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Sequence viewing > Light & Lighting - Resource - ©
Lloyd Godman
Light in Photography - LIGHTING - FLASH
LIGHTING
SHUTTER
SYNCHRONIZATION
Before
the invention of electronic flash tubes, which allowed thousands of
exposures from the one tube, photographers used flash bulbs. While
the filament of these bulbs was destroyed during the discharge, and
the bulb discarded after each discharge, the peak illumination was
also at a different time than the electronic flash. For some time,
manufacturers devised two systems of synchronization with the X coupling
for electronic flash and the M for the older bulb flashes.
The
"X" setting is for the electronic flash units and because these
units release their energy extremely quickly, it is essential
that cameras with focal plane shutters have these completely
open when the flash is released. The "X" setting then fires
the flash when the shutter is completely open. |
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The
"M" setting is for the older type of bulb or cube that was
common before the introduction of the electronic flash.
This type of flash peaks more slowly than the electronic units
and it is important to have the shutter open after the flash
has been triggered so that it can synchronize with the greatest
intensity of the flash, but also that this remain open for
longer as the intensity takes longer to build and die away.
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Some
cameras like this twin lens
reflex have two settings for flash, "X" & "M" , so
a photographer has to be care which setting is used. As bulbs
are rarely used today many photographers that use these cameras
glue or tape the lever in the X position.
It
is also important with some cameras that besides having
the camera set on "X" or "M" that it is set on the correct shutter speed.
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Rather
than switch between X & M like the twin lens reflex
camera, this 35 mm camera has both X and M flash sync
ports and the photographer selects the appropriate one for the
equipment they are using. |
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Many
35 mm slr cameras have an X marked on the Shutter speed dial
to indicate the flash sync speed. Using speeds other than this
means the flash will be discharging at the wrong time. |
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