Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hello, I love the Cyber Commander. However, it seems like I can only change the shutter speed on it from 1/125 and the next fastest shutter speed is 1/250. Is there any way to modify it to where I can set it to 1/160 or 1/200?

Currently, only full stop increments are available for Shutter Speed and ISO. Since ISO is a global adjustment (affects ambient and flash equally), you can use the CAL function in the FLASHMETER screen to "fake" .3f or .5f increments.

Since shutter speed affects ambient, this will not work. However, if you are in a flash dominated studio environment, shutter speed is largely irrelevant, so a 1/3f shift either way in ambient will not be apparent.

Thanks for the reply. Currently I'm using my Einsteins indoors, but will soon be moving them outdoors for some running photography. I wanted my shutter speed to sync at the camera's maximum 1/200th second sync speed. But I've been reading up on the Einsteins and am learning that the flash will actually freeze the subject, not the shutter speed.

If I'm panning though and take the photo at 1/125th second, and the flash freezes the subject, will the slow shutter speed give the background some motion blur? Or will I have to not pan the camera to achieve no motion blur in the background?

Panning or not, if you are in bright sun, there is still the issue of blur from the ambient light. If at 1/250 of a second you will get blur from the sun, you will not magically eliminate that blur with the use of flash.

If you use a slow shutter speed and pan, you will still get motion blur in the back ground, and possibly some motion blur on the subject.

Depending on what is behind the subject and how fast it is moving and how bright the ambient is, the amount of blur will vary. Ambient would need to be virtually eliminated in order for there to be no chance of blur.

Since the difference is 1/3f in shutter speed, and ambient is only part of the exposure, your difference in exposure will be less than 1/3 of a stop, or less than the precision allowed 1/3 stop increments anyway. I would set the CC to 1/250 and shoot at 1/200 (or maybe even try 1/250, as what would normally be a dark band would be less affected in bright light).

Interesting, thanks for that info. I guess it would be on a country road, with fields in the background. I would want to match sunlight and give matching exposure on the subject. I wouldn't want to kill all the ambient.