the flash peak occurs within the shutter-open duration of 1/8000 second, the amount of flash light is less than when the 1/8 setting is used.
In this case, a warning that the amount of flash light is insufficient appears on the LCD screen of the flash or camera.
Shutter speed and light intensity level settings that result in a warning being displayed that the amount of flash light is insufficient are listed in “About global shutter sync photography.”
- A：Amount of flash light
- B：Time
- C：Shutter speed
- D：Amount of flash light when firing at 1/1
- F：Amount of flash light of exposure (less than 1/8)
- H：Amount of flash light fired (more than 1/8)
About global shutter sync photography
Depending on the camera’s shutter speed setting, the flash level may be insufficient and not reach the manual setting for the amount of flash light. In this case, a low flash lighting amount warning appears on the LCD panel of the flash. Refer to the tables below for the combinations of shutter speed and flash level settings that cause the low flash lighting amount warning to appear.
Setting values resulting in low flash lighting amount (HVL-F60RM2)
| Shutter speed | Manual setting | ||||||||
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| 1/256 | 1/128 | 1/64 | 1/32 | 1/16 | 1/8 | 1/4 | 1/2 | 1/1 | |
| 1/250 |  |
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| 1/500 | |
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| 1/1000 | |
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| 1/2000 | |
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| 1/4000 | |
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| 1/8000 | |
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| 1/16000 | |
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| 1/32000 | |
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| 1/64000 | |
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| 1/80000 | |
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: Sufficient flash lighting amount : Low flash lighting amount warning Setting values resulting in low flash lighting amount (HVL-F46RM)
| Shutter speed | Manual setting | |||||||
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| 1/128 | 1/64 | 1/32 | 1/16 | 1/8 | 1/4 | 1/2 | 1/1 | |
| 1/250 | |
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| 1/500 | |
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| 1/1000 | |
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| 1/2000 | |
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| 1/4000 | |
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| 1/8000 | |
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| 1/16000 | |
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| 1/32000 | |
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| 1/64000 | |
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| 1/80000 | |
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: Sufficient flash lighting amount : Low flash lighting amount warning Note
- Using a shutter speed faster than 1/10000 may change the brightness and color tone.
High-speed sync shooting and global shutter sync photography guide number comparisons
Global shutter sync photography makes possible more efficient exposure from the flash-light.
Refer to the tables below for guide number comparisons with high-speed sync shooting.
HVL-F60RM2
- HSS flat flash/STD flash distribution (ISO 100)
Manual flash/35mm-format (max. exposure possible GN converted value)
| Shutter speed | Flash coverage setting (mm) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA(*1)(*2) | BA(*1) | 14(*2) | 20 | 24 | 28 | 35 | 50 | 70 | 105 | 135 | 200 | |
| 1/250 | 4.6 | 6.4 | 4.2 | 7 | 7.7 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 10.8 | 12.9 | 14 | 15.3 | 16.7 |
| 1/500 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 3 | 5 | 5.4 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 7.7 | 9.1 | 9.9 | 10.8 | 11.8 |
| 1/1000 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 5.4 | 6.4 | 7 | 7.7 | 8.4 |
| 1/2000 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 3 | 3 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 5 | 5.4 | 5.9 |
| 1/4000 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.2 |
| 1/8000 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 3 |
| 1/16000 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 2.1 |
- *1: When the bounce adaptor is attached.
- *2: When the wide panel is attached.
- Global shutter sync flash/STD flash distribution (ISO 100)
Manual flash/35mm-format (max. exposure possible GN converted value)
| Shutter speed | Flash coverage setting (mm) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA(*1)(*2) | BA(*1) | 14(*2) | 20 | 24 | 28 | 35 | 50 | 70 | 105 | 135 | 200 | |
| 1/250 | 16 | 23 | 14 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 37 | 46 | 49 | 54 | 60 |
| 1/500 | 14.4 | 21.2 | 12.6 | 23.1 | 24.1 | 26.3 | 27.5 | 34.1 | 42.4 | 44.3 | 50.4 | 55 |
| 1/1000 | 11.8 | 17.4 | 10.4 | 19 | 19.9 | 21.7 | 22.6 | 28.1 | 34.9 | 36.4 | 41.5 | 45.3 |
| 1/2000 | 9.1 | 13.5 | 8 | 14.7 | 15.3 | 16.7 | 17.4 | 21.7 | 26.9 | 28.1 | 32 | 34.9 |
| 1/4000 | 6.7 | 9.9 | 5.9 | 10.8 | 11.3 | 12.3 | 12.9 | 16 | 19.9 | 20.7 | 23.6 | 25.8 |
| 1/8000 | 4.8 | 7 | 4.2 | 7.7 | 8 | 8.7 | 9.1 | 11.3 | 14.1 | 14.7 | 16.7 | 18.2 |
| 1/16000 | 3.4 | 5 | 3 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 8 | 9.9 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 12.9 |
| 1/32000 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 3.8 | 4 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 5.7 | 7 | 7.3 | 8.4 | 9.1 |
| 1/64000 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 4 | 5 | 5.2 | 5.9 | 6.4 |
| 1/80000 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 5.8 |
- *1: When the bounce adaptor is attached.
- *2: When the wide panel is attached.
HVL-F46RM
- HSS flat flash/STD flash distribution (ISO 100)
Manual flash/35mm-format (max. exposure possible GN converted value)
| Shutter speed | Flash coverage setting (mm) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15(*) | 24 | 28 | 35 | 50 | 70 | 105 | ||||||
| 1/250 | 4.6 | 8.4 | 9.1 | 9.5 | 11.3 | 12.9 | 16 | |||||
| 1/500 | 3.2 | 5.9 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 8 | 9.1 | 11.3 | |||||
| 1/1000 | 2.3 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 6.4 | 8 | |||||
| 1/2000 | 1.6 | 3 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 4 | 4.6 | 5.7 | |||||
| 1/4000 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 4 | |||||
| 1/8000 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2 | 2.3 | 2.8 | |||||
| 1/16000 | 0.6 | 1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2 | |||||
- * When the wide panel is attached.
- Global shutter sync flash/STD flash distribution (ISO 100)
Manual flash/35mm-format (max. exposure possible GN converted value)
| Shutter speed | Flash coverage setting (mm) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15(*) | 24 | 28 | 35 | 50 | 70 | 105 | ||||||
| 1/250 | 13 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 30 | 36 | 46 | |||||
| 1/500 | 11.8 | 20.7 | 22.6 | 23.6 | 26.9 | 33.4 | 41.5 | |||||
| 1/1000 | 9.9 | 17.4 | 19 | 19.9 | 22.6 | 28.1 | 34.9 | |||||
| 1/2000 | 7.5 | 13.2 | 14.4 | 15 | 17.1 | 21.2 | 26.3 | |||||
| 1/4000 | 5.5 | 9.7 | 10.6 | 11.1 | 12.6 | 15.7 | 19.4 | |||||
| 1/8000 | 4.1 | 7.2 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 9.3 | 11.6 | 14.4 | |||||
| 1/16000 | 3 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 6.7 | 8.4 | 10.4 | |||||
| 1/32000 | 2.1 | 3.7 | 4 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 5.9 | 7.3 | |||||
| 1/64000 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 3 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 5.3 | |||||
| 1/80000 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 3 | 3.7 | 4.7 | |||||
- * When the wide panel is attached.
