I want to use my 550EX in manual mode with my Bronica. I am concerned about shutter speeds above 1/60. i.e. 1/125, 1/250 and 1/500. Would the leaf shutter system be compatible with my flash at the higher shutter speeds? I tried and tried all night, but I couldn't wrap my mind around this problem. Specifically, what does the flash duration have to do with shutter speed of a leaf shutter lens?

-- Colin Miller (ckmiller@pond.net), March 16, 2001

Answers

As long as the maximum duration of the flash is less than the shutter speed, it won't matter. Maximum duration for the 550EX is about 1/1000 second, so it won't be a problem with a shutter speed of 1/500. I did see one high power flash with a maximum duration of 1/300. I think it was a Metz 60CT. Since your shutter will only be open for 1/500, you would lose a good bit of light from the flash if it were used at full power.

-- Brad Hutcheson (bhutcheson@iname.com), March 16, 2001.